[Queen of Orcs 02] - Clan Daughter (5 page)

“Where would I go?” replied Theena, in a tone that made it clear that the question was unanswerable. “I’m like you. I have no kin.”

Dar yawned loudly. “I’ve been walking all night,” she said. “I must rest a bit.” She pushed together enough loose straw to cushion the dirt floor before lying down. Though exhausted, Dar couldn’t sleep. She wondered what the orcs were thinking.
Do they know I’m a captive or do they think I’m dead? Perhaps they believe I’ve deserted them. What will they do? Wait for me? Attack? Leave?
The last seemed most likely, making Garlsholding the end of Dar’s journey.

Five

Dar managed to get a little sleep before Hunda un-bolted the door, roused Theena and her, and told them to milk the goats. Then Dar got her first look at the other bondmaid. She was older than Dar and stocky with a broad face. She wore a calf-length skirt of brown homespun and a loose, sleeveless white blouse that laced up in the front. She was barefoot and her light brown hair was tucked beneath a soiled kerchief.

Theena, whose clothes were worn and patched, was fascinated by Dar’s shift. She couldn’t help fingering the fabric. “Ooh, it’s so fine,” she said. “Fit for the mistress.”

“A soldier gave it to me. Most like, it came from a dead woman.”

Theena jerked her hand away, and changed the subject. “Have you milked goats afore?”

“No. We were too poor to own them.”

“Well, it’s not hard. I’ll show you how.”

“When do you eat here?” asked Dar.

“Daymeal’s at high sun, but there’s porridge after firstwork.”

Dar never imagined that her mouth would water at the thought of porridge, but it did. Her stomach grumbled throughout the milking session. After taking the goats to pasture, she finally got to eat.

Dar ate her first meal at Garlsholding in the long stone building where most of the servants slept and all of them dined. A kettle of porridge sat at the end of a long table lined with benches. Wooden bowls and spoons were piled nearby.

Dar was the focus of much curiosity, which Theena happily satisfied while Dar wolfed down her porridge. The bondmaid embellished Dar’s already fanciful account, making it sound as if Dar had only narrowly escaped being devoured. Her tales entertained everyone until Hunda stood up. “Time to work,” he said. “Dar, go with Theena. But, afore you do, change into these.” He handed Dar a small bundle. “Bring me the dress. It’s too good for a bondmaid.”

Dar did as she was told and returned wearing a worn skirt and blouse similar to Theena’s. She gave Hunda the dress, then joined Theena, who handed her a hoe. Shouldering it, Dar followed Theena into the fields.

Kovok-mah crouched motionless at the edge of the woods, watching the compound. As he had expected, the washavokis rose with the sun. Buildings obstructed his view of most of their activities, just as they had the previous evening. Then, his ears had been more useful than his eyes. He had heard the dog barking. Later, he had heard voices, though they were too distant to understand. Kovok-mah had observed torchlight reflected off the buildings, but he hadn’t seen Dar since she had sneaked into the compound.
Dargu was afraid when she left
, thought Kovok-mah.
What punishment did she fear?
Having often witnessed the cruelty of washavokis, he feared Dar was dead.

The sun was still low in the sky when washavokis walked into the field. Kovok-mah immediately recognized Dar among them, despite the distance and her different clothing. The way she moved was so familiar that he didn’t even have to see her face. Joy filled Kovok-mah’s chest when he realized Dar was alive and unhurt.

Kovok-mah watched Dar as she toiled alongside the others. When it became apparent that Dar wasn’t being guarded, he grew puzzled.
If she’s not prisoner, why is she there?
Kovok-mah continued to observe Dar as he pondered her actions. He couldn’t imagine the reason for them, but Dar often did things he didn’t understand. Kovok-mah stayed until noon, when Dar and the washavokis returned to the compound. Then he withdrew to where the other orcs were hiding.

Only Zna-yat was awake when Kovok-mah returned. “You’ve been gone long time,” he said. “What did you see?”

“Dargu lives,” said Kovok-mah, briefly seeing disappointment in his cousin’s face. “I saw her working with washavokis.”

“Good,” said Zna-yat. “She has returned to her kind.”

“I’m not sure of that.”

“How can it be otherwise?”

“I think she’s doing this to help us.”

“How can you be so foolish?” asked Zna-yat. “You seem to forget Dargu is washavoki. You ignore her stink. You touch her. You talk as if she has wisdom.”

“She does.”

“Because she speaks of Muth la?”

“Mother of All sends her visions.”

“Dargu talks of visions because she knows sons can’t see them,” replied Zna-yat. “Washavokis often speak words that have no meaning.”

“You don’t understand her.”

“It’s
you
who doesn’t understand. I’ve watched her magic over you grow ever stronger. It’s been painful to witness. Yet now she’s gone, and I’m glad.”

“My chest says you’re wrong,” said Kovok-mah.

“Let us depart,” said Zna-yat. “Dargu has forsaken us. That was always her plan.”

“Thwa! I don’t believe it! I’ll wait for her.”

Zna-yat’s face colored, but his voice was even. “Then I’ll also wait for Dargu.”

After daymeal and a brief rest, Dar returned to work with the other servants. She was conscious of their eyes upon her.
I’m an outsider and a thief.
Hoping to win acceptance, she hoed diligently. It wasn’t overtaxing work. Dar had tilled the soil since childhood, and the rhythm of hoeing had a soothing familiarity. As Dar gazed upon the abundant fields and felt warm earth beneath her feet, a sense of peace came over her. For the first time since the soldiers arrived at her father’s hut, she was safe. The fear that had been her constant companion was gone. She had food and a place to sleep. All she needed to do was work willingly. Accustomed to toil, Dar thought it was a fair price for serenity.

