Page 38 of Mountain Orc Daddy

“Uzul,” Mara finally says after a moment of awkward silence. "Glad you made it back so soon.”

“Mom, Dad,” Blair starts in a serious tone. “I overheard you two talking when you first got back.”

Mara and Phineas look back and forth between each other and their daughter. The energy of the room instantly turns tense. What happened? What did I miss?

“Blair,” Phineas says. "I’m not sure what you thought you-”

“When tracking Gideon, did you, or did you not, sense traces of other witches?”

“We did,” Mara says. Phineas looks at her, shocked by her honesty.

“But,” Phineas adds. "We really don’t know much. It could mean anything.”

“We know exactly what it means, Phineas.”

“What are you two talking about,” I ask. I’m tired of them talking around the point. They are both clearly scared and whatever Blair overheard scared her too. I look directly at Mara. "What does it mean?”

“Well, for starters, they weren’t from any coven we know. We believe it might be a rogue coven.”

“So, that means they’re dangerous? Right?” Jade asks.

Her parents both nod.

“Rogue witch covens are bad news, to put it lightly. Then you add them working with a bounty hunter that specifically targeted you, Uzul, and… Well, I think it’s clear.”

Blair gasps. Her father and siblings all look at me with pity. I’m getting so angry, why are they looking at me like that? Why can’t anyone just give me a straight answer?

“It’s not clear! What does that mean? Just tell me!”

“Uzul,” Blair reaches out and holds my hand gently. "It’s bad. Your tribe has been pretty isolated. So, it makes sense you wouldn’t know this. But, even before the Veil fell, orcs and witches never got along. Our history books are full of conflicts across time between certain covens and tribes. Most have moved past it but some still hold old grudges.”

“We have reason to believe,” Mara says. "This rogue coven is one of those covens, still holding on to the old ways and with it, the old enemies.”

Oh god, I thought all of this would end with a dead Gideon. It only seems to be getting worse. Now there is some rogue coven thrown in to complicate everything further.

“Wait,” Blair says as a look of realization washes over her. “When Gideon took me, he kept talking about ‘orcs’, how all ‘orcs’ must die. Not ‘orc.’

“He did the same thing when we had him in the shack.” I think I’ve come to the same realization as Blair. “His plans were much larger than just killing me. He must have also had his sights on my tribe. And if he did-”

“Then this rogue coven must as well.” Blair looks up at me with concern.

My head is racing. I’ve been so distracted down here in the city with Blair. I forgot about all the threats lurking in the shadow. To think I wanted to bring my tribe down here to join me, I’d be walking them right into danger.

“I need to get back to my tribe!” I immediately head to the door. There is no time to waste.

“Uzul!” Blair grabs my arm and tries to hold me back but I easily keep moving. “Mom! Dad!”

I open the front door but a blast of magic slams it shut before I can get out. I try to open it again, as Blair continues to pointlessly tug on my arm. The door is held shut with magic. I look back and Blair’s family have followed us from the kitchen.

“STOP!” I roar, but no one backs down, Blair doesn’t even flinch. “My tribe could be in danger! Just because Gideon failed his part doesn’t mean these witches will just go away! I need to warn them!”

“Okay,” Blair says. “You make it back to your tribe. You warn them. What happens next? What do you do next, Uzul?”

“We move, we hide.”

“And if this rogue coven has already found them? Or find them before you can get far enough away? What do you do next?”

“We fight.”

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