Page 46 of His Orc Lady

Vark leans back in his chair, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Out with it, then. I don’t like this suspense.”

“Aye, it sounds very ominous.” Steagor’s eyes glint with humor. “It’s making me imagine all the worst outcomes.”

“Gods, why do I even put up with you lot?” Gorvor rubs at his eyes, then grins up at us. “Well, then. Ozork is wooing Lady Willow, the Duke of Ultrup’s niece. She’s his mate, and I believe they’ve, ah, taken certain steps in their relationship.”

“Gorvor!” Dawn smacks his arm in outrage. “You can’t say things like that!”

“Oh, come off it,” Vark cuts in. “Like you were any different? I have ears, you know, and was stationed right outside your door.”

Dawn’s cheeks turn a violent shade of pink, but before she can snipe back at Vark, Gorvor lets out a rumbling growl, cutting off any argument.

“Enough. We’re all adults here, and we know what a mating does to an orc. I’m happy for Ozork and his Willow, and I hope she will decide that our clan is better than her human court.” Gorvor looks from Vark to Steagor, then settles his gaze on me. “But Lady Willow’s dowry, which is controlled by her uncle, is tied up in such a way that she must marry a nobleman in order to claim it.”

I frown, repeating his words in my head. “Her dowry?”

“Aye. Her parents were rich, but that inheritance didn’t pass on to her because her mother wasn’t of noble blood, so the fortune returned to the duchy,” Gorvor explains. “And her uncle drew up a contract that set the strange condition. If she chooses to marry a commoner, she won’t see even a copper of it.”

“That’s outrageous,” I blurt, straightening my spine. “Why would he do that?”

“To control her,” Steagor growls. He leans his elbows on his knees and adds, “This means that she’ll get nothing if she remains with Ozork?”

Gorvor inclines his head. “What’s worse, the duke will keep all that money. From what Willow told Ozork, it’s not an insignificant sum.”

I purse my lips, thinking this through. “Ozork doesn’t need the dowry, he’s wealthy enough for the both of them, but Willow doesn’t know that yet, does she?” I hold up a finger. “Nor should she have to give up a great lump of gold just because Ozork doesn’t have a title.”

“Exactly.” Gorvor hugs Dawn closer to his chest. “Which is why I’ve agreed to his plan.”

Vark lifts the eyebrow above his missing eye. “And the plan is…?”

“To make Ozork a duke,” the king announces. “The first Duke of the Black Bear Clan.”

I stare at him for a moment, shocked, then grin. “That’s brilliant! Willow can marry him then, and the duke will have to honor the contract.”

Dawn lets out a sound of disapproval, and when we all turn to her, she flutters her hands in agitation. “I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but the duke might still go back on his word. It wouldn’t be the first time he did something unsavory.”

Gorvor puts his arms around her, holding her close. “That’s true. But then we’ll know for sure he holds a grudge against our clan. So far, he hasn’t moved against us directly, but if he refuses to acknowledge Ozork as equal in status to any of his own noblemen, we’ll have our answer.”

I think of what Owen told me—that Willow has come here to spy on the clan. I don’t know whether she’s gone through with her plan, so I won’t say anything yet, not in front of the others, but I’ll have to speak to Gorvor soon. As long as the entire human delegation is staying at the Hill, there’s little danger of any information getting out, especially in this weather. Once Owen sends half or more of his soldiers back to Ultrup, however, we might have to be more careful.

The thought reminds me of my discussion with Owen, too. He’s human, but when he’d said he wasn’t bothered by the fact that I have more money than him, I believed him. In time, I hope I’ll be able to show him why, exactly, we’ll never have to worry about money again.

“Mara?” Gorvor says my name, his voice a touch louder than before.

“Hmm?” I glance from him to Vark and Steagor and realize they’re all staring at me, including the queen. “I’m sorry, my mind wandered.”

“Anywhere in particular?” Steagor asks, his grin sly.

I glower at him, then realize that they’ve likely all heard the news by now. Gorvor and Dawn were there on that fateful day when I first saw Owen, Steagor knows because I confided in him and Poppy, and Vark must have somehow figured out the truth from the rumors circulating around the Hill. Orcs can be terrible gossips, I’ve known that for years.

“Aye, Captain Hawke is my mate,” I confirm. The words slip easily off my tongue, perhaps because I’d practiced them in front of the mirror this morning. Or maybe it’s just that I’ve finally accepted the fact and am no longer trying to deny it.

Dawn clasps her hands in her lap. “That’s so lovely. But, ah, forgive me, is something wrong? You don’t seem as enthusiastic as I’d hoped after seeing your reaction to him all those weeks ago.”

I glance at Steagor, who knows part of the reason why I’ve been hesitant about this.

He reaches out and pats my shoulder, his large palm heavy. “They need to know, Mara. We’re here to help, you know that.”

Gorvor is frowning at me. “What’s the matter? Is it the captain? Say the word, cousin, and I’ll have him exiled from the land.”

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