Page 59 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

Govek sucked in a breath, and fresh air flooded his lungs, clearing his head.

Estoc had defended him.

“How has this been allowed to occur without any among you calling the fairness into question?” Karthoc asked, eyes on Ergoth.

Miranda spoke out loudly, her voice echoing around the hall. “They couldn’t call it out because Sythcol’s clearing magic prevented them from interrupting.”

The silence in the hall was deafening, and Govek could hardly fathom the shifting of energy within the clan.

Ergoth said confidently. “This is all complete conjecture. Even if the clearing stopped members of the clan from speaking during the judgment, it could not have stopped them from speaking out afterward. None of the clan members ever came to me and asked that the proceedings be redone. Not even Govek himself.”

The whispers in the clan began again, but the tones were mixed.

“But would they have? The clearing helped them to draw a conclusion on their own. Their minds were made up by the end, even though the statements were biased. But since they never got the full truth, they wouldn’t be able to see past that, would they?”

The whispers turned to grumbles, and the tone was far less difficult to interpret.

They were angry.

Govek clenched his jaw and stroked his thumb over Miranda’s wrist. Were they angry at her words or...?

Miranda looked back at him, nodded confidently.

She wasn’t afraid in the least.

Karthoc spoke, his voice seething. “We will need to discuss this at length, Chief Ergoth. But not now. For now, Sythcol, return to your seat. We will not be using your magic today.”

Ergoth cut in. “You have no authority to?—”

“I have all the authority, Ergoth,” Karthoc said slowly. “I could remove you from this entirely. But out or respect for this clan’s traditions, I will not. Not yet.”

Ergoth’s chin rose, and he looked to the clan. “What say you, my great clan? Karthoc may have authority, but our community has always been built on equality. You should be the ones to choose.”

Karthoc grumbled with irritation but didn’t fight it. Couldn’t fight it. Angering the only males who could create healing tinctures for the orc warriors would only bring him ruin. Govek was struck by the difficulty of his cousin’s position in this as Karthoc speared the hundreds of powerful, magic-wielding clansmen with a hard look.

For the split of a moment, Govek’s mind flailed and his muscles tensed to bear defeat once again.

And then Estoc’s voice rose. “I call to vote for no clearing today. Who stands?”

Govek blinked as nearly all the males within Rove Wood stood. Strong, firm, supportive.

He couldn’t catch a breath.

“Fine.” Ergoth spat quiet venom. “We will proceed without.”

Ergoth whirled away from Miranda, his violet cloaks billowing and shimmery in the bright light of the hall.

Miranda sat down again, close enough that their thighs brushed, but she was still tense, on the edge of her seat, ready to stand whenever the need struck.

Stand for him. His mate stood for him in a way that no other member of his brethren ever had.

Fades, he loved her with every fiber of his being.

Chief Ergoth faced Maythra a moment before regarding Wolvc.

“First to speak is you, Wolvc. But, from what I understand, because Govek unduly used magic when striking the blow, your jaw is shattered and even Hovget’s powerful healing cannot reduce the agony.”

Bile burned at the back of Govek’s throat and the hand that had wounded this male so badly was shaking. Even Miranda’s firm grip couldn’t stop it.

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