Chapter 5

Chapter

Five

GOVEK

" W olvc, Rogeth, and Maythra came upon Govek attacking Miranda in the woods."

Agol's testimony rang through the hall and made Govek's head roar. His skin blistered, and his claws dug deep into his palms.

The hall was deadly silent. The three long tables were filled with over a hundred Rove Wood orcs. All of whom kept their glares firmly on Govek. The roasting fires burned hot, heating the room to dizzying temperatures. And the crystalline leaves of the Great Rove Tree they were within reflected the scene below.

He was surrounded. There was no escape.

Miranda made a loud scoffing noise that drew the attention of most, but she seemed unperturbed by the skewering of the male eyes. Her hair was wild, her clothes were rumpled and damp, and there was a smudge of dirt on her forehead that Govek longed to wipe away .

She was breathtaking. Her eyes mirrored wisdom beyond her years. Her back was set straight with determination. She narrowed her sharp gaze on Agol.

"That is the truth my son and Rogeth told to me," Agol said in the face of Miranda's disbelief. He towered over her from where he stood atop Chief Ergoth's wooden platform, but Miranda met his eyes nonetheless. "That is what Maythra said."

"I'm sure she did." Miranda waved her hand as if batting off the topic. "And she was lying."

Her argument caused whispers to roll through the clan.

"You've been doused with vorial herb. You don't know what happened to you."

"So, you're discounting my word now? I don't even get to tell my side of the story?"

"No one is saying that." Govek's father stepped into the fray, his hair in a tight, neat queue. His violet robes perfectly fitted. His expression was easy, ready to take on this great matter with his usual grace.

He'd been raging at Govek just a few moments prior. Demanding he stay and atone for the atrocity of splintering the table, which was still smoking. Govek could see the black, spiderweb like cracks from where he stood. He shivered.

And Miranda tightened her hold on his hand.

Chief Ergoth stepped in front of Agol on the platform. He and Miranda stood below, craning their necks to see them.

"Miranda, I vow you will get to speak your side once Agol is done. My clan, please remain calm. Sythcol, will you release more clearing?" Chief Ergoth appeared regal and calm. All traces of the drink that had once addled his mind were gone.

Govek's stomach twisted as the lead conjurer picked up his work again. Sythcol sat at a small table near the platform, surrounded by shelves of herbs and tinctures. His black hands moved gracefully over a wooden bowl of incense as he swirled the smoke up and cast the familiar scent of copal into the air. The smoke spiraled up into the leaves of the Rove Tree and disappeared.

The clearing magic whispered in Govek's veins. It swirled up his thoughts and a sense of calm descended heavily in his mind.

His hand tightened around Miranda's and he soaked up her warmth. Her support was sweet and strong. It flattened out his anger like a heavy leather hide smothered out flames.

She offered better aid than the clearing ever had.

"Please, Agol, go on," Ergoth said.

"They came upon Govek attacking Miranda. She'd been drugged with vorial and was mostly unconscious. Wolvc and Rogeth rushed to aid her, but Govek intercepted before they could reach her side. Govek struck my son with a magic-laced punch to the jaw that has splintered the bone. Hovget is yet unsure if it can be mended."

Govek went so cold, he thought he might lose his feet.

Wolvc may lose his jaw .

He was a fucking beast . An abomination of the Fades?—

"Oh wow."

Govek blinked toward Miranda, who only appeared wryly amused by these vicious truths. She shook her head as if in disbelief .

But what was there not to believe? He had struck Wolvc. He had destroyed the young male's jaw. He had infused his brutal strength with magic to make the blow more deadly.

"They were forced to retreat and raced to find Hovget at his healing house. Wolvc is there now, and his outlook is grim." Agol's fury blazed down Govek's spine as their eyes met for the split of a moment.

The angry voices in the clan rose again, grumbling talk of what to do with Govek now, of how to handle this new atrocity he had committed, of how dangerous and vile he was, of removing Miranda from his side.

His teeth gnashed and his blood pulsed hot in his head.

"Govek." Miranda's murmur caught him up, and he managed a breath.

She gave his hand a quick squeeze before speaking loudly. "That is not what happened."

"You may now speak your side, Miranda," Ergoth said before raising his hand toward Sythcol. The lead conjurer doubled his efforts, and Govek almost coughed as a plume of copal swallowed up his head.

His anger dulled and his senses dimmed. He sucked in the clearing, using the magical smoke to quell his fury, to soothe his emotions, and help him to concentrate—as it was meant to do.

It took a moment for him to realize that Miranda had gone up onto the platform. She stood at the edge, so beautiful it made his chest tight. Her brown waves of hair flowed down her back; her hazelnut eyes flashed to him before looking to the orcs behind him.

