CHAPTER 24
Clover
Things haven’t been this tense since I arrived in Uzrirgard.
King Lix’tuk lands his ship near the harbor. He tells me to stay onboard while he talks with the Lords and Ladies who are already on the ground.
I can see the ship in the harbor. The King told me it was being moved to the quarantine zone now. Some sort of large tent is being assembled over it. I can’t help feeling empathy for the women on the ship. I’m sure they’re as scared as I was. Unfortunately, I don’t know what their fate will be. Hopefully, King Lix’tuk will show them the same mercy he’s shown me.
I can’t hear any of the conversations, of course, but some of them seem heated. King Lix’tuk is angry. Most of the Lords and Ladies seem to be angry as well. When King Lix’tuk finally returns to his ship, I tense up, hoping I won’t get any of that anger directed at me.
“This is a fucking political disaster,” he roars, stomping to the front of the ship and sitting down in the pilot’s chair. “All the Lords and Ladies are denying involvement.”
“Do you believe them?” I ask hesitantly.
“I’m not sure. They’re always plotting,” he sighs. “But this doesn’t seem like it will do anything to further their agenda.”
“Unless someone wants you to try really hard to produce an heir,” I reason, feeling a twinge of something I can’t really identify inside me. Jealousy? I’ve never felt that before. “With that many women, your chances are a lot higher.”
“If that is their intention, they’re wasting their time,” he growls, starting the engines.
The ship rises into the air, then cuts toward Zrogmul. I’m still worried about all the women on the ship. If they’re anything like me, they didn’t ask for this. They grew up knowing this could be their fate, but that doesn’t mean they’re prepared for it. I thought I was, but I quickly learned that the world is a lot more complex than I ever realized.
“What are you going to do with them?” I ask hesitantly. “The women.”
“They’re going to be quarantined until the medical tests are complete,” he replies. “We should be able to protect ourselves against another virus or biological weapon, but I’m not taking any chances.”
“You think President Highton could have infected them with something? Something that could hurt orcs?” I ask, appalled.
“It’s possible. The initial scans didn’t show anything, so it would have to be something advanced, but I don’t trust humans. At all,” he declares. “Especially after what they did to us before.”
“That’s understandable,” I admit. “But if they’re not infected? If they’re just… normal girls? What happens to them?”
“I don’t fucking know, Clover,” he answers me honestly. “The Lords and Ladies want them publicly whipped to send a message to President Highton before we send them home.”
“Oh god, nooo!” I groan, a shudder sweeping through me. “Please don’t whip them, Your Majesty! They’re innocent. They don’t deserve a Reparations Penalty. It’s not their fault they were sent here.” I only use his most formal title when I’m really trying to win him over.
“I’m going to wait until I hear President Highton’s speech before I decide,” he mutters. “The asshole.”
The thought of all the women on the ship being publicly whipped fills me with dread. Maybe because I came extremely close to that kind of cruelty myself. King Lix’tuk spared me. I hope I can convince him to spare the women on that ship.
But that depends on President Highton’s speech. I have no idea what he will say. Neither does King Lix’tuk. When we get back to Zrogmul, he goes straight to the kitchen for a bottle of grog. I’ve never seen this much worry in his eyes.
“I don’t think I’ll be in the mood for dinner,” his tone reflects his deep concern. “I need to go to my office to work for a while.”
“The speech is at eight,” I remind him. “Do you mind if I watch it with you? I’m curious to know what he has to say.”
“We can watch it in the theater. I’ll send the feed there when it’s time.”
King Lix’tuk grabs a couple more bottles of grog and heads to his throne room. That means I need to entertain myself. I go to the library and pick up where I left off the last time I was trying to get more familiar with orcish.
It’s a difficult language and a lot more complicated than I realized. I would have given up after a couple days if I wasn’t so determined. Determined and bored, I suppose. My nights with King Lix’tuk are always incredible, even if there are boundaries. I’d like to believe I’ve gotten a lot better at using my mouth. He never has any complaints.
I watch the time tick by, my attention never fully on the books because I keep glancing at the clock. When it’s almost time for the speech, I gather more grog for King Lix’tuk and a blended strawberry drink for myself. After today, I feel like I actuallyneeda drink.
“You brought more grog. Good,” King Lix’tuk sounds appreciative as he walks into the theater.
“A few bottles,” I say. “I’m not sure how long this speech will last.”