Page 17 of Claimed By the Orc

Ty’anii hissed and stepped in front of her captain. I doubted it would help him. The newcomer stood as tall as Gragash, but Drall walk on all fours. He was a massive, all muscle and leathery hide, with a mouth big enough to bite someone’s head off and small eyes that glimmered with malice. The formal robe he wore looked out of place on his massive bulk, but it identified him as a Guild member.

I braced myself to run. If this was an ambush, I wouldn’t bet on Vaher coming out on top, and I certainly didn’t want to be standing anywhere near him when the fight started.

The Drall smirked. “Don’t worry yourselves. Boss wants a word, that’s all.”

With that, he stepped aside, leaving space for us to enter the room he’d emerged from. I considered running anyway, but there was nowhere to hide, so I squeezed past the menacing Drall and into another medical cell.

It was crowded inside, though the bed had been removed to make room for a pair of comfortable chairs. One was empty, and on the other sat a small Vehn male in a deep purple robe, silvery stitching marking the Guild’s symbol on it. He looked old, with a weathered face and gray feathers in place of hair, but his smile was warm and his eyes clear. A pair of Prytheen warriors flanked him, adding an air of menace. Without them, he’d have looked like a kindly grandfather.

I didn’t let it fool me. He wore the robes of a Guildfather, and no one gets that high in the Guild of Criminals by being nice.

“Captain Vaher,” the little old man said, voice warm and strong despite his years. “Qubbins speaks highly of you and your crew, and I value his judgement. Come, have a seat. I have an offer for you.”

An offer he can’t refuse,I thought. Vaher and Ty’anii exchanged a look showing they’d had the same thought. Vaher took the offered seat and returned the old Guildfather’s smile.

“What can we do for you, sir?”

“I trust this will stay between us?” he waited for Vaher’s enthusiastic nod before continuing. “You’ve brought some excitement to the arena. New blood, fresh face, and a dramatic win. A classic story. The thing is, he’s a little more than I expected. Qubbins gives your fighter even odds against my good friend Korsar.”

He nodded at the doorway, and the Drall outside rumbled something in acknowledgement.Thatwas who Gragash was supposed to fight? I shuddered at the thought.

“Commitments have been made,” Vaher said, tone light. “It would be difficult to back out of the fight now.”

“Indeed. Indeed. But that’s not what I had in mind, no. I’d just like things to run according to plan.”

A pause that seemed to stretch out into infinity followed, then Vaher said carefully. “Your original plan called for Gragash to die in the arena. I’ve made a considerable investment in that orc.”

“I appreciate that. We’re only having this conversation because you might make a valuable partner, and I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot.” The old Vehn ran a hand over his feathered scalp and chuckled. “I can’t just bury your crew in gold. This has to be discrete. The audience at large wouldn’t appreciate the subtleties involved, and might take offense. Still, I have heard theDarha’s Blessinghas a hold full of slaves? A friend of mine will pay over the odds for them as arena fodder.”

My blood ran cold at that, remembering the orc children I’d seen aboard theBlessing.They’d be thrown into the arena to die? It didn’t bear thinking about.Even Vaher can’t go for this,I tried to tell myself.

It was nonsense, of course. The slaver captain sailed straight past any moral quandries to start haggling over price. “That would have to be quite generous indeed to make up for the lost income.”

One of the Guildfather’s bodyguards pulled out a contract and showed it to Vaher. The other opened a case to display the Credits Imperial inside, a glittering array of coins. I couldn’t see the amount, but Vaher pulled a pen from his coat with a decisiveness that told me all I needed to know.

Whatever the Guildfather offered, it was more than enough.

15

GRAGASH

My second awakening was a lot less pleasant than my first. There was an empty chill where my mate had lain, and instead, Captain Vaher leaned against the shining white wall, again engrossed in his holographic reports.

We were alone. Even if Ty’anii was right outside the door, she couldn’t react fast enough if I attacked now. Tensing and untensing my muscles told me the nanites had done their work—none of my injuries would get in my way.

It was a pleasant fantasy, but nothing more. I couldn’t kill this man until I’d somehow saved my kin and my mate.

“What do you want, Vaher? You’re the last person I want to wake up to.” Usually, I’d be more polite. After the fight I’d won and the money I’d made him, I figured the captain could deal with a bit of honesty.

It seemed I was right. Vaher swept his holograms away with a gesture and smiled his least-fake smile. “Ah, Gragash, old friend. I’m glad to see your spirits are high. You’ve done spectacularly.”

“Good. Now fuck off and let me rest.”

“Now, there are things we need to discuss first.” Vaher stepped away from the wall, rubbing his palms together, and I waited stoically until he continued. “This is going to be a hardask, old friend, but I need a favor from you. I need you to throw the fight with Korsar.”

That startled a snorted laugh out of me, followed by a groan. My ribs weren’t fully healed yet. “Are you going into comedy, Vaher? Giving up the piracy and going straight as an entertainer is a bold course, but I’d support you.”

He just looked at me, one eyebrow raised, waiting until I continued. “I know that is a joke, because we’re talking about afight to the death.My honor would not permit me to throw any fight, but nobody would be stupid enough to die just so that you can clean up in some shady scam.”

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