Page 78 of The Savage Vow
It was easy to see the panic behind his bravado. Sweat gleamed on his brow. His chest heaved with his quickened breaths.
“You hide behind a bound woman,” she said. “And you call yourself a strong orc? One who you think Rujin will respect?”
Orlena cried out from him tightening his hold on her.
“This is survival. You think your father’s rule will survive Rujin? The trolls will crush Aghon!”
“You mistake fear for wisdom. Nothing you say makes sense. Do you think orcs will want to bend the knee to our enemy? The same enemy who tried to wipe out our race!” Nargol snapped. How stupid were these orcs? Did they not know their history?
Yambul laughed bitterly.
“Rujin has an army. Giants with stone-crushing hands. They will grind your dynasty to dust.”
“You have sold your own people out to them for what?” she demanded.
“This ensures I live.” He dragged Orlena closer to the edge.
Nargol’s heart stuttered. He gripped Orlena’s hair and snatched her head back. A yelp released from her lips. Her eyes were wide and searching as her gaze landed on Nargol.
“You made her dream. It was you who put crazy thoughts in her head about leaving. She was content where she was.”
“I was not!” Orlena shouted.
“You were mine. My property,” he snarled.
“I was free. You lied to me!” Orlena screamed.
The words echoed against the stone. Nargol’s pulse thundered. Yambul leaned closer to the drop, his boots mere inches from the edge.
“One more step,” Nargol warned. She rested a hand on the hilt of her dagger sheathed on her waist.
“You killing me won’t stop anything. The trolls will still come.” He belted out a laugh.
“Then I will kill them, too,” she said softly.
Yambul’s grin faltered.
“Back down or she goes over the ledge,” he said.
Nargol held his gaze and calculated. Distance. Wind. Angle. All she needed to make the perfect shot from where she stood. Slowly, she reached for her bow.
Yambul’s eyes narrowed. He shoved Orlena.
Time froze.
Orlena’s scream tore through the air as she disappeared over the ledge. Nargol moved before her thoughts caught up. Her bow was in her hands, arrow nocked and released.
It flew true.
Straight through Yambul’s heart. His body jerked violently. She sent another arrow without hesitation. It struck his shoulder and spun him off balance. He staggered backward and fell.
His scream faded into the ravine below.
Nargol dropped everything and ran to the cliff’s edge.
“Orlena!” she roared. Her vision blurred. With the moon high, it provided little light to help her see down into the dark ravine. She checked the area, and her heart shattered.
Movement.
