CHAPTER 1

“Orkin you have to flee,” His mother Jessix said as Orkin stared down at her. Her black eyes held fear he had never seen before, normally she was the strong one but now she was as frightened as a youngling.

“I won't leave you,” Orkin screamed. “If the humans want a fight they can get one.”

“Orkin they won't kill you, they will do other things, you must flee,” Jessix repeated as she grabbed ahold of her club. “The humans will not be happy until we are all dead. I will buy you the time you need, now go.”

“I am bigger than the others mother, I can help you fight!” Orkin screamed in reply as he could hear the sounds of battle.

“Orkin if you don’t flee then I would have died for nothing, now go!” Jessix screamed louder.

Orkin burst out of his hut and looked around, he could see the humans in their metal skins fighting with the clan warriors. Orkin wanted to join in the fight but he was scared and his mother gave him an order. Orkin could see others fleeing and went to join them, his powerful legs pumped hard until he caught up to the rest of the orcs. Orc females were a lot larger than their male counterparts, an orc female on average was the same size as a human male but more muscled. An orc male was about the size of a human ten-year-old, just faster. Orkin was a half orc, his mother was a great shaman who had captured his father who was a great human magic user. The pair ended up having a relationship, his father Jacob is who taught him the human ways along with human speech. But Jacob died last summer, his father had told him human men did not live as long as orcs and that he was an old man when he was captured. Orkin thought they really could have used his father now, his magic was different than orcish magic.

Orcish magic revolved around healing the body and entering the mind, human magic was far deadlier. Humans called their magic users mages, human mages could spray fire, cause rocks to fly and in some cases, they could even control the dead. His father Jacob had told Orkin that he was the greatest of the mages inside the human kingdom of Sarafin. Orkin wished he had his father’s magic, instead he just had his father’s seemingly limitless ability to cast. The magic Orkin received was from his mother and already Orkin thought he was catching up to her in skill, not that it would help him here. Orkin would have to rely on his more physical attributes, as the offspring of a human and an orc he was tall, even taller than his mother. Orkin was heavily muscled and had small claws on the ends of his fingers and toes compared with the larger ones the orc females had. Orkin sprinted to the lead, he knew if the humans caught him what they would do and it would not be pretty. The humans needed workers and liked the orcs for that kind of labor.

Orc females were out of the question for slaves, they were far more aggressive and didn’t mind dying. An orc female would gladly kill or injure even if she knew her life would be forfeit, many humans in Sarafin had found this out the hard way. Orc males though were easily beaten into submission. They were not the strongest workers but a group of them could get a sizable amount of work done. The humans had frequently partnered with the elves to take more orcs, although Orkin had never seen any elves, he had heard all about them. Elves looked like slimmer humans, father had told them they had hair the color of sunshine and great pointed ears. They normally fought from a distance, father had told Orkin they favored bows and built great cities in the treetops. The elves also liked slaves and would bargain for them with the humans, father had told Orkin that elven slaves had it worst of all since they routinely fell to their deaths from the high treetops. If Orkin was caught he would be made a slave if he were lucky, but his father had already let him know that wouldn’t be the case. Orkin knew what would happen to him and why.

All humans were sensitive to magic, magic users gave off a pheromone non-magical humans found pleasing. Jacob told him it was like the feeling one got from eating fermented fruit, before the sickness of overdoing it. The stronger the magic user the stronger the pheromone. Other magic users could not detect this scent and it had no effect on them. Human magic users didn’t need to detect the pheromones but they did not have to, detecting a mage for them was easier. All human mages had something called mage sight, if they looked at each other they could see a glow. The stronger the mage, the brighter the glow they gave off. Jacob had told Orkin that human mages knew how to mask their brightness, the same technique hid their pheromones. Orkin had tried the technique but found it impossible, his mother Jessix also could not achieve it despite both of them trying for many years. All human mages belonged to the King to do with as he saw fit, it was the only reason Jacob had gone to fight the orcs.

Mages were rare in Sarafin, much rarer than they were in orcish lands. All mages obeyed the king, it was either that or death. Mages were the vanguard of the Sarafin army, mages allowed for the small kingdom to hold off much larger foes and in some cases conquer enemies like they were doing to the orcs. Sarafin had found an obvious secret when it came to breeding for mages, the only way to guarantee a mage being born is from the offspring of two other mages. Although sometimes mages could randomly appear from families who haven’t had a mage in generations, it was not sufficient enough for the King to find mages that way. All orc males who had the talent would also belong to the king to be used as mage breeding stock. Jacob had told him that about one percent of the population were mages, of that number only 25% were males. Human females with magic who did not have a partner had only one choice, couple with an orc mage or don’t couple at all. The thought of laying with a pink skinned woman made Orkin want to vomit. Jacob told him their offspring were always female and their size was on par with an orc male. Orkin put it out of his head as he found the tunnel he was looking for. The tunnel was an escape route, the humans could not see in the dark and the tunnel branched out three ways. Two were dead ends but one led to a cave in the mountain where they could then hide for a day or so.

Orkin entered the tunnel and was met by spears, it was the Bone clan. The Bone clan were the enemies of the Horn clan, they often fought over resources and the Bone clan had often come out on the shorter end. Orkin backed away from the fighters and used his magic, he could feel his magic lash out at one of the female warriors and enter her mind.

“We just need to hold them here until the humans show up. This is tougher than I thought, they have the big male with them.”

Orkin gasped as he broke contact, the Bone clan was in league with humans. Orkin grabbed a spear and tugged, he was bigger than most of the warriors and the action made a spear wielder tumble towards him. He felled her with a punch and latched his magic onto another warrior. He found her heart and made it stop beating. Orkin had to release her once she fell, she would recover and he had other enemies. Orkin grabbed the spear he had and passed it behind him, one of the orcs with him took it and started fighting when he heard a loud scream come from the rear. Orkin had to ignore it as the warriors in front of him pressed their attack. Orkin was able to grab another spear but the people behind him were yelling louder as strong hands grabbed him from behind. Orkin threw his head back and connected with something, it felt like a nose that had given way. The owner cursed in language his father had used when he was angry, how had the humans gotten here so quickly?

Orkin snatched the human and used him as a shield as he pressed forward, he could feel spears enter the human as Orkin broke through the Bone clan line. Orkin abandoned his grotesque shield and ran until he got to the fork in the tunnel. Other orcs from the Bone clan were there with their spears leveled. Orkin lashed out with his magic as he was hit hard in the back of the head by something, sending his world into darkness.

~

Orkin awoke to being in a cage, he was the only one around and he had chains on his wrists connecting to the cage. Orkin yanked hard, the cage wobbled a bit but the chains stayed strong. Orkin could see he was in a wagon pulled by a horse and that there were other wagons that held other orcs but he was the only one that was chained and alone. Orkin looked at a human he saw on a horse, the man showed his teeth and waved then went back to looking at the road. The teeth baring was called a smile and could be used to express happiness or to mock. In Orcish culture it was used to signal aggression, either way Orkin did not care.

“Let me out of here!” Orkin said and tried to put as much anger into his voice as possible.

“It speaks!” the human on the horse said amazed. “Not only do we find a half blood out here, but it is a mage that knows our language. The amount of money you will make us will be worth losing the men we did.”

“Let me out of here or you will regret it,” Orkin growled.

“You are going to use your magic on me, are you?” the man smiled. “Well go ahead and do your worse.”

Orkin attempted to lash out with his magic and felt instant pain, like his head was going to explode. Orkin cried out as the man laughed heartily, the sound of the human’s laughter made him even angrier but he would not try his magic again. He was clasped in elven chains, they were made to defeat mages using the elves own kind of magic. Jacob had told Orkin about these chains, while they were great dealing with mages they did have their weak points. The chains absorbed magic energy, once it was full they shattered. Elven steel was also soft, with work it was possible to just saw through the material. Orkin let his power seep out and could feel a horrible headache coming on, Orkin fought through the pain as he attempted to fill the chains up with magic. How long it would take Orkin did not know, in addition to the magic he started trying to scratch at the chains with his small claws. He could see the steel had wear marks from where he scratched but knew it would take hours before any real damage could be seen. The human looked at him and shook his head as he rode forward, Orkin yanked on his chain again but harder. The human male returned with what had to be a human female, the sight of her shocked Orkin into stillness.

Orkin had been told human females were smaller on average than human males but Orkin’s father had left other things out. The female did not have the black hair of the orcs or the gray hair his father had. This female had hair the color of deer scat and had a nose that looked too small for her face and pink cheeks. When she spoke, her voice was shrill and squeaky, probably due to her thin lips as her lips looked like someone had just made a cut into her face. His father had told Orkin that one day he would find them beautiful but he doubted it, they looked weak and it was doubtful they could fend off an attack from another clan.

“He is still using magic,” the female said looking at Orkin. “The metal is starting to let off a slight glow, his head has to be hurting. Are you sure you heard him speak?”

“He threatened me,” the human man laughed. “He paid a big price when he went to use his magic as well. I saw him working on the chains with his tiny claws, I don’t know how successful he has been.”

“Someone has told him how the chains work, were there any humans found living with the orcs?” the female asked.

“None that I could see but my mission was to keep the warriors busy until the rest of you snatched this lot from the tunnel,” the man said. “I was just happy you hurried back, they had a few magic users there that were still killing men when I left.”

“Those men were just mercenaries,” the woman explained. “They knew what they were getting into, maybe one of the orc magic users was this one’s mother. She would have had to take a human for a partner to make this one.”

“Why is he so big then?” the man asked. “I have seen half orcs and none of them look like this brute. Judging by his face and the fact he hasn’t any markings on him I would say he is about fifteen.”

“Markings?” the female asked.

“Females claim their partner by marking their male’s chest with whatever symbol identifies them,” the man said. “That mark lets everyone know that male has a partner, females can have multiple husbands provided she can protect them all. Males are typically fair game at sixteen years and I don’t see a mark on him.”

“Maybe they are opposed to being with a half human although this one looks a lot better than other halfbloods I have seen,” The woman replied.

Orkin shrank away from her, he wasn’t certain but there was a possibly the scat haired female found him desirable. There wasn’t much room in the cage but he shrank as far as he could and tried to hide his face. His movement caught the humans off guard who stopped their conversation and peered into the cage. The male poked a finger at him through the bars, Orkin didn’t move. When the female tried poking him with the end of a stick Orkin shied away from her and tried to break his bonds.

“I don’t think he likes you,” the man laughed.

“I think he can understand us,” the female said. “What is your name orc?”

Orkin ignored her and tugged on his cage to get away from her. He had to get out of the cage but he was surrounded. Orkin let out a roar and pushed the cage using his legs as his back gave him some leverage by bracing against the other end. He could feel the bars bending as the female stuck her had inside. Orkin roared again and kept pushing until the male human spoke.

“I can make her go away if you calm down,” the male said looking at Orkin. “If you keep this up though, I am going to put her in the cage with you.”

“Make her go!” Orkin said as the woman gasped.

“You can't make me go anywhere Dylan,” the female said. “I am in charge of this expedition not you. Why do you fear me orc?”

Orkin stayed silent as the female did some kind of magic, suddenly Orkin found it hard to breathe. She was swirling the air around his head and the oxygen just wouldn’t come to him. Orkin saw the woman and tried to stop her lungs from working. The chains soaked up his magic and hurt his head. Orkin would have screamed out but could not as he collapsed to the floor of the cage. The woman stopped her spell as Orkin started taking in large gulps of air. Orkin could see her staring at him from aboard her horse.

“How do you know our language?” the female asked. “If you don’t answer we can have some more fun.”

“My father taught me,” Orkin replied as he backed away from the woman.

“Did he tell you all about elven chains?” the woman asked.

“Yes,” Orkin replied as he started looking for a way out.

“Where is your father now?” the woman asked.

“Dead,” Orkin replied as he yanked on his chain a little.

“Why are you so frightened of me?” the woman asked as she leaned back.

“Because you are uglier than anything I have seen before!” Orkin said as he yanked the chain.

The man the woman was with started laughing loudly. The woman sat up straight like she was in shock, making the man laugh even harder. Orkin did not know what the woman would do to him now, she went from shocked to angry. Orkin could see the color in her cheeks go red and her eyebrows drew closer together. The woman spurred her horse forward, making Orkin relax once she got out of view. Orkin stopped yanking at his chains and started pouring a little magic into them, he could see something he had not noticed before. The metal now had small cracks he could see running up and down the steel, Orkin smiled at that and was about to pour even more magic into it until the female came riding back holding more chains.

“Mage Molly,” the man began. “I don’t mean to offend you, but I don’t think you realized why this one was struggling so hard.”

“He already said so,” Molly snapped.

“Whoever told him about the chains would have most likely told him what happens to male mages once they are captured,” the man said in a voice Orkin knew was barely holding back laughter. “He thought you wanted to claim him as your own right here!”

“That is ridiculous, what woman in her right mind would have sex with a man in a cage in full view of everyone no matter how nice he looks,” Molly replied. “I suppose female orcs probably handle things differently. Listen here orc, I am not going to do anything to you. What I want is for you to stop working at those chains, I have plenty more, more than you can hope to break before we get to where we are going. If you keep at it you know what I can do to you, if I come by and check on those chains and see you have been trying to break them then I will stay here and give you my full attention. Do you understand me?”

“Can you let me go?” Orkin said as he looked at the human male. “I don’t want to be a slave.”

“Of course I cannot let you go, the kingdom needs more slaves but I don’t think that is your destination,” the man replied.

“Please let me go, my mother is a powerful shaman,” Orkin replied. “She can heal the sick, she would owe you a favor if you let me go.”

“I am sure your mother is a powerful mage which is the reason we left her alive,” the man chuckled. “She will have another mate and in ten years we will be back to take that child as well.”

“She can heal you,” Orkin pleaded.

“We already have healers where you are going,” the man said. “Besides, I am not even sick.”

“Let me out of here!” Orkin said as he shook the cage.

“Are you ready with your spell Mage Molly?” the man said as he looked at Orkin. “This one is about to try his magic on me, I can see it in his eyes.”

Orkin lashed out and felt an intense pain, the woman did her magic as Orkin kept lashing out. The chain holding him shattered as he crashed to the floor of the cage and tried to stop the man’s heart. He could feel he was successful but the lack of air was making his eyes go dark. Soon he could see no more.

CHAPTER 2

Orkin woke still inside the cage but his surroundings were foreign to him. There were huge huts around him, his father had told him they were called buildings but he did not do them any justice. They were wooden and built much taller than an orc. All around were humans, big humans, small humans, male humans and female humans. They stared at him as Orkin began to struggle, Orkin now had three sets of chains on him and someone had changed him out of his furs, he now wore the coverings his father called pants. They were tight around his thighs and restricting, Orkin ignored this as he tried to adapt to all of the sound coming out of the city.

“Nice to see you are finally up orc,” the man Orkin tried to kill said. “I see you have the same magic as the orc shamans, that was rather shocking to find out. You almost had me, you scared me enough that we had to keep you drugged until we finished our trip. I had the other orcs clean you and your cage up but I don’t have that luxury anymore.”

“Where are my friends?” Orkin said as he looked around and noticed he did not see the other wagons.

“I sold them of course,” the man replied. “They will mingle with other slaves that have already been seasoned, the malleable ones will instantly be resold. Those that need a little more help to be useful we send to the elves. The elves don’t mind breaking in a new slave, it is a rite of passage with them. It’s how their young learns to fight and to kill. None of that matters to me or you, you are almost at your destination.”

“I will see you again,” Orkin said as he stared at the man.

“I should hope so, it would mean I have more mages for the king,” the man said. “Well it looks like we are at our destination, I only have a few warnings for you. The first being that you are surrounded by mages, if you think Molly used a hard hand you haven’t seen anything. If I were you, I would be on my best behavior. The second thing is that your actions can have a direct effect on the rest of the orcs here. While the king wouldn’t dare think of beating one of his mages, his people would not think anything of grabbing a random orc and beating it to death. I know all you male orcs take family seriously, just know every time you act up someone else will have to pay for your mistakes. Well, I have money I need to collect, you do have a nice day.”

Orkin saw the man ride out and wanted to strangle him, whenever the chains were taken off, he could. But where would that leave any orc that is likely to be near him? Orkin did not want to see anyone killed. Orkin could see men coming towards his cage, each one of them either had their sword out or their hand on the pommel of their blades. One had an orc male with him who had defeat in his eyes. The one with the orc pulled out a key and opened the cage.

“Holy shit you are a big one,” the man with the key said as he looked at Orkin. “I am going to let you out but if you act up I don’t think you will like the consequences. I am certain this orc won't like it and you will be made to watch the whole thing. Translate what I said Greenie.”

“I understand,” Orkin said as he gave the man his wrists.

“A new mage I don’t have to do things the rough way with,” the man with the key said as he started taking off Orkin’s chains. “Looks like you got off lucky Greenie, I thought this was going to be the last day I saw you living. Your job is to show this one around and get him settled in until someone from the Magorium has a chance to look him over. Remember Greenie, if he messes up, it will be you paying for it and remember no orcish. Use our language only or the side effects could be mighty dangerous.”

Orkin looked at the male orc and followed him, it was too cold in this place. The male orc walked into a stone building and Orkin followed. Orkin thought about trying to memorize where he was going but soon found it too confusing. The orc the human had called Greenie soon brought him to a small room with a human bed in it.

“This is where you will live until you are moved,” the orc said not making eye contact.

“Where am I?” Orkin said as he grabbed the smaller orc by the shoulders.

“Don’t make trouble,” the orc snapped as he tried to wiggle away from Orkin.

“I will make trouble if you don’t answer me,” Orkin said as he squeezed even tighter. “I want to leave this place and go back home.”

“There is no home anymore,” the orc replied. “This is your home, do what they tell you and you will be treated well mage.”

“I am a shaman,” Orkin replied.

“Here they are called mages and that is the name you will use,” the orc replied.

“What is your name?” Orkin asked.

“I don’t have one,” the orc replied. “I am not as important as you are, the humans call all slaves Greenie or simply orc. Maybe some masters will name their slaves but not here. You will get to keep your name, well if they like it. If they don’t, they will give you a better one. You act like you just came from the orcish lands.”

“I did!” Orkin snapped.

“You, you are half human though,” the orc replied.

“My father was human,” Orkin began. “He used to live there as well.”

“Well just don’t make trouble,” the orc said then lowered his voice. “The humans will leave us alone if we do what they say. They punish us, but the punishments are different. Some they make fight an elf in unarmed combat. If you win the elves want to buy you for armed combat to the death. If you lose then that beating will prevent you from making any more trouble. Afterwards you will be given a new master and have to do a harder job. If that master has a hard job, that orc will do hard job. That is how I got here, your punishment will be different. Every day you will have to watch as an orc is killed in a bunch of nasty ways. I think they are going to make you train with the rest of the young ones, the females have been born here so do not think you have any kindred spirits.”

“Has anyone tried to leave?” Orkin asked.

“If you try, they will catch you and kill five of us,” the orc said. “If you succeed then twenty of us will die. Don’t talk like that, any orc slave will turn you in and once they do another orc will have to be beaten.”

“So we are trapped?” Orkin asked.

“We are trapped, you more than me,” the orc said shaking his head. “I can be beaten and killed even if I do what humans want. But for half a day, I have my own time. Another orc will have to perform my duties. We have our own meeting place, humans may spy on it but for the most part we are left in peace. On the last day of the week we are left alone entirely, every orc in the city comes together and have a party, saying a prayer to the great earth god for those we lost. You will have to be with the humans, you will have to be claimed by one of the females. If you are unlucky she will have a youngling and abandon you for a human, in that case you will have to wait for another to want you.”

“What if I don’t want to couple with some human?” Orkin asked.

“Then you will remain in your room,” the orc replied. “The only time you can leave it is to go eat with the humans or go to their parties, although I am not clear on who you cannot couple with.”

“I don’t want to couple with any of them!” Orkin snapped.

“Normally full orc mages do not get the choice to couple with any half orc females,” the orc explained. “The humans want the magic, not the orc. The orc mage would have to be generations removed from her orc blood for something like that to happen, the more orc in her the more difficult the female is. Any of your younglings would still be half, it could go all the way human or all the way orc. If I were you, I would find the ugliest human and throw yourself at her feet, you look like what human females find pleasing in a mate. I do not think you will have the same problems as the other orcs.”

“Because I am tall?” Orkin asked.

“You are tall, yes,” the orc began. “But you also have the muscle and long thick hair. Your skin is a very pale shade of green, under the right light you look almost human, even your eyes are made like theirs instead of all black. I have studied the women, they are like male orcs. They find the same thing attractive in a mate that we do, you can use this to your advantage.”

“Well then it looks like I am going to stay in this room forever then,” Orkin said and crossed his arms.

“Not this room,” the orc said. “This is temporary, all mages go through training. You will live in the Tower of Light with the rest of the mages. All young mages go there if they are between fifteen and twenty seasons. You look between fifteen and twenty seasons, you will study there. What is your name?”

“My name is Orkin,” Orkin replied.

“Orkin you are to stay here,” the orc replied. “Me or another orc will bring you your food and other clothes to wear. You can answer calls of nature in that container, when you are finished open that latch at the bottom of the door and send it out. The only time you can leave this room is when you are summoned or it is time to clean your body. Don’t make trouble, if you do it will not go well.”

Orkin watched the orc disappear out the door and looked around at his surroundings. This was a stone dwelling, his tiny claws barely did anything. His mother had bigger claws, maybe she could eventually dig her way out of here but then what? If Orkin could escape then many would die, Orkin did not put anything pass the humans. They were ugly and mean, the Bone clan would have to pay for helping the humans. His mother would eventually figure out what happened, when she did she would kill all the Bone clan warriors. Orkin sat on the human bed, he hated to admit it was softer than any he had sat on before and it almost hugged him. He laid down in it, he could see how sleeping on this would be relaxing. There was something under his head, it made him smile thinking about his father, this was a pillow. His father had often slept with one and Orkin claimed it after his death. Maybe he could find what his father called a book. Orkin had learned his human letters and thought it was fascinating that humans exchanged ideas this way. The orcs used small pictures and the spoken word. There was nothing in his room that could be called a book, he only had a single bed and some kind of box. Orkin opened the box, it was as tall as he was and filled with small human clothes. This must have been clothes for orcs newly taken he thought, the average orc should have no problem fitting the clothes he had found. This was a wardrobe, not a box. Orkin could finally see everything his father had talked about, some of it he thought were lies but a lot of it was turning out to be true. Orkin laid back down as he heard a banging on his door, maybe they were trying to beat it down he thought as it swung open. Two different orcs walked in with a human, the human was an older male. Orkin lashed out with his power, he was skilled enough to read minds without anyone knowing anything was amiss.

