Page 55 of Orc's Claim
Two more vints emerge from the woods. It’s like a pack of coyotes descending on freshly killed meat.
Ryko shifts his stance, feigning a weakness in his left side to draw them in.
Five, six...
Each time he kills a vint, two more appear, filling the void.
I’ve lost count. There are too many.
We’re surrounded.
Ryko charges onto the path and cuts down two vints, creating a narrow opening. Then he shoves me through and yells, “Run!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
PALOMA
“Help me!” Lily shouts as she runs into our sector. “They’re killing him!”
“Who?” McCullough asks as he grabs hold of her arms to steady her, she’s shaking so bad and out of breath.
“Vints! They’re beating him up?”
“Who? David? Carson?” McCullough names off the guards not currently in our sector.
“An orc.”
“Geez, Lily, don’t scare us like that. Now go sit down and calm yourself.” McCullough shakes his head as he walks away.
Owen saunters over, drags those dirty brown eyes of his up and down Lily, a grin slithering onto his face. “You been screwing an orc, Lily? Because you know what’ll happen to you if you have.”
Lily pushes past Owen until she reaches me. “Help me, please. He’s outnumbered!”
“A fight between an orc and a bunch of vints? We should stay out of it.”
I have no desire to get involved with any orc, or vints, for thatmatter. Nasty creatures, those vints. Orcs, too. Let them kill each other, but there’s a desperation in Lily’s eyes, as if this is… personal. No, that can’t be it.
“Lily, I’m sure the guards will break up the fight,” I whisper, trying to calm her as I put my arms around her, but I don’t believe they will. I need to find out if there’s more to this fight. I’ve never seen her this upset, but I need to calm her down if I’m going to get any information from her. She’s inconsolable, muttering something about knitting in a cave. Why would anyone knit in a cave? She’s not making any sense.
“Get back to your table, Paloma.” Owen orders. “You’ve got customers.”
“Lily needs me.” The moxxels looking at the leather goods at my table will wait or move on. Or steal the goods lying there unguarded. I couldn’t care less either way. Lily’s crying and most of what she’s saying is unintelligible because she’s so worked up.
“I’ll tell your uncle you’ve been screwin’ an orc, Lily,” Owen threatens, making the situation worse. “No one will go near you again. I wouldn’t want to be in your position when I tell your uncle all the disgusting details about you and that orc.”
“She’s not involved with an orc, so shut the fuck up, Owen,” I spew back at the bastard.
“I saw one of them filthy beasts back on the trail she always takes.”
“How do you know what trail she takes?” I don’t even ask him why he didn’t bother watching out for her if he thought an orc was following her because I know the answer. The fucking coward would rather see her attacked or killed than risk his own neck.
“None of your business. But I saw him heading in her direction. I didn’t think she’d be stupid enough to fuck an orc.
Despite my intense dislike of Owen, I agree with him regarding the orcs. The very idea of being with an orc… I shudder. Even if Owen’s right, I won’t condemn Lily. I can’t. She’s a good person. One who’s clearly in distress.
“We have to help him, Paloma!” she cries, clutching at my arms.
“Shh, Lily. We can’t help anyone until you calm down.”
