Page 17

SEVENTEEN

Magoza stepped down from the carriage.

Once her parents were secured at the stronghold, she immediately took Amuleta to her mother.

Her anger was simmering inside her.

Just think, if she had been a tad bit late getting into the view box, those orcs may have gotten their hands on Amuleta.

She bit back a growl, her fists clenched at her sides.

“Spread out and check the perimeter. After what happened today, I don’t want to take any chances someone has discovered my mate’s home,” Magoza barked.

The protective detail who had traveled with her dispersed without a word.

Each warrior was someone she trusted implicitly.

“I don’t believe we were followed.” Aguk came to stand beside her.

Amuleta had let herself into her home and had left the door open slightly.

“Better safe than sorry. We shall collect my mate’s mother and any possessions they want to take with them, then we will return to Angarth.” Magoza strode toward the cottage.

After their afternoon, she didn’t want Amuleta out of her sight for long.

She arrived at the door and paused.

She inhaled sharply to try to rein in her emotions.

It was imperative that the human accompany them to the keep.

She gave a few taps on the door.

“May I enter?”

She pushed the door open farther and glanced inside.

Amuleta’s urgent voice floated through the air.

Magoza didn’t see them in the living room or the kitchen that was visible.

They must be in the sleeping quarters.

“We have to go to Angarth, Banhas . It is not safe here,” Amuleta pleaded.

“This is my home. I will not go,” Gelisha snapped.

She came barreling around the corner.

She stopped immediately when she took in Magoza in the doorway.

She eyed her wearily.

Amuleta appeared behind her mother with a curious expression.

“Do you bring word of Xagok, warrior?” Gelisha asked.

Magoza blinked at first then remembered a conversation she’d had with Amuleta.

This must be what she had described when Gelisha was in a confused state.

The human peered at Magoza with no recognition in her eyes.

“No, my lady. I don’t have word of the commander,” Magoza replied softly.

Amuleta sighed and moved to stand in front of Gelisha.

“The villagers are upset about things. They are not happy with me or that I’m not a full orc?—”

“That doesn’t mean they get to run us out of our home. We have lived here for solars. They have not harmed us at all. They can whisper and talk all they want about us. When your father returns, we will discuss this. He will keep us safe.” Gelisha moved to sit in her chair by the window.

Amuleta released a frustrated sigh and followed her.

She knelt in front of her and took her hand.

“It may not be for long. Father wouldn’t want us in danger. The chieftain has invited us to his home. Just until everything settles down,” she said softly.

Gelisha didn’t look convinced.

“The chieftain?” She turned away and gazed at the window.

There was a change in her almost immediately.

Magoza stared in shock as Gelisha turned back to Amuleta.

“The chieftain allowed your father to die. You expect me to believe that he will help us? No. We are not going,” Gelisha snapped.

“But, Banhas ?—

“Lady Sesh.

A band of angry orcs tried to kidnap Amuleta at the trials.

They were very intent on taking her and probably would have harmed her.

We do not know where they came from or who they are.

Think of your daughter.

The stronghold is the only place I can guarantee she will remain safe,” Magoza said.

She entered the living room, unable to remain silent any longer.

Gelisha was apparently as stubborn as they come.

But would she continue to resist if she knew how much danger her daughter was in?

“My parents and sister bravely fought this angry mob to protect Amuleta.”

“Is that true, danhas ?” Gelisha’s eyes grew wide.

Her hand shook as she reached up and cupped Amuleta’s cheek.

Amuleta gave a short jerk of her head.

A pained expression crossed her face.

“Magoza is correct. I was so scared, but the Cydassi family and their warriors protected me. Now they want us both to come with them so they can extend the same to you. Please, Banhas. Ranhos wouldn’t want you in danger.”

Magoza beat down the anger that filled her to hear that her mate had been scared.

Once she was back at the stronghold, she would go see the orcs who had been taken into custody.

Someone was going to pay for scaring her mate and attempting to take her.

“What is she to you, warrior? Why are you going through all this trouble for someone who you didn’t even know existed until recently?” Gelisha switched her gaze to Magoza.

“Amuleta is my fated mate, Lady Sesh. I am willing to do whatever I need to do to ensure she is safe and to claim her,” Magoza replied without hesitation.

Gelisha’s eyes widened.

She turned back to her daughter and caressed her face.

“Is this true, danhas ?” Gelisha murmured.

Amuleta raised her hand and rested it on the back of her mother’s.

She gave a slight nod.

“It is true, Banhas, ” Amuleta whispered.

Something personal was silently exchanged between the two Sesh females.

“Fine. We shall go with them. You are all I have left in this world. I can’t lose you, too,” her mother whispered.

She leaned forward and placed a kiss on Amuleta’s forehead.

Relief filled Magoza that Gelisha was now willing to come with them where she could keep both of them safe.

“Go gather some belongings. Whatever you feel you will need to help you settle at the keep,” Magoza said.

“It won’t take us long.” Amuleta gave a nod and stood.

She assisted Gelisha from her chair.

The two women held hands and whispered to each other as they left the living room.

Magoza spun on her heel and exited the home.

She would give them some time to collect their things.

“Commander,” Aguk called out.

He stood at the edge of the cottage and motioned for her to join him.

She strode over to him and took in the grim look on his face.

She didn’t like it one bit.

“What is it?” she asked.

They walked around the home to the back of the property.

“We’ve discovered an area where it looks as if someone has been watching your mate’s home,” Aguk said.

Magoza flexed her hand then allowed it to rest on her axe handle.

They continued on past Amuleta’s vegetable garden.