This is a big halfblood and a male at that. I don’t think I have ever seen a male one of these before, I didn’t think they existed. Uh-oh he is getting up off the bed, I am going to stand back with an angry stare, the two greenies can handle getting his measurements. I wonder how those damn elves would do fighting this one? Thank the gods he is letting them take his measurements without any trouble, these were the best workers I have ever had and it would be terrible if one of them had to be flogged. Great it looks like they got all the measurements and I didn’t have to say a thing, hurry up you two and leave. This big halfblood is looking at me oddly.

Orkin felt relief wash off the man as he broke his spell. That one was scared of him but was prepared to beat the other two. The humans were as cowardly as he thought they were. Orkin’s stomached growled, he was unsure of the last time he ate and almost on cue the first orc he had began to think of as Greenie came into the room holding a platter filled with cooked meat. Greenie looked nervous, Orkin lashed out with his power and could hear what was making the orc so agitated.

Oh please eat, the humans know you are hungry. They haven’t fed you for days, if you don’t eat you will only make trouble. The humans eat this food so we have to eat this food, I hope he eats cooked meats. If he doesn’t, I’ll get beaten until he does and he still will not get any big hunks of meats that he can tear into. Oh please eat this, don’t make trouble. Don’t make trouble half-orc, don’t make trouble, don’t make trouble…..

“You want me to eat this?” Orkin asked. “Would you eat any of this?”

“I wish I could, other orcs do not get same part of animal,” the orc replied. “You eat same part as human, we eat tough pieces and insides. We gets to eat all meats humans do not like, I eat the meats you are eating once, meat fall apart in your mouth. You will like meats after a while, even if you don’t likes meats you cannot eat it without fire touching it.”

“I will eat this food,” Orkin began. “It looks how my father used to eat his food. I will not make trouble for you.”

Orkin could see the tenseness leave Greenie’s face as he put the tray down and exited the room. Orkin had eaten cooked meat before but never this thin. The meat was too thin to get a good chew, it was also too salty. Humans like to put things on meat before they ate it, Orkin thought this was stupid, meat had its own flavor. Orkin thought it wasn’t too bad if he swallowed it quickly, the small chunks were perfect for that. Orkin finished his food and tried to wash it down with water, Orkin would have spat out his food entirely if he was back home. The liquid he drank was not water, it was sweet and sour at the same time and burned his throat and turned his stomach. This was wine and it was nasty, how his father had ever missed it was beyond him. Orkin took a deep breath and drank the rest of it in one gulp, it made his head spin and forced him to sit down, then lay down. The wine was nasty and gave the same feeling as eating the fermented fruit. Orkin closed his eyes and put his hand on his head, he didn’t want to get Greenie in any trouble but would have to see if the orc could bring him something other than the wine.

CHAPTER 3

Orkin woke up to Greenie putting a tray of food next to him, most of it was meat but a part of it was yellow. Orcs couldn’t eat the prey food, the things his father called vegetables would turn their stomach and come out the other end the same way it came in. Orkin read Greenie’s mind and could see the yellow meat were called eggs, they were a type of soft meat that Greenie could tolerate. Greenie was worried about getting in trouble, he was a little late and needed Orkin to eat his food quickly and go bathe. Greenie was supposed to take him to the humans called the Magorium and he would be done with Orkin forever. There were only two orc shamans that were caught and his friend had to watch the other one. Well his friend did until last night, last night the orc shaman refused to eat the food or drink the wine. Fang was beaten bloody until the orc complied but now if Fang couldn’t work, he would go someplace to heal up and get another job.

“I’ll eat but please don’t bring me anymore wine,” Orkin said as he basically shoveled all the food in his mouth.

“Don’t make trouble,” the orc said as Orkin could see the small orc was pleased with the speed Orkin finished his food.

Orkin followed him down some stairs until they came to a big metal bowl, this was a tub he knew and was how humans bathed. There were two other orcs there, Orkin quickly read their mind and found out they were there to comb his hair and do other things. Orkin stripped down and got into the water, it was hot and made him jump out at first, why humans preferred bathing this way Orkin could not understand. Orkin eventually settled back into his bath as the other orcs grabbed a bar and scrubbed him down. Orkin knew it was called soap and would hurt his eyes if any water that contacted the soap bar got into his eyes. The thing the orcs started doing to his hair hurt, Orkin thought he was under attack but after reading the orcs mind he found out they were frustrated trying to go through his hair. Orcs only got their hair untangled by their mother’s or their mate’s claws, Orkin had his hair untangled two days before he was captured. What the humans wanted done was more than untangling, they wanted every strand separated which led to a lot of grumbling from Orkin and the orcs forced to help him. Orc males never cut their hair until they were taken by a mate, well they were not supposed to but every orc he had seen kept their hair short like the humans. Why did the humans just not make him cut his hair as well, Orkin did not know. The answer came to him soon, Greenie had been thinking about it but all mages wore their hair long and the humans kept some orc customs when it wasn’t too disruptive. When the orcs finally finished, Orkin put on his new clothes but found the foot coverings too restrictive, the boots as they were called squeezed the sides of his foot and did not let any sensation come through. Orkin sighed as he could feel Greenie’s happiness at leading him to another set of humans called the Magorium.

“You are to wait here,” Greenie said as he started backing away. “Remember, don’t make trouble.”

Orkin stood in the spot briefly before a human wearing the metal skins called armor came out holding a weapon. Orkin did not have to use magic to tell the man was nervous as he stood off to one side of Orkin.

“Go through that door Orc, the Magorium will see you now,” the human said as Orkin could tell he was ready to strike.

Orkin walked through the door and down a ramp into a circular room, there were five older humans in the room who looked down at him from an elevated position behind a circular desk. Four were females and one was male, their wrinkled face made it hard for Orkin to tell what they wanted. The humans on the side seemed to give deference to the human in the middle, Orkin went to lash out at her brain but decided against it. Orkin knew he was talented but was never able to read his mother without her knowing. This human could have had experience with orcs before and knew what to look for. Orkin just stayed still until the one in the middle started to speak.

“I am certain you know how we gain obedience here?” the woman in the middle asked.

“Yes,” Orkin replied.

“You have not been difficult since you got here yesterday, is that because you used your power?” the woman in the middle asked.

“Yes,” Orkin replied as he felt a sharp intrusion. Someone was probing his mind, this person was clumsy and having a hard time even though Orkin did not try to kick whoever it was out. He felt another sting and could tell two others were trying to read his mind. Orkin knew how to deceive such clumsy attempts, he could shield his real thoughts and give off false ones, better than that was that he could follow the magic back to its user and read their minds. His attackers were two women with orc blood and one full orc male. They were clumsy and hiding in the room, the male was behind him and the females were sitting on the floor at the feet of the humans he could see, being hidden by the round circular desk.

“It is good you are being truthful,” the woman replied. “Your father, who was he?”

“A human named Jacob DeVry,” Orkin replied and could tell that was the wrong answer.

The male human practically jumped out of his chair and the female humans started whispering to themselves. Even one of the half orc females let herself be seen and the female human in middle walked down a small set of stairs and approached Orkin. The rest of the humans followed, they walked up close and started staring at his face. None of them said anything, they just stared and walked around him for a moment. The male ended up leaving the room entirely as the alpha female composed herself.

“What do they call you?” the older female asked.

“Orkin,” Orkin replied.

“Where is your father now Orkin?” the female asked.

“He died last year,” Orkin replied. As soon as he said it, he could feel the old woman’s face fall a little.

“Your father, why didn’t he come back to the human lands?” the woman asked.

“My mother claimed him after defeating him in a hard fought battle,” Orkin replied. “When he knew she was with child he refused to leave. He loved my mother and she loved him.”

“Did your father ever tell you anything about himself?” the old woman asked.

“He only told me he was a great magic user and to fear humans,” Orkin replied.

“Your father was a very important man,” the woman replied. “He was a Duke, do you know what that is?”

“Some kind of human ruler who keep orc as pets and slaves,” Orkin replied.

“Your father was the most powerful mage ever born in Sarafin,” the old woman spoke. “The fact he died only last year was astounding. He was in very poor health when he made the trip, he shouldn’t have lasted more than a month. Your mother, you said she defeated your father, was she able to prolong his life?”

“My mother is the greatest of orc shamans,” Orkin began. “She saved father from death numerous times.”

“Did you know if your father had any other children from the orcs?” the woman asked.

“None would dare,” Orkin replied.

“Your mother would have fought them off?” the woman asked.

“She would have killed the warrior stupid enough to try,” Orkin replied. “But father was ugly and pink, he was accepted but no female would fight mother over him.”

“Your father, did he ever tell you about his other children?” the woman asked.

“No,” Orkin replied.

“Well you have a sister and a brother,” the female replied. “They are much older than you are and have grandchildren your age. Both ignored him to pursue their own dreams while he was dying, when he disappeared is when they realized they had run out of time. Orkin while you would be considered a bastard, you also have noble blood running through your veins and only a fool could not spot that proud square DeVry chin. I think you and I should speak in private, this whole thing was supposed to intimidate you. I was to pluck from your mind things you did not want known but I think we are passed that now. Please follow me, I think we have much to discuss.”

Orkin followed the woman out of the door of the circular room and into a smaller room. This room had a much smaller desk and had soft looking chairs. The older woman sat in one and sighed heavily as she gestured to the other chair. Orkin sat down in it as the human female stared at him for a moment. Orkin hoped she was not planning to couple with him, something in her eyes told Orkin that was the furthest thing from her mind.

“Orkin my name is Tracey Wallace,” the old woman said as she poured herself something out of a big container. Orkin could tell it was wine and it made him screw up his face. “Don’t worry child, I know orcs hate wine. I am willing to bet you don’t even eat the fermented fruit. Orkin I married into the Wallace family, did your father ever tell you about human naming customs?”

“Yes,” Orkin replied.

“Orkin I am your older sister,” Tracey said looking at him.

Orkin jumped up so fast he fell out of seat on the floor. Father had other children? Why didn’t he ever say anything about them. This woman had to be lying, Orkin latched on to her and jumped back even more. This woman was telling the truth, she was experiencing great sadness right now and did not know how to tell him anything.

“Orkin if I were not expecting you to try to read me I don’t think I would have been able to tell you were using magic,” Tracey said as she took a sip. “It was like being landed on by a mosquito, you can't tell they were there until they take off but you felt even softer than that. Do you believe me when I told you that I am your sister?”

“Yes,” Orkin replied. “Can you help me get home?”

“Maybe at one time Orkin but not now,” Tracey replied. “Too many people have seen you and you are intriguing. There are plenty of people running around with both human and orc blood inside of them. You are the only male anyone has seen, that and your size makes you too memorable. Your job is to serve the king now, unfortunately I cannot help you much. You are supposed to go learn your magic, I do not think your future instructors will be able to teach you much. None of them have your soft touch and I can see their magic potential, they cannot hide it just like you can’t and the light you cast is much brighter. Stay in the classes anyway, if anything you will get some practice and meet people your own age. Orkin do you know what is expected of you as a male mage?”

“I don’t want to do it,” Orkin replied.

“None do,” Tracey said shaking her head. “What I can tell you is that human women do not think orcs are cute either. They are too short and kind of weak physically, in a fist fight I think most grown women could take out an orc male. We don’t like the green skin, the solid black eyes or the ears, not to mention they are underdeveloped in an area most women care about when picking out a husband. I already know what the orcs do not find attractive but none of that matters, they, like you, will eventually pick out a female and although sometimes it can take a year or so, it will be done. Boredom is a strong motivator; you will start off the school year keeping to yourself. Most women there normally wouldn’t mind, an orc would be a last-ditch effort in order to seek out whoever she really wanted. Magic is strange in that most users are women. Unless a mage woman has one child capable of magic, it is a crime for her to have any other relationship. There are some non-magical women who exclusively date orcs, they like the way orcs wait on them hand and foot. They love the power they have over the orc and don’t mind sending him back to the Tower of Light for another orc. The females with orcish blood are forbidden from being with an orc so you will not have to worry about them. Unlike human female mages, female mages with orcish blood can marry whoever they wished provided a human mage did not show interest first. You however look human enough that I am sure at least one human female mage would find you desirable, your exotic looks will get you some attention. I will try to visit you while you are there, that place is designed to break the orc out of you. I want you to wear this and you would be wise to keep it on.”

Orkin watched the woman take off a necklace she wore, she stood from her chair and placed it around his neck, already he could feel a slight headache. He went to tug at it but Tracey stopped him by holding his hand.

“That little headache means nothing,” Tracey said. “That piece belonged to our father, it was made to hide your power from other mages and fine tune your senses. Not many of those exist, other than that one I only know of two others and one of those sits on the neck of the king. I use it to inform me about orcish mind magic, I already know how to hide my power and I only put it on when I am around those who practice the orcish ways and I need to be perceptive. You can heal your own headache easily, it will take some time to learn to do it continuously but it can be done. It will do nothing about the pheromone problem however, that is the reason you don’t see many non-magical males or females here. You will run into them at the Tower of Light though, if I were you I would ignore them.”

“If you are my father’s daughter shouldn’t you be helping me out of this?” Orkin asked.

“I won't be able to help you but I can make your stay better,” Tracey replied. “We must hurry and get you to the Tower of Light, I will let you know the unwritten rules while we travel. Your identity is probably common knowledge right now, we have our share of enemies and I fear they will try to get back at us through you.”

Orkin followed the woman outside where a carriage was waiting, there were not any guards traveling with them which meant his sister had to be powerful. Orkin climbed inside the carriage and could see it was more comfortable than the wagon was, it had soft plush chairs and a nicer interior.

“I know you hate those clothes Orkin,” Tracey said looking at him. “Wear them anyway and eat the food the way you see humans do. You are going to be assigned your own etiquette teacher, she will most likely anger you but that is her job. Ignore her and just don’t do anything decidedly orcish. While at the Tower you can spend your time hanging around whoever you want so you don’t have to worry about that. If anyone challenges you, you don’t have to back down either if it is another mage. The kingdom encourages mage sparring, it prepares them for war if they ever have to go.”

Orkin listened to her words and would heed them. The woman was shocked she had a little brother but seemed to be thinking about something else that was not making her happy. Whatever it was she did not want to talk about it or perhaps she did and Orkin did not see the significance. Orkin watched as a tall building came into view shaped like an antelope’s horn. It was a white color and reflected the sun to the point it hurt his eyes to look at it. The building had to be four times taller than the buildings around it and looked plenty wide at the base. This had to be the Tower of Light, his father had mentioned it once or twice and had given an accurate description.

“You are going to the male orc quarters,” Tracey began. “They are not bad rooms but they are meant to be boring. Everything inside the room is made of elven steel, even the floor has a thin coating. This is supposed to force you to want to leave your room, while in your room you cannot have books or reading material. Orcs are not allowed out of their room after dinner unless they are with a human, you cannot leave the Tower at all without permission. The last day of every week I will try to visit you Orkin. I know how orcs, at least those not born or raised in Sarafin, feel about each other. It is easy to get an orc beat, just remember that. Well let's see your new home and remember, keep that necklace on you at all times unless you are in your room alone. You can't fight off your headache in there.”

Orkin could see there were many flights of stairs, he went to run up them when suddenly he started floating. Orkin could tell Tracey was floating them up and she seemed to be concentrating hard. Orkin was afraid but let her work, at the top of the tower is where she finally set them down.

“Your living area is up here but your class is down below,” Tracey replied. “This entire area has elven steel everywhere; we just need to find you a room now.”

CHAPTER 4

Orkin looked around at his classmates, this was his first day but some of the other mages had been here for a while. Orkin guessed he should have considered himself lucky he didn’t have to stay in that other place until a new class started. Everyone in here had orc blood, it was obvious some more than others. There were two full orcs there, all male and they looked as nervous as can be. The rest were females, some were half the way he was but others had to have more human in them since it was hard to see what they were. Orkin wasn’t interested enough to really to look at the students, as soon as he stepped into the room all eyes turned to him.

“Well hello, it looks like we have a new student,” a woman said from the front of the room. Orkin would have thought she was just a young human at first, maybe a few years older than he was. “I wasn’t expecting any more students. Did your mother not send you here in time?”

“My mother would not have sent me here at all,” Orkin replied.

“She wouldn’t have sent you here?” the woman said confused. “Why wouldn’t she have sent you here?”

“Because I was kidnapped from her home in Clan Horn,” Orkin replied. “I have only been in this land for a short while.”

“Your mother was an orc?” the woman said with shock all over her face.

“My mother still is an orc,” Orkin replied.

“I don’t think I have ever seen a half orc male before,” the woman said. “All babies born from mixed unions wind up female, even through three generations. What is your name?”

“Orkin,” Orkin replied.

“You speak our language very well Orkin,” the woman replied. “I am your instructor, you may call me Mage Meredith. Find a seat Orkin and I will try to catch you up to the others.”

Orkin took a seat as the Mage Meredith was trying to explain how to heal. Her way was filled with raw power, forcing the magic through a body and rapidly speeding up the healing process. Orkin had learned to heal using that way before, he had enough stores to brutally bash his way through a body but it was too draining. Once he learned about the body he could heal much faster. Stopping bleeding or fixing wounds was easily done now, Orkin was not sure if this woman knew this or if she was capable of such things. Orc magic required the ability to be able to split your mind and do many different things at once. Most orcs could manage at least splitting their awareness in two, Orkin’s mother Jessix could split her awareness eleven different ways. It was that reason why she was a danger to fight, she could attack you mentally and physically making her a warrior to be feared. Orkin could split his awareness into eight different places and inherited his father’s huge reservoir of magical energy. Other than his mother, Orkin had never met a shaman more adept than he was. Orkin stayed listening to the class as he felt an attack on his mind, it was coming from just behind him. Orkin followed the magic back to its owner, it was a female and she was trying to input ideas into his head. Orkin had not met many shamans that could do such a thing, Orkin or his mother could not but they both could defend against such an attack, especially as clumsy as it was. The necklace Tracey had given him heightened his awareness by double he thought, his attacker would have had a better chance sneaking up on a herd of antelope while screaming from a mile away. The female was trying to soothe him, she was trying to put thoughts into his head that he liked being here among other half orcs and he never would have been fully accepted in orc lands. Orkin would have laughed if he did not want to give himself away. While he was maybe not the ideal mate he could separate and prepare food better than any and whoever picked him knew they would have big strong daughters. Orkin could feel another attack, this one was from the male sitting next to him. This attack was more curious, the orc wanted to know where he came from. Orkin blanked his mind and only worried about the lesson being taught and thought it was horrific. Mage Meredith was explaining they would bring in an orc and give him a wound, they would be called up to fix the wound one by one. Their final project would be saving an orc they gave a mortal wound to, to do this they would have work together. Although this lesson was much later in the year it still did not sit well with Orkin. They could have done the same with the animals they were going to slaughter anyway but instead they wanted an orc.

“Orkin are you familiar with mind and body magic?” Mage Meredith asked.

“No,” Orkin replied.

“Mind and body magic is what the orcs practice, that is the name for it here in Sarafin,” Mage Meredith explained. “Most practitioners of mind and body magic specialize in only one, they are masters of the mind, or of the body. Occasionally, there are some that can perform both types of magic, like myself. That is how I got this job despite only being twenty-two. I probably should have asked you before I started teaching about healing. Can you do any mind magic?”

“Yes,” Orkin replied.

“Great,” Mage Meredith replied. “The first spell we teach here is how to read minds, not everyone can do it and even then, we have mixed success. It is difficult to explain how to defend against it, those who practice only mind magic have a better chance at cutting off an attack if they are strong enough. Some mages, whether or not they practice mind and body magic can feel an intrusion. The way to detect it requires some practice, imagine you are alone at night and you know something is hunting for you but you don’t know from where. You will try to slow down your breathing and avoid making unnecessary noises, you will be hyper aware in looking for the danger. No one can keep that up for long so your best bet is to predict when the attack is coming, then enter that state of awareness. It will feel like a slight brush against your mind.”

It didn’t feel like that at all to Orkin, only his mother was skilled enough to slip in and out of his thoughts. Everyone else was impossible to ignore, almost like someone yelling in a room. Weaker mages yelled louder than stronger ones but all were almost impossible to ignore. Orkin felt the people who were trying to read his mind reel their magic back in, probably scared of being noticed.

“Do you know how to mind read Orkin?” Mage Meredith asked.

“Yes,” Orkin replied. “I was already considered a sha-, a mage when I was taken.” Orkin replied almost using the name the humans frowned upon.

“Really?” Mage Meredith asked. “Your other classmates all varied in their training when they came to us, how old are you Orkin?”

“Fifteen,” Orkin replied.

“So you are amongst the youngest in class, you must have come upon your magic early in life.” Mage Meredith replied. “Well then hopefully you will have an easier time, I know it is difficult to learn a new language and study magic at the same time. Well students, it is time for lunch. Orkin I am assuming you did not eat breakfast since I did not see you down there this morning. Gelkin can show you the way down and get you familiar with how things work in the Tower. After lunch Gelkin, bring him to meet with the etiquette tutor.”

Orkin waited around until everyone left except for an orc that looked to be a few years older than he was. The orc had probed Orkin with his magic, Orkin had sent thoughts that he was scared and did not trust the humans but did not want to do anything to get anyone in trouble.

“You are not one of us, half-orc,” Gelkin said with a sneer. “You look and smell like they do, never think we are friends, no matter how scared you are.”

“You would deny me friendship?” Orkin asked. Among male orcs friendship was important, males did not have conflict with anyone and tried to diffuse any potential conflicts. To deny another male orc friendship was seen as cowardly and among the worst things an orc could do.

“You are not an orc, so yes!” the orc snapped. “You are just like the humans, I don’t care when you were taken. Your mother would probably lay with a bison since she laid with a human.”

Gelkin was amazed at the kick that found his stomach and sent him flying into the wall. Gelkin slowly got up as Orkin snatched him up by his neck, in any culture, insulting someone’s mother was cause to fight. Orkin could feel Gelkin attempt to break his hold first by force then by mental attack, Orkin slapped them all aside and squeezed a little harder.

“He is going to kill me, this human is going to kill me! How is he resisting my attacks, he is strong. I need help, he is too angry to stop, the human inside of him wants my blood. He is too big and strong to fight, I can't beat him!”

“No you can't beat me,” Orkin said as he dropped the orc, before he hit the ground his injuries were already healed. “If you insult my mother again, you won't like the outcome.”

“The human in you is angry,” the orc snarled.

