[Queen of Orcs 01] - King's Property (19 page)

“Why did you do it? Why did you call me your woman? What did it mean?”

“I protect you.”

“Why? I’m washavoki.”

“Ther nav muth.”
You are mother.

“Muth. Woman. What difference does that make? Why did you save me?”

Kovok-mah was slow to answer. When he did, he seemed to be groping for words. “Muth la is everywhere…yet…she is far away. Her voice is hard to hear. Even harder to understand. Muth la is first mother. She speaks through mothers. Sons have little wisdom, but we, too, try to hear Muth la’s voice. I think…I think she says to me—protect this washavoki mother.”

Dar said nothing. After a while, Kovok-mah asked, “Why do your eyes make your face wet?”

“All my life, I…I’ve been treated…treated like…” Dar wiped away her tears. “I’m only a woman. You talk like I’m worth saving.”

“I do not understand you.”

“Washavokis think women are worth little, that they are ruled by men.”

“Then they lack wisdom,” said Kovok-mah.

“They think you rule me now.”

“Why would they think that?”

“Because you said I was your woman.”

“I thought it meant I protect you,” said Kovok-mah.

“It means more than that,” said Dar.

Kovok-mah was puzzled to note that Dar’s face had assumed a reddish hue. “What else does it mean?”

“Washavokis think that…that you and I…” She switched to Orcish to distance herself from the idea the words expressed. “Tha tep Mer da-thrimak.”
You and I tupped.

Kovok-mah’s eyes grew wide. “Da-thrimak! They believe this?”

“They do, and they are angry with me.”

“You must tell them it is not so.”

“They will not believe me. Bah Simi has told them lies,” said Dar, using the orcs’ name for Murdant Kol.

“Why?”

“He wants to hurt me,” said Dar. “You can hurt someone without touching them. I’m outcast now.”

“What is outcast?”

“I have no place among my kind.”

Kovok-mah didn’t reply, and after a while, his silence disquieted Dar. She suspected that he was like someone who rescues a stray dog on impulse, then finds it a nuisance.
How worthy does he think I am?
Dar wondered.
I’m still a washavoki.

At last, Kovok-mah made a sound that Dar thought was a sigh. “Where will you sleep?”

“I’ll find someplace,” said Dar.

“You could sleep in my shelter,” said Kovok-mah.

“But my scent…”

“I will grow used to it.”

Twenty-three

For the rest of the day’s march, Dar left her spot behind the orcs only when thirst drove her to the water barrel. Each time, she felt apart from those who drank there. Through practice, they perfected their techniques of exclusion. Dar gave up trying to use the ladle. Conversation was impossible. The air of scorn was palpable. Though no one threatened Dar, she felt menaced.

Every time Dar retreated, she found Kovok-mah waiting for her. She was unsure why, for he had grown taciturn and his thoughts seemed elsewhere. At first, Kovok-mah’s quiet mood mirrored her own. The day’s events had thrown her off balance, and she wanted to mull them over. Yet, by afternoon, Kovok-mah’s silence began to make Dar uncomfortable.
I know nothing about him, and he might be my sole companion.

“Where’s your home?” asked Dar after she returned from another chilly visit to the water barrel.

Kovok-mah fixed his gaze on the mountains. “My mother’s hall lies there.”

“In the Urkheit Mountains?”

“That is their washavoki name. We call them Blath Urkmuthi.”

Dar translated. “Cloak of mothers?”

“Hai. They sheltered mothers when we fled washavokis.”

Dar had a hard time imagining orcs fleeing anyone. “Why would urkzimmuthi flee?”

“Have you not seen ants overpower larger creatures?” asked Kovok-mah. “There is strength in numbers.”

“Do you mean washavokis took your land?”

“Hai. Long ago.”

“I’m sorry,” said Dar.

“Why? You did not take it.”

“I’m sorry my kind did. Mer nav nervler.”
I am sad
.

“Hai, Ma snaf.”
Yes, I also
.

“Does your father’s hall also lie in Blath Urkmuthi?” asked Dar, wishing to turn the conversation from human wrongs.

