Chapter 22

Chapter

Twenty-Two

GOVEK

G ovek found his father where he usually was—on his throne atop the platform, surveying the meal with sharp eyes.

Govek sucked in a deep breath, knowing what this conversation would entail. His father would not let the trade be their only topic. The merger would be brought up.

His father would never allow him to be chief, of that Govek was certain, but Ergoth likely expected Govek to find a way to change Karthoc’s mind. To stop the merger by other means.

His gut twisted as he tried to imagine what demands his father might make.

Helplessly, he scanned the crowd and found Miranda being led over to the women’s table. The other males were getting up to give his mate a wide berth.

Good .

“Govek.”

He turned around and found Karthoc, tense and glancing into the crowd as if looking for someone.

“Warlord,” Govek said quietly.

“You don’t scent Evythiken, do you?” Karthoc said, still searching the crowd.

“No.”

“Blasted male has a habit of popping up where he’s least wanted,” Karthoc said. “And he’ll skin my scalp if he finds me talking to you. Come over here.”

Govek hesitated. It was unwise to ignore an order from the warlord but he was unwilling to be interrogated if he could avoid it.

Karthoc scowled at Govek’s reluctance. “I’m not here to beat you down about becoming chief. I’m here to talk about the trade.”

The trade?

After a deep breath, Govek followed Karthoc into a darkened corner of the hall. “You are going to the trade, right?”

Govek furrowed his brow. “I planned to. I’m here to speak to Chief Ergoth about it.”

“Good. I need you to do me a favor and distract him so we can follow.”

Govek went cold. “ What ?”

“Don’t look so Fades-stricken. I just need to speak to the headman. I don’t have much choice after Brovdir...”

“What did Brovdir do?”

“I’ll tell you if you get us to the trade without your precious father finding out.”

Govek’s mind reeled. What had mild-mannered Brovdir done to muck up relations with Oakwall?

Did this mean Oakwall knew about the upcoming merger?

Govek turned slightly to search out Miranda in the crowd, using her presence to aid his addled thoughts. She seemed well chatting with the other women.

“I can tell you how to find it and you could arrive early.”

“Wouldn’t your father scent our trail?”

“How many males are you planning to take with you?”

“All of them.”

What the... “That’s too many, Karthoc. Just take three or four.”

“There’s no time to work a challenge, and with how badly my males want to go, I’d likely have three or four dead by the end of the fighting.” Karthoc glanced toward the platform where Govek’s father was still seated. The chief hadn’t spotted them.

“Viravia makes scented oils,” Govek said, recalling the brief conversation from the night prior that had Miranda cackling with glee. “They might cover your tracks.”

“Tavggol’s widow? I’ve not even been introduced to her yet. You think she’d give me anything without complaint?” Karthoc asked, narrowing his eyes on the women seated across the room.

“Viravia isn’t like the other women. She won’t chase you out.”

Karthoc grunted. “Let’s hope the women of Oakwall share that sentiment.”

Govek’s eyes widened.

He was taking all fifty of his warriors to the trade to find conquests ? No wonder he didn’t want Chief Ergoth to find out.

“Govek, what are you doing over there?”

A shiver went up Govek’s spine at his father’s call, and he turned to face him.

Ergoth’s golden eyes narrowed with suspicion as they landed on him and Karthoc. “Come over here, my son. Now .”

“Do not tell him,” Karthoc hissed before giving Govek a sharp pat on the shoulder and walking away.

“Karthoc,” Govek called, words slipping quietly from his lips unbidden. His cousin turned back. “Do you really have... seventeen?”

He’d been choosing not to think about this. It didn’t matter. The warriors who could wield magic were at Baelrok Forge, and he and Miranda would be here in the Rove Woods.

And yet . . .

“Yes,” Karthoc said with a sure nod and a rush of heat flooded Govek.

Seventeen other orcs like him. Seventeen warrior males who could conjure magic.

Govek curled his fists to fight the rising tide of emotions. It didn’t matter. It changed nothing.

He turned to make his way to his father.

Agol and Wolvc stood at the bottom of the platform, chests puffed, but they allowed Govek to climb the few steps onto the wood stage and into his father’s daunting presence.

“My son. Finally escaped from the woods, I see. What were you speaking on with Karthoc?” Ergoth asked, still seated comfortably upon his thrown, barely bothering to look Govek’s way.

“He asked for directions to the best hunting grounds.”

Ergoth flashed him a scowl, obviously suspicious, but instead of prying, he scooped up a cup of mead from the thick arm of his chair and took a long swig.

Govek paused, watching as his father, a male in constant control, gulped a large sum of the mind addling drink. There were dark bags under his father’s eyes. His cheeks were slightly hollow and the wrinkles on his brow were a little more prominent.

Chief Ergoth rose from his throne. “The woman you brought looks well with the others. You should allow her to come here more often.”

Govek’s chest tightened and his fists balled as he gazed at Miranda. “It was her choice to stay away.”

His father shot him a skeptical look before straightening his robes. His gaze turned scrutinizing.

“She is attractive, isn’t she?” Ergoth said, and to his shame, Govek’s claws slunk out against his will and a rumble threatened to burst from his lips. “The Fades must smile on us to have such a lovely new member join our clan.”

The growl escaped.

“Govek, this is a happy night,” Ergoth said too loudly. “Why bring anger here?”

Many eyes turned and Govek balled his fists tighter. Thankfully, it seemed Miranda had not heard. She remained unaware of how horrible her mate was at controlling his vile nature.

“Easy there, tough guy.” That’s what she would say. And she would take his hands and rub them, soothing him into releasing his fists. He forced them to unclench on his own. She would be upset if he cut himself.

Sufficiently calmed, Govek looked to his father only to find him watching Govek with a flat expression, but the odd tension was wiped clean in a flash. “I am glad you finally relented your grip. She looks happy there, mingling with the others. You’ll drive her to resent you if you keep her isolated.”

“As I said, she was the one who chose to stay away.”

His father only scoffed and before Govek could refute him he continued. “She should come to the trade with the other women tomorrow. It would be good for her to have some time with the others and I’m certain she has many needs to be fulfilled.”

Govek’s urge to keep his mate to himself roared ugly in his mind even as logic fought him. “I agree. In fact, I am?—”

“Chief.”

The interruption came from Wolvc and, judging from Agol’s harsh look, he had no idea why his son was cutting in.

Ergoth did, though. He took to his feet, nodding to the young guard. Wolvc hurried off toward the exit even as Agol’s confusion deepened.

His father began toward the back of the stage. “We should not be muddying the meal with our conversation. Come, my son.”

Sharp dismay closed around Govek’s gut as his father waited for him at the entry into the deeper parts of the tree. The chief’s private study—where Govek had never been. He paused to look at Miranda, finding her addressing the youngest woman in the clan. He could only see her back and could not make out her words, but the tension in the tone strung him up. It made the imprint ache and burn in his chest.

“Govek,” his father snapped. “Come. Now.”

Govek’s spine straightened at his father’s harsh tone and Govek forced himself to look away, convincing himself that his mate would be well. What could happen within the Rove Tree? Surrounded by the other human mates?

So, against all better judgment, Govek ignored his violent impulses and followed his father into the dark.