Page 7

Chapter Seven

Axum

A headache pounds behind my eyelids, frustration churning in my gut. I hate getting bad news and this has to be the worst. “What do you mean, you cannot find the rogue orcs? Did Nash not give you coordinates to patrol?”

Larek looks as frustrated as I feel as we glare down at the soldiers standing before us. Last week, I sent scouts to my brother to get as much information about the rogue orcs as they could, but it seems as if it was a fruitless endeavor.

The lead soldier steps forward, eyes downcast. “Once we linked with Lord Nash, we heard whispers they were in the Dostinl region, but they were not there. We found their tracks, so they may have been tipped off that we were inquiring of their location.”

Olog grunts, his arms crossed over his massive chest. “Did it occur to you not to ask anyone in that region, for they may have been sympathetic to those…orcs’ cause?”

The soldier’s cheeks darken. “It did not, sir.”

I grumble, “So you lost them?”

“Yes, Your Highness. But we shall return to help Lord Nash and?—”

“Enough,” I say almost wearily, raising my hand. “I will confer with my brother to better assist him. You may go.”

Before he leaves, the soldier bows and says, “I apologize for disappointing you, Your Highness.”

“You will do better next time.”

His face brightens, though his eyes still reflect the sting of his failure.

It is customary to relieve soldiers of duty when they are unable to perform the tasks set before them, sending them back to their trades. It would be a great dishonor to return to your trade before the six-month mandatory duty is served. What I just did for this orc was save him from dishonor, allowing him to keep his post as a soldier until his time has ended.

He places a fist over his chest, bowing more deeply. “Thank you. This will not happen again.” He and the other guards bow repeatedly as they head out of the door of the throne room.

Larek rests a hand on my shoulder. “Your father was fair, but he would not have been that kind. You may have earned yourself a loyal servant.”

I frown. “I did not do it to earn a servant. I did not want to disgrace him for a mistake. A big mistake, but a mistake all the same. This is their first mission. They will conduct themselves accordingly the next time.”

“As you say.”

I snap my fingers and a scribe steps forward, quill poised over a parchment. “Your Grace.”

“Send a letter to Nash. Inform him that we haven’t found any information on the rogue orcs. So he has full reins in locating them. If he has to, he can involve Mahk. He would be itching to get called in.”

The scribe's hands move quickly over the parchment, taking my notes. “Yes, Your Grace. I will send this forthwith.”

After transcribing the message, my scribe hurries from the throne room to send a raven to Nash. My brother has stopped all telepathic communication, so I have to send him messages by mundane means.

“Do you trust your brother with this?” Olog asks. “He is a great fighter, but not a great lord. He never shows up to court and when he does, he pays little attention to the goings on. Will he take this task seriously?”

Standing, I make my way down the stairs of my dais, knowing they will follow me. I put my hands behind my back, clasping my wrists. “Nash may live…unconventionally, but he is loyal to the realm. I have no doubt he will do what needs done to ensure I am not hurt or usurped, especially because it is from his group the rogue orcs broke off from.”

Larek and Olog walk flush with me. Larek says, “I trust in Nash’s abilities. If he is not able to free the land of this infestation, Mahk will. They are both formidable.”

I push through the doors of the throne room and walk onto the palace grounds, making my way to the forge.

The necklace Larek gave me for Rainn when he arrived works perfectly, enabling us to communicate in his native tongue while I teach him orcish, but I see how it annoys him when it gets in his way or if it catches on some of his clothing. Well, my clothing. Even though he would like some of his own, he is content to walk around in my tunics. And I like seeing him in them.

After about ten minutes, the forge comes into view. I have something specific I want for Rainn and it is not that necklace that causes him grief.

The blacksmiths see me coming and all but those working bellows or hammering hot metal drop to one knee to bow.

“Rise,” I say as I step under the awning and am immediately engulfed by the sweltering heat. They all get to their feet. “Who is in charge here?”

An orc a few inches shorter than me starts, but steps forward, bowing at the waist. “I am, Your Highness. I am Xolag. How may I be of assistance?” He appears nervous, as if he believes I am here to cause trouble for him.

“There is something I would like crafted for me. Walk with me so we can discuss.”

