Page 8 of Fated to the Orc

Everyone freezes.

“I have made my decision,” I say loudly. “Who dares question it?”

“Varkul,” Garomshir says, his voice filled with anger. “This is madness!”

“What other choice do we have?!” I shout. “Our clan has no more fertile women. Not since Xalaka passed in childbirth, spirits resther soul. If we do nothing, Clan Blackfang slowly withers away into nothingness. I must risk it!”

“We could raid another clan!” Garomshir shoots back. “According to the whispers, Clan Darkwood has three fertile women. Three! Surely we can take at least one?”

“I have heard the same whispers. We could raid them, yes. But how many orc lives will it cost? How many strong men will we lose? Clan Darkwood will defend their fertile women to the death.”

I scan each and every one of my orcs’ faces.

These proud warriors would follow me to war without hesitation. If I tell them Clan Darkwood dies tonight, they would not stop until the last drop of blood has been spilled.

“I would gladly die for our clan,” Garomshir says, thudding his fist against his chest proudly.

“I know. Your loyalty is not in question — but the survival of our speciesis. Think about this, my orcs: The raid will kill more orcs than a fertile orc woman can ever birth.”

I take a moment to let my words sink in.

“Our clan might be victorious today, but in the long run, we are dying. And the weaker we get, the easier it will be for the humans to push us around. If these humans promise offspring, we must listen to what they have to say. Not only for our clan, but forallorc kind.”

Garomshir spits on the ground. “Heresy! You would abandon our people?! You would bow before these humans — you wouldmatewith them?!”

I tolerate discussion.

I donottolerate dissent.

My forehead slams into Garomshir’s. He drops down to the ground hard, falling over a chair as he does so.

“I willsaveour people,” I growl. “I will travel to the humans, and risk my own life to save our people. To save orcs everywhere! And if you do not think me fit to lead Clan Blackfang, Garomshir, then raise your voice at me again and challenge me. I dare you.”

Garomshir slowly crawls up to his feet. His lip is bleeding, and in his eyes I see begrudging respect.

“I don’t like it,” the orc warrior grunts.

“Neither do I, Garomshir,” I answer. “But is a risk I must take. I will travel to the human facility at first light.”

Evelyn

This is it.Launch day.

Time to slingshot across the universe.

Time to leave behind everything I’ve ever known.

Vonnegut Spaceport is especially busy today. The sounds of rolling luggage, beeping security scanners and thousands of people chatting washes over me.

It’s a holiday weekend, which means plenty of people are gearing up for their visits to the popular Lunar Resorts for their low-gravity holiday.

That’s the only trip even remotely affordable for the average person. Anything beyond Earth’s orbit? Forget it.

Hiking the dunes of Mars? Drifting through Neptune’s ice rings? Watching the storms swirl across Saturn from up close? Those are the playgrounds for the rich only.

And Xavros? Even the rich can’t afford it. You need to be part of the elite of the elite to go there. Having the digital stamp of Xavros in your passport is theultimatestatus symbol.

And, somehow, I’m about to board a ship that will take me there.

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