[Queen of Orcs 03] - Royal Destiny (8 page)

Dar spent an uneasy night. When she wasn’t lying awake worrying, she had disturbing dreams. Their details faded quickly, but not their air of menace. This combined with Dar’s vision of the hall’s destruction to give her a sense of approaching danger.

Within Dar’s mind warred two views of her circumstances. In one, she was queen by accident. That was what her muthuri believed, and if Zor-yat was right, Dar should abandon the crown. That course brought up new dilemmas. Dar had no idea who should succeed her, for she could no longer perceive worthiness. Then there was the question of what she would do afterward.
If I remain here, I’ll be treated like a ghost.
Living in Taiben held no appeal.

The contrasting view was that Dar was destined to be queen. That could be the reason Muth la had preserved her life. Yet Dar had difficulty believing a branded peasant woman was meant to be queen of the orcs. Her visions seemed evidence of such a destiny, but they provided little guidance.
Will this hall burn if I remain queen or will my abdication doom it?

Dar wrestled with the problem most of the day. The struggle wore her out without providing an answer. At last, she realized logic was useless. There was no way to determine which path was the correct one.
Velasa-pah said I should follow my chest. He said it wouldn’t always be easy.
Once Dar ignored reason and fear, she knew she must remain queen. She couldn’t forsake the orcs. She loved them too deeply, for Fathma had bound her to them. They were her family and her children. Dar resolved to reign as best she could and hope that would suffice.

With that resolution came a measure of calmness. Dar realized that she still needed guidance to succeed and considered to whom she might turn. Only one mother came to mind. In many ways, she was a poor choice. Yet this was the mother Dar wanted by her side.
She might refuse to help. I’d hardly blame her if she did.
That possibility made Dar anxious again, and she spent another uneasy night.

The following morning, Dar acted. When the daily work within the hall was well under way, she left her hanmuthi without an escort and made her way to the workshop where cloth was woven. The long room featured north-facing windows that filled it with natural light. The floor space was crammed with looms, each with a son or mother busy weaving. As Dar walked among them, no one noticed her at first. When she was spotted, work halted and the room grew quiet. All eyes fixed upon her, and once again, Dar was keenly aware that she didn’t know how to behave.

At last, Dar spotted Nir-yat, who sat motionless with a shuttle in her hand. She bowed when Dar approached her. “I wish to speak with you,” said Dar, in a low voice. “Will you come to my hanmuthi?”

Nir-yat bowed again. “Hai, Muth Mauk.”

The two walked silently until they reached the royal chambers and Dar spoke. “Nir, I need help.” She noted how her sister’s expression turned uneasy. “I assume Muthuri has forbidden you to aid me.” Knowing that Nir-yat was incapable of lying, she pushed the point. “It that so?”

“Hai.”

“Daughters should be dutiful to their muthuri, and your obedience is proper. Yet I fear it will doom me.” Dar saw distress in Nir-yat’s face. It seemed a promising sign. “Only one hope remains.” Dar gazed into her sister’s eyes to communicate her urgency. “Will you bend your neck so I might bite it?”

Nir-yat’s face paled at the enormity of Dar’s request. “Bite my neck! Why?”

“If your life is mine, you’ll be free from Muthuri’s authority.”

“She’ll be angry, and she’ll still have one hold on me. Only muthuris can bless unions.”

“Would she withhold her blessing to punish you?” asked Dar, who hadn’t foreseen that possibility.

“She might.”

“I wouldn’t ask this if my need weren’t great.”

“Why me? I’m too young to be wise.”

There was no word for “trust” in Orcish, for that would require an understanding of deception. Thus, Dar had to explain her reason in another way. “Whenever I’ve sought wisdom, I’ve been told to follow my chest. That’s what I’m doing now. I want advice that springs from love. Even before I was reborn, you took my side.”

“Because you saved brother’s life.”

“I think Muth la has sent me to save more than him. Perhaps, to save all urkzimmuthi. I’m only living mother who has witnessed war. If my reign fails, many others may see it also.”

“I know nothing of wars or matriarch councils,” said Nir-yat. “What use can I be?”