Dar worked past sunset and was hoeing one last row when she smelled something burning. She looked about and spotted a large bonfire at the far edge of the field. The shadowed woods behind the fire made its flames seem especially bright. Foul, black smoke drifted by.

“Ugh!” said Dar. “What are they burning? Animal carcasses?”

Theena shot Dar a puzzled look. “What are you talking about?”

Dar pointed to the flames, which had grown until they rose above the treetops. “That fire over there.”

Theena gazed in the direction Dar pointed. “I see no fire.”

“Oh, no,” said Dar softly.

“What? What’s the matter?” said Theena. “You look like you’ve seen a spirit.”

“I’m just tired,” replied Dar. “I’m seeing things.”

“We’re almost done,” said Theena. “You’ll rest soon.” She resumed hoeing.

Dar resumed work also, but the vision didn’t go away. Every time she glanced up, the fire was still burning. Gradually, its flames died down. As they diminished, Dar discerned something within them. There was a blackened post and crumpled against it was a charred form. Dar saw a bent head and torso surrounded by flames. She averted her eyes.

By the time Dar returned to the compound, her serenity was shattered. Dar had been shown something terrible, but she had no idea toward what purpose. All she knew was there was a power abroad that wouldn’t let her be.

The following morning, Dar awoke to the sound of the bolt being drawn. Theena yawned close by. “Dar, who’s Thwa?”

“Thwa’s not a name. It means ‘no’ in goblin talk.”

“Well, you kept repeating it in your sleep. Don’t you remember?”

“No, but I remember having nightmares.”

Theena gave Dar a sympathetic look. “You’re safe here. Soon, such dreams will leave you.”

Will they?
wondered Dar, but she replied, “I’m sure they will.”

Dar helped Theena with firstwork. Afterward, the two women went to the servant hall for porridge. When Dar sat down, an elderly man leaned across the table. “You’re not the only one who’s seen a goblin. I saw one in the woods close to where you hoed yesterday.” He grinned at Dar’s stunned reaction, and waited a long moment before he added, “Of course, I was a lad.”

Dar struggled to regain her composure. “A lad?”

“Not all the goblins were run off in the wars,” said the man, obviously pleased to have an audience. “A few remained. They caught a bull goblin in our very woods.”

“What…what did they do to him?” asked Dar.

“What you always do with goblins—have a roasting.”

“They burned him?” asked Dar, her voice faint.

“Alive,” replied the man with a grin. “And, oh, what a stench it made!”

“Gunthar!” said Theena in a scolding tone. “Don’t talk of goblins to Dar! Look at her! She’s gone all white!”

“I thought the tale would please her,” replied Gunthar.

“Well, you thought wrong,” said Theena. “Dar has nightmares and she…” Theena paused and gave Dar a strange look. “…she sees things, too.”

“Well, if she sees a goblin, she needn’t worry,” said Gunthar. “We know what to do.”

Six

The next day, Dar worked in a field that bordered the woods. Around midmorning, she thought she heard a low voice coming from the undergrowth. She worked her way toward it. The voice called again. “Dargu.”

Dar glanced about to insure that no one was observing her, then entered the woods. Kovok-mah rose from the undergrowth. “Dargu, ma nav fwili sa ther.”
Dargu, I am pleased to see you.

Typically, Kovok-mah’s words fell short of expressing his feelings, but Dar appreciated the depths of his joy with one glance at his face. He gazed at her with such intensity that she felt momentarily overwhelmed. Still, she had the composure to reply. “Mer snaf.”
I also.

“What happened to you?” asked Kovok-mah, continuing to speak in Orcish.

Dar replied in the same tongue. “I was caught.”

“Did washavokis punish you?”

“Thwa. They showed mercy because they wish me to work for them.”

“I’m glad you’re safe,” said Kovok mah. He paused a long moment. “What should I do, Dargu?”

“You can’t stay here. Washavokis are cruel to urkzimmuthi. I’ve seen terrible vision.”

“Hai, we must go.” Kovok-mah’s face grew sad, and he was silent a while. “Are you happy with washavokis?”

Dar realized that Kovok-mah was asking if she wished to remain behind and knew, if she said yes, he would disappear forever.
I could live in peace and safety
. Dar quickly dismissed the idea.
I told Kovok-mah I’d get him home
. “I’ve been treated well,” she said. “But this is no place for me.”

The sadness left Kovok-mah’s face. “Are you certain?”

“Hai. I’m different from them.”

“You’re also different from us.”

“Hai,” said Dar, “but I must follow my chest.”

“I’m glad you’ll guide us.”

Dar heard the sound of a distant bell, then someone was shouting her name.
This is the wrong time to flee
, she thought.
I can’t go unprepared.
“I have to go,” she said. “I’ll join you soon.”

“When?”

“As soon as I can. Look for me each evening.” Then Dar dashed from the woods and ran over to the servant who had called her name. Before she could explain her absence, the woman pointed to a ragged man on the road. He bore a staff that jangled a bell each time it struck the ground. “A cursed one’s coming,”

“Cursed one?” said Dar.

“Someone with the rotting curse. Have you not heard of it? People lose fingers and toes, then hands and feet. Faces, too. The cursed are hideous.”

Dar could see that the man’s face and hands were wrapped in dirty bandages. “How horrible.”

“Run and get some food. Something from the slop pail will do. Leave it by the road so he’ll go away.”

“Just don’t get near him,” said Theena.

“Aye, make him keep his distance,” said a servant. “Throw rocks if you need to.”

“Mind you don’t kill him,” said another, “because then the curse will pass to you.”

“Now hurry,” said the first servant. “And come back here when you’re done.”