"I was speaking with the seer in the woods when?——"

"Hold a moment," Chief Ergoth said. "You spoke with seer Evythiken? When? "

"Earlier this evening, right before Maythra attacked me," Miranda said.

"But the seer is not here. How long ago was this exactly?"

"He was in the woods only a few minutes before Maythra attacked."

"Minutes? What is a minute?" Chief Ergoth asked. "And you saw the seer in the woods ? At this time of the eve?"

"Yes, I did see him. And talked to him. And a minute is... it's a measure of time. It's just a few moments." Miranda glanced to Govek, clearly struggling, but he had trouble finding the words to help her explain.

"Miranda, the seer is unwell . He does not go out at night. Are you certain that is what you saw?"

" Yes, I am one hundred percent certain that I talked to the seer."

"One hundred... percent ?" Chief Ergoth glanced toward the clan as if looking for someone to explain. "You aren't quite making sense, Miranda. Perhaps we should leave your account to when the vorial has worn off. I believe the herb has muddled your mind."

"My mind is fine . I want to speak," Miranda insisted.

"Of course, I would never seek to silence you."

The door to the hall opened. The sound was muffled to Govek's ear. Slightly distorted. The copal caught him as he turned his gaze and found Wellia had entered and was hurrying to the platform.

"Ah! Wellia, please, come up and examine Miranda. We won't keep you. I'm sure your mate needs your aid while he is mending Wolvc. Can you tell us if vorial was what drugged her?"

Miranda nodded. "Sure, yeah. Come look. "

Wellia went up the steps and over to her. Her curly hair bouncing, her dark eyes alight with concern. She looked into Miranda's eyes a moment, leaned in to smell.

"Yes, you were drugged with vorial." Wellia's tone was gentle, and it smoothed Govek's battered senses. Thank the Fades, Miranda was finally getting aid. "Are you woozy or disoriented?"

"It's not too bad since I vomited."

"Disoriented?" Chief Ergoth cut in. "What kind of disorientation?"

"Vorial is usually a sleeping aid, so sometimes, in extreme cases, it can blur between our dreams and the waking world and make us see things that aren't there," Wellia explained, taking Miranda's chin gently in her palm and looking over her lips. "Can you open your mouth so I can check your gums?"

Miranda did so without hesitation.

"It can make one see things that are not there. Miranda, about the seer ? —"

An icy chill fell over Govek.

"What are you saying? That I imagined talking to him?" Miranda jerked her chin out of Wellia's grip. "I spoke to him before I was drugged. Bring him here and ask him."

"Calm, please," Ergoth said quietly. "I did not mean to upset you. I am only seeking to understand. To help us all understand. You were drugged in the hall, so everything you heard and saw after you left might be distorted."

"I wasn't drugged in the hall. They threw the drug on me after I spoke with the seer in the woods."

The clipped nature of Miranda's voice registered. She was upset. He should do something, but the clearing was so strong that Govek struggled to fight it off .

"You said you felt better now that you have vomited. Does that not mean you ingested the drug?" Ergoth asked, looking between her and Wellia.

Wellia stayed quiet, but her expression spoke volumes.

"You came here together," Chief Ergoth said. "He was the only one, aside from yourself, to touch your food, was he not?"

"He... he was, but my food wasn't drugged. Wolvc and Rogeth threw the tincture on me. That's how it got on my dress. I only ate a few bites of my food, so it couldn't have been in that."

"Then why did vomiting help your symptoms?" Chief Ergoth asked.

"It... I mean, some got on my lip," Miranda sputtered. "Govek couldn't have drugged me. He was with you . Right before he came to save me, Govek was here with you in the hall."

"Govek left the hall in a rush quite a while ago."

The copal swirled high into Govek's mind, as he tried to make sense of the timeline.

"We all saw him leave, didn't we?" Ergoth addressed the clan and many voices rose to confirm.

"B-but—but that's not right. It wasn't that long ago at all. It couldn't have been. I only left the hall a few minutes ago."

"I ask again Miranda, what is a minute?"

"Govek," Miranda said, and her tone cut through the clearing. She sounded lost. Confused. Her face was pale, and her eyes were desperate.

He fought against the copal but could not find his voice or move from his place.

"Look." Miranda turned back to Chief Ergoth. "I got some of it in my mouth because they threw it all over me. Here, see, I still have some on my dress."

Wellia bent close to Miranda's chest. "There is some here, yes."

"What?" Ergoth's clipped tone betrayed his tension, but his face was still a congenial mask. "Let me see."

Ergoth got far too close to Miranda, near to her breasts. Govek began to blister all over again.

"It's just here." Miranda pointed to the splotch on the front of her gown. "Right in this area."

"I don't see..." Chief Ergoth reached out and placed a hand on Miranda's hip.

His woman jumped in surprise.

