Page 74 of The Savage Vow
“Then where are Zarful and Urlgag?” Yambul demanded.
No one answered.
The air shifted.
One of the orcs reached for his weapon and then?—
A gasp.
Orlena turned just in time to see it. An arrow protruded from the orc’s chest.
Straight through the heart.
His eyes widened in disbelief, and he collapsed backward into the dirt. Growls filled the air, and the orcs scrambled for their weapons. The fire cracked loudly, the wood burning.
“Show yourself!” Grat roared. He held a wickedly large knife.
Another arrow whistled through the air. It struck a second orc in the throat. His hand immediately went to his neck. Bloodpoured out around the arrow. His hands were covered in blood. A gurgling sound erupted from his lips, and he fell to his knees. He gasped again, trying to gain air but soon fell over into the dirt. Orlena’s eyes widened at the sight of another lifeless orc.
She whipped her head around, trying to see where the arrows were coming from. The pain in her arms and wrists was soon forgotten. The women in the cave screamed at the exploding chaos. The remaining orcs spun around in frantic circles, searching the tree line. Yambul yanked Orlena in front of him, using her as a shield. She struggled to get away, but his arm was like a steel beam, strapped in front of her to keep her close to him.
“Let me go,” she cried out.
“Not a fecking chance,” he snapped.
Another arrow whistled through. This one buried deep into an eye socket of one of the orcs. He fell to the ground instantly. The shooting of the arrows was precise, merciless and deadly. Orlena’s heart slammed against her chest.
Hope flared so bright inside her, it almost hurt.
Nargol.
Her orc.
Had she come to save her? Or was she here to complete her mission she’d been sent to accomplish?
“She’s not getting you,” Yambul snarled.
A wide grin spread across her face because she knew the truth. She felt it deep in her bones.
Nargol had come for her.
“Face us like a true warrior!” Hagu shouted into the trees.
The remaining orcs spun around, looking for the shooter.
But the darkness did not answer. Only the whisper of the wind greeted them.
Yambul cursed viciously and dragged Orlena backward.
“No!” she screamed.
He clamped his massive hand over her mouth, cutting her off. He hauled her toward the narrow path, climbing higher into the mountains, away from the caves.
She kicked, screamed, struggled, and fought with all of her might, but the orc was too strong for her. The light from the fire grew dim. He forced her upward onto the rocky incline. The screams of the camp faded off into the distance.
Her heart thumped wildly. She could not see Nargol, but she felt her.
Felt the promise in the way each of the arrows had struck their targets.
