Page 38 of The Iron Oath
“But you were looking at me, so now it is my business.” She pushed off the wall and closed the distance between them.
“Well, if you must know, I told Dengul that once you were done with your little half-breed, I wouldn’t mind having your leftovers. Show her what it’s like to be with an orc with a large cock.”
His sadistic smile spread across his face. Arms grabbed her as she lunged forward. Her hand immediately dropped to her axe.
“He’s just fecking with you,” Nargol’s voice sounded in her hear. Her sister’s arms were tight around her as she held Magoza.
The orc threw his head back and laughed.
“I’ll gut you, you fecking bastard,” Magoza shouted. She struggled to get free.
Another set of hands grabbed her from the other side and helped Nargol hold her. A red haze had dropped down over her eyes. Other orcs came over, closer, carefully eyeing her and the other two orcs.
“How about I rearrange that half-breed’s guts with my cock!” He laughed and elbowed the other orc.
Magoza went still. It didn’t matter that she was about to go out and fight a warrior for the trials.
This orc in front of her had signed his death warrant.
“Touch my mate, and the last thing your cock will see is my axe chopping it off your dead body,” Magoza said through clenched teeth.
His smile disappeared. He made a move toward her, but his friend grabbed hold of his arm. The feel of her axe’s handle calmed her racing heart. In battle, Magoza was always calculating and deadly. He may have taken her for granted with her being a female warrior, but she had taken down much larger orcs than him.
“You’re making big threats, Commander. Maybe you’ll see me in the ring,” he snapped.
“What is going on in here?” a deep voice shouted.
Guards pushed their way through the crowd and burst forth.
One of the lead guards stood between Magoza and the warrior. “There will be no fighting here in the cages. Save that for the arena. Break this up. Now!”
Magoza stared at the orc. She didn’t know his name but didn’t need to. She wasn’t going to be satisfied until her axe was buried in his chest. Be it in the ring or out in the streets, she would face him. Speaking such things about her mate would need to be answered.
“Commander, please.”
Magoza blinked and found the other guards pushing the orc and his friend, Dengul, away. She focused on the guard and gave him a nod. The other warriors in the cage eyed her warily.
“Anyone else have something to say about my mate?” she shouted.
The fighters turned away from her. A satisfied growl went through her. She shook off the other warrior and Nargol’s grip. Her sister moved closer.
Magoza glanced at her. “I’m good.”
“Are you?” She gripped Magoza’s arm again and narrowed her eyes on her. “Remember what I said. Not now.”
Magoza jerked her head in a nod and looked over her shoulder. There were no signs of the orc. She would find him, and they would continue their little conversation at a later date.
That was, if he wasn’t the one she would be facing.
“I want to know his name. Where he hails from. Everything you can find out.” Magoza wasn’t going to let this go. The need for that orc’s blood to be spilled filled her.
“Consider it done.”
Magoza stood inside the gates that would open for her to go out into the arena. The challenges had begun, and she was up next. Nargol had fought a few battles ago and had won. Magoza had watched her from the caged windows. Nargol’s battle had been brutal, but it was no surprise that she had come through as the victor.
The announcer, Vakgu, was very animated in announcing Magoza’s opponent. She ignored the name, and as she always did before she went into any battle, she sent up a prayer to Nogora. She prayed for the strength of the goddess, to not falter and to help her prove herself. Magoza was dedicated to her people and knew deep down in her soul that she was meant to be the next leader.
So in the quiet, dark tunnel she stood silent and felt the warmth of the goddess’s response float over her. She inhaledsharply at the crowd roaring. The other warrior must have entered the arena. Her eyes fluttered open as calmness settled inside her. She had to focus on this fight. She rolled her shoulders to help loosen the muscles.
