Page 71 of The Savage Vow
Yambul pulled on the end of the rope. She gritted her teeth to keep from crying out loud. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was causing her pain. Every once in a while he glanced over his shoulder. Not to look at her, but to eye the orcs who traveled with them.
They arrived at a landing. Orlena was grateful that it would appear they were not going much higher. She glanced around and took in all of the orcs who were in the area. She counted ten. The orcs named Hagu and Grat were there, along with others she knew from the village. She recognized Hagu and Grat as customers who had come into the shop and spoken with Yambul. He’d even invited them back to his office and shut the door.
Now she knew why.
They were in cahoots to take over Aghon.
Her gaze landed on those who looked like her.
Other women.
Humans.
She saw them when the torches flared brighter against the rock face of the shallow cave carved into the mountainside. Seven of them were shoved into the small area.
“Get over here,sukga,” Yambul growled. He tugged on the ropes.
She tripped over a stone in the ground and almost fell. She righted herself and scurried behind him. He dragged her over to the area where the women were. Some of them she knew.
A seamstress who lived two streets over from her.
A young woman who worked in the bakery near her shop.
Another she’d seen laughing outside a shop down the street just days ago.
Now they were all pale and trembling.
The cave smelled of damp stone and fear. Orlena was forced to sit against the rough wall near the entrance. The rock was cold on her back. The chill seeped through her thin clothing. Her wrists were tied so tight, her fingers tingled.
Yambul grumbled and turned, heading back over to where the other orcs were setting up a campground. Obviously this was where they would remain tonight. They built a fire. The flames licked upward, illuminating their faces.
The orcs ignored the humans as they spoke in low, heated tones. Orlena strained to hear what they said so passionately.
“…Rujin…”
“…soon…”
“…we will be rewarded…”
Her heart pounded. Who was Rujin? She didn’t not know, but the way they said his name twisted her stomach up in fear.
As if sensing her gaze, Yambul looked her way. She tore her eyes away from them and stared at the ground. Footsteps approached, sending her heart rate skyrocketing. Yambul crouched just outside the cave, his silhouette blocking the flicker of firelight.
She darted her gaze toward him and immediately regretted it. The smile that greeted her was devilish and turned her stomach sour.
“Your warrior won’t come for you,” he said. His voice carried just enough for her to hear him. “Did you see how she just left you?”
Orlena’s breath hitched. She didn’t want to goad him on by responding, so instead, she remained silent.
“She lied to you.” He tilted his head. “She was not who you thought she was, was she? You thought you’d find your knight in shining armor to save you, didn’t you. Dumbsukga. She used you. She was sent here to unravel everything we had worked for. You were just a piece of ass for her.”
Orlena’s throat tightened painfully.
“She used you,” he whispered. He laughed. “When the trolls take over Aghon, your precious warrior will die.” He rose suddenly and returned to the fire with the other orcs.
She stared off after him, her chest aching.
Used.
