Page 35 of Agor the Merciless
“And his magic takes life from everything near him,” Roric said. “The krags will get weak if they go too close. We might need to leave them and walk.”
“How far away does he live?” Zoe moved closer to see the map.
“Two days to reach his border,” Hestra said. “Then one more day to find his lair, if we can get through.”
No one spoke. The only noise in the room came from the fire, and they all thought about the job ahead. Finding the old, vile mage meant going into land changed by bad magic and facing someone who had planned for them since he’d been exiled.
Zoe looked at each person around the table. These orcs hardly knew her, but they would risk their lives to save her. She felt bad but also thankful, and her heart grew in her chest at the slow, hesitant realization that she, finally, had a family who cared about her.
She cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I need to say something. I’m sorry.” Her voice caught, and she had to take a breath and try again. “I’m sorry for how weak I am and for the problems it causes the horde.”
No one said anything. Roric shifted his feet. Hestra’s face softened, and Lyra shook her head gently, as if to say it was no trouble at all, and Zoe shouldn’t worry about them.
But that wasn’t something Zoe could do. She turned to Agor.
“What can I do to help?”
Agor placed his hands on the table, leaning forward as he looked at his mate.
“You will take care of yourself,” he said. “That is all I need from you. Wait for me. I will come back with a cure.”
“I can’t just sit and wait,” Zoe said. “It gets stronger when I have nothing to do but think about it.”
“We talked about this,” Agor said, his voice low so others couldn’t hear.
“I need more,” she insisted through gritted teeth. “Trust me for once.”
Agor turned to Durnak. “Bring Grol and Tarn to me.”
The raider nodded and left the cavern. The fire crackled while they waited. No one spoke, just threw each other glances hereand there, the tension so thick that it could be cut with a knife. Agor and Zoe had what could be easily described as a staring contest. It was no wonder the orcs present didn’t want to get between them, not even with a louder breath, let alone a word.
Grol and Tarn arrived a few minutes later. They stopped at the edge of the group, not sure why their captain wanted them. Grol looked at Zoe, then at the captain, most likely thinking about the day Agor the Merciless dragged her from the garage.
“Step forward,” Agor said.
They walked to the table and stopped.
“My mate needs a purpose to fight this,” Agor said to everyone. “You will keep her safe, and you will keep her busy. The garage is hers.”
Tarn’s mouth opened. He looked at his father, who looked just as surprised.
“Captain,” Grol said, “we would be honored.”
Agor nodded and turned to the female orcs. “Hestra, Pira, Zana – you will be her support. You will see to her needs.”
The three females nodded. Pira smiled at Zoe. Zana looked at the human with new respect.
Agor knew this wasn’t normal. An orc captain didn’t let others protect his mate. But his need to control and do things his way had ended up harming Zoe, so now it was time for him to try a different way. He trusted his orcs to take care of her, and he knew they wouldn’t disappoint him.
“While I hunt Grak the Bitter, you will give her work,” Agor continued. “Tools, problems, engines, whatever keeps her mind busy and her hands working.” He didn’t understand much about cars, not even orc cars, so he tried to keep it short.
“We have many projects,” Tarn said with excitement. “The second orc car needs a new transmission. The motorcycle frame…”
“Tarn.” Grol put his hand on his son’s shoulder. “We understand, captain. We will provide what she needs.”
Agor looked at everyone around him. “We leave at dawn. Lyra, Durnak, and two grunts will join me. We will not return without a cure.”
