Page 38 of The Orc's Wife

All the half-baked plans I had had before I let Urgan claim me? They had been there all the time, steaming in the back of my mind, updating themselves as soon as I received new information. I had given up on those plans and decided to leave everything in Urgan’s hands.

But my plans hadn’t given up on me.

Now, I was fitting the pieces together.

Laya had said Urgan was accused of plotting to save humans. Servants heard it, and not all servants in the palace were confined to locked up rooms like us. Some could go out. They could gossip and spread the news.

Now, if only there was a way to let other humans know that not all hope was lost. If they knew that as soon as Urgan was freed, he could rally and fight for their freedom, they would do what they could to help me save him.

And for some reason, Dilba kept appearing in my mind’s eye. Soon, I worked out why. Oriana had said Dilba was of mixed blood, and that’s why she was shunned by some orcs. I could bet there were many more people like that, part human, part orc, scorned and kept from reaching their full potential. They would long for change, too.

As a midwife to orc-human children, Oriana would know all about them.

I stopped biting my nails when a sudden fear gripped me. Oriana. She was Urgan’s grandmother. Would they suspect she knew his plans? Would they seize her, too? Would she be tortured and questioned?

I shook my head. Oriana was smart. She was probably already hidden away, making plans of her own.

But… what about me? Urzulah said herself she had been told to keep me alive. Who had told her that? I expected someone as spoiled as her could only listen to the one person more powerful than herself: her father.

Which meant, I wasn’t safe at all.

What would they want from me? Would I be questioned? I smiled grimly. Urgan hadn’t told me anything. All I knew was that Grikh was involved… And I would take that secret to my grave. What else could they need me for? Would I be tortured in front of Urgan to make him reveal his plans?

I thought carefully about my options. Should I run if I could?

Or should I stay, risking my life, but also being close enough to help Urgan if I ever got the chance? Maybe I could even use my seemingly hopeless position to save him?

I couldn’t, I thought. What was I good for? I was weak, I was a slave, I couldn’t even leave the room. It wasn’t like I was a man, born to fight and win. I was just a woman.

My father’s taunting face appeared before me.

That’s right,it sneered.You’re just a woman. Good for nothing. If a man held you captive, you could at least spread your legs. But you let yourself get enslaved by a female. So weak. So stupid.

But this time, I wasn’t helpless in the face of my father’s taunting.

My brave Una, came a fading memory of Urgan’s words he had said once, when he was holding me close.You faced me despite your fear. You risked your life to save me. I have never met a female so courageous. So full of fire.

I let the memory warm me up, chasing the cold spirit of my father away. But not before I talked back, for the very first time able to stand up for myself to my father.

“You let yourself get killed by orcs, father,” I whispered. “You always believed only men could fight and protect their families. Guess what? You failed. And what I’m going to do will protect not just my family, but all human families. I will change the world, and I’ll do it with my strong orc by my side.

“My strong orc, who is now rotting in a dungeon somewhere. Who protected me so I wouldn’t go down with him. My orc, who was grateful I saved him, and who saved me, too. And I will believe him over you, father. Always. Because he believes in me. I’ll find a way to save him again, because even if I am helpless, I am not powerless.”

My choice made, I could finally fall asleep.

It was still dark when the turn of the lock woke me. As I sat up, the door swung open, letting inside the sound of Urzulah’s snoring.

“Honestly,” said Oriana’s quiet voice. “She just left the key in the lock. No guards at her door. This girl is too stupid to live. Well, come on up, we’re leaving.”

I stood up but I didn’t walk out the door.

“I’m staying. I want to help Urgan.”

Oriana caught my sleeve and pulled me closer to her.

“And how are you going to help when you’re cleaning up after that brainless tart?” she asked in an angry, hissing whisper.

“I’ll convince Urzulah that Urgan is in love with her. She wants him. Maybe if I somehow make her believe that he wants her, too, she might try to save him.”

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