The accusation hit me like a slap.And still worse—I deserved it.Because I’d spent my whole life looking out only for myself.It was my nature—survival.But if taking off and leaving this man alone to fend off these vipers didn’t qualify as betrayal, then I must’ve skipped that lesson somewhere along the way.
At least Droko didn’t know I’d been planning to take his stormsilver and leave.If he ever found out, I’d surely die of shame.And I’ve always prided myself in being utterly shameless.
With confidence I didn’t entirely feel, I said, “My only demand is that you get rid of Gorgul.Fire him, banish him.Whatever it takes.”
Droko gave a heavy sigh.“He would talk.”
“Then run him through with his own damn spear—”
“Archie,” he said quietly…and the sound of my name in his deep orcish voice made me sway on my feet.“I don’t claim to know how it is in human towns.But here, in the Red Hand Clan, if I slew him—there’d be consequences.”
“But you can get away with anything!You’re the shaman.”At least as far as anyone knew.
“I’m a newcomer; Gorgul has been a respected member of this clan his whole life.Ul-Rott would have to investigate.All my secrets would be laid bare.”
“You cured the chieftain’s crotch!Surely, he’ll look the other way.”
Droko shook his head sadly.“To excuse the murder of a clan mate would undermine his authority.He’d have to make an example of me.”
Was it too late to flee the caves with the rare dwarvish blade, whose sale would set me up for life with the best of everything money could buy?Maybe not.The only problem was, no matter how fine the house, the bed, the wine—how could I possibly enjoy any of it without Droko?
If I said what I was about to say, there’d be no going back…but it had to be done.Before I could second-guess myself, I blurted out, “Come away with me, Droko.”
He looked up sharply, confused.Impulsively, I dashed up to him and grabbed him by the hand.Obviously, I expected it to be bigger than mine.But it wasn’t until I was actually clutching it that I appreciated how massive he was.A pair of his fingers were as big as my wrist, and his skin felt like hardened leather—but I didn’t care that we were nothing alike.Because this was Droko.MyDroko.Somehow, somewhere, we had to be able to carve out a life together.
And then, before I knew it, I was grappling him around the neck—by the stars, it was like climbing a tree!—and hauling myself up against him to press my mouth to his.Surprise was the only reason he moved at all, bowing his head so our lips could meet.All of the other orcs had tusks that could easily put out an eye, but not Droko.His curved ever so slightly outward.And when I went in for the kiss, they cupped my face like a lover’s hand.
Droko’s lips parted.Not in passion, but in wonder.In my long and sordid history, I’d certainly kissed men who didn’t kiss me back.But now, that wasn’t the case.Droko didn’t exactly kiss me…but the thread of exhalation that played across my lower lip as his breath caught was all the encouragement I needed.
I mashed myself into the strong, hard shape of him.Droko was so phenomenally solid, I was sure he’d leave an impression against me like a boot would mark its tread on the soft bank of a river.And me?Well, I might have some grit, but underneath all that, I was pliant.
Our breath mingled, and he made that orcish whuffing noise.Cautious.In the pit of his throat.And then he shuddered like a wagon crossing a rut.Yes, my human senses were dull compared to his, but even I could tell that the places where we came together were utterly sublime.My breath to his.My lips to his.My tongue to—
“Archie,” he said sadly as he took a step back—I got gooseflesh all over from the way he formed the word around his tusks.“It can’t be.”
“But it can.”I steeled myself and plowed ahead.“There’s a way out of these caves—a way none of the guards know about.”And while I’d never be able to cram him through the narrow gap that led to my escape route, Dreadforge would take care of that soon enough.I caught his arm and tried to tug him toward the door.It was like dragging on a mountain.“While everyone’s busy putting together the fake tomb—”
“I’m sorry.”Droko eased my hand from his forearm, holding it as if he was worried he’d squeeze too hard and hear bones crunch.“Maybe, in another life, I could have gone with you.But I have an obligation to my family.And if I did manage to escape, retribution would rain down like—”
As if on cue, a massive peel of thunder boomed through the caverns.
“You see?”Droko gave a joyless laugh as he glanced up at the cave ceiling.“Even the skies are conspiring to keep me on the unlikely path I’ve laid out for myself.I told Ul-Rott rain would come for Taruut’s funeral.And the heavens have made me an honest man.”
The sound of distant plinks and plunks filtered in as the sudden downpour seeped into the caves.Against all odds, they also filled my heart with hope.“Droko…what are the chances it just so happened to rain exactly when you said it would?”
“Unlikely or not, it’s a coincidence.Nothing more.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.I’m as much a shaman as you are an orc.So, if you’ve found a way out, you should take it.In fact, I command you to go.While everyone is distracted with the funeral—”
“And leave you here alone?Unthinkable.”
“Well.I suppose I’ll always have Crespash.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell Droko that if I went, his goblin was sure to follow.I didn’t need to.It was written all over my face…or whatever the scent equivalent might be.He smiled joylessly and said, “There’s no sense in sending three soldiers into a losing battle when one will do.Crespash is a pain in the arse anyway, and I’ll be fine without my food taster—Gorgul won’t let anyone poison me.He’s got too much to lose.”
Gorgul.The mere sound of his name made my fingers itch to aim Dreadforge at something other than a cave wall.I might not be strong enough to swing it as high as his heart…but I could at least lop off a leg.“How did that wretched orc figure out you couldn’t shaman?Is Crespash so bitter he would sell you out even if it meant he’d go down right along with you?”