Govek's rage exploded . Light burst behind his eyes, and he broke from the clearing.

He charged to the platform and leaped up, pounding the wood slats so hard they shook beneath his feet.

The clan began to rage.

"Govek, control— " His father snapped, but Govek had already snatched Miranda away from all of them, caging her close. "Agol, help her!"

"Stay away from her," Govek snarled, tightening his hold. Miranda's warmth radiated through his muddled mind.

"Unhand her, Govek!" Agol demanded.

"Don't you dare."

Miranda's snap quieted the hall and made Govek shiver. She clung to his arm, stroking his cheek. He sucked in a deep breath of her honeyed bliss.

"It's okay, tough guy," she said. "Just stay here by me. We'll get through this."

He sighed heavily into her hair, the clearing calming him much faster than he usually would .

"Govek . . . what's wrong with you?" she whispered.

"Miranda, he isn't safe," Chief Ergoth said.

"I decide what's safe."

"He was the one who drugged you!" Agol said loudly, and the clan began to clamor again.

"I've heard enough," Chief Ergoth said. "In light of my son's lack of control, I have no choice but to confine him until a judgment can be held."

Govek went cold.

"Confine him?" Miranda looked between his face and his fathers.

"Govek will be held in magical quiet beneath the Rove Tree. Govek, go with Agol and Sythcol. Do not fight this."

Fuck fuck . He wanted so badly to fight, but his rage had soothed, and the clearing magic had his mind muddled and compliant. Copal swirled in his nose and his arms around his mate loosened.

"Govek, no, don't you dare. Ergoth, he hasn't done anything wrong. You can't just lock him up like this."

"No matter the circumstances, he did attack a member of this clan," Chief Ergoth said, and Miranda tensed against him because that fact couldn't be denied.

He'd ruined Wolvc's jaw. Fuck.

"Govek, please ," Miranda whispered to him.

What could he do? He could not fight this. It was the way of the clan. At least Miranda would be safe from him.

"I must. I cannot fight them. It will only make things worse."

"Govek, what is wrong with you ?" She searched his face, and his mind blistered with confusion.

She'd asked that once already. What was wrong with him? She wasn't making sense .

The vorial really must have had her completely muddle up.

"Wellia," he said thickly. "I ask that you care for her."

"Of course."

"Govek, stop it. This isn't right."

But it had to be. It was the only thing that made sense. He leaned in, sucking in her scent one last time and nearly coughed on Rogeth's pungent odor. "She smells of him."

The words escaped him before he knew they were coming. The copal scent faded as the reminder that Rogeth had touched his mate slammed through him. Fury burst through him all over again.

"She smells of him?" Agol's voice was quiet, but punctuated further through the cloud.

"Govek, I smell nothing," Chief Ergoth said. "And my decision is final. Agol take him."

"Rogeth did touch me! He covered my mouth when I tried to scream for Govek's help!"

A wave of whispers rolled over the clan, spilling into Govek's senses. Rogeth had touched his mate. He had touched her.

"Allow me to scent her."

Agol's request shot lightning down Govek's spine. He looked into the males appealing face. His determined brow was creased from many seasons of stress being the lead guard.

His job was not an easy one, and Govek had made it even more difficult. But despite that, Agol had never treated Govek badly and had only ever followed Chief Ergoth's orders.

For that reason alone, Govek let Miranda go, allowing Agol to approach .

"Agol, you do not need to go that far. It is unseemly to treat Miranda this way. She should have a bath and rest?—"

But Agol ignored Govek's father and leaned in close to Miranda. Govek balled his fists and had to look away. Liquid warmth pooled in his palms.

" She does smell of him ," Agol said, stepping away, eyes wide on Miranda in shock. "Rogeth did touch her."

The clan burst into chaos.

"Quiet!" Chief Ergoth nearly roared over them and Govek was shocked by his father's lack of control. "Sythcol, more clearing . I order you all to silence."

The clan fell to quiet, but it was more stunned at their leader's unusual outburst than from a result of the magical incense.

Govek dragged Miranda close again, leaned in, and used her scent to drown out everything. Including the clearing.

Miranda leaned against him in relief. "Don't you dare let yourself get locked up for this, Govek," she whispered.

"I'm sorry."

"He attacked a male of this clan," Chief Ergoth argued, loudly.

"He was defending me ." Miranda straightened and looked toward the males seated with their human mates. All of them were huddled close together. "Would you want to be locked away for defending your mate? While the one who attacked her walked free?"

Govek held his breath, shock radiating through him as the orcs voiced their agreement with Miranda.

His father's face flattened; his eyes flashed in a way that made Govek go cold. "A binding then."

Govek's breath faltered.

"What's a binding?" Miranda glanced between them .

