Page 47 of The Iron Oath
She took her seat while Soula placed the last dish on the table. Amuleta joined her and sat across from her.
“This meal was prepared by Fodor himself. If you should need anything else, just press that button on the wall.” Soula pointed to a golden button. She removed the tops off the dishes, and the aroma grew more intense.
Amuleta’s stomach rumbled, announcing itself for all to hear.
“Shamir omie,” Amuleta said. She eyed the tasty meats and vegetables that were grilled to perfection. It had been a long while since she had eaten.
“Wulcimu.” Soula gave another bow. “I will return to collect the dishes once you are done.”
The attendant spun on her heels and quickly exited the room. Amuleta turned to her mother and found her already digging into her plate.
“Oh my, this is good!” Gelisha exclaimed.
Amuleta laughed and reached for her utensil and stabbed a juicy morsel of meat and brought it to her mouth. The tasteexploded on her tongue. It was seasoned and cooked exactly how she liked it. They continued enjoying the delicious meal. Their conversation flowed, but in the back of Amuleta’s mind she couldn’t help but worry why those orcs had arrived at the same time as they had. She was sure it had something to do with the attack earlier. It was too much of a coincidence, but the only thing she wasn’t sure of…
Were those orcs for or against she and Magoza?
NINETEEN
Magoza stoodagainst the wall with her sister next to her. The tension in the air was palpable. She eyed the council as they entered the chambers. They each strode into the room as if they owned the place. The sitting room was an appropriate setting for them to discuss sensitive matters. It was part of the fortified part of the Angarth, and anything discussed here would remain in the room. There was a table with chairs seated around it. Her father had held plenty of meetings with other clan leaders here.
But tonight, this was different.
Magoza bit back her scowl and tried to keep her face devoid of any emotions. She could not allow them to see that she was worried.
Even though what they were here to discuss was her fecking future.
Her father and mother were the last to arrive. The guards outside the room shut the door. Her parents strode to the head of the table and stood. The other clan leaders came and chose their seats.
“Please, sit down,” Dura said.
Everyone did so while silence continued. Her mother sat in the chair next to Tulak. She eyed each of the men and met their hard gazes with a glare.
“So tell me,council. Why are you here?” Dura put a hard emphasis on the word council. She settled back in her seat and crossed her legs. Her silken dress floated around her. She may have been in a fancy outfit, but it didn’t take away that the chieftain’s mate was just as dangerous as he was.
Tulak sat straight with his fingers steepled against each other. A chieftain was only as strong as his mate.
Magoza thought of Amuleta. With her mate at her side, she would grow into a better person. She looked forward to a long future with her, and these orcs sitting around the table were here to prevent her from having the future she deserved.
To lead their people with the woman she loved at her side.
“Rumors have reached the far corners of Aghon about your daughter mating with a half-breed,” Sakgu began. He flicked his gaze to Magoza. “We have long traditions that the leader of Aghon must mate with an orc. There has never been a chieftain who has not taken an orc as his—or her—bride.”
“And why can’t we forge a new history?” Tulak asked.
Silence met him.
He grunted and leaned forward. “Who is to say that history has been right? Dura is my fated mate. My parents were fated mates before me, as were my grandparents.”
“Yes, we know the history of your family,” Cardu, the leader of the Ogola Clan, snapped. His scowl deepened. His hair was a mixture of silver and black. He was one of the eldest leaders to still guide his clan. It was known that his sons had not taken mates yet, and he refused to allow them to fight for his position until one of them was mated. “And that is exactly our point. Orc with full-blooded orcs. Not orcs and half-breeds.”
“And you will sit here and try to advise me on my daughter and her mate while your sons have yet to find anyone to mate with?” Tulak snarled. His fist banged on the table. “I don’t think this is a conversation you should be a part of.”
Magoza’s breath caught in her throat. She fought the urge to look over at her sister. Nargol’s hard swallow was all she needed to hear. She was in shock, too, that her father had brought up the sensitive subject of Cardu and his sons being mateless.
“How dare you?” Cardu sputtered.
“How dare you!” The chieftain rose to his feet and glared at the entire council. “The six of you come together to form a Council of Clans because my daughter has found her fated mate. The one person who the gods have created for her. Who of you will stand against fate?”
