Page 21 of War Seer

Chapter 9

Wodred

Fifteen Years Ago

The General’s Cohort of the Northern Horde runs drills as Salthu, my second, barks orders at them in Orikesh. They move in perfect synchronicity, each movement flowing seamlessly into the next. Almost like a lethal dance. My eyes rake over the cohort, each member hand-picked by myself. They are the deadliest group in Orik, each warrior here chosen for their skill and ambition. They want to be the best and so I will drive them to become the best.

There is a tension in the air today. The king is coming and is bringing his only son and heir to join my troops for his training. It is a great honor, to be sure, but I’ve dreaded this day since I received the message that I’d been chosen. I do not want to deal with a miniature Guruk, swaggering about, spouting arrogance and poison about bloodlines and offspring. Any child of Guruk’s is sure to be a disruption to the Horde. A headache, that is what this “honor” brings me.

And then there is the Lady Melelea. I have never been able to forget her. Even as I know that she has defied the odds and stayed with Guruk even without a Mating Bite and most likely loves the king, I cannot dispel my dangerous feelings for her. My instincts have never roused for another female. I can still remember that night in Goetia, the quiet conversation we had while my Mating Instinct growled at me to kill Guruk and take her. I do not know if she will accompany the king and her son, but I both yearn for the sight of her and dread fighting my instincts once again.

Salthu calls for a short break in the drills before coming up the hill to meet me and clapping my shoulder. “All is ready for the king’s visit and a message just came that they are close.”

I snort. “‘Close’ could mean an hour or just a few minutes. It is not exact.”

Salthu grins. “Not everyone can be as exacting as you are, my friend. You’ll have to deal with our deficiencies, as frustrating as it must be for one as perfect as you.”

I shake my head. “I am not perfect, but I can do my job.”

“Same thing,” Salthu responds flippantly. He looks out over the troops from our vantage point, his eyes going to the distance.

“Have you heard the rumors?” he asks, still looking in the distance. “About the princeling?”

“You know I don’t listen to rumors,” I respond. It is true. No one even tries to gossip with me, knowing that I am not interested in hearsay and pot-stirring.

“I would expect no less from Brother Wodred,” Salthu laughs. “A monk through and through. But you’ll want to hear this one.”

“What is it?” I sigh. I don’t really want to hear more about Guruk’s orcling.

“He has no sibilance,” Salthu says, shocking me.

“What?” I ask, stunned. “How can that be? An orc without sibilance?”

“Apparently, he was a weak and sickly infant,” Salthu shrugs. “He cried and cried until it broke his voice. Guruk blames his wife. He says her weakness infected their child.”

Kill him, growls my Mating Instinct. Take your mate. He doesn’t deserve her. I ignore the traitorous thoughts, even though Guruk blaming Melelea is unjust and rouses my anger. And something about the story rings false somehow. Why would a baby cry so much and not be soothed by its parents? Where was Guruk? Where was Melelea?

“I find that all hard to believe,” I tell Salthu.

Salthu shrugs again. “Believe what you like, it’s true. It is Guruk’s biggest shame. He’s been training the princeling since he was seven summers to strengthen him so that the princeling won’t be as big of an embarrassment.”

“Sibilance is important for finding a mate,” I start, “but why would it be an embarrassment? One can be a great warrior and leader and never use their sibilance.”

“He is probably going to be king someday,” Salthu points out. “And he’ll never be able to join in the Enticement Chants or other rituals of our people. I can see why Guruk has been trying to have another heir.”

“He should be glad that he has any, seeing as it's been years and has had dozens of mistresses and he still has no other orclings,” I say, unable to keep the disapproval out of my voice.

Salthu laughs. “Oh-ho, look who knows some rumors after all. How did you know about the mistresses?”

“He brought one to Goetia, if you’ll remember,” I remind him. “And every time there’s been a mention of a mistress, it's a new name or race. I’m not a fool, I can put a two-piece puzzle together.”

The puzzle that I can’t put together is why Lady Melelea stays with him when he constantly dishonors her. I know that she said that her own father was not monogamous, but she sounded sad when she mentioned Guruk’s mistresses. Why would she stay when Guruk keeps hurting her like this? I don’t understand.

“I never meant to imply otherwise,” Salthu responds. “I—”

Horns blow in the distance, cutting off Salthu’s words. The king’s retinue has arrived.

“Come,” I say to my friend, clapping him on the shoulder. “Let us meet the king and see this princeling that we are to train.”