“I’m ignorant of royal duties and etiquette. Little mistakes make one seem foolish, and fools have few followers.”

“If you bite my neck, Muthuri will make my life difficult.”

“I know, so best you live with me.”

“Forever?”

“If I succeed, I think Muthuri will forgive you. If I fail, I’ll perish. Then you’ll be released from your obligation.”

Nir-yat thought a long while. Dar, sensing her inner struggle, waited patiently. At last, Nir-yat spoke. “Sister, I’ll follow my chest.” She sank to her knees, bent her head, and pushed her hair aside to expose her neck.

Dar knelt beside her sister. As tenderly as possible, she bit Nir-yat’s neck hard enough to leave a mark. Then she embraced her.

Othar was surprised by how many officers visited him. He had already seen two sustolums and a tolum, and it was not yet noon. Karg was the second tolum he interviewed. There was a stigma attached to serving in the orc regiments, and the displaced officers were anxious for positions. Othar needed no special powers to perceive their desperation.

The sorcerer had questioned each officer, for spoken answers were more precise than the impressions he obtained through reading minds. Nevertheless, Othar usually based his judgments on the latter. He had already decided that Karg was as unsuitable as the others, perceiving he was unadept with women. Othar was about to take Karg’s mind when he uncovered an interesting memory. “The orc queen served under you.”

Karg looked surprised. “How did you know that?”

“I have my ways.”

“Aye. She was in my shieldron. She was only the orc wench then. Once, I even had her whipped.”

Othar smiled beneath his silver mask. “That must have been amusing.”

“I didn’t do it. Only gave the order.”

Othar discovered another memory—one that was far more useful. “Too bad Murdant Kol didn’t do the flogging.” As soon as the name was uttered, Karg’s thoughts filled with images of a rugged man with piercing blue eyes.
Karg feared him
, thought Othar,
as a cur fears a wolf.

Karg was unaware of the scrutiny. “Aye, if Kol had his way, it would have been the end of her. Then things wouldn’t have gone to shit.”

“Were they enemies?”

“She was the only woman Kol never tamed. He couldn’t abide that.”

“Where is he now?”

“Who knows? The regiments have scattered.” Then Karg’s face went blank as Othar seized his mind.

The sorcerer leisurely probed the memories of his latest victim, seeking additional information. The more he learned, the more he was convinced that Kol would be perfect for his plans. When Othar was finished with his examination, he spoke. “Return to your lodging. Tomorrow, seek out a duel. Lose it.”

After what remained of Tolum Karg departed, Othar called for Gorm. The youthful-seeming man quickly appeared. “Aye, Master,” he said without a trace of subservience.

“I’ll see no more officers. Instead, find a man named Kol. He was high murdant in the orc regiments. Persuade him to see me.”

“A promising candidate?”

“Very promising.”

“Every hanmuthi is Muth Mauk’s hanmuthi,” said Nir-yat.

“Does that mean I must give first greeting?” asked Dar.

“Hai. But don’t state your name, for everyone knows it. Instead, you bless ranking mother.”

“May Muth la bless you?” said Dar.

“Hai, but you must bless her by name. That’s important. Always learn it before you enter.”

Dar recalled with embarrassment visiting Metha-yat’s hanmuthi. “So I’ve been doing it wrong.”

Nir-yat sighed. “You’ve been doing everything wrong. You should only wear green kefs and color your claws same shade. Your nipples, too.”

Dar suppressed a smile. “My
nipples
?”

“Hai.”

“Why green?”

“It’s royal color.”

“My predecessor did none of these things.”

“She did before washavokis imprisoned her.”

“Where do I get this green for my claws and nipples?”

“It called ‘talmauki.’ Jvar-yat provides it.”

Dar recognized the name. “She’s latath who gave me my tattoo.”

“Hai,” said Nir-yat. “And her lore includes secret of making talmauki.”

Dar clapped her hands and a son entered the hanmuthi. “Tell Jvar-yat to bring talmauki.”

After he departed, Nir-yat spoke. “You should send for Thorma-yat, next. You’ll need to order proper clothes. Then have Gar-yat come to help plan your feasts.”