“The orc in me would have had you exiled from the clan for refusing to offer the gift of friendship,” Orkin began. “I am not your enemy, none of us has anything to gain by fighting with each other.”

“I know half orcs hate us,” Gelkin snapped. “They do not see themselves as being orc.”

“How many males have you seen?” Orkin asked. “I am just as much an orc as you are, my human father lived amongst us, not the other way around.”

“Humans control orc here,” Gelkin said as he lowered his voice and could feel Orkin healing him. “Make orc do bad things, you will be tested. You not do what humans want, orc get punished. Come eat, meet other orcs, we only communicate by mind. Magic only way humans don’t hear, even then humans have other half orcs use magic to listen in.”

Orkin followed Gelkin down the stairs to what he called the dining hall. There was a part of the dining hall that looked to be filled with only orcs. Gelkin brought him to the far seat in a corner, there were other orcs that Orkin assumed were not mages walking around asking everyone what they wanted to eat. Orkin let Gelkin order for him, Orkin looked around and could tell most of the orcs were all eating the same dish. It looked like half cooked cut up meat, Orkin’s father had called it medium rare, what the animal was Orkin did not know. Gelkin got his attention and tapped his head, Orkin started listening to Gelkin’s thoughts.

“If you can hear me clear your throat, I cannot tell if someone is listening in or not,” Gelkin thought as Orkin cleared his throat.

“Good, we are sitting over here because it is hard for spies to use their magic to listen in on us. There are too many minds here for them to sift through. The other orcs you see here are those waiting for a mate, they are older than we are and most of them have already been accepted, then rejected. The orcs with the short hair are not to be trusted, they see us as an obstacle. They want to go back to living with the humans and see us as competitors. They will do whatever they can to escape their boredom from living here, do not trust them.”

“Orcs do not trust orcs?” Orkin said as he felt Gelkin latch on to his mind. Orkin could feel other orcs attempt to read his mind, Orkin gave them false thoughts as he started talking again. “Others are trying to read my thoughts, there is a short hair somewhere behind me that does not like you.”

“How can you tell? If they are listening in on you then maybe some are listening in on me.”

“No one is listening in on you, I keep slapping away the attacks.”

“You can do that? Most orcs who are listening in are just curious about our conversation, not short hair though. Short hair look for reasons to turn you in, if short hair is deemed worthy then short hair get put to work elsewhere with or without a mate. Watch out, half orc is coming, never trust half orc.”

Gelkin turned around and could see a girl coming towards him holding her tray. She received a lot of stares as she weaved through the tables until she sat down at the table Orkin was sitting down at. This girl was not in his class and most likely not what the humans called a mind and body mage. The girl looked first at Gelkin, then at Orkin and bared her teeth. Orkin jumped back slightly until he remembered this was how humans communicated with each other.

“Hello,” the girl said as she looked at Orkin. She was a half orc he thought, her skin was the same light green as his was and she had claws slightly bigger than Orkin’s was. She was just a little bigger than Gelkin and had slightly pointed teeth, not the fangs of pure orc females but the teeth were noticeable when compared to humans.

“She bared teeth but not a challenge,” Gelkin explained. “Teeth baring is greeting.”

“You haven’t been here long then?” the girl asked.

“What do you want?” Orkin said getting to the point.

“I only came to say hi,” the female half orc replied. “You are new here, I don’t think I have seen you before.”

“I don’t think I can trust you,” Orkin said looking at the girl. “Everyone tensed when you came walking through, I am guessing you don’t say hi to everyone.”

“Why can't you trust me?” the girl asked. “I am a half orc just like you are. The reason I don’t say hi to the rest is because they don’t like me. Half orcs never sit over here but I see you are so I decided to join you.”

“I wonder what they have been telling him? Why is he so defensive? He shouldn’t sit with them, they will bring him down and he has a chance to get out. I should rip the throats out of everyone here. Where did that thought come from? I hate being an orc, every time I am upset I want to kill things. Why are they looking at me scared? I forgot they can read minds, are they reading mine? They must be, everyone is backing away from me. I am not going to kill anyone I just wanted to find out about the new guy.”

“I don’t want my throat ripped out,” Orkin replied.

“I hate being around all you mind readers!” the girl snapped then sighed. “I am not going to rip out anyone’s throat.”

“Yes you are,” Gelkin replied. “You said you want to rip us all apart.”

“I only came over here to say hi and introduce myself,” the girl replied.

“You never told any of us your name, only that you want to rip us apart,” Orkin replied. “We don’t want any trouble.”

“You all should be happy I am over here,” the girl replied. “I can introduce you to humans, you don’t have to stay cooped up in your room all the time.”

“The other orcs with the short hair would like to be taken out somewhere,” Orkin replied. “Why don’t you go meet one of them?”

“Because they are orcs.”

“I am orc,” Orkin replied.

“Stop reading my mind!” the girl snapped. “I am Bethany, what is your name?”

“Orkin,” Orkin replied.

“Would you like help on your language, writing or magic later Orkin?” Bethany asked.

“You don’t know mind and body magic,” Gelkin replied.

“Shut up orc! Why is everyone here so defensive? They are acting as frightened as the servants. If can get him to hang out I bet it will make Jalen Willoughsby insane with jealousy.”

“Who is Jalen Willoughsby?” Orkin asked. “Why would you try to hang me?”

“Can everyone just stop reading my mind!” Bethany snapped. “I don’t want to hang you, I want to bring you someplace to make someone else angry.”

“Why would he be angry?” Gelkin asked. “Human hate orc, human not care about orc.”

“Humans do not hate orcs,” Bethany replied.

“Then why orc slave to human?” Gelkin asked.

“Humans don’t even hate those orcs,” Bethany explained. “They have a job to this kingdom just like everyone else. No one would ever bother an orc that is doing what they are supposed to do.”

“What if mage orc make human mad, another orc get punished,” Gelkin replied.

“Well then the mage orcs should do what they are supposed do,” Bethany replied. “You all ask too many questions and Jalen Willoughsby will be angry because Orkin looks better than he does.”

“If we say no will you rip out our throats and hang us?” Gelkin asked.

“I didn’t ask you, I only asked Orkin,” Bethany replied.

“I don’t want to be hung either,” Orkin replied.

“No one is hanging or killing anyone!” Bethany said loudly making the other orcs around her jump.

“If you like this human, why not claim him?” Orkin asked.

“Claim him?” Bethany asked confused.

“You go up to mate, grab him and tell everyone he is yours,” Orkin replied. “Fight off any challengers then mark him as your own.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Bethany said shocked. “Is that how orcs marry?”

“Bethany is more human than orc,” Orkin said as all the rest started nodding. “If you handled things the orc way, you would either have Jalen Willoughsby or be dead.”

“Why would I fight to the death over a boy?” Bethany asked.

“I would reject mate not willing to fight to the death over me,” Gelkin replied.

“I would too, scary female has no place in my hut,” Orkin said as many orcs around him started openly talking about why they could never be with someone like that.

“You all gossip and talk like women,” Bethany said and crossed her arms. “If you come with me, you can bring some friends and I can introduce you to human girls.”

“Why would I want to meet human girls?” Orkin asked confused as to why she would keep bringing that up.

“Because they are beautiful,” Bethany replied. “One of them might like you as well if they can see past your green skin and claws.”

“Humans are not beautiful,” Orkin replied confused. “Why would I want a human to like me?”

“You don’t think they are pretty?” Bethany asked.

“They have pink skin and scat colored hair,” Orkin replied. “I don’t think any orc sees them as being beautiful.”

 “I never knew orcs did not think human girls were beautiful,” Bethany said looking around. “Then why do orcs beg to go out with them?”

“Orc not want to stay in room,” Gelkin replied. “Orc hate room, room make orc sick, orc cannot use magic in room, only sit.”

“Well then Orkin if you all hate your rooms so much then you should be happy I invited you,” Bethany said.

“I don’t want to be with humans,” Orkin replied.

“You can bring some friends,” Bethany replied. “We are only going to hang out. I mean enjoy each other’s company.”

Orkin read Gelkin’s mind and the orc told him to accept, the orcs wanted to find out all they could about the humans and this could be an opportunity to find out a way out of the tower. Orkin accepted and Bethany finished her meal then left. After Orkin was finished, Gelkin brought him up to meet the etiquette tutor, right away Orkin did not like her face. The woman looked like she hated her job and Orkin probed her mind and could tell she hated orcs as well and was looking forward to one of them messing up so she could have an orc beaten.

“My name is Melissa Martin,” the woman said as she looked down on Orkin. “You can call me master or mistress.”

“Why would I call you either of those?” Orkin replied. “I was told I was not a slave.”

“I don’t have time for this orc, I know how to straighten you out,” Melissa snapped. “Perhaps when you see what will happen to one of your orcs you will straighten out.”

“I am going to ask if I have to call you master,” Orkin replied as he read the woman’s mind and could see she was a little worried. “I think you just want to beat orc to make yourself feel better. In fact, I think you are jealous that no orc are falling over you the way they do for the mages.”

“Are you reading my mind?” Melissa said outraged.

Orkin was not reading her thoughts, he was doing something far different. Orkin had the ability to find answers to questions he had not physically asked. It was difficult to do, it was a lot more intrusive than mind reading was and the average mage should be able to feel the intrusion even if they could do nothing to stop it. Melissa was not a mage and was an easy target for any of Orkin’s magic, her mate had left her for a younger woman who was a half orc and she had hated orcs. The only reason she wished for orcs to fall over her was so she could reject them.

“I am not reading your mind,” Orkin lied. “But you are being overly nasty to someone you just met. You are supposed to teach us how to blend in among humans but you have done nothing but sneer.”

“You tell whoever you want, I’ll fix you,” Melissa snapped as she stood up and started walking towards the door. “I’ll fix everyone, there is an elf fight this afternoon, I think our class should take place out there.”

~

Orkin looked in horror as a scared orc was thrown into the center of the ring. Orkin could tell the orc was frightened without using any magic. His opponent was as tall as Orkin was but very slender, he would be able to hit the orc at will and use his length to keep the orc off of him. Orkin was unsure how to help, if the orc won he would be given a death sentence, the elves would buy him and bring him deep into their lands. That orc would face a stream of challengers in armed combat until he fell. Orkin could see the humans were excited, it made him sick. If they were orc would they feel the same way? Orkin’s head snapped backward at the thought. Why couldn’t they be orc? Orkin was good at body magic, he had helped his father cover up any blemish he had. Orkin just couldn’t work his magic on orcs well. Orkin focused on a fat human man that was screaming at an orc to bring him more water. Orkin rapidly made his skin green and his ears grow. The people around the human started screaming in shock, Orkin took the time to focus on the young elf ready to fight, that elf fell to the ground in pain as Orkin made his limbs shorten and gave him orcish features. Nothing he did would last longer than a year, their body would slowly fight off the magic but Orkin accomplished what he wanted. People were screaming and afraid as Orkin started picking random people out of the crowd and turning them as rapidly as possible.

“What is happening?” Gelkin said trying to talk over the screams.

“I don’t know,” Orkin replied. “I am scared Gelkin.”

“Everyone is changing into an orc,” Gelkin said as he looked around.

“Let’s go back to the tower, I don’t think the fight is happening.” Orkin said as he got up.

“You can't just leave, you will make trouble,” Gelkin said.

“If we stay here we could wind up human,” Orkin said as he saw the other two orc mages that were brought to watch with him join him in leaving. Orkin focused on the elves and tried to get as many of them as possible to look like orcs.

The tower wasn’t too far away, the group got stares as they were walking back but nothing noteworthy. The group entered the Tower and got weird looks but no one stopped them as they got to the top floor. They talked about what happened, most orcs were scared but the orc named Fellin thought it was humorous, soon they all started laughing. The good times were spoiled when two angry looking human male mages approached them with a half orc female mage Orkin had seen with the Magorium. The female was the mind reader, the male mages were probably there to be intimidating.

“I can't use my magic up here,” the female mage said. “Too much elven steel, we need to go somewhere else.”

“Follow me orcs,” the tallest mage snapped. Orkin followed him to the floor right under theirs and into a classroom.

“I am going to call you inside one by one and ask you some questions, starting with you,” the female spoke then looked directly at Orkin. “You cannot lie to me so don’t even try, if you are caught lying, you will regret it.”

Orkin followed the female and could feel her latch onto his mind, she was still clumsy, just not as bad as Gelkin was. Orkin sent feelings of fear through the link, Orkin was not scared and he doubted he would be found out but wanted to play the part. The woman relaxed and looked into his eyes. Orkin used the link to tell the woman was trying to be alluring and set him at ease. Orkin wondered if any of that really worked but decided to play along.

“What do you know about the attack?” the female asked.

“I know we were supposed to watch an orc get beaten,” Orkin replied while sending false thoughts of innocence. “Mistress doesn’t like us, Mistress is angry, Mistress says she will fix everyone. Don’t tell Mistress, Mistress turn me into human.”

“Who is this Mistress?” the female mage asked. Orkin could feel her trying to probe his brain harder now.

“She said her name was Melissa Martin but we must never call her that,” Orkin said in a low tone.

“You have said more than enough,” the female said as she reached across the table and squeezed Orkin’s arm.

Orkin was dismissed and laughed at himself. The humans were so stupid they would believe his lie, whether or not the etiquette lady would be punished he did not know or care. One by one the orcs were called in there, Orkin used his magic and could tell the female mage thought the etiquette teacher was guilty. What Orkin found shocking was that everyone at the arena was being interviewed, the elf that was to fight ended up being the son of the current elven king and the future ruler of the elves. Orkin thought it was even funnier, the elves could not have liked that, it was a good move he thought.

After they were interrogated Bethany had came up to get them, the others did not want to go so Orkin went alone. Bethany looked relieved it was only him and Orkin figured he could do more to the enemy, he only had to pick out the right victims. Orkin followed her to the second floor, there was a large open area where there were other mages. They were more separated than Orkin thought, the half orcs had their own area and so did the full humans. In-between them were females who had orc blood, just not a huge amount. Orkin followed Bethany to one area and sat down. The chairs were better here Orkin thought as he looked across at Bethany.

“So Orkin, how do you like everything so far?” Bethany asked. Orkin could tell she was a little nervous, whoever Jalen Willoughsby was, he was in the area and had noticed her.

“Things are scary here,” Orkin replied. “But I think I know all the magic here, I was already a mage before I left.”

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” Bethany replied. “You will graduate quickly and I don’t think you will have any trouble.”

“Who is your friend Bethany?” said a girl Orkin remembered from his class. She was the female who tried putting thoughts into his head.

“Orkin meet Brittany,” Bethany said gesturing towards the girl.

“You are in my class,” Orkin stated as he looked at Brittany.

“You noticed me?” Brittany said smiling. “I thought you didn’t notice anyone.”

“Well Orkin, this is where all of the half orcs hang out at,” Bethany replied. “That area in the middle is for the girls with only a little orc blood and to the far side is where the humans hang out at. We look a little separated now but we intermingle a lot, normally just away from here.”

“Things here are probably scary for you right now,” Brittany said. “But you have friends here if you want. I thought you were bringing down other orcs with you?”

“They got scared and did not want to go,” Orkin explained. “I came because Bethany asked me to. I think your friends are coming over.”

Orkin could see three humans walking towards him, two females and a male. Orkin latched on to the male and almost fell out of his chair. The male practically waddled when he walked and was below average height by human standards. His cheeks were so fleshy it made his eyes seem smaller somehow. This was Jalen Willoughsby, Orkin looked back at Bethany and did not see what she saw in the human. Coupling would be hard, Willoughsby had a massive stomach so she would have to search for it if she was on top in the orcish style and if he was on top then she would be crushed to death. The human was angry at seeing her with another man, before he reached them Orkin learned the mage didn’t really want her because she had orcish blood but reveled in her wanting him.

“What do you want?” Orkin said as he stood up and looked down on the three humans.

“Are you supposed to be scary?” the fat human said dismissively. “The day I am scared of an orc is the day I will die of shame.”

“You are scared,” Orkin said as he stepped closer, the human mage barely went past Orkin’s navel. “I can smell it on you, it rolls off your body in waves. It is the reason you brought two pretty females with you. Were you thinking about trading them to me so I would leave Bethany alone?”

“I wasn’t trading anything with you, not for that orc girl!” Jalen snapped.

“If you are not over here for her then why are you here?” Orkin asked. “Maybe you are here for me. Do I excite you? You want to feel me next to you, I can see it in your pants.”

Orkin knew the mage found him revolting, the human was ready to fight but Orkin had taken control of his body and made him stiff down below if someone was really looking. Bethany and Brittany did and gasped, Jalen tried to back away and cover himself up as Orkin started laughing loudly. Orkin could feel the man thinking about a spell to push him backwards, the mage threw out his hands and just before the spell was to hit, Orkin grabbed him by his shoulder and spun him around. He blasted the human female next to him and sent her into a wall just as Orkin stepped back and kicked the fat mage hard in the bottom, sending him sprawling face first into the ground. Orkin backed up laughing even louder, the female who got blasted jumped back to her feet and tried to blast Jalen back but ended up blasting one of orc blood females in the middle. Soon a brawl erupted as Orkin stepped to the rear and watched. The humans were going at it with the mages who had a little orc blood while the half orcs backed away from it all. The ruckus was so loud eventually a mage Orkin did not know came down and started yelling for everyone to leave. Bethany walked Orkin back upstairs still shocked at what happened.

“Why did you do that?” Bethany asked.

“That human does not want to be your mate,” Orkin replied. “He only wants you to worship him. He does not have many options in this human building for a mate despite the low number of males. Humans beat and kill orc, other human told me here I can fight any human magic user I want and other orc will not get in trouble. I beat the humans whenever I can.”

“He doesn’t like me?” Bethany said as her face fell. “Does he want someone with less orc blood?”

“He doesn’t want anyone with any orc blood,” Orkin replied. “He is weak mate anyway. Male is supposed to prepare your food, if he is your mate he would eat all of it.”

“He is not supposed to-,” Bethany said and then stopped herself. “I need to learn more about the orcs.”

“You hate orc,” Orkin replied.

“I don’t hate the orcs,” Bethany replied.

“You don’t want to be orc,” Orkin replied. “You hate being orc, you want to be like the humans. Bethany should be happy for being Bethany, same way Orkin is happy to be Orkin.”

“I was raised here though Orkin,” Bethany replied. “My mother didn’t even really want me, my family looks down on me for having orc blood. Jalen was the first person who showed me any interest.”

“Human should be happy any orc wants them for a mate,” Orkin replied. “Human look ugly, hair like deer scat and teeth too small.”

“You really don’t like human girls,” Bethany said. “I thought you all were just messing with me.”

“Orc wants orc, like human wants human,” Orkin said. “Humans don’t want orc to like orc, they want orc to like only humans. It is why orc male not allowed orc female.”

“I don’t mean to hurt your feelings Orkin but half-orcs or those with even less orc blood do not think the orc males are pretty. I don’t want any orc male.”

“Because you have been trained like hunting bird,” Orkin replied. “Orcs here are sad and do not trust each other. Short hair orc wants to leave tower, no one cares that they are sad. Do you care they are sad? They are mean to other orcs because they want to get away, mating with female is only escape from room. You say the humans do not hate orc, then why leave orc to rot?”

“Well,” Bethany begin. “They get to lay with the female humans if they are good enough.”

“That is not a reward,” Orkin replied. “It is something I am scared of if my time comes.”

“Wait, what?” Bethany said confused. “You are a man, you are supposed to be looking forward to laying with a woman.”

“Why would I look forward to a human naming me as her mate?” Orkin asked. “I intend on asking if I have to pick a full human, the rules haven't been explained to me yet.”

“I heard your mother is an orc,” Bethany replied. “I have never seen a female orc before. People tell me the reason I get so angry is because orc females like to fight.”

“Orc women do not like to fight,” Orkin explained. “They will never back down from one though.”

“I need to think on the stuff you have told me,” Bethany replied. “I know Brittany will be waiting for me when I go back downstairs. And thank you for not reading my mind tonight Orkin.”

“It is rude among the clans,” Orkin replied then clarified. “Unless the orc is suspected of something or is looking to steal mates.”

Bethany’s green face turned a little red as Orkin walked up the stairs. He had a lot to think about concerning the elves and the changing. His mother could change the outward appearance of people, she once turned his father into an orc. Well a decent copy of one, he was still too tall and his mother’s magic could only do so much. Orkin was able to shrink the elf a little but the mass had to go somewhere which made the elf orc a bit thicker than he should have been. The humans were looking for the culprit, Orkin could lead them down false trails but figured he shouldn’t do anything like it again for a long time.

CHAPTER 5

Orkin went to class the next day and saw the same mage who broke up the fight. He eyed Orkin as Orkin walked in and kept his gaze as Orkin took a seat. Orkin could feel everyone was nervous, whoever the man was, he was not a regular visitor. Orkin took a chance and leashed on to the man’s mind. This human mage was a bit irritated, he had things to do and saw this as getting in the way of them. Just as Orkin was about to discover what it was he began speaking.

“There was a big fight last night and many people were injured, we have never had a brawl of that size before,” the man began. “I will not see a brawl of that nature again; I am going to settle it by having mage duels. You can either challenge, accept a challenge, or refuse a challenge. Either way the person you are not seeing eye to eye with will either have their revenge for whatever perceived wrongs or they will know you as a coward. Orkin DeVry, you have been challenged by two different mages, Jalen Willoughsby and his sister Jessica Willoughsby. Do you accept the challenge?”

“Yes,” Orkin said with a smirk. “Can I challenge someone as well?”

“Yes you can, but you just got here so don’t really know anyone,” the man said annoyed.

“I want challenge every human male mage here,” Orkin replied.

“You can't just challenge everyone Orkin,” Mage Meredith said.

“He can challenge them all if he wants, it is only seven of them,” the man said. “Brittany Harrell, you have also been challenged by the Willoughsbys do you accept?”

“No,” Brittany said shocked. “Why would they want to fight me?”

“I don’t know and don’t care,” the man snapped. “All of these duels will take place in two days and there will be healers there in case anyone gets seriously injured, provided it is not an outright kill. Now for the big news I am sure all of you orcs want to hear. The elves have declared war on us because of an attack on their prince. I am sure all of you know what attack I am talking about. The king is giving you all a chance to quit school right now, if you can last for at least six months you will be granted all the rights and freedoms of a regular male mage with one small exception. No one is forcing you to leave, this is voluntary for the students, not so much for any orc that has graduated. If any of you here know any orc, mage or not that wants to volunteer to fight, if they succeed and last for six months, the king will grant them citizenship.”