"A magic our own Sythcol created that prevents an orc from committing any acts of undue violence," Chief Ergoth answered.

"I remember... you told me about that." Miranda touched Govek's chest. "Govek?"

Govek clenched his jaw at the explanation. It made the spell sound so simple , but left out so many important details.

"Govek will be bound against all strife and violence. Unable to harm anyone or anything, unless, of course, they willingly ask to fight him," Chief Ergoth continued.

"What if someone attacks him ?" Miranda asked.

Ergoth shot her an annoyed look. "You are new here, Miranda, so you do not know, but there are none here who would attack Govek without cause?—"

"Would Govek be able to defend himself or not?"

Ergoth hesitated a moment before finally answering. "No. He would not. But, again, no one in this clan resorts to such violence."

"And yet Maythra attacked me ," Miranda said low.

Ergoth's face twisted. "As you say."

"My chief, I do not think . . ."

Govek blinked toward where Sythcol was now standing before his worktable at the far left corner of the hall. His slender frame tense, his blackened hands clenched. His light green eyes flickered with uncertainty and his jaw was held tight.

"Sythcol, these are my orders."

"But we discussed?—"

"These are extenuating circumstances," Ergoth said firmly. "Or are you going against the will of your chief?"

Sythcol, surprisingly, straightened his back. "You should remember that the binding, when left in place for too long, causes extreme pain. It goes against my conscience to impose such a thing on another."

Govek blinked in the face of Sythcol's defense.

"Are you serious ?" Miranda asked.

Rage flashed in Chief Ergoth's eyes when he looked toward Miranda, and Govek felt the urge to hide her behind his back. "In Govek's youth, when his magic and might were uncontrolled, we were forced to make difficult choices, but Govek has since recovered from the pain with no ill effects, correct?"

"Yes," Govek said, desperate to quell Miranda's worry. Far better to be bound then separated from her. "And it takes three or four days now before pain sets in. I have enough experience to stave it off."

"Stave it off?" Miranda's lip trembled slightly.

"All will be well, Miranda." He looked to his father. "I am willing to be bound."

"You see," Ergoth said, addressing Sythcol. "Govek has consented. Sythcol, step forward."

"You'll be doing the same to Rogeth, Wolvc, and Maythra, right?" Miranda asked then, her voice clipped. "It's only fair."

Sythcol looked stricken but before he could answer Ergoth said. "It will not work on Maythra, as the binding was not created for humans, but Rogeth and Wolvc will receive it."

His father's quick agreement, along with the slight grin on his face, had Govek unsettled. But before he could puzzle over why his father was so pleased with this, Sythcol was before him .

Sythcol came to stand before Govek and placed his blackened hands forward. "Are you... ready, Govek?"

Fuck, Govek had not had this magic forced upon him since he was in his late teens, before his second growth cycle. Sythcol was so much smaller than him. Nearly a whole head.

It was no wonder the male had created the binding. Govek was so much larger than any other orcs in Rove Wood.

He was a danger to them all.

"I am ready," Govek said low as he closed his eyes.

"Miranda, please stand away."

He felt her touch leave him and before long a tremendous heat bloomed in his chest. It spiraled embers down his limbs, blistered through his fingers and toes, erupted waves of heat in his mind.

Govek was burning alive, and he clenched his teeth at the familiar sensation. He would not shout. He would not .

The pain slowly ebbed and Govek forced it to the back of his mind, separated it away. Used the practiced skills from his youth to recover his senses.

He rolled his shoulders. The heat was down to a tingling warmth, and with enough concentration, it would barely simmer.

At least for now.

"I trust you will let me know if it becomes too much," Sythcol said and Govek's brow rose at the male's concern, but he nodded.

"Are you okay?" Miranda stroked his arm. The touch felt a bit raw but Govek would never refuse it.

"I am well," he assured his woman. "Rest will do me good. "

"Then go, Govek," Ergoth said. "Tomorrow is the trade, so we will hold a full judgment on this matter day after tomorrow. All who wish to take part should be here after the morning meal. Spread the word. Now let us go to Rogeth and Wolvc. We will bind them now. Agol, lead the way."

Govek took Miranda's arm and let her lead him out into the icy chill of the night. It helped to cool the fire in his blood, the thundering in his heart, the confusion in his mind.

Sythcol had argued against the binding. Even though he'd been the one to invent it. Govek shook his head.

"Are you really okay?" Miranda asked softly. "Does it hurt?"

He glanced down at his beautiful woman, tension easing. "I am well, Miranda. It will be fine."

She nodded, soothed his arm. "Don't worry, Govek, we will get justice for this."

Govek tensed in the face of her conviction, unsettled and unsure how to respond.

"We will win."

He tucked her against his side and bustled her back to his home, but his thoughts were focused on one simple truth.

He had never won a judgment before.