“Feasts?”

“You must invite each hanmuthi here for feast, starting with most lowly.”

“How will I know which one is that?”

“Yev-yat is lorekeeper. She’ll help you.”

Dar was starting to feel overwhelmed. “There’s so much I don’t know. Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“They were forbidden.”

“By whom?”

“Muth-yat. She said it was test of fitness.”

A test she took pains to ensure I’d fail
, thought Dar.

Ten

Nir-yat returned to her muthuri’s hanmuthi late in the afternoon, accompanied by two sons who were to fetch her things. To her dismay, Zor-yat was waiting for her. “Why are these sons with you?”

“They’re to carry my chest and sleeping mat,” replied Nir-yat.

“To where?”

“Muth Mauk’s hanmuthi.”

“I thought as much,” said Zor-yat. “Dargu takes you from your work, then suddenly Jvar-yat is preparing talmauki. I suppose you told Dargu about it.”

“Hai, Muthuri.”

“Then you disobeyed me! I told you not to help Dargu.”

Nir-yat pulled her hair aside to reveal Dar’s teeth marks on her neck. “She’s Muth Mauk, not Dargu, and my life is hers now.”

Zor-yat’s face darkened. She glared about her hanmuthi and made a gesture that caused everyone to retreat. When the room was empty, Zor-yat scowled at Nir-yat. “Your foolishness has placed us all in peril.”

“I followed my chest.”

“Because your head’s empty. You’ve no idea what you’ve done.”

“I agreed to help my sister.”

“Ask your sister about Velasa-pah. Then you’ll regret your rashness.” Zor-yat sighed with frustration. “Yet that bite can’t be undone. Gather your things and leave. You’re dead to me.”

“Muthuri…”

Zor-yat turned her back to her daughter. “Go!”

Dar was unsettled by how distraught Nir-yat looked upon her return. “What happened?” she asked.

“Muthuri said I’m dead to her.”

The news stunned Dar. “I’m sorry.”

“She called me foolish, and told me to ask you about Velasa-pah.”

Dar’s stomach lurched at the mention of the wizard’s name. It made her wonder if Zor-yat knew about her vision, though Dar couldn’t imagine how that could be possible. “Did she say why?”

“Thwa. But she said I’d regret my rashness.”

“I don’t know why Muthuri would say that,” said Dar. “You already know of my encounter with Velasa-pah. I told you all about it when I first arrived.”

“Have you had visions of him since?”

Nir-yat’s question came uncomfortably close to the mark. “I’ve had another vision of Velasa-pah,” said Dar, “but I’ve no idea what that vision meant. None of my visions have been comforting; yet not all have come to pass. Some were only warnings.”

“Are you sure?” asked Nir-yat.

Dar realized that she was not. She recalled the horrific vision that had prompted her to rescue Zna-yat. The figure burning at the stake could have been anyone. Her most recent vision renewed the terror of the earlier one.
I could be that burning figure!
Keeping those thoughts to herself, Dar replied, “It would be cruel of Muth la to send visions of things one can’t change.” Then Dar recalled her vision of Twea’s death and the ambush at the Vale of Pines.
Both came to pass despite my efforts.

Nir-yat smelled a whiff of fear. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, Sister. I was seeking reassurance.” She sighed. “Muthuri has upset me. She thinks that by helping you I’ve placed everyone in peril.”

“Are you sorry I bit your neck?”

“I don’t understand Muthuri’s thinking. You’re Muth Mauk. What threatens you threatens us all.”

Dar wondered if she should tell Nir-yat about her vision of the burning hall. She didn’t want to upset her further, but she felt guilty about keeping secrets from someone who had given her everything. Dar was still wrestling with the matter when Jvar-yat entered the hanmuthi, providing a welcome interruption.

Using her newly acquired knowledge, Dar addressed the latath in the appropriate manner. “Muth la’s blessing, Jvar-yat.”

“Shashav, Muth Mauk.” Jvar-yat bowed, then set a polished stone tray on the floor. “I’ve prepared talmauki as you requested.”

“You have pleased me,” replied Dar, using the correct formality.