“I’ll go,” Orkin said raising his hand. “I am not frightened by elf.”

“Is there anyone else?” the man asked as no one stepped forward. “Excellent, in five days’ time you will present yourself to me in my office and your paperwork should be done.”

“I don’t know who you are,” Orkin said looking at the man.

“Sure you don’t DeVry,” the man snapped. “I know your family has had its eyes on my office for the longest time. The Duke can't save you here, at least if you don’t get hurt too bad you will be out of my hair.”

Orkin watched the man leave and had no idea what he was talking about, he had never seen him before last night but figured he was one of the reasons Tracey had been worried. Mage Meredith looked worried about the news surrounding the war, Orkin used his magic and could tell she thought going to war with the elves was the wrong idea. Orkin didn’t mind, the elves routinely killed orcs for fun and although getting revenge against the humans would be difficult, fighting the elves would be easy. The talk in the classroom though was mostly concerning Orkin fighting the other mages.

“Orkin, you made it seem yesterday that you were new to our lands,” Mage Meredith stated. “How are you related to the Duke?”

“He is brother,” Orkin replied.

“Did you have a hand in the coup six years ago?” Mage Meredith asked. “The one that plunged our country into civil war and killed many mages?”

“I don’t know coup is,” Orkin replied.

“Let me ask this question another way,” Mage Meredith said. “The DeVrys have tried for the throne and were barely beaten back in a stalemate. Our King, may he rest in peace was killed and his brother now sits on the throne, the former Duke was killed as well and now his brother rules. The only DeVry to come to the Tower since then has been Tracey Wallace despite three being able and that is only because she is part of the Magorium and has distanced herself from the Duke. Did you have anything to do with the attack yesterday? I find it too convenient you show up and things start going to pit.”

“I have never met any human family besides father and sister,” Orkin replied. “I would gladly go back home, my mother has to be worried.”

“I am happy I believe you,” Mage Meredith replied with a sigh. “You challenged a lot of people to a duel, do you know what you are doing?”

“I have fought father and mother on occasion,” Orkin replied. “My opponents do not worry me.”

“Orkin, mind and body magic is for subterfuge and healing,” Mage Meredith replied looking exhausted. Orkin just stared at her until she dropped the subject. The war kept coming to the forefront of her mind, apparently the DeVrys were not people to be trusted. Orkin thought that was funny because he thought they couldn’t be any worse than what he was going through already. Mage Meredith dismissed them early, her heart wasn’t into teaching and her students were too excited about the upcoming fights.

“Orkin, you think you can beat the human?” Gelkin said as he caught up to Orkin before Orkin can go into his room.

“I already beat him yesterday,” Orkin replied. “He was no one special, I didn’t even have to use all my magic to do it. The humans started beating on each other last night until that one angry human who asked for volunteers yelled at everyone.”

“That human is master of tower,” Gelkin said as he stood in front of Orkin’s doorway. “That human is always angry at everyone, not just orc. That human does not like you above all, what is DeVry?”

“My father said that was his clan name,” Orkin said as he rubbed his chin. “I met a human on the way here who said she was my sister, I have never met any others with that name.”

“You go fight in war, war not good for orc,” Gelkin said shaking his head. “War is for warrior, male orc not warrior.”

“We can win our freedom, don’t you want to leave here?” Orkin asked.

“Orc not stupid, know humans too well,” Gelkin said tapping his head. “Orc will be at teeth of fight, every fight. Every stupid or dangerous orc will tossed at enemy while humans stay safe, it is only after orc die that humans will enter fight.”

“I think I should be able to survive,” Orkin said now not so sure. “Elves are not the fighters that humans are.”

“Elf faster than humans,” Gelkin said. “Elf not strong but strike fast, elf dangerous opponent.”

“I am not worried about them,” Orkin replied. “Will you come see my fights?”

“All orc will come see your fight,” Gelkin explained. “It is way humans teach orc to behave.”

“Well then they may be disappointed,” Orkin laughed. “I knew I was good in magic but I did not realize how much until I came here. In a one on one duel I do not think any of the other students can defeat me.”

~

Orkin looked over the area he was supposed to fight in, it looked like a small version of the fight pit the elves used, just in stone. Orkin had never been behind the tower which is why he had never seen it but wondered how he had avoided hearing about it even if he was still new. Just like Gelkin said, all the orc students were there. It looked like all the students from the tower along with the staff came out to see the duels. Orkin scanned the crowd and could see his Sister Tracey was there sitting with the rest of the Magorium. Orkin watched Tracey’s eyes and she gestured behind him, Orkin followed her eyes to a group of people sitting down. The shock made Orkin fall to the ground as he looked into the eyes of his father. He knew his father was dead but this man looked just like him, same face just younger and meaner. Orkin climbed to his feet as the man gave him a nod but kept the angry scowl. Orkin would be the first battle and all seven of the human males had accepted his challenge. His first fight would be with Jalen, the man who ran the tower asked if they would like to say anything and Jalen started shouting.

“This orc caused a fight last night,” Jalen began. “Like all orcs he is cowardly and caught me unaware. This orc is also a DeVry, we all know DeVrys cannot be trusted, he cannot hide what he is or who he is now. My father helped put down the mad Duke, now I will do the same to his family for the good of the kingdom. I, Jalen Willoughsby, will teach this orc some respect. I will get no pleasure in this lesson, hopefully I can stop him and any of his allies from any future actions detrimental to the kingdom.”

Applause went up from the crowd, the only people silent were those with the Duke and the full orcs. Orkin watched the fat human hold his hands in the air and take in the applause. The human in charge of the tower tried to quiet them. The master of the tower approved of Jalen’s speech, Orkin lashed out with his magic and could tell Jalen meant every word he had said. The applause finally died down and the master of the tower turned towards Orkin.

“Do you have anything to say?” the man snapped.

“I want all of you who clapped for the fat human to watch carefully,” Orkin said looking at the crowd who started to boo. “I think if any of you do not like the outcome, come down and face me.”

Orkin could see Jalen was about to fire off a spell, it was time to enact the one technique his mother had developed. His mother and father sparred often, his father was the one to actually give her the idea on how to cap magic potential. Orkin focused on Jalen’s brain and started forcing his own magic into it, the sensation felt like bugs crawling over the back of your neck. His magic would mix and interfere with Jalen’s magic, it would be impossible for the human to cast anything. This technique only worked if the mage could do mind magic and was stronger than the mage he was fighting. Jalen tried for a spell, it fizzled out as Orkin started taking off his shirt to expose his muscles. Jalen was trying to fight him off but did not know what Orkin was doing to him which made the fat mage started screaming his spells. Orkin closed the distance on him, Jalen threw a punch that landed solidly into Orkin’s stomach. Orkin reached back and backhanded the mage to the ground where he rolled once then started backing away while still on the ground.

“Get up human,” Orkin said loud enough for those present to hear. “You just gave a grand speech about the lessons you were going to teach, I am a willing student, so teach me.” Orkin said as he reached down and picked the struggling mage up by his collar. The mage kicked out at Orkin and nearly caught him in the groin, Orkin lowered him a bit and drove his knee deep into the mage’s round stomach forcing the human to vomit.

“People are here to cheer for you human,” Orkin said as he dropped the mage to the ground. “Get up and show them what you can do.” Orkin finished as he gave Jalen a hard kick to the ribs, sending the mage rolling. Orkin decided to end the fight then, he cut off interfering with Jalen’s magic and instead loosened his enemy’s bowels before cutting off the blood to his brain. As Jalen passed out Orkin relented. Orkin would let the healers work on Jalen and was pleased to see that everyone had seen Jalen mess himself.

“I think this fight is over,” Orkin said looking down at Jalen. “Send in the next one.”

“You heard him, who else is going to fight?” said the master of the tower angrily. Orkin could tell his performance had scared the humans, the people who were going to fight him now were timid. Jessica Willoughsby was the first to decline, soon she was followed by the rest of them, none wanted to face down the half orc.

“If anyone in the crowd is not a coward,” Orkin said as he eyed the crowd. “Come down.”

“I’ll fight this fucking orc,” said a man in a guard’s uniform. He stood up and drew his sword as he started making his way down to the fighting area. Orkin nodded that he was okay with the fight as his new opponent had his sword and shield ready. His opponent charged, Orkin sent a sharp pain to the man’s calf and hobbled him. His opponent tried to fight out of it but received a sharp pain in his left side, his sword hand. Eventually Orkin had him bent over at the waist as he poured on the pain, someone was trying to cheat for the man as Orkin could feel healing magic trying to pour into his enemy. Orkin walked over and took the sword away from his opponent as the man tried to get his bearings. Orkin leveled the sword at the back of the man’s neck for a moment, then thrust the sword as hard as he could into the ground.

“Is there anyone else?” Orkin said as he stopped his flow of magic. “Does anyone else want to give a big speech or come down here like a charging bison?”

Orkin was not surprised no one did and walked back over towards the orcs. Although the orcs did not cheer, many were falling over themselves to bring him water or food. Orkin took the gifts and watched the rest of the fights. It was a wonder no one got seriously hurt as fire, ice and other nasty elements went flying around the small area. When the fighting was over, Orkin saw his sister Tracey who walked up to him and surprised him by giving him a hug. Orkin returned the gesture and could feel the woman was crying but trying to hide herself.

“You are as much of a showman as father ever was,” Tracey said and smiled. “Your mother had to be a great mage to be able to bring him down.”

“Father always told her he just wanted to be caught,” Orkin said remembering the many different tales his father had told him about the battle.

“Well, he would have loved to see this,” Tracey replied. “He used to fight in this very area, father always called out fools and bullies.”

“Like the human I just fought?” Orkin asked.

“The Willoughsbys are a powerful mage family that have served the rulers of our land for generations,” Tracey began. “I knew you would run afoul of them and Victor Vega. I bet he is as angry as a hornet, he is just trying not to show it.”

“I don’t know this human,” Jalen replied.

“Victor is the head of the Tower of Light,” Tracey said as gestured to the man. “His position should have been my son’s. But after my brother tried to dispose the former king, the DeVrys and anyone related to them has been treated as outcasts everywhere except our own lands. The only reason I am allowed is because I was already on the Magorium and its strongest member. Well, let me introduce you to the rest of the family, I cannot stay long for reasons I am sure our brother will explain to you.”

Orkin followed Tracey to where the Duke was sitting. Tracey walked up and looked at her brother but stayed silent as she grabbed Orkin’s hand and led him forward. The Duke stood up and walked over, he was a younger version of Orkin’s father right down to his height. The Duke said nothing as he looked Orkin over but kept the angry face he had been wearing the entire time.

“You look like him,” Orkin whispered as he raised his hands. The Duke didn’t move as Orkin brought his hands to the Duke’s face and felt the features. “Do you have his heart or are you a poor copy?”

“So you are the Orc I am related to,” the Duke said looking at Orkin. “This is not the place for our meeting. Nothing you have is irreplaceable provided you still have the necklace. Follow me to my carriage, I will be happier once I am back in my lands.”

Orkin nodded and followed the Duke, his brother had six guards who formed up around him as they left tower grounds. A carriage was there, it was bigger than any he had seen and was being pulled by six horses. The Duke climbed inside and gestured for Orkin to follow him. When the carriage took off is when the Duke started to speak.

“I am your brother Jacoby, Orkin,” the Duke replied. “Your birth gives me a bit of happiness, my father never found anyone after my mother died so long ago. By seeing your face, I know he at least found a semblance of peace. The mage you were fighting; how did you beat him?”

“By using a trick I learned fighting with father,” Orkin replied. “Only someone who does mind magic can do it, and only if they are of sufficient strength.”

“Father should have told us about you,” Jacoby said shaking his head.

“Father wanted me to grow up where I was at,” Orkin replied. “He told me to stay away from humans.”

“He was right,” Jacoby replied. “I hear you signed up for war?”

“They said I could leave the tower,” Orkin replied.

“I’ll put you with me,” Jacoby said as he reached across and grabbed Orkin’s hand. “The Dukes have to lead their own men in times of war, I will find you a place away from the action. I have to ask you a serious question Orkin, I don’t want you to lie to me.”

Orkin could feel someone try to use magic on him, it was even clumsier than the usual clumsy attempt and he was sure he could turn it aside.

“Orkin I have a mind mage reading your thoughts right now,” the Duke began. “I don’t want you lying to me, I want the truth.”

“I can feel your mage,” Orkin replied. “She is married to one of your grandsons and her name is Evony DeVry. You have her hiding somewhere in the carriage, I think there is a secret space somewhere behind you and she is there.”

“How do you know all of this?” Jacoby said shocked.

“Because I was already considered a great shaman when I left,” Orkin replied. “I felt her when she probed me, even without the necklace I would have sensed her intrusion. If I felt she was evil, I would have slapped her attempt away and went on the attack.”

“Come on out Evony,” Jacoby said as he scooted to one side of his bench as the other lifted up. A female came out of the hole, this woman looked entirely human Orkin thought but knew she had to have orc blood somewhere in order to use mind magic.

“You will have to teach me that trick,” Evony said as she shut the secret compartment and sat down.

“Orkin can you lie while getting your mind scanned?” Jacoby asked.

“Yes,” Orkin replied. “It is done the same way I can trace back the magic attacking me to its source.”

“Orkin can you do the same for others?” Jacoby asked. “If someone was scanning my brain, can I lie and not get caught?”

“Yes,” Orkin replied. “It was one of the ways I kept father out of trouble.”

“Orkin I need to put this to the test,” Jacoby said looking at Evony. “I am going to tell a lie, Evony I want you to scan me.”

Orkin latched on to his brother’s brain and could feel Evony’s magic as well. The Duke started talking, Orkin could tell the lies in his story but sent them back to Evony as truth. When Evony told him that she could not detect any lies, the Duke breathed out in relief.

“I have been questioned twice since the attack on the elves,” Jacoby explained. “The king suspects I had something to do with it. There is an uneasy truce going on between us, getting the elves to attack would make his hold on the throne shakier than it already is. Orkin did you have anything to do with the attacks?”

“Yes,” Orkin replied. His brother just stared at him, the man was in shock but said nothing.

“Did you know that was the crown prince?” the Duke asked.

“I did not,” Orkin replied. “The spell won't hold for more than a year, after that his body will start changing back, they all will.”

“Who knows this?” Jacoby said.

“Just you and her,” Orkin said gesturing to Evony.

“Tell no one else about this,” the Duke replied. “I think it is about time the DeVrys separate from this kingdom. The last time my brother went about it the wrong way, he wanted the entire kingdom to alleviate us from taxes. I aim to make the duchy into its own kingdom. We need to join with the elves to make this happen, maybe liberate the orcs as well. I am going to lean on you brother, I never intended to fight in this war for the kingdom but I need your help. Win or lose, I will return you back to your home or bring your people here. Will you help your brother?”

“What do I have to do?” Orkin asked.

“I am going to need you to work your magic for me from time to time,” Jacoby said as Orkin could tell he was still thinking. “I need to meet with some people and eventually get our sister and her family into the duchy. I don’t want you in this war, at least not fighting for the kingdom. I will use my position to reject your request to fight and bring you over to my lands. From there we will do just enough to hold the elves back but nothing more. Our best-case scenario involves the elves winning the war, if the king’s forces crush them, I do not want to show our hand for no reason.”

“You will bring me back home?” Orkin asked.

“Yes,” the Duke replied. “But not now, we have a lot of enemies and people have taken notice of you. You beat one of the Willoughsbys, they are one of our biggest enemies. I want you to stay at the tower until I get you, that is the only place that I can think of that you will be safe.”

“You not look like orc,” Orkin said looking at Evony.

“My great grandfather was an orc,” Evony replied. “That is where my orc blood and my gift comes from. It is also why my magic is not as strong as some others you may have felt.”

“Orkin I am going to drop you back off at the tower,” the Duke replied. “I was fortunate to have been in the area, Tracey sent me correspondence and I had to come see for myself. Watch yourself and keep that necklace on.”

CHAPTER 6

“Here comes more of them,” Gelkin said as he gestured to Bethany who walked over with Brittany and another part orc girl.

“This is insane. Why did I agree to come over here? Everyone is looking at me, I gotta be brave, gotta be brave. There is the big orc, wow he looks even bigger in person. Gotta clear my head, Bethany said everyone over here likes to read minds. Are they reading my mind? Think other thoughts, think other thoughts.”

Orkin looked at the newcomer oddly as the group walked over to Orkin with their trays and started sitting down.

“You bring trouble over here,” Gelkin said. “Why you here half-orc?”

“We came to eat,” Bethany replied.

“Relax Gelkin,” Brittany replied.

Orkin could feel Brittany sending thoughts to Gelkin telling him that he liked having the girls over and that they were friends instead of enemies. Orkin was sure the other orcs could read her mind but doubted they could tell what Brittany was actually doing. Gelkin relaxed and Brittany started to do the same thing to Orkin, Orkin decided to play along.

“So Orkin,” Bethany began. “This is my friend Cindy. She is a mage like I am.”

This is a big orc. I wonder if the others are looking over here at us? Maybe they are scared of the orc. I wonder if they will get jealous by seeing us over here.

“Why would human get jealous?” Gelkin asked.

“You are around a bunch of mind readers Cindy,” Brittany said. “At least half of them are mind mages, the other half practice body magic. Well two of them are mind and body mages so they can do both.”

“Oh,” Cindy replied.

“Half-orc is only here to bring trouble,” Gelkin said looking at Orkin. “Half-orc wants humans mad at orc.”

“I do not,” Cindy replied.

“I hate being around all of these mind readers. I don’t want to start a fight; I just want the boys to notice me.”

“Why?” Orkin asked looking at Cindy. “Why you want human to notice you? Why not find other mate?”

“If half-orc wants mate, she should claim him,” Gelkin said as other orcs around them stopped pretending they were not listening in and started agreeing.

“Claim him?” Cindy asked confused.

“You are supposed to fight another girl to the death if you like a guy and want him as your own,” Bethany said.

“Fight to the death over a guy?” Cindy asked confused.

“Yes,” Bethany replied. “Before you say anything else, most of the orc boys here would never willing date anyone not willing to fight to the death over them. Orc women are supposed to be strong and possessive.”

“Not all fights are to the death,” Orkin replied. “Death is rare, female just has to fight off any challengers. If male do not mind female, then he is hers. If he does mind female then he does not go, normally female keep beating all challengers until male agrees.”

“Finding mate easy in clans,” Gelkin said. “Half-orc should know this.”

“Short hairs are listening in,” Orkin said in a hushed whisper. “Too many for me to fight off.”

“Short hair is all around us,” Gelkin replied.

“Who is short hair?” Brittany asked.

“The orcs with short hair,” Bethany replied. “They are probably just trying to figure out if any of the human mages want them,”

“You should help short hair,” Orkin replied. “Whenever you get together, take short hair with you.”

“Short hair not orc anymore,” Gelkin replied. “Short hair pick out poor orcs for magic.”

“Magic?” Orkin asked.

“Body mages have to heal orc,” Gelkin replied. “Human mages give great wounds.”

Realization dawned on Orkin’s face as he scooted his chair farther away from the table. Mage Meredith had said all body mages would have to heal a wounded orc, she never did say how the orcs would be picked out or how they would be wounded. The human mages would be the ones causing the pain. Orkin looked around and started to get sick, he could feel many people probing him but he was too upset and disgusted to hide his thoughts. Orkin could feel his stomach turning and knew his food was about to come back up. Orkin got up as he could feel healing magic from different sources wash over him and alleviate some of his nausea. The half-orcs were looking at him oddly as a short haired orc got up and steadied him.

“Sit down,” the short haired orc whispered. “If they see you, it will be bad.”

Orkin let the short haired orc lead him back to his seat and looked at Bethany who he thought looked embarrassed. She had told him that humans did not hate orcs and made it seem like everyone had to do their part to make big clan work. Orkin didn’t have to read her to understand that she knew harming orcs was wrong. Orkin looked at her and then at the females she brought with her, all of them had participated before in practicing their magic on orcs. Orkin was frightened for a moment as another short hair orc placed his hand on Orkin’s shoulder.

“You sit with older orcs,” the short hair orc said. “Tell us news of the clan.”

“What is wrong with him?” Cindy asked as Orkin got up.

“I don’t know, I am not good at reading minds,” Brittany replied. “I can only put thoughts inside.”

“I know what is wrong with him,” Bethany said. “Just look around you, the orcs are scared of us now.”

“Why would they be scared of us?” Cindy asked. “We haven't done anything.”

“We have done enough,” Bethany replied. “Gelkin you must know we were raised differently than you were. None of us came from the clans.”

“It is wrong!” Gelkin said harshly. “You would not torture your animal pets.”

“Torture what?” Cindy asked.

“You wouldn’t torture your dog,” Bethany replied. “Gelkin doesn’t think you should torture orcs either.”

“I have never tortured anything,” Cindy replied.

“Even when you were learning the limits of your magic and how to control it when fighting?” Bethany asked. “I know I have cut, burned and wounded many orcs to get to the level I am at now. My mother insisted on me practicing hard on my magic, I would have done anything to please her. The orcs got a few days off from work afterwards but I now see that is not really payment.”

“If we don’t practice on orcs then who are we supposed to practice on?” Cindy said as she covered her mouth trying to take back the words she said. “Well it’s not like we are trying to be cruel, we just need subjects so we can become better mages. I don’t know anyone who would want to cause any unnecessary suffering.”

“My magic can't hurt anyone,” Brittany said. “If anything, I just want to make the males less scared of their surroundings and more open to do things like everyone else in the kingdom.”

Orkin stopped listening to them as the short haired orcs around the table stared at him. A few offered him water until his heart slowed down and his breathing became regular.

“You are still new,” the first short hair orc that told him to sit back down said. “We follow the humans now, do things the human way. You make trouble if you do not, you not like other half-orcs. You still care about orc, offer friendship.”

“You help them hurt other orcs,” Orkin replied.

“Orcs know what they are getting into,” the short haired orc said. “One of them who has done bad would be picked anyway. We let them choose who comes to tower by drawing lots if no one volunteers. Losers come but we make sure they eat good while here. It is the only thing we can offer them. After they have gone through big pain, we make sure they are all healed up. All short hair pile magic together to help. Short hair orc is still an orc, we are going to become more than slave when we join the war.”

“Don’t join the war,” Orkin replied getting his mind off the humans using live experiments. “Humans throw orc at the front of the enemy.”

“Humans will not throw their healers at the front of the enemy,” the short haired orc replied. “Healers are always in the back and humans cannot use body magic, only those with orc blood. In six months I come back, I never have to stay in my room again, I only have to stay in tower at night. Other times I can go meet up with other orc, be a part of the big party.”