“Fathers have no halls,” said Kovok-mah. “They move to hall of muthvashi.”

“Muthvashi? What’s that?”

“When muth and min live together and have children, what is that called?”

“Married?”

“I think so,” said Kovok-mah. “Muth chooses her married.”

“I think you mean her ‘husband.’”

Kovok-mah looked confused. “These are words I have not learned.”

“When man and woman—min tep muth—get married,” said Dar, “muth is called ‘wife’ and min is called ‘husband.’” Dar suddenly looked puzzled. “Do you mean muth
chooses
their husband?”

“Hai, but she must ask his muthuri first.”

After a long and sometimes confusing conversation, Dar pieced together a picture of orc family life. In Kovok-mah’s society, not only did the females choose their spouses, they had the higher standing. All the females in a hall were related—the daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters of the clan’s ruling mothers. A husband lived in his wife’s hall and all his children belonged to her clan. His daughters would spend their entire lives in the same hall, their status increasing as they aged.

Females not only owned and ruled the clan halls; the surrounding land and the food it produced was theirs. They guided the males, who served as providers, protectors, and artisans. Dar tried to envision a life where men considered her wise and deferred to her authority, but it seemed too far-fetched. Yet Kovok-mah spoke as though this was the natural order of things, ordained at the world’s creation.

Though such a life was beyond her imagining, it gave Dar an insight into why Kovok-mah had saved her.
Perhaps he felt obligated
. Dar suspected not many orcs would have done the same, for she saw few signs they believed human women deserved the same respect as their own females.
I doubt Kovok-mah fully believes it himself
. Dar recalled the slaying of the peasant women in the courtyard.
Those killings didn’t seem to bother him. Why does he see me differently?

After she and Kovok-mah ceased talking, Dar continued to ponder that question. She reasoned that it must have had something to do with their first meeting, for he spoke to her the next time they met.
He never spoke to women before
, thought Dar.
Memni said so
. Dar tried to remember their first encounter.
I cried. He made me bathe. I got mad at him
. She recalled that when she had glared at Kovok-mah, he had smiled and said Weasel was a good name for her.
I didn’t understand what he said at the time. He must have been speaking to himself.

It occurred to Dar that by showing irritation, she hadn’t behaved like a human.
The women here are fearful
, thought Dar.
A muth would be the opposite. Fearlessness must be the key
. However, Dar felt far from fearless. Orcs still frightened her. More than once, they had almost killed her. Even Kovok-mah made her nervous at times. Nevertheless, she reasoned that security lay in boldness and the more intrepid she acted, the safer she would be.

The shieldron camped early. Though Dar continued to receive the silent treatment, she had no illusions that it excused her from work. She was convinced that Murdant Kol would be watching her closely, hoping to find a reason to discipline her. Thus, the first thing she did when the march halted was go to tend Thunder. Both the horse and its master were nowhere to be found.

Dar went to the cooking area. “Get wood” was all Taren said.

When Dar searched for firewood, she discovered the land had been stripped as if plundered by the enemy.
To a peasant, every soldier is an enemy
. Mindful of that, she took Muut’s dagger from under her shift and attached it to the cord about her waist. Thus armed, she collected what wood she could find. It took a while before Dar gathered an armload and returned to camp. When she dumped it down, Taren uttered, “More.”

The sun was low when Dar returned with a second load and noted that Thunder was with the other horses. When she approached the fire, Dar spotted Teeg standing there.
Trouble
, she thought. Soldiers clustered nearby. Someone was crying. Dar didn’t recognize her voice. When Dar drew closer, she spied a branding iron heating in the fire. Her heart sank. Dar glanced at the soldiers and saw they held a weeping, dark-haired girl. Thin and tiny, she was still a child.

Teeg seemed pleased by Dar’s dismay. As he lifted the glowing brand from the fire, Dar realized he had been waiting for her arrival. She threw down the wood and fled to take care of Thunder. Before Dar reached the horse, she heard the girl scream.

