Page 51 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

“Okay, hold on, what punishment are you talking about?” Miranda stepped between Viravia and Govek.

He let out a long sigh. “Chief Ergoth has insisted that those accused of wrongdoing in this face the highest punishment. If found guilty, I will be forced to go to the foothills.” He swallowed thickly. “To the front lines of the war.”

Miranda’s face went pale, and he reached out to hold her arms lest she fall.

“Do not worry, Miranda.” Govek willed her to recover. “I have a plan.”

“Yeah.” Miranda’s face went flat. “The plan is that you won’t lose.”

He clenched his jaw, still stroking her arms. His eyes flashed to Viravia, and she was obviously stricken. Tense.

“But if...” Viravia wrung her hands. “If you do lose?”

Miranda shot Viravia a withering look, but Govek found it a valid question and no longer saw need to hide his plans from the woman.

“Should they find against me, Miranda and I will go to the mists. Into hiding.”

A deadly silence descended.

“Govek, no!” Viravia gasped. She was so pale he wondered if she may faint.

“What are the mists?” Miranda looked between them. “Govek?”

“Govek, that’s complete lunacy. Even crazier than going to Estwill.”

“There is no other place that I could escape a punishment. They would hunt me to every corner of this world. At least within the mists, Miranda and I would stand a chance.”

“What are the mists?” Miranda insisted again.

“They are the edges of our world,” Govek said. “Great banks of fog that are a mystery many have tried to solve.”

“And that none have ever returned from.”

“If we stay hidden at the edges and do not go too deep, we will be fine.” Govek assured them when Miranda gave him a worried look.

“Govek, you can’t do this. You must at least try to reason with Ergoth.”

“He will not listen. He is the one who made this demand of Karthoc.”

“But what is Ergoth thinking? He has to know this won’t stop the merger.”

Govek shook his head. “I do not know my father’s plan. I only know that he must have one and that there is nothing I can do to change it.”

“Reason with the warlord, then.” Viravia was shaking and her voice quivered. “You’re his cousin. He can’t possibly be so heartless as to want to see you killed.”

“What is done is done, Viravia.” Govek found it telling that Viravia did not even question Ergoth’s sanity when he tried, once again, to put his only living son to death.

“Please, Govek,” Viravia pleaded, coming to her feet. She reached for him. “There has to be another way. You must become chief of Rove Wood or we’ll be forced to merge. I can’t leave... I have to stay...”

Viravia collapsed, head in her hands as she began to sob. Govek’s stomach twisted in confusion, and he glanced at Miranda, unsure what to do.

Miranda did not hesitate to step forward. She placed her hands on Viravia’s shoulders and gave them a little squeeze. “This seems like more than simply not wanting to merge, Viravia. Can you tell us what’s going on?”

Viravia’s head snapped up, her eyes round with fear, her lips trembled and her cheeks were soaked. “I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry I can’t?—”

“You don’t have to.” Miranda rubbed Viravia’s shoulders. “Lord knows I have my own secrets. Look, if you really don’t want to leave the Rove Woods, couldn’t you ask Oakwall if they would take you in?”

Govek thought it a fine suggestion until Viravia pointed out the obvious.

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