“Why do you tell on the others to the humans?” Orkin asked.

“We hates the room,” another short haired orc replied. “Some of us hates the humans too, the only ones happy are those who were taken really young. They still don’t want to see orc hurt but want to please humans too.”

“Sherok, the master is here,” the short haired orc who first started healing Orkin said gesturing towards a mage in the room.

Orkin now knew him as Victor Vega, his brother and his sister warned him about the man. Vega looked directly at him and gave a sour look before going to the front of the dining hall. Orkin watched the man climb on top of a chair, everyone stopped what they were doing to see what he wanted.

“Tomorrow our real training begins,” Victor said looking out over the room. “Most of you already know the basics of magic, now is the time to refine it. I am going to do something different this year, this year all our real mages will get to pick their own orc out to practice on. Every day, before the day of rest, you mages will pick out an orc. After you are done that orc will be sent to the mind and body mages to practice their crafts on. I already have the orcs rounded up, when your meal is done you can go pick yours from outside. If we do end up at war with the elves, we will need every advantage we can get. We need to let them know that our kingdom is one they were better off leaving alone.”

Orkin didn’t need to latch on to anyone to know the humans were excited. Many were exchanging stories about how they had already practiced on a live orc and the different things they had tried. Those with orc blood were also excited, they wanted to prove themselves to the full-blooded humans that they were just as capable as they were when it came to inflicting damage. The entire thing made Orkin want to lose his lunch again until healing magic started pouring into him from different orcs.

~

“I know a lot of you are excited about today,” Mage Meredith said cheerfully as another scream could be heard through the walls. “The other students have already started; it is up to us to fix the damage they have done. Now is the time to be nervous or make a mistake. With the many different injuries, you are likely to find out what you are good at healing. If the war starts, that is not the time to find out if you can heal the soldiers fighting for us. Mind mages, I only want you to tell me when an orc is no longer feeling anymore pain. I am talking about physical pain; they are going to be sad and scared but that is not what we are looking for. You can help the body mages by letting them know if the orc is still feeling pain that you cannot see. Brittany you are the odd one out here, your strength doesn’t lie in reading minds but you can input thoughts and ideas. I just want you to try to put one orc at ease, make it believe that the mages in this rooms are its friends.”

“An orc is not an it,” Orkin spoke up as the sound of another scream made him jump. “Orc is being tortured for no reason, humans are evil to do this.”

“Excuse me?” Mage Meredith said caught off guard.

“Humans are evil!” Orkin repeated as another scream sounded. “Listen to them, they are crying out because they are having evil done to them. I read your mind, you are excited to see what injuries they will have. That is evil, you are evil.”

“That is a nasty thing to say to someone Orkin,” Mage Meredith said. “We heal the orcs in this room, not hurt them.”

“You hurt orc by not stopping their pain from ever happening,” Orkin said.

I hate teaching orcs right out their savagery. Stupid big orc thinks he could read my mind, I would be able to feel him like I do the others. The orcs are not people, I can't tell him that because then he would get angrier. He isn’t even an orc, he doesn’t even look half-orc, more like a quarter orc. I hope they bring in the orcs soon, more than him is starting to get agitated. Brittany should be using her magic to calm them all down, I hope she hurries up.

Orkin broke free from Mage Meredith’s mind just as the door to the classroom opened up. A man wearing a light red robe entered the room, Orkin had not seen him before but knew he was an instructor by his age. The mage was around forty human years and his hair was a reddish color instead of the color of deer scat like most of the humans. He had what the humans called a smile on his face, to Orkin it looked like a challenge as he was showing most of his teeth and screams of orcs could be heard louder than they were with the door opened.

“Mage Meredith,” the man spoke. Orkin searched his mind and knew his name was Harold Willoughsby, the mage twitched a little so Orkin knew he could tell he was under assault by mind magic. Orkin also knew the man wouldn’t be able to pinpoint who was doing it with all of the other mages in the class also attacking him. Orkin was about to dig deeper when he could feel Brittany attempting to calm him, she wanted him to think this was just a part of training and that no orc would be needlessly tortured. She also wanted him to believe that all of the orc injuries could be healed, not just the ones caused by the mages today.

“Hello Mage Harold,” Mage Meredith replied. “You have perfect timing.”

“Well, I hope your students are ready,” Mage Harold said with a chuckle. “This has to be the strongest and most knowledgeable mage class we have had in decades; it is certainly the strongest I have ever had. They may have gone a little overboard in trying to outdo each other, I hope your class is up to the challenge.”

“We have twenty body mages and seven mind mages,” Mage Meredith replied. “I think we will do our best but most of this class is still raw when it comes to healing. It is hard to teach though without any injuries to heal, this class needs more days like today. I think I can teach more today than I have done all week.”

“Well, if you can't heal them all don’t worry about it,” Mage Harold replied. “The orc mages that have graduated can help out to keep their skills fresh. If not, we can always swap them out for a fresh batch. It looks like the first of them are coming this way.”

Orkin looked in disgust as an orc came through the door, he had burns on both arms, both legs and someone had even gotten his chest. Healing burns was hard, especially the way the humans taught magic. The orc cried as he walked, there was a big human behind him with a whip that kept pushing him forward until he got in the middle of the room.

“Okay class gather around,” Mage Meredith said excitedly. Orkin was already out of his seat and didn’t need to use his mind magic to tell the orc was in pain. The first thing Orkin went after was the nerves, these were either burned away or enflamed. The angry nerves he calmed down right away, he could see the orc visibly relax as Orkin started going to work on healing the burns from the left arm.

“Slow down Orkin,” Mage Meredith said. “The rest of the students need to see the wounds so they can learn what to do.”

“No, this orc is hurting,” Orkin said as he went back to healing.

“You heard her orc,” said a gruff voice as a searing pain erupted from Orkin’s back followed by a crack.

Orkin jumped back and could see the big human had hit him with the whip. Orkin turned to face the man and was about to attack when he was blown across the room by Mage Harold. Orkin focused on Harold and overwhelmed his magic while giving the man the biggest headache he could give. Mage Harold fell to the ground holding his head and screaming as Orkin focused on the guard.

“My brother and sister will hear about this,” Orkin growled. Orkin knew how humans operated, the big human was just a warrior, he was not in charge of anything and probably had no power outside of hurting orcs.

“Who the hell is your brother?” the big human said laughing. “The day I care about what an orc can do to me is the day I quit my job.”

“Orkin let him up!” Mage Meredith said as Orkin could feel she was trying to give him a muscle cramp.

Orkin did not need to let the woman know how strong he was. He released the hold he had on Mage Harold and grabbed his leg slightly. Orkin could feel some of the others in the room try to heal him as he slapped away the attempts, Mage Harold got up furious.

“David Winslow,” Orkin said looking at the big human. “David Winslow who lives with his wife Teresa and his daughter Terrie next to the baker’s on Gerlan street. I am going to show my brother and my sister my back. They have their own mind mages to find out what happened here.”

“I ought to kill you,” Mage Harold said angrily.

“Then do it,” Orkin replied. “The truth will come out.”

“I think this is getting out of hand,” Mage Meredith said stepping in between Orkin and David. “Duke DeVry or High Mage Wallace do not need to worry themselves about anything that happened here.”

“My brother will see to it that he is whipped,” Orkin said as he snatched the thought from Mage Meredith’s mind. Mage Harold was angry but he was now scared about what the Duke would do to him, Harold and David had attacked Orkin before Orkin attacked anyone. Mage Harold had a fleeting thought about David being whipped for striking a noble and wondered if Orkin could be considered a noble.

“Orkin I can heal your back,” Mage Meredith said. “Guard Winslow thought you were trying to sabotage this training by not listening to your instructor. If you have any wounds or are feeling any pain, I can get rid of it now.”

“No,” Orkin said loudly. “I want my brother to know about David Winslow on Gerlan street. David Winslow and Harold Willoughsby can explain to him why they attacked me.”

“You attacked me,” Mage Harold said angrily.

“Only after you and David Winslow attacked me,” Orkin replied just as angrily. “My brother will see my back. I am going to write him immediately.”

“This big orc is related to a Duke?” David said confused. “And how does he know where I live at?”

“Orkin is Duke DeVry’s little brother, guard David,” Mage Meredith said. “Now be quiet while I fix this.”

“Move out of my way,” Orkin said as he left the room. “My sister will be here tomorrow to visit me, she will know everyone’s part in it.”

Orkin could hear Mage Meredith screaming after him, he ignored her along with the sounds of screaming orcs as he made his way up to his room. Orkin slammed his door and hurriedly took off the top he was wearing and tried to feel his back. It was bloody from the blow and hurt to touch. Orkin knew he should heal himself but wanted to feel the pain. He wanted to feel just a little of what the other orcs levels below were going through. Orkin hated to admit he was happy that he did not hear any screaming anymore. Orkin thought he was in his room for a few hours before he could hear a soft knock on the door. The orcs had no way to lock their doors and his visitor pushed it open. It was Brittany who came inside his small room and looked around. Orkin could tell she went to use her magic from the way her body twitched as she held her head. The only way to use magic in the room was if someone was on the bed, the boots they wore did not provide enough of a space to avoid the elven steel.

“Orkin, Mage Meredith sent me up here,” Brittany began as she looked around at the elven steel then blushed when she noticed Orkin was not wearing a shirt. “She is worried about you and wants to know if you are ready to be healed now that you have had time to calm down.”

“My sister can see to my comfort,” Orkin replied. “If that Mage Harold was not there, I would have torn that human apart.”

“He was only doing what he thought was right Orkin,” Brittany replied.

“He is used to beating and punishing orc,” Orkin began. “He beat wrong orc, now he has to explain to my brother why he beat me. My brother is not going to care.”

“Is there anything any of them can do to make this right?” Brittany asked. “They would have come themselves but did not think you would be receptive to any of them.”

“They can ask my brother that,” Orkin replied. “They can yell at him and hit him then ask how they can be even.”

“No one would hit a Duke,” Brittany said confused.

“Well then I hope they can talk to him,” Orkin replied. “Maybe they should stop worrying about me and start worrying about what they are going to say to him.”

“They can heal your back Orkin,” Brittany began. “Mage Meredith offered to do it herself. When you left you took most of the fun out of the class. Mage Meredith barely taught and instead mostly stayed talking to the guard and Mage Harold outside.”

“Why would seeing orc hurt be fun for anyone?” Orkin asked.

“Orkin, Mage Meredith was upset that you did not allow her to talk about the orc’s injuries,” Brittany said. “If she could have described them, she could have then shown how to heal them. The next orc would have been healed a little faster since everyone would have known a little bit more on how to heal until they could do it without her direct instruction.”

“If you were hurt would you want people waiting to heal you?” Orkin replied. “It doesn’t matter, Mage Meredith got to teach her class after I left. She was angry at me and thought I shouldn’t care about orc. I owe Mage Meredith nothing.”

“You owe her your respect Orkin,” Brittany said. “She is doing a difficult job with people too scared of her to ask questions and she has to make sure they are skilled enough to save lives.”

“I don’t owe her respect,” Orkin replied. “I don’t care about her job either. I want to go home to clan, not stay here with evil humans.”

“You are home Orkin,” Brittany replied. “And not all humans are evil. My mother loves my father, even though she is not in love with him, she did not send him back to the tower. She keeps him around so he does not have to go back. My mother found a decent man that does not mind that my father lives with us. I think you are upset you were taken and is trying to see the bad in everything.”

Orkin was about to reply when someone pushed open his door. Two nervous looking orcs came inside holding bulky packages, behind them was the Master of the Tower, Victor Vega holding an envelope that had the seal on it broken. Victor waited for the orcs to open up the packages, it was human clothes and Orkin watched as the other orcs put them away in his wardrobe and took some of the other clothes that was there and left. Victor stuck out his hand containing the envelope towards Orkin and had an odd look on his face.

“Your sister regrets to inform you that she will not be here to pick you up tomorrow,” Victor said. “The Magorium has a big part to play in the upcoming war with the elves. She said she will try to see you in two weeks if her schedule allows it. Your brother had his people drop off the clothes and this coin purse filled with money,” Victor finished as he produced a small bag that sounded like small metal rubbing up against each other.

“Why are you opening up what is mine?” Orkin asked as he refused to take the envelope or the coin purse.

“You are in the Tower orc and I am in charge of the Tower,” Victor replied looking annoyed. “I heard about your run in with my guard and your refusal to be healed. The Duke and the High Mage are going to have to prepare for a war, by the time they will be able to see you, most of your wounds if you have any would be healed anyway. I am reassigning the guard so you will not have any contact with him and I am docking him one week’s pay. Mage Harold is suspended from teaching classes for a week and he has said that he will personally make sure nothing like this happens again. This should be sufficient recompense and you can have your back looked at.”

“My brother is hearing about this,” Orkin replied. “I don’t care what you do to that human and I don’t need any healing. You do not like my family, my family will know that you are trying to cover this up. I will not let you.”

“Your brother is a busy man!” Victor snapped. “And I know you just met the man, you didn’t even know who your sister was until she told you. All you will do is make trouble and cause pain for a good man.”

“He is not good man, he beat Orc for fun,” Orkin replied. “Now he get beat for fun. My family will see it as an attack on him and both will pay. Willoughsby and Winslow will pay and you cannot do anything about it. If you want me to drop it, then you let the guard hit you with the whip as hard as he hit me. Then let the mage blow you across the room with the same force he did me.”

“I am not going to let someone beat me like I am an orc,” Victor snapped. “What I meant to say is that orcs can take more pain than a human can.”

“We are going to see if that is true when my story gets out,” Orkin replied.

“Orkin DeVry if you continue this I will have every slave orc in this tower lined up in front of you and beaten every day,” the Tower Mage threatened. “I have already given my punishment and it is done. If you don’t believe me then try to make trouble, you will see all of the orcs punished.”

“Do it,” Orkin replied. “My brother will kill the two who attacked me. I wonder what he will do to you for threatening me?”

“You think I am not serious?” the Tower mage said and started nodding his head quickly. “I guess we will see tonight.”

“We will,” Orkin replied. “Their sacrifice will be celebrated. It will be because of them, two humans who like beating Orc will be die.”

“What do you want orc?” Mage Victor said impatiently.

“I want to give the man who struck me ten lashes,” Orkin replied.

“That is not going to happen,” the Tower Mage said angrily.

“Then I hope both Mage Harold and Guard David agree with your thinking,” Orkin replied and turned away from the Tower Mage.

“I will end the banishment of the orcs to their rooms after dinner and on the day of rest,” Victor said angrily. “No orc will have to stay in their rooms.”

“When you say orc, are you including short hair orc?” Orkin asked.

“Yes, yes,” Victor said annoyed.

“For how long?” Orkin asked.

“From now on,” Victor said.

“Then this attack never happened,” Orkin replied. “If it gets out then I will tell my clan, I mean my family that we had an agreement.”

“Whatever,” Victor said as he dropped the envelope and the coin purse and stormed out of the room.

“I can't believe it,” Orkin screamed then let out a roar any female orc would have been proud of. “The others will be so happy.”

“I don’t understand,” Brittany replied. “They were going to be let out of their rooms tomorrow anyway.”

“They were?” Orkin said confused.

“Mages from all over will be here looking for a husband,” Brittany replied. “At least those that couldn’t find a human mage to settle down with. How do you think orc mages meet their future wives?”

“No one told me about this, but it doesn’t matter,” Orkin replied. “Every day orc gets to come out of room, I am going to tell short hair right now.”

CHAPTER 7

“Why do we have to go out there?” Orkin asked Gelkin who was trying to pull him up off his bed.

“Because Orc does,” Gelkin replied. “Mistress will be there and she is mad at orc, orc get her in trouble. Mistress really mad at Orkin, find out Orkin has powerful brother and is looking for a reason to punish Orkin.”

“I don’t want a human,” Orkin replied.

“Neither does Gelkin,” Gelkin replied. “But many humans will be there, some looking for a mate, others looking for a mate for someone else. The half orcs will be there, besides, this is best selection party yet.”

“Selection party?” Orkin replied.

“Human come choose mate,” Gelkin replied. “Most only looking for young one, then discard orc. Others like having orc beg for them to choose, that not happen now.”

“Why not?” Orkin asked.

“Because of you,” Gelkin said as he squinted his eyes, in orc clans that was the equivalent of a human smile. “Orc hate being alone, now all orc in tower are never alone. Orc don’t need to grovel for mate, not anymore. Short hairs have been talking about how they are going to ignore humans.”

“That sounds fun,” Orkin replied. “Female will do the chasing, like it supposed to be. You said the half-orcs will be there?”

“All half-orcs will be there,” Gelkin replied. “All of the humans will as well. Their families can only visit on this day and can make their own matches with each other to keep magic blood. They normally walk over just to look down on orc and it make them happy to see orc begging for attention.”

Orkin smiled and got to his feet, he had healed his own back which was another thing he found out he had over the others. Most of them could not heal themselves, only others. Orkin was not great at it but with enough time he was sure he did a decent job. Orkin looked through his wardrobe and could feel soft material in the clothes he was given, his brother must have gotten his measurements from his sister when he first got to the human lands. Orkin grabbed a black outfit, it was the plainest one there and did not have any decoration except for a great stag that was sewn into the collar. Orkin smiled when he saw it, his father had always favored the stag for some reason even though it was prey. His father had told him even the mightiest hunter is wary of the horns of a great stag. Orkin looked at himself in the mirror and decided to detangle his hair. He didn’t want some orc in trouble because he didn’t do something so basic, especially when he knew the humans were mad at the orcs for being allowed outside of their room. Orkin’s hair hurt but he got through it, once he was done he walked down to the dining room where everything was supposed to take place at. There were people there already, both orc and human as Orkin walked to where the orcs were huddled at in their corner. Orkin smiled as he could hear the sounds of orcs laughing, it was something he hadn’t heard since he was captured. The short haired orcs mingled with the current students and they laughed loudly as they drank water and told stories about things that was happening. Apparently, there was a human mage that never chose an orc but came around to make herself feel better. She was currently off to the side with a friend of hers and felt insulted that none of the orcs had offered to get her something to eat. The majority of the conversation was done silently using mind magic but there were whispers so the body mages could join in on the fun.

“You are the biggest orc I have ever seen,” said a human woman from behind Orkin just as Orkin sat down. Orkin looked over his shoulder and could see a human that reminded him of Jalen Willoughsby. They had the same height and looked the same size although Orkin could see their faces were different. She looked the same age as Orkin’s mother and had an odd look in her eyes.

This orc is just what I have been looking for, he still has his hair so he must still be a student. I wonder if he is big all over? He is dressed nicely, someone must have bought this one a gift. He almost looks like a half-blood; he must be a half-blood. I wonder if he must follow the same rules as the other orcs.

Orkin pulled his thoughts from her and looked her over. This human was not a warrior but maybe could protect herself with her magic. Orkin didn’t think though she could beat some of the other females there so she would be a weak mate. Orkin looked at her and remembered the crying orcs and knew at one time this woman had helped tortured an orc.

“What are you called orc?” the woman asked.

“Greenie,” Orkin replied giving the name humans called orcs they didn’t think were important enough to have a name.

“Stand up Greenie,” the woman said as Orkin stood up. “Are you still a student?” the woman said as she admired Orkin’s height.

“Yes,” Orkin replied.

“When you graduate, if you are good, I will give you the opportunity to come home with me,” the woman said. “Now go get me a drink and prove to me that you are worth it.”

“I don’t want to go home with you,” Orkin said as he turned around. “Get your own drink.”

How dare this damn orc talk to me like that. He thinks because he is different from the rest that he is above me? He should be lucky that I am even interested. I’ll fix him, I will make sure no woman goes after him and he can rot in his room. I bet he will beg me the next time he sees me to take him.

Orkin smiled as the he knew the others were listening in on the woman and waited to laugh once she walked away. She once had taken one of the short haired orcs and was angry he didn’t move fast enough to do things for her like make dinner or rub her feet. She brought him back and had been looking for another.

“I told you this would be fun,” Gelkin said. “Already there is many humans looking over at orc but all are unsure on how to approach. So they sit and look, angry that orc are not falling over them.”

“Serves them right,” Orkin replied. “So how long do we have to stay here?”

“Until everything is over,” Gelkin replied. “Here comes the half-orc.”

Orkin turned around to see Bethany coming towards him, she looked nervous and Orkin quickly read her thoughts and could see she was nervous. Her mother and sister were here, she had written them about finding a possible match. That was with Jalen Willoughsby and things had ended horribly. She had listened to her family’s insults and was looking for a friend while her family visited with other people they knew that was also there.

“Hello Bethany,” Orkin replied. “You are just who I have been looking for.”

“You aren’t mad at me about using magic on the orcs?” Bethany asked defensively.

“I am,” Orkin replied. “But I do not see how you could have gotten out of it. Everything worked out in the end, all orc can meet and no more banishment to the room. Many orc were going to join war but no more. We are happy where we are.”

“Why did you want me?” Bethany asked.

“I need to ask you a favor,” Orkin replied.

“You want a favor from me?” Bethany asked.

“Can you pretend to have claimed me?” Orkin replied.

“What do you mean claim you?” Bethany said confused as her cheeks flushed and Orkin could tell she got his meaning. “Um, why?”

“Because I don’t want any of the humans that have been looking over here,” Orkin replied. “One has already come, if they see strong female they stay away.”

“Wait a minute, I want a strong female,” Gelkin replied. “I want someone to pretend to claim me so humans will stay away from me.”

Orkin looked around him as the orcs started crowding around Bethany asking her to claim them as well. A relationship between them was forbidden, Bethany’s grandchildren would be okay provided her line mated with nothing but humans but not right now.

“I can't claim all of you,” Bethany replied. “It is forbidden.”

“Where is other half-orc?” Gelkin asked. “Other half-orc can stay here and meet. You want to leave so your family can meet Orkin.”

“Stay out of my head!” Bethany said angrily as she gritted her teeth.

“She is going to hang us!” Gelkin said as everyone backed away from her.

“I am not going to hang anyone, I am just angry,” Bethany said. “Well I am annoyed.”

“I read your mind, you said you are going to bite us,” Gelkin said.

“I don’t know where those thoughts keep coming from but I am not going to bite anyone,” Bethany said. “Listen, I will be back. Brittany and Cindy are busy with their own families.”

“I don’t want to be bitten,” Orkin said looking at Bethany. “You have sharp teeth.”

“I thought you said you wouldn’t read my mind,” Bethany said.

