Page 7 of Fated to the Orc

“Please,” Maddy scoffs. “You got in. Come on. Is there anything you can’t do, Eve? You’re a genius,andyou’re hardworking,andyou’re hot. You’re so in.”

“I don’t know,” I say as I check my phone for thehundredthtime today. No new messages. “Maybe they weren’t intereste?—”

My phone buzzes.

My heart skips a beat.

And then another.

It can’t be.

It just…

“What?” Madelyn says. “Eve? Why are you so pale? What’s going on?!”

She snatches the phone from my hand.

Her eyes grow big instantly.

“YOU’RE GOING TO XAVROS!”

Varkul

I have gatheredmy strongest orc warriors in my war tent to discuss the human’s proposal.

As is tradition, a feast is laid out for us on the wooden table. Decisions cannot be made on an empty stomach.

Today we have freshly grilled swine, and as much mead as an orc can handle.

“I do not trust the humans,” Garomshir says as he bites into a thick chunk of meat. “They are treacherous, snivelling creatures.”

“Yeah. It could be a trap,” a warrior named Harkol says.

“We should wait for that human to return, and then string him up by that thin neck of his,” Garomshir says. “Send them a warning!”

My orcs laugh rowdily. I listen patiently as they list reasons upon reasons why we should never trust a single word out of a human’s lips.

This is why I am Warlord, and they are not. It is easy to throw out words, accusations, threats.

It is not so easy to lead.

When our meal is finished, Garomshir takes a large swig of ale, wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and looks at me.

“Well, Varkul? How shall we do this? Shall we send a message to the humans, and lure that male back here?”

“Yeah!” My orcs shout.

I stand up from my throne and gesture for everyone to be silent.

It is instantly so quiet we only hear the sounds of the distant jungle. Birds chirping, trees rustling, a fire outside crackling.

It is the silence before the storm.

“I have decided to accept the human’s offer,” I say. “I will travel to the human facility first thing tomorrow morning.”

After a moment of stunned silence, chaos erupts. Orcs rise to their feet, pointing and shouting. Garomshir pulls out his axe and slams it into the wooden table. Mead spills everywhere.

“Silence!” I thunder.

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