He falls in step beside me as we start down a lane adjacent to the forge. It is the same lane that leads to the barrier, but I try to ignore that, pushing down the excited feelings I have when I think of Rainn.

He has been in my kingdom for a week and it has been the best week of my life. We talk and laugh about any and everything. He is hilarious, able to make me laugh like I have not since I was a youth.

Our time together has been superficial, however. We discuss nothing of importance. But I would like to. Rainn is my mate and I want to get to know everything about him.

Xolag asks again, “How may I be of assistance?”

“I would like you to make something for me. For my mate.”

Xolag stops beside me, his turquoise eyes wide. “You wish…me to make something for the emperor’s consort?”

That title brings me up short. I knew when I mated someone, they would become the my consort. I am not sure why it slipped my mind to tell Rainn that myself.

I incline my head. “Yes, I would. Is that agreeable?”

Xolag bows his head. “Yes. Yes it is. I would be honored. What is it you need? I am quite adept at making shields and spear tips. Any form of weaponry you, or your mate, would like.”

I chuckle. I don’t think Rainn is the type that would be in the thick of a battle. “No, nothing of that nature.”

I tell Xolag what I want in as great a detail as I can. I give him the measurements I acquired from Rainn’s wrist while he was sleeping. Xolag nods, listening intently. He informs me that I will have my order in less than a week. Once I receive it, I will imbue it with magic for Rainn.

Clapping him on the shoulder, I thank Xolag when we return to the forge. Larek and Olog inquire about what I needed and I smile, a giddy feeling dancing in my chest. “Something for my mate.”

Larek rolls his eyes, though he smiles. “You are far gone, are you not, Your Highness?”

“No denying it.”

They both laugh and I join in.

We head back to the palace so we can continue our business for the day. But when we walk in, Rainn is knocking on the door of the throne room, looking edible in one of my dark green tunics. He has on those heavy duty boots he wore when he entered the barrier, but nothing else. I can tell from the outline of his backside that he does not have on any undergarments.

My cock twitches in my trousers. Rainn and I have been touching and kissing each other for the past week. I do believe I know every inch of his body by feel, my hands itching to touch him again.

A deep chuckle from Larek brings Rainn’s head up and around to us. His cheeks pink as he walks over to us. “Hey. I was coming to see?—”

I cut him off by grabbing him around the waist and hauling him to me, kissing him deeply. Rainn moans in my mouth and wraps his arms around my neck. Everything around me disappears as I ravage his mouth. Nothing else exists but Rainn and how he feels in my arms. If it were up to me, I would have him against the wall, his legs around my waist as I pump in and out of him, pleasure oil be damned.

Throats clearing interrupt me and my mate. I growl and pull my lips from Rainn’s. I look over my shoulder at Larek, who tries to look innocent.

Rainn giggles sweetly, pasting himself to my side. “Hey, Larek, Olog.”

Since he has been here, Rainn has become acquainted with my advisors, asking after their families and about their work. If I am not mistaken, they are all half in love with him.

Not many people inquire about our days or our work. Our job is a thankless one. So I understand why Larek and Olog are always eager to talk to him. Looks as if my mate has found loyal servants as well.

Olog bows, making Rainn blush. “Rainn. How do you fare today?”

“I’m well. You? How’s your mate?”

My advisor's face brightens. “She is fantastic. She works the booth in our market if you would like to meet her.”

“I would love to.” He looks up at me with a smile. “Can you take me to the market tomorrow?”

“Anything you want.” I look at Larek. “Cancel my schedule for the day. I will take care of everything the day after tomorrow.” Larek and Olog bow and leave us. “Did you need me?” I ask Rainn.

He shakes his head. “No. Well, yes. I wanted to see if you’ve eaten. You told me yesterday that you don’t always eat while you’re working.”

It was a throw-away comment when he laughed at how much I ate at dinner last night. I did not think it was information that Rainn would latch onto.

My heart warms that he came to check on me. I have spent so much time alone, so much time taking care of myself that it is disconcerting that someone else does it—but in a good way. If I was not aware from a biological standpoint, this small act alone would tell me he is my mate. Rainn is perfect.

“I have not. Let us go to the kitchens and beg food. I will have you fed before I take you upstairs with me.”

His eyes become hooded before he tucks himself to my side.