“I read your thoughts when you first walked over,” Orkin said. “I stopped when you started talking to me. Gelkin told me you want to bite us, the way everyone backed away means you do want to bite us.”

“I am not going to bite you,” Bethany replied. “Orkin can you walk with me to meet my sister?”

“I thought you and sister don’t like each other,” Orkin asked.

“We can tolerate each other,” Bethany replied. “And she cut her finger and has it bandaged up. Mother doesn’t know any healers since she refuses to be associated with anyone with Orc blood.”

“Her daughter has orc blood,” Orkin replied.

“She had me so she could marry my stepfather,” Bethany replied. “Neither one of them has any love for me. They raised me because they were supposed to, once I get out of here I don’t think I will see much of them. The only use I have now is if I can marry into a good family.”

“You have more use than that,” Orkin replied. “If you were clan you would be important person. You could have your pick of almost any one you wanted. I will go heal your sister.”

“Thank you Orkin,” Bethany replied. “You are looking real nice today, I like your clothes.”

“I don’t like human clothes, but my brother gave them to me,” Orkin replied. “This stag is the same picture my father always drew on the ground with stick or in color on walls using crushed flowers.”

“Well you are lucky to have a family member who cares,” Orkin replied.

Orkin followed Bethany through the crowd, he used his magic and learned that people were shocked at his size and that he was a half-orc. Many people wondered if Bethany was his mate and Orkin walked closer to her and grabbed her hand. Bethany was going to pull away but instead smiled as she led Orkin over to a corner of the room where three women, a man and a girl slightly younger but definitely bigger than Bethany was were sitting around a table.

“Suz, this is Orkin,” Bethany said gesturing back to Orkin as she looked at the youngest female around the table. “I brought him over here so he could heal your finger and whatever else you might have that is bothering you.”

“You are a half-orc,” a woman that favored Bethany in looks said. Orkin looked around at the faces and could tell the girl Bethany called Suz was obviously related to the man at the table as well as the woman who was speaking to him. Those three had to be Bethany’s family, Orkin was unsure of who the other people were.

“Orkin DeVry, this is my mother, Zelphie Bodders,” Bethany said introducing them.

“DeVry?” the man at the table said confused.

“Orkin is the son of Duke Jacob DeVry,” Bethany replied.

“Jacob DeVry disappeared years ago,” Zelphie said.

“He was claimed by my mother and they made me,” Orkin replied. “When do you want me to heal your sister’s hand?”

“Will it hurt?” Suz asked.

“Only for a second,” Orkin replied.

“Unless you want that scar Suz, let him fix you,” Bethany said.

“So this orc is the reason you and Jalen Willoughsby didn’t work out?” the man asked.

“I slapped that fat mage around and made him soil himself,” Orkin replied. “Just like I did to the guard that tried to save him from taking his beating. Just like I will to any male here who thinks they are better than me.”

“Are you talking to me orc?” the man said as he got out of his angrily seat. Orkin looked down on the man turned his head so the human could hear the cracking sound it made. Orkin just looked at him as the human started backing away from him, surprised at Orkin’s height.

“I am not talking to you,” Orkin replied. “But my name is not orc, it is Orkin. I am also not scared of any human here.”

“Orkin can you worry about Suz’s finger?” Bethany asked.

Orkin looked over at the finger and had it healed in three heartbeats. The damage wasn’t that deep but she had severed a nerve that would have prevented the finger from working correctly. Orkin saw the girl gasp at her finger, it was fully healed and she kept working it to see if anything was wrong with it.

“Your foot coverings are hurting your feet,” Orkin said as he deadened some of her nerves around her foot. “That will only work for an hour but your foot shouldn’t be throbbing anymore.”

“T-t-thank you,” Suz said as she got to her feet. Orkin could see the girl came to his neck in her foot coverings that had a heel on the back of them.

“That was quick healing,” the other woman at the table said. “I don’t think I have ever saw healing that quick before. Can you do something about my back? It has been bothering me for a few months now but I have no way to heal it. Most of you healers are tucked away inside of this tower or married off to someone who wants a lot of money for the service.

“Bone not right,” Orkin said as he started healing the woman. “This will sting.”

This is the magic his mother taught him, Orkin was able to cut and mend the bone so it looked like everyone elses. The extra bone pieces he made into a needle and forced it out of her skin where he grabbed it and closed the wounds it left behind. The woman closed her eyes and gritted her teeth for a moment but did not cry out. When she opened her eyes she stood up, Orkin saw she had a cane with her, just like his father used to carry. She walked around for a bit then did a little spin and started smiling.

“Orc, this is the best I have felt in a good while,” the woman said smiling.

“Well that is the last time you will ever have me heal you as well,” Orkin replied. “Bethany have a nice time with your family, if you need anything you know where to find me.”

“What is wrong?” the woman asked.

“You didn’t call him by his name, you called him orc,” Bethany replied. “I’ll walk you over Orkin.”

“Well he is an orc,” the woman protested.

Orkin ignored her and began walking back where the rest of the orcs were. He was surprised to see not only Bethany but her sister as well were following him. When Orkin got back across the room he could see Brittany was there, with her was an older orc that Orkin had never seen before. The orc looked Orkin up and down then squinted his eyes.

“You must be Orkin,” the orc said as he stuck out both hands and showed Orkin his palms.

“And you must be Brittany’s father,” Orkin replied as he placed his palms on top of the older orc’s in a greeting.

“Did you have to go here to find that out?” the orc asked as he tapped his head.

“No, but I have heard a little about you,” Orkin replied.

“Daddy this is Orkin, my friend Bethany and um…” Brittany said as she was unsure of who the human was.

“This is my sister Susan,” Bethany replied. “We call her Suz for short.”

“Will she fight off the rest?” Gelkin asked. “Short hair was grabbed and dragged away soon after you left. Other short hair now nervous.”

“I thought they wanted to get married?” Bethany asked.

“Not anymore,” Gelkin replied. “At least she was strong mate. She grabbed him by the shoulder and just drug him off.”

“The old ways,” Brittany’s father said and chuckled.

“Never seen her before,” Gelkin said. “Just took what she wanted and left.”

“Well good for him,” Orkin replied.

“So, these are your friends Beth?” Suz asked.

“You could say that,” Bethany replied. “Jalen Willoughsby was making a fool out of me and got angry that I was spending time with Orkin. He started a fight and got beaten up. He later wanted to fight Orkin again and got beaten up again. Orkin even beat up his uncle when the man attacked him.”

“Your magic must be very strong,” Suz said. “I haven’t seen many half-orc boys before.”

“Orkin’s mother was an orc,” Bethany replied. “That is the only reason me and Brittany can come up with any way.”

“But he can't be the first baby from a female orc and a man,” Suz said.

“Have you ever seen a female orc?” Gelkin asked.

“No,” Suz replied.

“They are bigger and stronger than your males,” Gelkin replied. “They are good fighters, big claws and teeth. Only way for baby to be born is if orc wants human.”

“Oh,” Suz replied. “So what do mages do here? Other than my mother, Beth is the only mage I have ever been around.”

“What has happened to you Suz?” Bethany asked looking at her sister. “You used to be a copy of our mother and now you are over here with me and a bunch of orcs.”

“Nothing happened,” Suz said defensively as she backed away.

“Gelkin,” Bethany said still looking at her sister.

“She doesn’t want to marry someone named John,” Gelkin said.

“How do you know this?” Suz said looking confused.

“Because orc male mages are either healers or mind readers,” Bethany replied. “And John who?”

“The banker,” Suz said as her face fell.

“He has to be at least ten years older than your father,” Bethany said loudly. “And he is as thin as a skeleton.”

“Mother thinks he will make a good husband,” Suz said.

“No she doesn’t, she thinks he will make a rich husband,” Bethany replied. “The man is revolting, he even owns a brothel.”

“And he was supposed to get married to Claire Selby,” Suz said. “He slapped her a few times during a date after he had too much to drink. Mother said she probably deserved it and wants me to just act nicer towards him. I told her and father that I am not marrying that man and they have been upset with me ever since. Now that you are gone, they don’t have anyone else there to be angry with. I am sorry how I treated you, I didn’t know what you were going through.”

“I have only been gone two months,” Bethany said.

“Longest two months of my life,” Suz replied. “I don’t have anything against orcs, I just wanted to be more like mother. Now I don’t want to be anything like her. At least you have your magic, you can take care of yourself and earn money. You have a handsome boyfriend and it looks like you have a bunch of friends.”

“What is boyfriend?” Orkin asked.

“I don’t know that human word,” Gelkin replied. “Friend means clan, boy means male. Maybe you are male part of half-orcs clan? I want to be in clan Bethany.”

“Well I want to be in clan too,” Orkin replied.

“How come no one asked me to join clan?” Barlen, a short haired orc said. “If anyone should be in clan, it should be me.”

“We all should be in half-orc Bethany’s clan,” came shouts from all around Orkin.

“I don’t have a clan,” Bethany said confused. “I don’t even know what a clan is.”

“Your sister said you had a clan,” Orkin said.

“No, she said I had a boyfriend,” Bethany replied.

“We know friend means clan,” Orkin replied.

“No it doesn’t,” Bethany said shaking her head. “At least what she meant it didn’t. It means I have claimed Orkin.”

“You haven't claimed me,” Orkin replied. “I am still too young to claim. I need to be sixteen and you have to fight off challengers.”

“Does she have any challengers?” Gelkin asked. “What about that human Jessica Willoughsby?”

“Jessica Willoughsby?” Bethany asked. “What does she have to do with anything?”

“She wants to claim Orkin,” Gelkin said as the other orcs started nodding. “We see her looking and read her mind.”

“Well she can't have him!” Bethany said loudly. “Wait a minute, I am not trying to claim Orkin. All I am saying is that he deserves better than Jessica Willoughsby.”

“Who is Jessica Willoughsby?” Brittany’s father asked.

“That horrible girl I have written you about,” Brittany replied. “She hates everyone and lets everyone know how rich her family is. She can’t find a man here either despite being rich, a noble and a human. She has a lot of followers, Bethany and I are not one of them and Cindy is starting to see her for what she is.”

“Why try to join clan that do not want you?” Orkin asked. “If warrior is kicked out of clan or treated unfairly, warrior leave and start own clan. There are many orc warriors here, go make own clan.”

“I still want to be in clan,” Barlen replied.

“I agree with these young ones,” Brittany’s father said. “I count more mages here with half-orc blood than I do humans. If you feel like someone is being nasty, you can ignore them and start your own little group, or clan as the young ones call it.”

“You are still going through the same thing here that you were at home?” Suz asked.

“Mother is not the first and won't be the last to think bad of me because I have orc blood,” Bethany replied.

“It is her loss,” Orkin replied.

There that big orc is. I have been waiting for him to grovel like the others. Ever since he came here he has done nothing but cause trouble. No one here said he has even acted like he ever wanted to leave the tower. He thinks being related to the Duke will help him, but it won't. I am going to make him introduce himself to all the women here, once he leaves then the rest of those damn orcs will learn their place and fall in line. What is that human girl doing there? Is she a mage? Why would a girl like that waste her time with an orc? She is still young and can gain the attention of any single old mage she wants. She should spend her time with the rest of the young girls. That orc girl is there, is she even allowed to date the big one? I know she can't date the others but I don’t know about him.

“Martin is trying to find a way to separate us,” Orkin said looking around at the others. “She will make trouble.”

“Who is Martin?” Brittany asked.

“Martin is our etiquette teacher,” Orkin replied. “She teaches orc to fit in with humans.”

“Mistress is mean human,” Gelkin replied. “What can we do?”

“She wants us to move around instead of just being here in the corner,” Orkin replied. “She also doesn’t like it that Brittany, Bethany and especially Suz.”

“Me?” Suz asked. “What did I do?”

“You are friend to orc,” Orkin said looking around. “She thinks you came to pick out mate. Old warriors are always wary of young warrior, not because they believe young warrior can best them, but because young warrior is easier on the eyes.”

“I am not here to pick out anyone,” Suz said.

“I have to go,” Orkin replied. “If I leave then maybe she will go away. She doesn’t like me.”

“We will all go,” Gelkin said. “Show Mistress she doesn’t frighten us anymore.”

“You will introduce yourself to the women here,” Melissa said.

“Yes Martin,” Orkin replied.

“My name is not Martin,” Melissa snapped.

“You said name was Martin,” Orkin replied.

“My last name is Martin,” Melissa said annoyed. “I told you what to call me.”

“I am not calling you Master or Mistress,” Orkin said. “You hate orc and want to make trouble. I will meet the human women here but I do not want them.”

“What do you mean by you do not want them?” Melissa asked.

“They are mean like Melissa,” Orkin said. “They do not want mate, they want free slave.”

“Melissa who are you saving this orc for?” A gray haired human asked as she approached the pair.

“Saving him for?” Melissa replied confused. “What are you talking about Ms. Detel?”

“Come off it Melissa,” the woman Ms. Detel said. “Everyone has been eyeing this orc but he hasn’t went after anyone or even acted grateful for anyone being here. I will take this orc off your hands and give you a finder’s fee since I know whoever you are saving him for is bound to be angry.”

“This orc is just being difficult,” Melissa said. “And he is the bastard brother of the current Duke DeVry. He has money and likely will have poor girls willing to let him since his brother doesn’t mind giving him money. That is why he is dressed so finely.”

“A noble Orc?” Ms. Detel said and placed her hand over her heart in shock. “I bet that young girl was trying to talk to him. She should just find a human, she is still young and pretty. The orcs should be left to people like me. What exactly have you been teaching them, Melissa? Your orcs have been bordering on being disrespectful. They have barely left their seats since this started.”

“Orc not want human,” Orkin said. “I don’t want human.”

“You heard him Melissa!” Ms. Detel said. “You got this job because you were supposedly good at keep orcs in line. We need another teacher.”

“Look what you are doing Orc!” Melissa snapped at Orkin.

“You are angry,” Orkin replied. “What does Orc get out of choosing human? Orc no longer has to stay in room. No reason to beg human anymore. If human want orc, human should go tell orc she wants.”

“No woman is going to beg an orc to be with them,” Melissa said.

“Then human will not get an Orc,” Orkin replied. “I am going back to my friends.”

CHAPTER 8

“Orkin I need you to wake up,” Tracey said as she walked into Orkin’s room.

“Sister?” Orkin said wiping the sleep out of his eyes. “Sister!” Orkin said as he got up and gave her a hug.

“I have missed you too,” Tracey replied.

“You said you would visit me, we are clan,” Orkin said as he took a step back.

“I know Orkin,” Tracey replied. “But this war with the elves has really started to pick up. All of my time and your brother’s time has been taken up.”

“Have you come to take me away?” Orkin asked. “Bring me back to clan?”

“I wish Orkin,” Tracey replied. “I am here at this time because it is the only free time I have had in a while. People are starting to take more notice of you than they should be.”

“What do you mean sister?” Orkin asked.

“Rumors have reached me that you are able to take things out of people’s minds that they wish to remain hidden,” Tracey replied. “Like you did with Mage Harold Willoughsby, your fight with him is still a well guarded secret, as is the role a certain guard played in it. Your brother was incensed and wanted to kill them both, he saw the attack as a direct attack on him. I have heard you and Victor came to an understanding so neither of us has done anything in retaliation. But Harold was certain you were able to learn things he was not thinking about. I know of two others with that kind of mind magic, neither are strong enough to do it to a mage. The fact you can has many people thinking about how they could use you, if they can gain your trust. The other thing you did brought you to the attention of very powerful people. The woman you healed had a condition which made her back curve, she has had it since she was a young woman and it was only getting worse. She was joking when she asked for you to heal her, the fact you did so and so rapidly surprised even her. She has told anyone that would listen about the uppity orc healer. Her condition was passed down to her by her mother and her mother’s mother before that. She has a daughter that has a more severe version of that condition, she wants you to heal her but she upset you somehow and thinks you will not.”

“I wouldn’t,” Orkin replied.

“Most healers make the body rapidly regenerate lost tissues,” Tracey replied. “They are great for healing wounds, fighting off random sicknesses and other things. What they are not good at is correcting deformities and other things. The lady you helped is the mother of Count Donahue’s personal mage, your power has reached his ears and he has suffered from what we call a cleft lip. It is a deformity that normally affects the mouth but in his case it is also affecting his nose and left eye. Count Donahue is not a friend of ours, he is a staunch royalist who always backs the king. The Count cannot force you to heal him, you can simply say you cannot do it and he has no way of telling if you are lying. The Tower is to learn emergency body magic to heal cuts and wounds, the type of magic you can do is unheard of. The Tower is also not a place the rich can come to get healed, there are many places that have healers. There are a sufficient number of half-orcs around with the talent that sell their services, Count Donahue though wants you. He is expected to be here this morning and will no doubt seek an audience with you. I expect they will try to intimidate you, don’t fall for any of it. If they do something to hurt you, Victor could be kicked out of this position. I want you to heal this man, why you are healing him I want you to find out what he knows about your brother and what does he suspect about this war. I don’t want him to be able to link you back to anything concerning the elves. You must also ask for something significant, gold means nothing to the man so it can't be that. Ask for a date with his daughter, I know you don’t want to but she is a huge gossip and most likely knows things about the war that even I don’t know.”

“I can do this,” Orkin replied.

“I know you can,” Tracey replied. “Don’t worry, you won't be left alone. My daughter Journey will be there, she is technically your niece but she is probably older than your mother. Your date will be at her home, it will give you the chance to meet her and make it impossible for the crown’s own mind mages to do anything. I have to go Orkin, no one knows I am here and I want you to keep it that way. Have you been receiving the gifts I have been sending?”

“I shared them,” Orkin replied.

“I thought as much,” Tracey said smiling. “Raw meat is hard for you to come by, once you leave the Tower you can eat it as often as you like. I am leaving you a little more, don’t get caught with it. Watch out for some of the other half-orcs here, many are allies with our enemies or can be easily persuaded. Especially since I don’t think it will be long before they start showing interest.”

“I don’t understand,” Orkin replied.

“You are a special case, there has never been a half-orc male before,” Tracey began. “Two weeks ago when you healed that woman, there were people there that noticed you kept company with a half-orc female. They wanted to know if it was legal. I, along with your brother have argued that the law forbids any union that would result in a child being born that is more than fifty percent orc. If you have a child with any of the women here with orc blood, that child would be born with half orc blood at the most. Some of the other girls here have less than a quarter of orc blood so the chance that one of your children could be mostly orc has been tossed out. There is a problem that the mage community are now recognizing that is hurting their little experiment. There are more mages around now thanks to the orc blood but their sensitivity is weaker. Have you noticed the other full orc mind mages have been able to slip into the mind of half-orcs like they were the non-magical? Of course there are a few exceptions like your instructor but most of the halfblood magic is watered down which makes you an even bigger anomaly. Our father was the greatest mage born in centuries, he had a limitless well of magic and could cast very quickly and without speaking. You make it sound like your mother was his orcish equivalent, able to cast quickly and with such power that no one could fight her off if they wanted, well if they knew she was there in the first place. I think orcish mind and body magic will start waning after a while, the only true practitioners will be those closer to their orcish blood.”

“I think most of the half orcs here are too obvious,” Orkin replied. “I can feel whenever they attempt to read me, so can most of the orcs. My friend Brittany has the power to manipulate, with her power she can make people forget and give them new ideas. It is easy for me to tell but others are vulnerable.”

“I have been studying her as well,” Tracey replied. “Her power is rare, but we are still finding out about her type of mind magic. The Tower guards should be coming by soon, hurry up and take the rest of the details you need from my mind, I’ll try to see you again soon.”

Orkin tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t, he spent the rest of the night happy to have a friendly face and thought back on the party. Orkin had helped the woman who did not seem grateful about it at all, Orkin smiled about it though. She would be back and he would refuse to do anything for her, Tracey had said she had a daughter who was also hurting. When morning came Orkin could hear the bells, at the top of the tower where the orcs were kept none of the rooms had a window. The bells were rung by the orc slaves all throughout the building, Orkin wished they lived inside of the building so all of the orcs could get together. Orkin couldn’t go outside and they couldn’t come inside unless they were working. Orkin climbed out of his bed, got himself dressed then went down to breakfast. Bethany had made it a point of always sitting with the orcs now, it made her an outcast to most of the humans and the female orcs who followed them. Orkin knew a lot of them were jealous, Bethany was always given the best seat in the section. The shamans brought her food instead of the normal slaves and everyone was happy to be around her. It was the reason Brittany came over most days along with their friend Cindy who did not consider herself anything other than a human. Breakfast went by fast, all of the full orc shamans liked to see Bethany perform her magic as they had never really had a chance to see it done up close before. When breakfast was over, Orkin went up to his class. Orkin was sure Mage Meredith didn’t like him for his views but she didn’t know what to make of him. Mage Meredith thought he should have distanced himself from the full orcs. Meredith thought he looked like a green skinned human with some orc features, like his slightly pointed teeth, small claws and slightly longer ears. Meredith did not like the way he became agitated when live orcs were used as training aids, she saw everything as a good learning experience and thought it was idiotic that Orkin had said they should use live humans instead. Orkin also knew the woman despite not liking his thoughts had a crush on him, she was married to a lazy human who did not have a job and wanted her to take care of him. Meredith already had one child with the man, it was a girl of course but Meredith did not know what kind of magic her daughter would have. Meredith saw Orkin as being way too young but knew he would be able to take care of himself, especially since he thoroughly beat Harold, who was her sometime secret lover.

“Class,” Mage Meredith said. “We have been going along smoothly, a lot of you have really put effort into improving your magic.”

I can't believe Count Donahue is interested in me! Meeting with him and the Tower Mage was unexpected. I wonder what they want Orkin for? I don’t think Count Donahue wants to harm him, if he did then Duke DeVry would kill him and any conspirators. Maybe he wants Orkin to heal him? He is the best in the class at healing but I don’t think he has that kind of power. Who cares! If everything goes according to plan he wants to take me out for lunch, alone! I wonder what he needs me to do though? It doesn’t matter, I just need Orkin to do his part, he figures into this somehow.

Orkin was amazed the woman was able to say one thing but was thinking about something entirely different. If Tracey didn’t visit him Orkin was sure he would have been lost, there was no reason for Mage Meredith to give them off until lunch to train amongst themselves. Orkin could see Mage Meredith was steeling her nerves and had fought off two attacks so far to read her mind, both were sent by female half-orcs in the class as Orkin was unsure if she could feel where the attacks were coming from or if she could fend off an attack from one of the full orcs.

“Orkin I need to talk to you outside, you have a visitor,” Mage Meredith said

“My brother said he would not be here for months, neither would my sister,” Orkin replied. “I have no one else I need to see.”

