Page 11 of Orc's Mate

“In caves?”

“So I’ve heard. They say things glow there, but I can’t imagine such a thing. I haven’t visited. I prefer the sunshine and the sea.” Even if the lack of rain was decimating my clan numbers. “Then we have the Azuris or water clan. They primarily live in the city built along the shore. My friend, Jaus, is the newly appointed commander of the military. When the dresalods attack, he leads the charge.”

“I’m surprised your clan isn’t Azuris since you live far out to sea.”

“Clans were chosen many generations ago. Zephyr fits us.”

“Ah.”

Again, that ah, as if she was processing everything I said, though not judging. A feeling of contentedness settled over me, the first time I’d savored the feeling in ages. The weight of my people’s survival had fallen on me when I was much too young to take on the mantle. My father died during the great shayde battle five years ago when I was seventeen, and only Crickin, Drabass’s father, challenged me. My father had trained me well, and I won the match.

No one else had tried to claim leadership. Our life was tough, and eking out an existence on the islands was challenging enough without dealing with the day-to-day tasks of the caedos. Most could see that.

Not Drabass, but he was a fool. He’d make a horrible caedos, and despite not always wishing to have this role, the fates were wise when they chose me.

Now they’d proven their wisdom again with Eleri.

“The other clans include Lumen, for the sun,” I said. “They live high in the mountains, and many are part of the royal family. The other two clans are the Malis or shadow clan who live in the forest, and the Ember or fire clan. They live beyond the mountains in a stark, dry climate. They foster our voxes.”

“You travel there to claim one after it's hatched?”

“They form within a seed that’s half the size of me, and when they slip out, they’re known to bond with the person closest to them. In earlier days, this was their parent, but now all eligible males and females travel to the Ember Clan to be there during the hatching. We remain there long enough for the vox to grow large enough to take flight, feeding and grooming it so it knows our touch. We learn to fly along with them, then take them to our homes so they know where to find us. They nest near us but always return to the Ember territory when they’re ready to produce young, though that’s only every three years.”

“Fascinating.”

Again, she wasn’t frightened. This female stood up to the ashenclaws with only a stick. She rode my vox without fear. And she’d met my stare with a steely one of her own.

She was worthy of being my mate.

Was I worthy of her?

Chapter7

Eleri

We flew through the night, and Odik guided his vox down to a meadow as dawn bloomed on the horizon.

I wasn’t sure what I thought about being chosen by his clan. Could the fates send a pendant to give people guidance? Who was I to say? Somehow, the fates had sent me Zur when I was a child about to be eaten by shaydes.

A sob bubbled in my throat, but I swallowed it back down. Now wasn’t the time to weep for my lost father. I’d do so when no one could see—and judge—me, though I wasn’t sure Odik would laugh. He came across as stoic, serious, and full of compassion. I supposed he’d have to be to lead his clan from such an early age.

He’d lost his father, which meant he understood my feelings.

And we were now mated.

I’d never thought someone would choose to marry me, not with my limp, so I wasn’t sure what to think about having a husband. Everyone in the village had scorned me.

Yet Odik didn’t reject me, or he hadn’t so far. Perhaps my limp wasn’t such a big thing to him. He’d calmly accepted my deficit, shrugging it off as if it was something to deal with but not something that would hold either of us back.

This . . . pleased me.

I wouldn’t remain with him out of gratitude, however. I would wait to read his true character. If I continued to feel he was a good male, I’d stay with him. Returning to the village wasn’t an option, and I needed to live somewhere.

Would I come to love him?

My fellow villagers would scorn me if they heard I was contemplating caring for an orc, but I’d never allowed anyone else’s opinion of me matter, and I wouldn’t in this.

Zarran landed in the meadow, and Odik leaped to the ground. He reached up and tugged me off the spine, then held me when my legs threatened to give way.

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