We enter the kitchens and the cooks scramble to make whatever Rainn asks for. He has gotten accustomed to our cuisine here, loving the oxiolly. He says it reminds him of something he calls a carrot where he is from. I am sure to tell the cooks to make extra oxiolly for my sweet Rainn. Once we have plates piled high with food, we go to the dining room to eat.

As always, the food smells delicious. My stomach growls from the scent wafting up to me. I did not notice how hungry I was until this very moment.

“Tell me about your brothers,” Rainn says after we have been eating for a few minutes. I told him I had two brothers, one that stays in isolation, but that is all I divulged. We were too busy touching each other to say more.

I swallow the food in my mouth and say, “Nash and Mahk. Nash is the middle brother and Mahk is the youngest.”

“What are they like? Why don’t they live here?”

I shake my head. “Nash would not want to live here. He is…eccentric. He and his band of loyal orcs roam around and live in tents. He loves his own space. He is a lord, but does not conduct himself as such.” Though I say it as a rebuke, I find myself smiling.

“Is that a bad thing?” he asks, stuffing a piece of oxiolly in his mouth with a pleased groan.

“It is not. In fact, I envy him sometimes for his freedom. He comes when he is summoned, but he does not hold to the duties of a normal lord. I am sure if I were not emperor, he would be stripped of his title. But it is unfathomable to me to do that to anyone, let alone my brother.”

“And your other brother?”

I look at him, my gaze searching his face. I am not sure he can handle what Mahk does, but I will tell him because he asked. “He is the royal assassin.”

Rainn’s eyes widen. “Oh. Well…that’s…”

“It is a position he is good at, though he is not needed much,” I defend, not wanting him to think less of Mahk. My youngest brother chose his job, but he is not evil. He dispatches those I order him to, and nothing more.

He nods. Rainn looks nervous about the information, but not afraid.“That’s Mahk? Like Mark with a Boston accent?” He giggles, then says“Maaaaahhhhhk! Pahhk the caahh!” and giggles harder.

I look at him with a tilt of my head, wondering what is so funny.

Composing himself, Rainn says, “I’m sorry. If you knew about Boston, you’d understand why that’s funny.”

I only smile and nod.“Yes, Mahk is the assassin. Nash is the lord.”

“Are they next in line for the throne? I’m not sure how royal succession works for orcs.”

“No. They cannot inherit the throne because they are not of my dam and sire’s bloodline. My mother and father were only together to produce an heir, me. My father had mistresses and those unions produced Mahk and Nash. It was not uncommon for emperors to be with others, but what was uncommon was giving a child born outside the royal mating royal positions. It was not a very popular decision, but my father loved his sons and wanted them to be royalty as he was.”

“That’s sweet and very honorable. Were your parents at least…happy? With him…cheating and all?”

“Oh yes. They were best friends until the day my mother died. They were not in love, however.”

A relieved look crosses Rainn’s face. Most emperors do not love their mates, only paired to produce a strong heir. I was lucky that my dam and sire were friends, getting along well in private, when they did not have to keep up pretenses of undying love for the kingdom. The only blight in their relationship was the kingdom knowing my sire had mistresses. They’d assumed, but Nash and Mahk were the proof.

Like my father, my mother loved my brothers too. They were always welcome in the palace, staying weeks at a time with us whenever they wanted. It was not a decision that endeared subjects to my father, but he did not care. He refused to turn his back on his children. My father was a flawed man, thinking more with his emotions than logic, but he was fair and a good father. His legacy to this kingdom is extremely complicated.

“So,” Rainn says, pushing food around on his plate, “your brother, the lord, doesn’t want to be a lord, and your other brother likes to kill people?”

My lips twitch as I say, “Yes, exactly.”

“I’d love to meet them.”

“You will. At least Mahk. He visits court often, mostly to ensure he does not have any duties from me. You also have a brother, correct?”

Rainn scowls. “Yes. Though I haven’t talked to him in years.”

“Why? I cannot imagine not speaking to Nash and Mahk for years. We may not live near each other, but we are close.”

He sighs, a shadow crossing his face. “So, I’m really smart, right? And I’m not saying it to be funny or full of myself, it’s a fact. I skipped the seventh grade and could have gone to high school at twelve, but my mother wanted me to have a semblance of a childhood. My brother is smarter. He went to college at sixteen, medical school at twenty, and became a cardiothoracic surgeon by the time he was thirty-three.”

