Page 50 of The Orc's Wife

Oriana came past midnight. She collapsed on the floor next to me, putting her strong, wiry arms around me.

“Congratulations on killing the bitch,” she said, but her voice was weary. “Urgan is alive. He’s healing. He could limp slowly, so I led him to another dungeon and gave him the medicine. He’s sleeping now.”

In my sleep-addled mind, I could find no joy or relief, only new fear. What if he was discovered?

“And no one saw you?”

She snorted.

“The Imp is a fool. When Urzulah said she had killed Urgan, he believed her at once. She has a history of violent outburst, and Urgan wasn’t difficult to kill. They had been feasting ever since. Drinking mead. Even the palace guard is relaxed, eating and drinking. He’s rewarding them now that he thinks his only enemy is dead.”

“He was almost dead because of me,” I said, looking at Oriana. “It was because I lied to Urzulah. It’s all my fault.”

She gripped my hands in hers, her eyes so fierce I recoiled.

“He was already dying when she came,” she said, her voice hard as steel. “I didn’t tell you. How could I? But I saw him one day when the guards were switching and they left his cell door unattended. He was almost dead. You saved him, dear.

“If Urzulah hadn’t thought she had killed him, he would have died. It’s only because she left the door open and the Imperator called off the guards that we could get to him with medicine. It was Nat’s idea to even question Urzulah’s words. And her idea to use Savinia’s herbs.”

I turned to Nat, my gratefulness too much for words. She nodded to me once. I nodded back. We understood each other.

So, it hadn’t been my fault, after all. A huge weight was lifted off my chest. Thank the spirits.

“If anyone’s to blame, it’s Urgan himself,” Oriana said, shaking her head. When I gave her an angry look, she waved me off. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. It’s true. He should have done this the orc way. Gone up to the Imp as soon as you arrived and challenge the old fool. Instead, he tried doing things the human way.

“Scheming, plotting, organizing… He chose the less risky way, because he wanted to protect you.”

“Aha,” I said, frowning. “So it is my fault.”

“Pay attention, girl. Not yours, Urgan’s. He let his judgement be clouded. But if you want to be generous, you could say it’s love’s fault. Everyone is a fool in love.”

I shook my head exasperated. I didn’t care who or what was to blame. All I knew was that I hadn’t seen Urgan for two weeks. It was far longer than the time we had spent together, even if it had felt like months, and not mere days. I was beginning to believe he was just a phantom. A part of my dream.

“So… Can I see him?”

Oriana shook her head. “Wait. Someone is bound to check on Urzulah tomorrow. She wasn’t at the feast, which is unusual.”

Waiting was torture, but I didn’t complain. We kept up our usual routine, with Nat and Laya helping with the feast and me sitting in Urzulah’s bedroom. She had almost never let me outside and had always ordered me to stay in her chamber. Even when she had been out.

Anointed with the essence of Spider’s Tear, I was ready to deceive anyone who came looking for her.

And indeed, someone came soon, before noon. There was a loud, insistent knock on the door, and I opened it enough for the visitor to see the ruined interior of the bedroom.

“Tell lady Urzulah Ragan is here to court her,” said an aging but impressively built orc.

My heart beat faster. Ragan! The orc who had betrayed Urgan! And he really wanted to court Urzulah. I stifled a nervous giggle. Who would have thought my wild tales would have some truth to them.

“I am sorry,” I said, casting my eyes down. “She has just, um, left. She was very angry. I am cleaning right now.”

He glanced inside, his eyes slipping over the overturned furniture and broken sculptures. Then, he leaned closer to me, giving an audible sniff. He was smelling something. My heart was wild in my ears. Could he smell Urzulah’s blood?

“Are you Urgan’s human mate?” he asked with a disgusted grimace. “You truly are like the rest of the filthy humans, aren’t you? Not even a bit sad after his death. Foul race, all of you. You’re not better than animals.”

I tensed, wondering if he would try to hurt me now, but he turned on his heel and left. I closed the door softly and leaned against it.

So that was why he had betrayed Urgan. Ragan hated humans, plain and simple. How could Urgan not have noticed?

I shook my head then. Ragan could have been deceiving him. Pandering to the great general who had human blood in his veins. And when he had the chance, he made sure Urgan fell. Hard.

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