Pride filled Magoza at the sight of her mate’s hard work.

It was perfectly manicured, and the crops were in abundance.

They had entered a lush area of the land where it was wild with tall grass.

There was a short distance to where the woods started.

They arrived where two tall wide trees were, and immediately Magoza’s eyes were drawn to the ground.

It was apparent that someone had been camping out here.

She turned and took in the distance from the campsite to the cottage.

She didn’t like how close this person had come to her mate’s property.

The grass and dirt was matted from where someone had obviously positioned themselves.

She rested her hands on her waist. According to her father, the guards he had assigned to the area wouldn’t have posted up where they could potentially be seen.

“I want a few warriors appointed to the house. I want whoever comes to be captured and brought to me,” she snarled.

“Yes, Commander.” Aguk thumped his fist on his chest.

Magoza took another look around and couldn’t wait to find out who was coming here to watch her mate.

They would have much to answer for.

Without another word, she stalked back to the cottage.

It was good she was taking her mate away from here.

Once at Angarth, she would start convincing her that she belonged there.

The ride back to Angarth had been swift.

They entered the stone walls of the keep, and Magoza relaxed slightly.

With her mate in potential danger, she was on high alert.

She glanced at Amuleta who sat across from her with her mother.

The two women were talking softly amongst each other while pointing at a few things outside the carriage window.

The twin suns had just descended, leaving Udenia under the cover of the moon.

There were few people out and about in the courtyard of the stronghold.

The carriage drew to a halt.

Aguk barked orders at the warriors who had accompanied them.

He rode past the carriage on his shukan

“Allow me to ensure everything is safe,” Magoza murmured.

She leaned forward and reached for the door handle.

Something was amiss outside.

“I thought that was why you’d brought us here?” Gelisha asked.

Magoza paused and turned to her mate’s mother.

She offered a smile, trying to appear unbothered by the shouts that were getting louder.

“It is, my lady. This is the safest place one can be in Udenia.” Magoza gave a nod to Amuleta and exited the carriage.

She closed the door behind her and turned toward the opening of the stronghold.

There was a group riding in fast on large beasts.

A cloud of dust rose in the air from the hooves of the shukans.

Magoza tensed and moved to where she could see who these orcs were.

She glanced up at the stone wall that surrounded the stronghold and found warriors arriving in place to defend the keep.

Their archers were the best in the land.

Whoever these orcs were, they would not leave this place breathing if they tried to attack.

The few stragglers in the keep scurried inside the building.

Aguk came to stand beside her.

“Who the feck is this?” he murmured.

“Not sure.” She rested her hand on her axe as they came to a halt a short distance away.

Silence fell upon them.

The first orc she recognized once he’d removed his hood.

It was Sakgu Resh, the leader of the Dhogurd Clan.

She took in the others with him and knew immediately who they were as well.

Clan leaders from around Aghon had arrived unannounced.

This was not good.

Three of the orcs were the clan leaders of the families her mother had been in talks with for an arranged mating, while the other orc was from a prominent clan.

She glanced around at the courtyard, hearing the quiet footsteps of warriors arriving.

The Cydassis were not to be taken for weak.

Magoza turned back to the group and took a step forward.

“I’m sure there is a good reason you all have chosen to arrive at my home without invitation,” a thunderous voice echoed through the air.

Magoza paused and glanced over her shoulder to find her father and sister striding out of a doorway into the courtyard.

Both were dressed prepared for battle.

Her father was an imposing figure with his broadsword, fierce glare, and sharp tusks.

“There was no time to send word, Chieftain,” Sakgu said.

His gaze landed on the carriage, then turned back to her father.

Tulak strode past Magoza while Nargol came to stand by her side.

No words needed to be said between sisters.

Nargol gave a slight nod before they switched their attention to their father and unannounced guests.

“And whatever is the reason you needed six of you to come? At night? What is the meaning of this?” her father demanded.

Tulak was not an orc one wanted to piss off.

“We are here to discuss the rumors that have reached our lands,” Larek, the clan leader of Bubul, announced.

“Larek, when did you start listening to rumors?” Tulak asked.

“When it deals with the future leader of our people,” Larek replied.

He flicked his hard gaze to Magoza.

She stood taller and met his stare without flinching.

She would never back down from a threat, and the one he was issuing was silent but yet ear-piercingly loud.

“We hear your daughter is mating with a half-breed.”

“And you know that cannot be,” Ragesh of the Jungshen Clan barked.

“I’d say it was none of your business who I mate with,” Magoza snapped.

She moved forward, but Nargol grabbed her arm.

Tulak raised a hand in the air, cutting her off.

She knew not to overstep her boundaries.

She inhaled sharply and tried to rein in her anger.

“I—we—disagree with you, Magoza, daughter of Tulak.” Sakgu motioned to the other clan leaders.

“And that is why we are here. This potential mating would cause unrest in Aghon.”

Silence followed his words.

Magoza stared at her father’s back, waiting for his response.

Would he now agree with them since they were prominent clan leaders?

This was a fecking shakedown.

Six clan leaders coming together was an issue.

When this occurred, it was known as a Council of Clans.

A council was formed to protect Aghon from destruction.

“Come. Board your beasts. They will be watered and fed,” Tulak said.

Magoza blinked and glanced at Nargol who gave her a slight nod.

Trust him.

Magoza relaxed slightly.

It was without doubt that she did trust that her father would do what was best for not only her, but for Aghon.

“We shall discuss this matter inside.” He spun on his heels and walked past her without looking at her.

Nothing was keeping her from this meeting.

Her future was at stake.