“What is a cardeeoh…surgeon?” I cannot remember the word he said, though I am hanging on to every syllable that leaves his lips.

“A heart surgeon, mostly, but they work on everything in the chest. The esophagus, the heart, the lungs, and any other part of the chest that needs operating on. He’s smart and he knows it. He likes being smart and ahead of his peers. We are like night and day. I was shy, but more of a people person than him. He liked school, liked learning, but didn’t like people and would have much rather had been homeschooled. I never liked school. I was more interested in working outside, in nature, you know?” I nod, though I am not sure. Orcs choose their occupations mostly based on their skills in magic, but not always. We are free to take whatever path we wish. Unless you are born to the throne, like me.

Rainn continues. “When I quit my job as a human resource manager when I was twenty-six—something he’d already said that was beneath me—to become an author, he told me I no longer fit in the life he’d made for himself. That when I got my act together and got a job that reflected my standing in society as a genius, I could contact him again. I haven’t talked to him since.”

A growl leaves my lips as I think about his brother not wanting to talk to him because of some rule his society put on him. “What about doing what makes you happy? Why is that not enough?”

Rainn shrugs, not looking too upset. “Who knows? My mother loved that I did what made me happy. She knew I liked to do my own thing and never made me feel bad about it. My brother is just a dick.”

“Knew?” I ask, though I know in my heart what him using the past tense means. It is how I speak of my dam.

Now Rainn’s face looks drawn and hurt shines clearly from his eyes. He sets his fork down as if he has lost his appetite. “She died some time ago. She was…the best.” His voice cracks on the last word and my heart goes out to him.

I rest a hand on his, offering him my condolences through touch.“I am sorry. I understand your pain. My dam died when I was fifty. Though the pain of loss becomes bearable, it does not get any easier.”

“No, it doesn’t. What about your father? He had to have passed away if you are the emperor. What happened to him, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“I do not mind.” I pause to collect my words. “He died only fifteen years ago. Though I loved him, he made a very foolish decision based on anger, hunting down a tribe of ogres that were causing no harm to us or our kingdom. He was struck in the chest with an axe and our healers could not save him.”

“Jesus, Axum. I’m so sorry to hear that. Are you okay?”

No one has asked me that before and it does funny things to my heart. “I am, sweet Rainn. Thank you for asking.”

“Do you miss him?”

That is a hard question to answer. My father was a good orc, but not an extremely adept emperor. His lessons have only stuck with me in his death so I do not make the same mistakes that he did. But I was not trained for my role as I should have been. If not for my sire’s advisors, I may not have been prepared at all.

“I miss him as a father, but not as an emperor. I wish…I wish we had spent more time together while he was teaching me for my position, but I enjoyed the time we spent together as father and son. Our relationship was…complicated.” I flick my eyes up to his. “What of your father? Is he…?”

“He passed away before I was born. I never met him. My mother and others told me he was a good man, though. So I had two good parents, though I only met one.”

“I am sorry, sweet Rainn.”

He nods, then purses his lips. “Enough with the sad stuff. Can we go out for a walk? I’m not really dressed to go far, but I’d like some fresh air.”

“You are perfect the way you are.” I collect our plates and take them to the kitchen. “I did not train this morning, so a walk would be nice for some exercise,” I say when I return.

“I haven’t really stretched my legs all week.” Rainn stands and grabs my hand, eagerly leading me outside. His strides are much shorter than mine, two of his making up one of mine. I slow down so I do not drag him behind me.

Side by side, we meander down a road leading away from the market. We are silent for a few minutes, enjoying the breeze and the warm weather. It is not as hot today as the day Rainn arrived.

A question I have been wondering all week pops in my head.“Can I ask how you got through the barrier? From what I understand, they are not in locations that are easily accessible.”

“I got caught in a rainstorm,” he tells me, leaning his head on my forearm as we continue leisurely down the lane. “When I have issues with the plots for my books, I go camping or for a hike. I decided to do both this go round so I could get the plots organized and written down. I was hiking and got caught in a downpour. There was a cave nearby that I was going to explore, so I hurried inside to take cover. I watched the rain for a while, enjoying the peace. Then I started exploring. After maybe an hour or so, I saw the opening at the end of one of the passages and walked through. That’s when I saw you, Larek, and Olog.”