Dar wasn’t surprised to find Murdant Kol waiting. “Why did you take that child?”

Kol regarded her coolly. “She’s here because of you. It’s your fault.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’re so worthless, we had to find another woman.”

“Woman? She’s no woman.”

“We’ll use her like one,” said Kol. “You brought this on her.”

“You can’t be serious!”

“I’m always serious,” said Kol. “She’ll curse you for the rest of her life.”

“Why? Why are you doing this?”

“You seem upset,” said Kol with mock solicitude. Then his expression hardened. “Didn’t you know there’d be consequences?”

Dar bit her lip, recalling her first violation. “Look, I’ll…I’ll give you what you want. Just leave the girl alone.”

“And what do you think I want?” asked Kol. “Just what are you offering?”

Dar averted her eyes. “I’ll tup with you.”

“You’re soiled goods. I’m not interested.”

“You’d rather abuse that girl? Why? To punish me?”

“You seem to think I care about your feelings,” said Kol. “You’ll learn how wrong you are when you see that girl tomorrow.”

“This is crazy! Why should she suffer?”

Kol didn’t bother to answer. He simply turned and walked away.

Dar reached for her dagger, but halted.
Even if I could kill him, it wouldn’t help that girl
. She began grooming Thunder, thinking it was ironic that Kol trusted her with his horse when a quick cut with her dagger would cripple the steed. Yet Kol apparently understood that Dar couldn’t take revenge upon an innocent animal, just as Dar knew that Kol would show no such scruples. The girl was doomed, and Dar felt responsible. As she worked, Dar wondered if there was some way to prevent what seemed inevitable.

After Thunder was groomed and fed, Dar headed for the cooking area with a heavy heart. The girl was sitting on the ground. She clasped her bony knees close to her chest as she whimpered softly. Ragged and barefoot, she reminded Dar of herself as a child. The king’s mark was an ugly burn on her forehead and Dar didn’t know if the girl cried from pain, terror, or both.

Ignoring the other women, Dar squatted beside the child and gently touched her shoulder. “Hello,” she said. “My name’s Dar. What’s yours?”

“Twea” was the whispered reply.

“I know this is the worst day of your life.”

Twea nodded.

“I can help you, but you must do exactly as I say.”

“Leave the girl alone,” said Taren.

Dar rose. “No.”

Taren strode over. “I’m in charge here!”

“I know what the men have planned,” said Dar. “I won’t let it happen.”

“You’ve caused enough trouble today,” said Taren.

Dar placed a hand on her dagger’s hilt. “Don’t try to stop me. Twea must serve the orcs tonight.”

“Why?” said Taren. “She’s suffered enough already.”

Dar whispered to Taren. “I’m certain she’s a virgin, and I intend to keep her one.”

Neena strode over. “Are you going to trust that perverted bitch?”

Taren glanced at Twea, who was watching them with wide-eyed terror, and lowered her voice. “What makes you think the men will abuse her?”

“Kol bragged about it. He’ll do it just to torment me.”

“Taren,” said Neena, “don’t listen to her lies.”

Taren studied Dar’s face, then glanced again at Twea. “How can you protect her?”

“I can’t,” said Dar, “but the orcs can.”

“Don’t you see what she’s doing?” said Neena. “She wants to give the girl to them.”

“Shut up, Neena,” said Taren. She turned to whisper to Dar, “That girl’s already terrified. How can she face orcs?”

“She has to,” said Dar. “Otherwise she’ll face something worse. I know what I’m talking about.”

Taren eyed Dar suspiciously as she made up her mind. “All right,” she said at last, “I’ll agree for the girl’s sake. Get her ready. I’ll let you know when it’s time to serve.”

“Thanks,” said Dar.

As Dar walked toward Twea, Neena grabbed her arm. “You may fool Taren, but you’re not fooling me.” She recognized the dagger hanging at Dar’s waist and her eyes narrowed. “I know where you got that, you thieving slut!”

“From someone who no longer needed it,” said Dar, “the same way you got your shoes.”

Neena glared at Dar for a moment, then spit in her face.