Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

RYKO

B y the time I reach the falls of Mount Lisk, exhaustion overwhelms me. Not even the beauty of the water cascading over the thousand-foot drop, plunging into the crystal blue pool below, can soothe me. I'm near-defeated, physically and emotionally.

The beating I took today, being knocked out, and then my grak ordering me to the northern border of our territory where I will live in isolation until he decides I've earned the right to return to our people, has drained me. Only the fear of losing Lily keeps me from collapsing.

And if he does not take her for his own? What will happen to her? Especially if he tells the humans of my mating her.

No, he would not do that. He wants this treaty to last until he has what he needs. Enough females to sustain our people.

My mind spins with all the possible scenarios. I must determine which direction to head. Pen'Kesh? New Earth? Or… home, where I'll be killed for returning. But I do not know where Lily will be and time… There is no time for error .

What if her people overheard the vints slurs about me and Lily? I do not know what they will do to her.

"Sojek?" I call out but he doesn't reply. I must find my gorja and stop Atox from taking Lily. After I have her safely at my side, I will rest. Not before.

"Here." Sojek emerges from the bushes, leading two gorjas, mine and the one that pulls the cart. "The gorjas needed water. There are supplies for you in the back of the cart."

The cart sits unhitched beside the trail. A few sacks lay in the cart bed. Dried meats and tools for fashioning weapons. It's enough to support me while I hunt and build whatever I need during my exile.

I run my hands over my gorja, relieved to see he's well. I'll need a fast gorja to escape any number of dangers, including my grak.

Sojek has already balanced five sacks on my gorja's rump, with a thick leather pad to protect him.

"Remove the sacks," I order pointing to my gorja. "I'm returning to Pen'Kesh."

"You cannot disobey our grak again." Though young, Sojek is no fool. He likely witnessed what happened in Pen'Kesh, enough to know the trouble I'm in.

I push past him and one-by-one cut the straps securing the sacks until nothing burdens my gorja. "I'm wasting my time talking to you."

"Why? Because I'm not a warrior?"

The challenge in his voice is raw, but very orc. This is not the time to teach him a lesson that he will remember long after the bruises I leave him heal.

"I'm fighting for my female, Sojek." I don't know why I confess that to him, but I won't hide my love for Lily any longer.

Sojek tilts his head as if unsure if he heard me correctly. "You truly want the human? "

"Yes." I sheathe my knife and glance at the young male. "And like a fool, I never told her."

"To risk our grak's wrath… for a human…" His ridges rise high in surprise, perhaps disgust.

"She's my female. I must fight for her because I am nothing without her."

A slight nod, as if he understands or at least respects my words. "If you disobey our grak again, he'll kill you."

"Not if he doesn't find me."

"Don't disobey him, Warrior," a clear and stern warning.

I've never seen the young male speak back to a warrior. He's being brave and foolish and yet wise, too. Perhaps he has what it takes to be a warrior after all. Not that our grak will ever see the worth in him.

Sojek steps between me and my gorja. I could cut him with one swing from my sword.

Instead, I grab a fistful of his tunic and shove him aside. "I'm going back for her. And the next time you stand in my way, you won't have legs to stand on." I grab the nape of my gorja and hoist myself up.

Sojek pulls a knife from his hip. He knows how to use it, but still, he's no match for a warrior, especially one sitting atop a gorja.

He's stalling, I realize. Why?

"Ryko!" comes a sweet voice I know so well and never thought I'd hear again.