“Would you like to see the portal? You were injured last time.”

“Yes, please.”

I guide Rainn from the established road to a field with shin-high grass—almost knee-high for Rainn—so we can take a more easterly direction to get to the portal.

“I do find it funny,” I say, looking down at him, “that your name is Rainn, but you did not want to get wet in a downpour.”

Chuckling, he says, “Well, I don’t usually shy away from the rain, but I was too far away from my camp to hike back. I’m not afraid of it, but I am afraid of lightning strikes.”

I hum. “Your name, it is unusual, no? I am not sure how it is for humans, but orcs have never named their children after the elements.”

“It is, and it isn’t. People with the same name spell it differently than I do. But it’s not really common. My mom named me Rainn because when she was pregnant with me, she said the first time I kicked was during a really bad storm. Then every time it rained after that, I would kick and kick until the storm went away. Imagine being woken up in the middle of the night not only by rain outside, but your kid kicking nonstop.” He smiles, his eyes taking on a faraway look as he is dragged back into a good memory. “She said I earned that name many times over.”

“It is a sweet story, Rainn. I wish I could have met your mother. She sounds wonderful.”

“She was. If she knew about orcs, I’m sure she would have warned me to stay away, but probably would have known I wouldn’t.”

I laugh loudly and Rainn joins in. “I am sure. We may look fearsome, but looks are sometimes deceiving.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’re pretty fearsome.” He bumps my arm with his. “But you don’t look scary. Not to me.”

My cheeks flame as I try to form words of thanks for his compliment. In the end, nothing sufficient comes to mind, so I remain quiet.

A few minutes later, we reach another road and walk a few hundred feet before we reach another small hill. After we crest it, I point ahead of us to an outcropping of trees. “There. The barrier.”

“Just looks like trees to me.” I think I detect a note of disappointment in his tone.

“Look closely, sweet Rainn.”

We stop walking and he squints at the area I pointed to. He opens his mouth as if to repeat that he sees nothing, but then he gasps and says,“Oh.”

The barrier is not visible unless you know what you are looking for. There is a ripple along the trees where the glamor shifts with the breeze. As an orc, I am always aware of where a barrier is. Once I claim Rainn, he will too.

We approach it and Rainn reaches out to touch it. “So I really can’t go back home, huh?”

Sadness fills in my heart at the longing in his voice. I wish I could give him another answer, or, better yet, take him home myself, but that is not possible. I am sure there are no orcs in his homeland and I am not too keen to live the rest of my days on that side of the barrier. And my position would not allow it. “I am sorry you are trapped here.”

“What?” He shakes himself and glances up at me. “I’m not. I love it here. I feel at home. Nothing to be sorry about.”

“Truly?” Happiness dances in my chest, though trepidation follows on its heels. I want Rainn to be happy with me. I want him to love Daz Vrorkrad as I do, but I have to be aware that this is not the home he is used to. It will take some time for him to become acclimated.

“Yeah, truly.”

“Would you like to see more of the countryside or go back to the palace?”

“We can walk a little more. But tell me if there are any solid areas like this portal so I don’t hurt myself.”

I grin as we skirt around the barrier and walk deeper into the woods on a small path.

As we walk, Rainn looks around with wide eyes, taking it all in. We stop at a paddock where we house our Rhinoppek. “They look like horses. Well, besides their angular heads and six legs,” Rainn says as he points to them.

“They are magnificent creatures. And strong. They needs must if they can pull a carriage with four to five orcs that weigh close to or over three hundred pounds each.”

Rainn whistles. “Yeah, they would have to be.” He smiles as he looks up at the sky. “It’s so beautiful out here. Much different than the forests where I live. The colors are so vibrant and the air is so fresh.” He breathes in deeply, then wrinkles his nose. “Well, when we’re not close to horse shit.” I chuckle. Rainn sighs and leans against me, nestling close to my body. “I will never regret being stuck here. The beauty of the land alone is worth it.”

“You really enjoy it?”

“I really do.” He says with a smile. “It’s perfect.”