Page 95 of The Savage Vow
Every warrior wanted to go to the Halls of Ironfang in the afterlife. It was an honor to be with the war goddess herself.
But that would mean Orlena wouldn’t be there. She was not an orc, nor a warrior. That wouldn’t do for Nargol.
She lifted her chin. If this was their time to leave this realm, she wanted to spend the afterlife with her mate.
“I will find you,” she swore. She’d give up the warriors’ honor. Anything so she could have her mate. “In this life and the next.”
More tears spilled down Orlena’s cheeks. She bobbed her head in a nod.
A guard stepped forward and reached for the rope above her head. He brought it down and slid it over her head. The rope was rough against her throat, the noose settling around her neck.
“Let this be the first lesson.” Grat lifted a hand.
A sharp whistle spilt the air.
Then impact.
The guard next to Nargol spasmed violently. An arrow protruded from his throat. Shock flashed across his face, and he collapsed.
For half a second—silence.
Then chaos.
Nargol whipped her head toward the courtyard gates. Makhel rode through them atop her shukan like a stormbreaking over a horizon. Behind her thundered Nidani warriors—axes raised, swords swinging, war cries tearing through the air.
At the center of the warriors was her father—Tulak.
And beside him, her sister, Magoza. Her battle braids whipped behind her, and she urged her mount forward. The courtyard exploded.
Villagers scattered in screaming waves, running from the melee. The warriors guarding the gallows turned, scrambling to meet the charge of Nidani warriors.
Nargol surged forward, driving her shoulder into the nearest guard. Even shacked, she was lethal. She drove him back, knocking him off the platform.
Another lunged at her.
She ducked and drove her forehead into his nose. Bone cracked, and blood sprayed from him. He fell down to the ground. She caught sight of Nidani axes rising and falling with brutal efficiency.
Magoza leapt from her mount before it had fully halted. She bounded up the gallows steps two at a time.
“Well,” she barked. Her eyes were blazing as she reached Nargol. “I see I have to save you once again,lanhas.”
“I had a plan.” Nargol bared her teeth at her sister.
“Of course you did.” Magoza snorted.
She slammed the flat of her blade against the shackles at Nargol’s wrists. Iron split under the force. Nargol brought her arms around and rotated her shoulders. They were stiff and ached, but she could still use them.
Magoza shoved an axe into Nargol’s freed hands. “Try not to die.”
Her sister vaulted back into the fray.
Nargol spun immediately toward Orlena. She sliced through the rope binding her mate’s wrists and grabbed her hand.
“Run. Hide. I will find you,” she ordered.
Orlena hesitated. An orc charged up the steps with a sword raised. Nargol shoved Orlena aside and met the blade with the haft of the axe. Wood cracked on the steel. She vaulted and drove the axe blade deep into his chest.
He fell back down the stairs.
