Page 21 of Orc's Forbidden Claim

No matter how I try to psych myself up and believe it will be okay, I don’t want to. Cold sweat coats my skin, my stomach feels like a million butterflies are dancing, and it’s all I can do to not throw up. Wren has her arms around me and I have mine around her. The winner turns a circle, grunting. There is no doubt he is looking for us but it’s not like there is anywhere to go. The only choice that I’ve seen was the fork we passed some ways back. This tunnel only goes forward or back and all the Urr’ki are back so that’s not an option.

He steps in front of the dim light from the lantern that is resting on the floor. It casts his shadow long and dark over the two of us but also prevents me from seeing who it is. I’m trembling as he approaches. I’m trying to be brave. I’m thinking brave thoughts, but my body has its own ideas.

Fear is a natural response, isn’t it? I mean, who wants to get beaten? And if they do, maybe they have deeper issues. Wrentightens her grip and then I realize she’s trembling too. It’s oddly comforting to know she is scared too. She is the Ice Queen, which somehow makes my trembling fear okay.

The hulking shadow crouches in front of us and leans in. As he does, he moves far enough out of the light that it shines past him and illuminates his face. It’s the one who was helping. I snort. I don’t mean to, but it slips out as the relief floods through my body.

The instant I do, Wren laughs. My stupid snorting has always made her laugh. I hate it, but right now I’m too relieved to care. I’m just glad it’s not the one who was going to kick Wren. The Urr’ki leans close, looking at both of us with searching eyes. I don’t know what it is he’s searching for, but it doesn’t feel invasive or mean. Not like the other guys’ eyes.

“Okay you?” he asks.

I blink at his strange phrasing which takes me a moment to parse out before I can answer.

“Yes,” Wren says. “You?”

He grunts, and shakes his head, and when he does drops of blood speckle my face. I gasp trying to brush them away without thinking that through. All I manage to do is smear them over my face. God, I must look like a horrid mess.

“Is he… dead?” I ask, pointing past him to the still form on the floor.

He looks over his shoulder and then back.

“No,” he says, shrugging.

“Oh,” I say, part of me wishing he was dead and the other part of me arguing that I’m not a killer and how could I think such an evil thought.

“Move,” he orders, standing up and walking away.

I look at Wren but there is nothing we can do. Exhaustion creeps in behind the receding adrenaline. My muscles quiver as I force myself back to upright. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so heavy in all my life.

“How much longer?” Wren asks.

“Shut,” one of them barks.

The one closer, the one who fought for us, comes over.

“Tired?” he asks.

Wren and I nod as one, almost as if we’re like those old Earth bobblehead toys I’ve seen in vids. Our heads bounce up and down as if they’re on a spring. He turns and walks away, barking at the others.

They huddle up and argue. A lot. While they do the one who was knocked out stirs. He groans loudly, grunts, turns his head, and spits blood then pushes up to his hands and knees. He growls and then explodes to an upright position. He looks ready to fight again.

The other Urr’ki watch with wary expressions as if they too are unsure what to expect from him. He rolls his shoulders, swings his arms, then walks over to the one who beat him. He thrusts his arm out so fast and sharply I think he’s going to punch our savior, but he doesn’t. Only holds the arm out and waits. Our savior stares at it for a long moment then clasps it and they shake.

The arguing continues a moment longer then they come to some kind of a consensus. The savior walks over and looks at us, his eyes moving up and down with cold evaluation.

“Rest,” he says, then turns his back and barks orders.

The other Urr’ki set to work doing whatever it was he ordered them to be about. Wren and I, with our backs against the wall, sink to the ground and lean on each other. I’m half asleep the moment my butt hits the floor. Before I drift all the way off, I have to wonder at what the Urr’ki are doing. It doesn’t look good for anyone following us. Their reputation for setting traps that can maim or kill a Zmaj is well-known and I fear that what I’m seeing may be deadly for those coming in pursuit.

Be careful Khiara. You’re the secret weapon. You know your people, be alert. And hurry. Please, please hurry.

14

SAYLOR

Iawake with a start. My heart is racing, and my breath catches in my throat. Wren tightens her grip on my arm as I quickly look around. Sleep fogs my brain. I don’t know what woke me up, but I have a definitive sense of danger that is very present and very real.

The two lanterns cast their dim light, illuminating the shadowy forms of our Urr’ki captors. Two of them are lying on the ground sleeping. Two are at the edge of the light watching behind us, barely visible. The last is behind Wren and me, watching the path forward.

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