“Can you just come outside to talk to me for a moment?” Mage Meredith asked.

Orkin could see Gelkin was reading Mage Meredith’s mind and she didn’t seem to notice. When the half-orc Sarah tried, Mage Meredith winced a little and slapped the attack away and looked in Sarah’s vicinity. That answered a couple of questions Orkin had, full orcs could get past her defenses but half orcs could not. Orkin was not sure if Meredith knew who her other attacker was but did know that Meredith could get a general direction of anyone attempting to scan her.

“You have a powerful noble here to see you Orkin,” Mage Meredith said once Orkin stepped outside. “His name is Count Donahue and he can be a good friend to have.”

“Can he bring me back to clan?” Orkin asked.

“Well, no,” Mage Meredith replied.

“Then I don’t need to meet him,” Orkin said as he turned back towards the classroom. “He has nothing I want or need.”

“You can't turn your back to Count Donahue,” Mage Meredith replied. “He is a Count and you are an orc.”

“Would I be in trouble for not seeing this man?” Orkin asked.

“Well, no,” Mage Meredith replied annoyed.

“Then tell him I do not want to meet with him,” Orkin replied as he grabbed the door. Meredith grabbed his sleeve before he could open it and had a desperate look in her eyes.

“Please Orkin,” Mage Meredith asked. “Can you do it for me?”

“Fine,” Orkin replied. “But you have to explain all your medical stuff before orc is brought in to suffer while you laugh and explain things slowly.”

“I don’t laugh,” Mage Meredith said as Orkin crossed his arms. “I am only trying to lighten the mood. The girls are the only ones who seem eager to learn, the rest of you always look either ill or angry.”

“Do it or I am going back into the class,” Orkin replied.

“Fine,” Mage Meredith said as she tugged him away a little. “He is on the first floor in the Tower Mage’s office. I’ll walk you there.”

Orkin followed her down the stairs, he had only been on the first floor a couple of times and never in the area he was at. Meredith brought him into a door, it was a small sitting area and there were two orcs who looked surprised and scared as Meredith walked into the door.

“Stay here, I will be back,” Mage Meredith said as she knocked on the big door then slipped inside without waiting for a reply.

“Eat this quickly,” Orkin said as he dug into his shirt and pulled out some meat and gave it to the orcs. “Don’t get caught.”

The orcs looked scared but snatched it up quickly and devoured it. Orkin thought they barely chewed it and remembered that none of the slaves were able to eat the food he was, only the worst part of the animal. They also were only fed once a day, Orkin reached into his shirt and pulled out the rest of the meat and gave it to them. Orkin read their minds and could see they were scared but they opened up the package and started tearing into the rest of the food. Orkin thought he heard someone on the other side of the door but the noise just made the orcs eat faster. As soon as they were done Orkin folded up the rough paper the meat came in and stuck it back inside of his shirt just as the door opened. It was Mage Meredith who waved him inside.

“Orkin I would like you to meet Count Donahue,” Victor said gesturing to another human in the room.

“I don’t want any trouble,” Orkin said backing away towards the door. Orkin knew they expected him to act nervous and be scared, he would play the role until it was time to do what Tracey wanted.

“You are not in any trouble orc,” Count Donahue said. “I mean you have no reason to be scared.”

“I am alone in a room with two strong mages, a powerful human ruler and a half-orc I can only guess what her power is,” Orkin said as he turned towards the handle of the door. He could feel both Mage Meredith and the other half-orc mage latch on to his brain. He sent feelings of pure terror back, Mage Meredith gasped and the other woman let out a shriek. Orkin fumbled with the door, it gave the other mage enough time to talk to Count Donahue.

“Orkin I won't let anyone in this room hurt you,” Mage Meredith said placing her hand on his arm. “Neither will Mage Victor.”

“Master of the Tower hates my brother,” Orkin replied. “He wants to hurt me and so does the other human.”

“Can't you calm him down Vega?” Count Donahue said. “I have barely talked to this orc and he is running away like I am going to kill him.”

“Because he believes you are,” Victor said. “Orkin sit down, no one here is going to hurt you. Count Donahue wants to ask you a favor.”

“Do it and I will get out of your hair orc,” Count Donahue said looking at Orkin.

“No,” Orkin replied. “My brother would get angry.”

Nothing is ever easy is it? I don’t have time to deal with that traitor DeVry. Maybe this orc can't even fix my face any way.

“I can fix your face,” Orkin said as he looked at the Count. Orkin could tell the other two mind mages in the room were trying to scan him and he sent images of him getting out of the tower. Orkin tried to be as loud and forceful as possible as he clumsily tried to read the Master of the Tower, even then he might have remained unnoticed if he did not make eye contact and look like he was straining. The Tower Mage magically slapped at his attack and Orkin withdrew. Orkin could see the man smile a little as Orkin dove back inside and started hunting for secrets.

“Are you reading my mind?” Count Donahue asked. “This one can read minds and heal?”

“He is like me, just on a lesser level,” Mage Meredith said. Orkin could have laughed since that was the furthest thing from the truth. “Well he is better at body magic but not as good at mind magic but he does have a few tricks.”

“Well then fix my face orc,” Count Donahue said.

“What do I get out of it?” Orkin asked.

“What do you mean, what do you get out of it?” Count Donahue asked.

“You are all scared of my brother,” Orkin replied.

“I am not scared of that traitor!” Count Donahue snapped. “I just need help and do not want to go through him. I don’t care if he finds out you helped me, what can he do to me? I am not some commoner and I have the king’s ear. He isn’t even a mage, face to face I could squash your brother.”

“You are a mage?” Orkin said as he already knew the answer from rifling through the man’s memories. “You don’t look old enough to be anyone that anyone should be scared of, I doubt you have any children.”

“I have sons and daughters around your age!” Count Donahue said as he stood up angrily.

“Then I will be happy to heal your face and I know what I want,” Orkin replied.

“You dare to bargain with me?” Count Donahue asked.

“No,” Orkin replied. “You only have one thing I want and I have no reason to help you. The Master of this Tower is here so you no matter how powerful you are, he is even stronger. I could not read his mind but I can get pieces of yours. If you think giving me something is beneath you then I can leave.”

“You are bold,” said the other half orc mage as Orkin let out a small smile. “My Lord, I do not think you want this orc’s price for healing you.”

“What does he want?” Count Donahue asked.

“He wants a date with one of your daughters,” the orc replied.

“You are out of your mind if you think I will allow an orc to date my daughter,” Count Donahue said.

“Well then we have nothing more to discuss,” Orkin replied.

“She wouldn’t accept an orc anyway,” Count Donahue said.

“She would accept me,” Orkin replied. “I have not been in the human lands long but they like tall muscular males. I am a tall muscular male. Human women like men who can protect them, I can beat any of her suitors. You are a mage which means you married another mage. Your daughters are mages, which mean they have to be with another mage. My father married my mother which makes me a noble as well. I need out of this tower and you need your face fixed.”

“My daughter will not be with you orc!” Count Donahue screamed as Orkin opened up the door and walked outside. “Where are you going?”

Orkin reached the outer door before Meredith stopped him. Orkin looked at her as she pulled him back inside. Orkin could feel the other mage probing his mind and sent her exactly want he wanted, she whispered something into Count Donahue’s ear and the man looked at Orkin grumpily.

“Fix my face and you will have your date,” Count Donahue said.

“I want it at the home of one of my family members,” Orkin replied. “You can pick which ever house is closer to the tower. Your daughter has to come here.”

“Whatever orc,” Count Donahue said. “Now fix my face.”

Orkin had seen this before, orcs from other clans had come to his mother for help. The orcs that had it could not close their mouth and they were missing their front upper teeth. His mother had been able to fix it easily, Orkin had done so as well twice under his mother’s guidance. Orkin didn’t bother to dull the pain as he quickly fixed the injury, the Count screamed out and fell to the floor and yelled for the minute it took for Orkin to finish.

“It is done,” the Tower Mage said as Count Donahue started feeling his face.

“You stupid orc,” Count Donahue replied. “I would never let my daughter date you.”

“Then everyone would know Count Donahue as a liar,” Orkin replied. “I will make sure my brother knows and he would be able to spread it to everyone. My sister would also know you as a liar and she could tell everyone she knows.”

“Your brother is a joke orc,” Count Donahue said. “He is the only known son of two mages that does not have any magic.”

“Goodbye liar,” Orkin said as he left the room. Orkin had already got what he needed, if he didn’t get a date that he didn’t want to begin with he wouldn’t care. Orkin had searched his mind for information his sister wanted and would tell her what he found. Orkin could hear the man raging as he started walking up the stairs. He could still feel the Count’s mind as the man yelled at Mage Victor, Orkin smiled as he dropped the contact and continued to his room. Orkin was sure the man would end up keeping his word whether he wanted to or not.

CHAPTER 9

“This has been going much better than I thought,” Dalia said as she took a sip of her berry fruit juice. “I admit I thought this would be horrible like most of the times I have been out with a potential suitor.”

“You aren’t disgusted to be seen out with the orc?” Orkin asked. Orkin had been combing through her mind and the girl was a big gossip. Orkin had also found out her favorite subjects and talked to her about them. Dalia was amazed at what Orkin knew, in reality Orkin was just pulling the answers from her mind.

“No,” Dalia replied. “I mean I wouldn’t want my friends to see us just yet but you are very handsome for an orc. I mean you are just very handsome for anyone.”

“Thank you,” Orkin replied. “I am sure your father hates me though.”

“He does,” Dalia replied. “But he is happy with his new look and so is my mother. Many people have asked him how did he get his face fixed and he has reluctantly had to say it was done at the tower but has never given the healer’s name.”

“That doesn’t really do anything for my cause,” Orkin replied.

“Is it true that you would have to stay in the Tower until you find a wife?” Dalia asked. “My father said that is the only reason you would want anything to do with me.”

“I have to stay in the tower until I find a bride,” Orkin replied. “But I can marry any orc girl out there I wanted. And my brother is a Duke, many people would offer up their daughters for a chance to gain favor with him. There are also many women who exclusively date orcs, I don’t think I would have too hard of a chance to get one of them to notice me. I just heard you were a great beauty with a kind heart and knew there was no other way to meet you. Your father probably thinks he manipulated me but that is far from the truth. I wanted him to seek me out so at least I could see you with my own eyes.”

“You did?” Dalia said and blushed. “I wish there were some way for you to meet my friends.”

“I don’t think your father would like that very much,” Orkin replied. “I doubt I will be able to even see you again. At least I can always look back on this lunch with happiness.”

“Orkin it is time for this to end,” Journey said as she called in through the open door. “Lady Dalia’s chaperone is ready to leave.”

“I wish things were different,” Orkin said.

I wonder if he is going to kiss me? No one is around, if he is going to do it, he better do it soon. Grab my hands you idiot. Boys are so slow to get any hints. That’s right grab my hands, now tilt my chin up, oh my gods, he is going for it! I wonder how kissing and orc would be…”

Orkin broke the kiss and could see Dalia’s entire face was red and she was breathing heavy just as Journey walked into the room followed by an older woman and the same half-orc female that Count Donahue had with him when Orkin saw him in the Tower Mage’s office. The woman looked angrily at Orkin but Orkin had already read her mind. He wasn’t surprised when she yanked Dalia away without saying goodbye and hurriedly left.

“Did you find out everything?” Journey asked.

“Yes,” Orkin replied. “Both the King and the Count suspect my brother of not trying hard enough to fight the elves. The royal army has been having a rough go at it, they are one for one with the elves in kill ratio. The others have actually lost more men than they have killed and sometimes that number is as high as five men killed for every elf. My brother is the only one who has lost practically no men, his mission was to guard a pass. It has been done too well, the elves have mostly stayed away from the back entrance to the kingdom. Many other nobles want to rotate positions with my brother since they have been losing a lot of men. The only problem is that whatever mountain pass that is being guarded is firmly in my brother’s lands. The king doesn’t know how to bring it up, if whoever was supposed to guard the pass in my brother’s place fails to do so, then the elves would be through and can kill and pillage all throughout his lands. They are all in agreement that my brother would launch a civil war against the crown.”

“So you didn’t get nothing from the Count that we didn’t know already,” Journey said. “At least everything is confirmed. Did you kiss her like I asked?”

“That human custom is weird,” Orkin replied. “I tried to do just as you asked. She liked it and was expecting one.”

“I knew she would,” Journey replied. “I know it was real awkward for you, especially the training up for it although I am certain your teacher did not mind kissing you over and over again. Lady Dalia looked flushed when I saw her. Did the mind mage stay locked on Lady Dalia the entire lunch?”

“No,” Orkin replied. “She tried going after you a couple of times so I had to send her false thoughts. She tried me as well, just like you wanted I made sure she knew when we were kissing.”

“You should have seen her aunt,” Journey laughed. “When that mage let her know what was going on, she jumped up and flew into the room. I don’t think you will see her ever again.”

“Count Donahue had already made up his mind that if his daughter was even a little interested that he would marry her off quickly,” Orkin replied. “She is supposed to be going to the Tower next year, if I am still there then she will be married before she gets there.”

“Well we have what we needed,” Journey replied. “It is odd finding out I have an orc as a relative. I was aware that my cousin’s son had married a woman with orc blood. I think you met her when you met Uncle Jacoby but she looks more human than a lot of humans I know. I don’t want you to worry about staying in that tower. If anything, I can just sign you out every day of rest. It is not much, but at least you can have one day a week that you can relax. I wish mother would have told me about you earlier, I would have grabbed you every day of rest.”

“I think she put you down as my guardian as well,” Orkin replied. “You can grab me whenever you want. Would you mind taking one other with me?”

“Who?” Journey asked.

“Gelkin,” Orkin replied. “He is my best friend.”

“I can,” Journey replied.

~

“This is crazy,” Bethany said as she looked at Brittany and Cindy. “Why is this even happening?”

“I don’t know,” Cindy replied. “I am not close with your orc, I only started coming over because I knew it made the human boys pay closer attention.”

“Well the next girl to give me an evil eye I am going to punch,” Bethany replied. “Yesterday I found a dead rat inside of my bed.”

“I didn’t think that many people were interested in Orkin,” Brittany said.

“They weren’t until they found out that any half-orc can date him,” Bethany said. “The fact that he will never struggle for money is another reason people have been real interested in him. We all thought he was handsome but he was an orc. I know it went against everything I was raised to believe. Orcs were like animals, like a horse or a dog or something. Having any kind of feelings felt wrong, which I am happy I ignored because it allowed me and Orkin to become friends. He is as human looking as any of these girls could hope for and by hanging around us, they think they have a shot. These hateful letters are misplaced anger.”

“Are you and Orkin really just friends?” Brittany asked. “You eat with him every day and all of the orcs love you.”

“You are the one who keeps putting soothing thoughts into his head,” Bethany retorted. “Maybe you and Orkin have something going on. Me or Cindy cannot read minds.”

“I cannot read minds!” Brittany replied.

“Well don’t involve me in any of this,” Cindy replied. “I thought your orc was cute but he is the wrong kind of mage. I want a human man, I want my kids to look as human as they can get.”

“Does he even know about this foolishness?” Brittany asked. “I know he has to notice more of the girls in our class have been trying to talk to him. I even heard a rumor he went on a date with one of Count Donahue’s daughters.”

“Where did you hear that from?” Bethany asked.

“Same place you did, from Gelkin,” Brittany replied.

“Gelkin is his little friend?” Cindy asked.

“Come on now Cindy,” Bethany replied. “You know exactly who Gelkin is. Just because you want to pretend to be human doesn’t mean you can't really tell the orcs apart.”

“They are all small and green,” Cindy asked. “The only one I know for certain is Orkin. And what do you mean by pretend to be human? None of you claim to be an orc either. Just because you two eat with the orcs doesn’t mean you are now better than me.”

“I am not better than any of you,” Brittany began. “But I know being an orc is part of who I am. I have always known it, but it was only until I met Orkin that I realized it. My father is an orc but I somehow thought I was different than he was. I admit I think of myself as a human, at least I did. Now that I know Orkin, Gelkin, Barlen and the others, they are not really that different. Their culture is different, but they don’t deserve any of the pain they are going through.”

“Well what does any of that have to do with the threats I have received?” Cindy asked. “You both can have your moment later. I don’t even know how you can stand to be around any of them when you know they can dive into your head and find out what you are thinking.”

“They wouldn’t dive into the head of a friend,” Bethany replied. “If they did then I would have a lot more awkward moments hanging around them.”

“Here come your friends,” Bethany said sarcastically as she saw Jessica Willoughsby, Christina Robinson and Kim Northwood walking over. The trio were amongst the most powerful in the school, what they wanted was hard to guess.

“Well, if it isn’t the orc girls,” Jessica said. “Ate any raw meat lately?”

“What do you want Jessica?” Cindy said as she crossed her arms. “We know you don’t like us and none of us like you either.”

“I think you hurt the orc’s feelings,” Christina said laughing. “Relax orc girl, we only came over for a little information. The big orc, there is a rumor that he is courting Dalia, she is the daughter of Count Donahue.”

“He is, now go away,” Cindy replied. “And tell all of your hangers on that none of us want him.”

“See I told you,” Kim said. “The Count has forbidden her to see him again and is desperately looking for someone to court her that is near her station. She will not get a title or anything like that, she is the third daughter of four total children. Jalen would be perfect for her and give your family an in with the Count.”

“Well I hope he does land her,” Bethany said. “I don’t know what I saw in that fat horrible little man. I wouldn’t be surprised if the only reason you said anything was because you wanted him out of your hair Kim.”

“That is not true,” Kim said as Bethany could see she was red faced.

“What is not true?” Jalen said approaching the group.

“Nothing,” Jessica said. “We were just talking about Orkin.”

“Why would you talk about that damn orc?” Jalen snapped.

“You are just angry he whipped you,” Bethany replied.

“That orc may be stronger than me,” Jalen replied. “But at the end of the day he is still an orc.”

“He is an orc that all of the girls that used to go crazy over you are now going crazy over,” Bethany replied.

“Angry little orc,” Jalen replied. “Even your own mother was upset that you told them we had a chance together and it didn’t pan out. Your mother and father spent most of the night during the last selection party trying to get me to reconsider, as if I would be seen with an orc.”

“That man is not my father,” Bethany replied angrily. “And I don’t own my mother, even if she was successful why would I want you? Why would any woman want you? Would you be happy married to that Brittany?”

“Eww,” Brittany said.

“I should…” Jalen began before Bethany cut him off.

“You should what? Beat on a couple of females?” Bethany replied.

“Beat on a couple of orcs!” Jalen said angrily.

“I am not scared of you,” Bethany said. “Why don’t you look around you before you hand out threats.”

“You should look around you human,” Gelkin said from across the room and gestured to the other orcs. All of the full blooded mind mage orcs stood up and looked at him, a few moments later the full orc body mages joined them.

“You orcs don’t scare me,” Jalen said as he started backing up. “I’ll have every orc in this place whipped.”

“And you would pay a price,” Bethany said.

“Is she controlling them?” Kim said as she started backing away as well.

“They are not scared of you either,” Bethany said. “Why don’t you run along little Jalen. No one here is interested in you other than Kim.”

“Here comes Mr. Popular,” Cindy said gesturing to Orkin.

“I am not scared of him either,” Jalen said.

“Why are you over here human?” Orkin said. “No one here wants trouble with you, but they do not want you around them.”

“Are you courting Dalia Donahue?” Jessica asked.

“I do not know this word,” Orkin said and looked at Brittany.

“Are you trying to mate with Dalia?” Jessica said interested.

“Why does anyone want to know?” Orkin asked.

He didn’t say no. This orc is dating a human! The Count is so angry that he really is trying to find Dalia someone to be with. He is handsome for an orc, but he is an orc. My family would never accept me bringing him home even if he is rich and handsome. These little orc girls probably have their hooks in him so deep that he can't wiggle away. They are probably throwing themselves at him, at all of them.”

“What does throw yourself mean?” Orkin said as Jessica’s eyes got wide.

“Throw yourself?” Brittany asked. “I don’t know.”

“The human Jessica said you are going to throw things at me and the others,” Orkin said confused.

“Why would I throw things at you?” Brittany said. “And how would I throw myself at-.” Brittany said then fixed her eyes on Jessica.

“Cindy you will never be accepted spending time around all these orcs,” Kim said. “Why don’t you come sit with us away from all of them.”

Orkin watched as Cindy looked conflicted then eventually got up. Orkin never considered Cindy a friend and started reading her mind. Cindy wanted to be accepted by the humans, she didn’t think she was good enough to find a human mage but thought she might be able to find a regular human male. Cindy walked away and turned to look back, Jalen put his hand over her shoulder and she eventually turned away. Orkin sat down at the table they were all at and could feel the tension in the air. Both Brittany and Bethany were angry, angry enough that they were not talking but sat smoldering in their anger.

“She does not want to be orc,” Orkin said breaking the silence. “She never wanted to be orc. She sees the both of you as friends but wants to be around more humans.”

“She is a traitor!” Bethany said.

“She is Cindy,” Orkin said.

“Orkin I have been threatened by two other girls today,” Bethany said. “In your speech, they have told me that I am trying to claim you for my mate.”

“You are trying to claim me for your mate?” Orkin asked.

“They think I am trying to claim you as my mate!” Brittany said exasperated. “Both of us have been getting bumped, elbowed, shouldered and someone even left a dead rat inside of Bethany’s bed.”

“I don’t know why anyone would do that,” Orkin said. “I am not old enough to be claimed. If I were and there was more than one then there should be a fight. Orc on orc until one cannot fight anymore or gives up.”

“That is not how it is done here,” Bethany said. “Girls are just mean to each other and you are already of age. What is even worse than that is that my mother has been writing me about the way you healed Mary Trundle.”

“The mean woman?” Orkin asked.

“Yes that one,” Bethany said. “She first tried to force the Tower to heal her daughter, our Tower Mage told her to go away. She then tossed out a lot of threats until she found out that you were the High Mage of the council’s brother and Duke DeVry’s brother. She then started begging my mother who has now been writing me.”

“I do not want to help this woman out just to be nice,” Orkin said.

“And I don’t want you to either,” Bethany replied. “Her daughter Raleigh has been mean to me my entire life. She walks like she is leaning over and all she can say is at least she is not an orc. My mother has been telling me to force my orc to heal her.”

“You do not like your mother,” Orkin began.

“No I don’t like her!” Bethany said. “She has been a horror since I was young and now I don’t need her for anything. I bet that really makes her angry that don’t want her acceptance anymore. Coming here has let me see her for who she really is.”

