Page 107 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

“Would not the preserving magic have been enough for that? Rogeth and his butchers worked in the butchery every day. Was there really such need to interrupt your work as our chief just to ensure Govek’s kills were addressed immediately? Or was there another reason you wanted to see his kills first?”

Govek’s stomach clenched, and his palms sweated, and the pieces snapped into place so easily, so firmly, he could feel the jolt down his spine.

Iytier cut in before Ergoth could respond. “And what of all the lies you have told us about Govek? About his unchecked fury and his demands that we stay away from him? Did you really think we would not eventually discuss among ourselves and discover your deception?”

“You wouldn’t have.” Govek found his voice beyond his shock. The clan turned their full attention to him, but this time Govek felt not a single desire to shrink away or vent his fury. Instead, his words continued cold and clipped and even. “You wouldn’t have, because the clearing forced your silence.”

“You will be silent, Govek!” Ergoth raged as his body shook and his teeth gnashed. His mask was dropping away and Govek stared as the true face of his father broke through.

He found his voice, drawing from decades of his father’s manipulation. “Calm down, Ergoth. Control yourself.”

Ergoth’s face contorted. “You wretch, how dare you?—”

“All my life you’ve demanded I control myself, but that was only to control the clan, wasn’t it? To taint their opinion of me.”

“You have no right to speak among this clan.”

“Why shouldn’t he?” Iytier demanded. “He is next in line to be chief of Rove Wood.”

“He will never be chief!” Ergoth pointed his finger at Iytier. His clawed finger. Govek could see the tip of it starting to slink out. “You think I would ever let my vile traitorous spawn come into power here? When the role should rightly go to Tavggol’s perfect child? You would have Tavggol’s son robbed of his rightful place by this disgusting monster?”

Govek felt each word like the slice of a blade, cutting deep and twisting until his insides were turned to mush and he could hardly find the will to stand.

“You’re the monster!” Miranda cried.

“Be quiet. Everything I fucking did was for this clan!” Ergoth took the tray of food next to his throne and shattered it, splattered its contents across his podium. “Every speck of this food is from me. Every magic is from me. Every trade and success and joy you feel is by my doing. I brought light to this clan. I am the reason you thrive. This clan would be nothing without my rule.

“And now you want Govek? That abomination of the Fades born with power beyond your reckoning? He’ll gain control and become a tyrant. Do you not see how having magic and strength is dangerous? You bring your own doom! Even Corine couldn’t face him. His warrior blight would not even be known for years and still she left him. She would rather risk death, abandoning him than bear to even hold him after he was birthed from her womb.”

“My god,” Miranda said, her exclamation somehow cutting off Ergoth’s tirade. “Maythra said the same thing, and now I know where she got it. Govek was a baby when his mother left.”

“She left because she knew he was vile. She knew that he would grow to have a bulging hideous warrior frame and could not bear to raise a child so monstrous.”

“You just admitted no one knew Govek would have a warrior build until years after his birth.” Miranda’s voice was loud, steady, and it radiated through Govek. Brought clarity to his mind. “Why did you reject him before you knew?”

Fuck . . . all these years. Why had he not seen . . .?

Miranda continued. “Tell me, Ergoth, did you banish him to the outskirts of Rove Wood Clan when he was seven because he was a warrior or did you always despise him?”

Ergoth really had been responsible for all of it. Every. Last. Thing.

Govek went cold from this truth.

“I did what I had to do to protect this clan!”

“It wasn’t for the clan. It was for you! Because you couldn’t stand that your mate left because of you!”

“It was not me! It was not me!” Ergoth roared through the clan, swept them all up in its spiral. “No woman would ever leave me! I am the chief of Rove Wood! Second only to the Fades themselves. Corine should have scraped at my feet, slaved over my whims. She was meant to worship me as a good woman should. It is Govek’s fault she left, not mine! Not mine!”

Govek was going to vomit. His whole body shook so violently he was nearly forced to set Miranda down.

“I built this clan,” Ergoth raged, eyes bloodshot and bulging. His claws were fully extended now. “Every scrap and being in it belongs to me, and no one will fucking take it from me.”

A surge of power coursed through Govek’s body, ripped away his anguish, tore out his fear. His own claws snapped out unheeded and Govek relished it.

He stepped forward, bold, determined. “I challenge you, Ergoth. Your time etching malice into this clan is over.”

Ergoth’s eyes flashed, as if coming back to himself a moment. “You can’t?—”

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