Page 50 of The Iron Oath
“You look just like him,” she said, breaking the silence. She ignored everyone else. There was so much she wanted to say to this orc, but she bit her tongue.
“And you look like him as well,” Sakgu murmured. He blew out a deep breath and raised a trembling hand. He ran it over his jawline. “You are doing well here? Are you and your mother in need of anything?”
“You don’t need to worry yourself about me or my mother,” she replied dryly. If he hadn’t been worried about her in all of her thirty-two solars, he needn’t start now. She broke the stare and scanned the room. She tilted her chin and figured she might as well introduce herself. “My name is Amuleta Sesh, daughter of Xagok and Gelisha Sesh. I’m sure you can see that I am of mixed heritage. My mother, a human, was the fated mate to my father.”
Murmurs went around the room. She was not going to back down and allow them to bully her. She was tired of people trying to decide where she belonged, what she could do based on what she was made up of.
She was proud to be half orc and half human.
“And I am the fated mate to Magoza Cydassi.”
“And you can feel the bond?” one of the orcs asked.
Amuleta slipped her hand into Magoza’s. She glanced over at her mate and smiled.
“Yes. I can feel it here.” She placed a hand over her heart. She didn’t know who all of these clan leaders were, but she was goingto make sure that they all knew exactly how she felt about this entire situation.
“Why would the gods create a mating bond between a full-blood orc and a?—”
“Do you usually go around questioning the gods?” she cut off the clan leader. Something came over her that she couldn’t control. She bit back a little growl and eyed all of the males at the table.
Dura sat in her chair with a smile on her lips. She gave Amuleta a nod in support while Magoza squeezed her hand.
“Last I heard when you questioned the gods it made them angry.”
“It’s not that we questioned the gods, we want to understand their decisions,” another leader, who had gray-and-black hair, said. He gave a nonchalant shrug as he continued. “For centuries our chieftain has mated with another full-blown orc. It’s tradition. I’m not sure how much you know of orc history and tradition?—”
“I know plenty. I know how orcs treat those who are not like them. I know what it feels to be treated as lower class because I’m only half orc. I know that there are plenty of ‘half-breeds’ in existence with different races. You don’t seriously think I am the only mixed race to live?” She released Magoza’s hand and took a step toward the table. Anger filled her that they were so fixated on the simple fact that only one of her parents was an orc. “I think it is you who doesn’t know the orc history and tradition, sir.”
“I beg your pardon,” the elder orc sputtered. He sat forward and narrowed his gaze on her. “Be careful?—”
“Choose your words wisely, Cardu.” Magoza’s hand rested on the handle of her axe. “This is my mate you are speaking to.”
“And you insult her, you insult Angarth,” Tulak snarled. The chieftain narrowed his hard gaze on the clan leader.
Amuleta pushed down the shock at being claimed by the chieftain. Never in a million solars would she have thought the chieftain would defend her. But she guessed that being the mate of his daughter meant something to him.
“I move to allow Magoza and Amuleta to complete their mating bond. Should she win the trials she can be awarded the official title of heir to the chiefdom,” Sakgu announced.
“What?” Cardu snapped. “Have you lost your mind? You are only saying that because you feel guilty about banishing your cousin because of his human mate.”
“Again, what goes on in my clan is none of your business.” Sakgu faced Amuleta and stood to his full height. “You have the backing of the Dhogurd Clan.”
“You have the backing of the Babul Clan.” Another clan leader stood. He glanced around the table. “I’ve heard and seen enough. It is foolish to hold on to traditions from the old times. We are no longer nomads with no home and dwindling numbers. We are a nation that needs to be progressing toward a future that is best for Aghon, not clinging on to the past.”
“Shamir omie, Larek,” Magoza said. She pounded a fist over her heart.
“Larek is right. We should be a nation that advances, and I also agree with Amuleta. There are plenty of mixed races in this country and the world. We all know this. If the gods have deemed that Magoza and Amuleta are to be together, then I don’t want to risk the wrath of the gods by keeping them apart.” This clan leader stood and pounded his fist over his heart. “The Jungshen Clan offers our support to Magoza and Amuleta.”
The other clan leaders pledged their support to Amuleta and Magoza. All but one—Cardu.
Magoza took Amuleta’s hand in hers and brought it up to her lips. She pressed a kiss to the back of it. Amuleta becameoverwhelmed with emotion. She and Magoza would be able to be together. They could move on with their lives.
“I’m disappointed that the Ogola Clan does not offer support of my daughter and her mate,” Tulak announced. “But nonetheless, your support is not needed. Majority of the council has agreed that my daughter can be deemed the heir should she win the trials.”
Amuleta had to fight to keep from grinning. She kept her face devoid of all emotions—at least she hoped she had. She didn’t want to let them in on how excited she was that Magoza would not have to lose anything for following what fate had planned for her.
“Now that we have solved this issue, the only other issue is the orcs who participated in today’s attack. Nargol will be leading the investigation.” Dura pushed back from the table and stood. The chieftain’s mate was regal as she eyed the males at the table.