“My brother and sister both are important people,” Orkin said. “They can find you a place with them if you want it.”

“And I do,” Bethany said. “With this war starting with the elves I think now is a perfect time to find a place since people would not be so picky.

CHAPTER 10

Orkin woke up to a pounding at his door. Orkin got up slowly went to answer it as the knocking grew louder and louder. Orkin answered his door and saw Victor Vega with a smirk on his face surrounded by six mean looking humans outfitted with armor. With the group was a woman who seemed surprised to look at Orkin, maybe she was more surprised by the way Orkin looked. Orkin decided to just read the mind of Vega, something had this man happy and Orkin didn’t think it was a good sign.

“Hello?” Orkin said as he looked at the head of the Tower of Light.

“Get your things Orc,” Vega said. “These people were sent by His Majesty. You are moving and will live somewhere else.”

“Okay,” Orkin said as he looked around. “Do you remember our deal?”

“You think I am going to abide by that after the mess you have gotten me into?” Vega asked with a laugh. “I have heard nothing except complaints. Many people think I should have you heal them and are angry when I tell them it is against the rules. Some women want you to marry so they can force you to heal and make a fortune. Almost everyone that went to the social was upset that you Orcs stayed to yourselves and didn’t even attempt to make a match to further magic in the Kingdom. I am doing away with that stupid agreement as soon as you leave.”

“And I am going to tell my brother all of this,” Orkin said. “I wonder how your instructor and your guard will feel about this? I will grab my things.”

“Just get out!” Vega screamed. “I don’t want you in here for another moment. I will have your things delivered to you.”

“This Orc talks like he is someone special,” one of the guards said. “Maybe it is because he is bigger than the others.”

“He is Duke DeVry’s little brother,” Vega said. “You watch yourself with this one. His traitorous brother would kill you if you are rough bringing him back. Technically he is classified as a noble, if you are not then you know what the laws are.”

“And David Winslow and Harold Willoughsby will find out,” Orkin said. “And you will too Victor. You had me beaten and tried to hide it. I wonder how my brother and sister will react to you.”

“Take this Orc out of here right now!” Vega screamed. “And I will keep your precious orcs as they are now. I wish all of them were gone so I would never have to deal with another orc.”

Orkin followed the men out of his room and was happy he was still dressed. Well Orkin had taken off the foot coverings called boots and only had his bare feet. The men formed up around him and led him out the Tower and into a carriage. The woman that was with them went into another carriage. Orkin was taken across town, at least he thought he was since the windows in the carriage were covered and it was dark out. It took almost an hour before the carriage stopped and Orkin was in a building of some type. The guards hussled Orkin up some stairs and into a room. It was then Orkin knew something wasn’t right.

Orkin could feel multiple mental attacks coming at him. Two of them were trying to dig deep into his mind to find out if he knew anything about his brother betraying the crown and conducting a secret deal with the elves. Orkin also had the gift and knew it was hard to keep yourself unnoticed. Orkin had done the same thing on Mage Harold. A strong mage would know they under attack from a weak one even if they didn't know what the attack was doing. Orkin sent false knowledge back to his attackers through the link, he made up a conversation between him and his brother where his brother was distraught about the war and thought the King was trying to come up with a way to legally kill him and his family. Those were easy to fight off, the others were a bit harder.

Since Orkin was fighting off the mages trying to dig into his mind, it made it hard for him to fight off the ones that were trying to read his mind. Orkin could only split his awareness eight different ways and he counted five different mages trying to scan his thoughts. What was worse than that was that he could feel Brittany was also around somewhere and she was giving him soothing thoughts. When Orkin felt four others join in he had to make a decision and quick.

On the surface Orkin only thought about how the King was going to kill him and how he wanted to go home. The only people he actively fought were the two trying to dig into his mind and Brittany. Those three he gave them exactly what they wanted to hear. Soon all of the attacks stopped and a female human walked into the room Orkin was kept in. It was the same woman from the Tower. This woman was not a magic user, Orkin gave her a quick read and found out she was an inquisitor. Outside the room Orkin was held in was a small army of mind mages who were given directions to try and peel back Orkin’s mind. Once this woman found out that Orkin was beyond scared she stopped them from attacking him and had them on standby while she asked questions. Once she started talking Brittany was supposed to try to get him to relax and trust this woman.

“Hello Greenie,” the woman said then instantly chided herself. The Inquisitor was named Tonya and she was good at her job. Most men thought she was alluring and let their guards down since she was a woman. She rarely used mage interrogators and preferred to interrogate on her own. It sometimes took her weeks to get the information but unlike others she was rarely lied to. Tonya looked at Orkin then took a deep breath, she had been told from the Orc girl Cindy that Orkin hated the name Greenie. He also hated being called Orc which was the reason he refused to help some woman who was a friend of his girlfriend’s family.

“I meant to say, Hello Orkin,” Tonya said. “I don't know what to call you, most Orcs I call Greenie but I do not mean it as a form of disrespect. What would you like to be called?”

“Whatever you want, I want to go home,” Orkin said truthfully. Orkin could feel others start reading his mind and sent them knowledge that this ugly human woman was trying to get close to mate with him. Two of them had to stifle a laugh they thought his reaction was so funny. Tonya had been told by Cindy that Orkin did not like human women and thought it had to be a lie. She was showing a generous amount of cleavage but the Orc hadn't stared at her chest not once. Before Orkin could speak again he was surprised by what was happening. Brittany had stopped soothing him and instead started placing ideas into Tonya’s head. Once she got the message a look of shock, anger and annoyance crossed her face. It was the same look the first human woman Orkin had ever seen gave him while he was locked in that cage.

“You are home, for now,” Tonya said as she regained her composure. “His Majesty has heard so much about you and wants you to start living here. You have a unique talent that could be useful here. I want you to stay here and learn to better harness this gift.”

Orkin could feel the attacks coming soon after she finished the sentence. Orkin did not have to use trickery for his answer. These were the people who took Orcs out of their lands and tried to make them forget about their homes. Orkin was aware when Brittany used her power to let Tonya know what he was thinking, the woman straightened up a bit and then asked him another question.

“I know you may feel homesick but it is outside my power to return you back to your family,” Tonya began. “However, I will try to do whatever I can to make your stay here more comfortable.”

“Some of my family is here, can I live with them?” Orkin asked.

This is going harder than I thought. This damn orc hasn't looked at me even once and he is scared to death of me. There has to be something this damn orc likes or wants. Ask the girl what does this orc like to do. There has to be something he likes or misses that we can give him in here. Other than his family, even the High Mage is supposed to stay away from him.

“What if I bring your friends over here?” Tonya said as she put on a sympathetic face. “I am sure they will miss you not being there.”

“No,” Orkin replied. “They would be happier in the Tower. I just want to leave here, if you cannot do that then you cannot help me.”

“Well, if there is anything else I can do to help, just let me know,” Tonya said. “As for right now I want you to know why you are here. It has come to the attention of some enormously powerful people than you can dig into memories and pull out the information you want. I know of only two people who could do that and they are not always successful. Any mage could feel their intrusion and some can kick them out using sheer will. There are even some non-magical people if trained correctly that can detect the intrusion and fight hard against it. One of the instructors from the Tower that you had a run in with is a strong mage. Only a few can read his mind without him knowing it. He said he was unsure if he felt your intrusion into his mind since you were attacking him. Mage Harold thought at the time that he was just stressed because of the events that had happened. Whether he was stressed or not he should have been able to fight you off. The kingdom needs that kind of power under our control.”

“I plan on living with my brother or sister, aren't they under the kingdom’s control?” Orkin asked. “My sister is the High Mage and my brother is a Duke.”

This damn orc. He has been coached, someone has gotten to him and has him asking all the wrong questions. Duke DeVry has been busy with the war and so has the High Mage. It doesn't mean their agents haven't gotten to him. Does anyone have anything?

Orkin stared at the woman as she was thrown off her plan. Orkin didn't have to read her mind to tell that Tonya was trying to produce a different plan. She did not have anything she could offer Orkin and they both knew it. Orkin had rich and powerful relatives that could give him whatever he wanted, being attached to the palace and the King held no benefit for him. Tonya seemed resigned at this and took a deep breath before she spoke again.

“Well, if you need anything please let me know,” Tonya said. “I want to test out your abilities to see how talented you are. I have already heard you have great skill at healing, I want to see it first-hand.”

“No,” Orkin replied. “I know you cannot force me to heal anyone and my brother told me not to.”

“You would be doing a lot of powerful people a great favor,” Tonya said. “You could probably even get a job as the King’s personal healer.”

“I don't want to,” Orkin said. “The King takes Orc out of clan. I want to go with my sister.”

“You can be forced to do things,” Tonya said getting angry.

“I already am,” Orkin replied.

“Well you can't go anywhere and you will help out whoever I want or there will be consequences!” Tonya said angrily.

“I will let my brother and sister know you said that,” Orkin replied.

“They don't scare me,” Tonya said angrily. “I am one of the King’s Inquisitors!”

“They do scare you,” Orkin replied. “You have had some training and you think you can tell when someone is trying to read your mind. But you have never practiced with orc straight from the clans. You only practice with orc who wants to be human. Only the very strongest magic users can read your mind without you discovering it. So far no one has been able to dig up secrets you wish hidden without your knowledge. I know you fear my brother, you think he is a traitor but cannot prove anything. You want me to stay here voluntarily, if I do not then you are scared what my brother would do. You are also scared of my sister, she is powerful in her own right, the strongest mage in the kingdom. No one wants to be on her bad side, you want her to think that you have me for my own protection and will try to come up with a way to make me want to be here. Once she finds out I was taken from a place I like then she will be angry as well.”

This fucking orc! He shouldn't be able to read my mind this clearly. He couldn't have read my mind. He has been coached by someone; this is some kind of trick. Of course, it is a trick! Duke DeVry is no fool. He almost had me. What he said is true though. I may have to cancel plans of having him heal all of the people who have demanded his help. He must help with his mind magic. That is something the King can order him to do to any prisoners captured.

“I don't have to touch you orc, there are plenty of greenies around here,” Tonya said. “However, I don't see a reason why we have to be enemies. I wanted you to heal for my own curiosity and to help gain friendships you otherwise would not have had because of your connection to your brother. It might even help him out as well, some people do not trust him after his brother tried to take the throne. You are here for your mind magic and you will start assisting the King’s Inquisitors.”

Orkin read her mind and could see she was beside herself in anticipation that he would decline. She had already told the others to get a few orcs lined up and she would personally see to it that they were punished. Orkin just nodded his head and could see the fight leave the woman. She was upset that he did not try and fight her but Orkin had no need to. He knew how far he could get and what people were willing to do to him. She even fantasized about having him physically punished for defying her. Tonya got up and fixed Orkin with a stare then turned to walk out. Orkin could see the woman had swayed her hips more than what Orkin thought was normal. Tonya looked over her shoulder at him and thought she had caught him staring. She smiled at him and walked out of the room as the people trying to attack him stopped as well. They were discussing things about if he really read Tonya and came to the conclusion that he was bluffing.

Orkin was unsure of what he should do now as Brittany came into the room a little worried. She kept putting thoughts into Orkin’s head that she was still a friend and had been dragged out of the Tower as well. Orkin quickly dived into her thoughts and found out that was not entirely true. Brittany had been approached by Mage Meredith and she hurriedly accepted the deal. None of the mind mages who worked for the crown directly were poor. They had decent money and had decent matches made for them. Brittany thought it was to ensure her loyalty to the King if she was married off to someone of the royal family’s choosing. Brittany sat down as Orkin started talking, unsure of how much he could tell Brittany.

“Hi Brittany,” Orkin said as he slumped in his chair. “They brought you here too?”

“I have a special ability like you do and we are both halfblooded,” Brittany said.

“I don't want to be here,” Orkin said sadly. “I just want to leave but they will not let me.”

“I know,” Brittany said. “But you can make the best of it. I am sure if you want anything, they do not mind giving it to you. Well other than leaving or getting some of your other family involved.”

“Well at least I have you here to talk to,” Orkin said. “I don't trust that woman who just left.”

“Miss Tonya?” Brittany said. “Miss Tonya is okay, if you want anything, she doesn't mind getting it for you. I bet you could even ask for raw meat and she will get it for you.”

“I don't want to ask her for anything,” Orkin said. “She is evil and wants me to stay here. She wants me to take stuff out of people’s heads.”

“I know,” Brittany said. “Tomorrow you are supposed to have your first person. “I am supposed to make people want to tell me stuff.”

"What is wrong with your face?" Orkin asked. Orkin knew what was wrong with her, she was having one conversation and was trying to focus on something else. In the clans some Orcs had tried this method of defense before, it was to throw off any shaman from reading your mind. Orkin could tell by her face that Brittany was not comfortable doing this, the technique was alien to her and she probably just learned it.

"I am just tired,'' Brittany said. "I should go lay down."

Orkin watched her leave and tried searching with his gift. There were two people outside who were tasked with watching him but no one else was trying to listen in on him. Someone would try for him while he was sleep, the mind was easier to read and his defenses would not be active. His attackers would still be loud and painful as they tried to bully their way through. With the pendant Orkin was sure he would be awake based on the poor shamans he had seen. Orkin stayed in his room and two meals were delivered in the hours between his last visit and when he wanted to sleep. The meals were nice sized steaks and were served without the kiss of fire. Orkin thought they were delicious and did not bother to cloud his thoughts from the people secretly trying to read him. They already knew how Orcs preferred their food and were trying to get on his good side. Orkin thought he was asleep for a few hours when the first attack came.

His attacker was a woman who had no affiliation with the council. Her name was Annabel and she was surprised that she was given a chance and this was her job interview, to crack Orkin. No one from the council was used because Tonya was worried about Orkin's sister finding out. Tonya was next to Annabel and so was Brittany, she was gently putting ideas into his head about being intimate with Tonya and enjoying the experience. Orkin wanted to vomit, he was amazed that Tonya would go so far but knew she was behind it from reading Brittany. Orkin played along as other thoughts started coming into his head. A non-existing conversation between his brother and sister where both insulted the King. The two stories played over and over in his head, Orkin wished they would leave, he could not get any sleep with the attacks he was under. The attacks lasted four hours, Orkin had sent the message that he woke up and was having a tough time getting to sleep. That was the only time they sort of stopped but Brittany was ensuring that Orkin remembered his manufactured dream. When he sent signals that he was going to bed the messages started up again.

When it was morning Orkin received a knock on his door before someone opened it up. It was an Orc named Wlex but that name was unknown to humans. Orkin had seen Wlex before, he was the Orc that had brought his last two meals and was the first Orc Tonya planned to punish if Orkin defied her. Wlex was scared to come into the room and had been told by Tonya to observe Orkin and report everything he knew. Someone was reading his thoughts and Wlex was scared. He could feel the magic on him as he sat down the tray of food in Orkin's room.

"Are the humans here mean?" Orkin asked

"No," Wlex replied.

What kind of dumb question is that halforc? Of course humans are mean, they are all mean! If I don't do what they want they are going to beat us all. I wish you would just do what they want so they would let me go.

Orkin sent another message to whoever was listening to Wlex. If they were questioned, they would believe that Wlex was excited to help out because he thought he could get some of the raw meat. Wlex started cleaning up around the room and hoped Orkin wouldn't ask him any more questions, Orkin hated to disappoint the Orc but wouldn't get him in any trouble.

"I don't trust those who cannot understand me," Orkin said in Orc speak.

"Don't speak like that, stupid halforc!" Wlex snapped. "You speak like human or Orc in trouble."

"I don't like speaking like humans," Orkin said in Orc speak. "I like speaking this way."

"You get Orc punished!" Wlex said loudly.

"Sorry," Orkin replied.

Orkin could feel what was going around in Tonya's head. She wondered if she could speak Orcish and if she could would Orkin trust her more. Tonya waited until a few minutes after Wlex left before she came into the room. Tonya had a decent plan to see if Orkin was a liar and it probably could have worked if she did not underestimate Orkin. A man named Ralts was going to be sent in, he had already admitted to wanting to kill his brother Duke DeVry and had other people involved in the plot. Ralts was a royal guard who had lost his father and brother during the attempted coup by Orkin's family member. He along with all of his conspirators were already captured, the King planned on secretly letting them go provided they kept a low profile.

“Hello Orkin,” Tonya said as Orkin could tell she was excited about what was to come. “How were your meals.”

“Good,” Orkin replied

That’s right you damn Orc. I know your kind likes raw meat. You are going to be eating out of my hands before long. Go ahead and take a peek at my chest, stop fighting it. I caught you looking at my rear when you thought I wasn't looking. I bet this Orc wishes it could read my mind like he does everyone else.

“I have a task for you,” Tonya said. “I am going to bring in a man who wants to kill a noble. I want you to find out which noble he wants to kill. He is skilled at fighting against mind reading.”

“Okay,” Orkin said as his door opened.

A man came inside held by two big human guards. He never looked at Orkin, instead he just looked at the floor. Orkin was about to read the human’s surface thoughts but something changed his mind. One of the guards looked genuinely nervous and Orkin tried reading him instead. He was singing the human alphabet over and over. The other guard was busy counting numbers in his head. Orkin slipped into Ralts’s mind and was shocked to discover that the man was named Charles. Not only that, he wasn't wanted for trying to kill any noble. Charles kept repeating I am going to kill him, I am going to kill him, but there wasn't a him. Instead Charles wasn't even a criminal, he was one of the servants in the castle who was responsible for beating the Orcs. The man liked his job and was looking forward to beating another Orc. Tonya hadn’t told him anything except to keep repeating the phrase in his head. Orkin started bashing his way inside and tried being extra noticeable inside of Charles’s head but the man still didn't notice. Orkin thought of a different way.

Orkin gave the man a few sharp pains mimicking a headache. Charles grabbed his head and Orkin could tell people were trying to read him. Orkin then started giving Charles crippling sharp pains in his head and focused on Charles’s tastebuds. He destroyed all of the tastebuds and ensured they would never comeback. Orkin kept focusing on Charles and was content to keep him in so much pain that he bent over screaming. Orkin burst his eardrums as Tonya was screaming for him to stop.

“What did you do?” Tonya practically screamed as she looked at Charles.

“I tried to find out which noble he wanted to kill but I couldn't,” Orkin said. “I know his name is Charles and he works in this place.”

“You weren't supposed to hurt him!” Tonya said as Charles was helped to his feet. Orkin decided to read her again, something wasn't making sense.

That damn Orc! He didn't fall for my trap. At least I know he can't read my mind or he would have called the man Ralts. That looked painful, so what he can take things out of minds, that was still torture. I have to tell His Majesty that the Orc is too brutal at the job. All of his targets would know they are being read. Now look at him, he looks scared again. I wish I could get him to heal, poor Charles is going to be furious. That is what this damn Orc is really good at, healing.

“Orkin I want you to read my mind,” Tonya said as she started saying the color blue over and over again.

Orkin could feel Tonya give a slight wince as he gave her a small pain followed by an uneasy feeling in her head, like bugs were crawling on her brain. Tonya was proud of herself as Orkin could feel she tried to oust him. Orkin just stopped letting her know he was there and didn't need his magic to see the pride all over her face.

“You were saying blue,” Orkin said. “But then you kicked me out.”

“I was saying blue,” Tonya said as she then looked at the door. “All of you with special abilities come inside of this room.”

Orkin saw five female half orcs come into the room. Orkin of course recognized Brittany, she could put things into the heads of others and assumed at least one of the others with her could do so as well. The others probably had the skill to dig into the brain and extract secrets. Together this group would be difficult for a human to stop if that human did not want a secret to be known.

“Orkin these women all work for me as part of my team,” Tonya said. “For now, you will work for me as well. There are others of course, my entire team is composed of people with mind magic. I am the best Inquisitor in the Kingdom despite being a woman in a field dominated by men who all use torture. You are the only man I am putting on this team so you should be honored. Now why don’t you want to help heal?”

“Because I do not want to be here,” Orkin said. “Humans use Orc and are mean to Orc.”

“You do not know if any of the people I have for you are mean,” Tonya said. “But I assume your brother has poisoned your mind against the Kingdom. Your ability to dig into minds is far more brutal than the rest I have, you are the less skilled by far. I also do not trust you, anyone who cannot be bought often has a higher price that is being paid by someone else. I think that someone is your brother, a man I do not trust even if I have sat down with him twice since the attack on the elves. You can leave this room but not this building. There are other orcs who work here, I do not want you talking to them and disturbing their duties unless necessary to serve you. If I find out you have, I will punish the orc you have been speaking with.”

“So I am a prisoner here?” Orkin asked. “Since I have no one to speak to and cannot go anywhere. You even took me out of my studies to hobble my training.”

To the pit with Duke DeVry! Someone has trained this Orc well. A few days of having no one to speak to would make this orc go crazy and he would do whatever I wanted. I know, some of my staff lives here, he can talk to them or anyone that is in the dungeons below us. He cannot say that I am keeping him from speaking to others. His magic training, maybe I can do this. I can have him heal people and call it training! That’s it!

“You can talk to the other people in this building, just not the Orcs,” Tonya said. “And if you need practice or training with your magic, I will bring people here for you to heal.”

“Who will be my teacher?” Orkin asked.

“Why do you need a teacher?” Tonya asked confused as the answer appeared to her before Orkin started to speak.

“To show me how to heal like the Orcs in the Tower have,” Orkin said.

If I bring someone in, this Orc will only do what is shown and refuse to do anything else. This orc needs a woman. She could get him to do what I want. He probably wants me but I would never stoop so low and he is only fifteen summers. Maybe one of my team? It fits within the law that two half-orcs can be together. What am I thinking, I need a human girl. This one wanted Count Donahue’s daughter in the worst way. I can grab a few whores to come over here and show him a good time. I bet he would do everything I wanted then. Either for me letting them come over or for them if they would let him lay with them.

“I can bring you in a teacher,” Tonya said. “Brittany, why don’t you and Rachel stay here and keep Orkin company? The rest of us have a mission of utmost importance.”

Orkin watched them go and could feel that Brittany and this Rachel were talking to each other silently. Orkin thought it was kind of weird but amazingly effective. Normally mind mages read minds, they didn’t put things into minds. When Gelkin and Orkin spoke using magic, they just scanned each other’s thoughts. Brittany and Rachel were instead putting thoughts into each other’s heads. What they didn’t realize was that Orkin could follow the conversation, he could scan both of their minds and knew who was speaking and when. Rachel was a bit more skilled than Brittany but Orkin could tell the gap was small. Rachel’s commands just seemed easier to absorb into the brain but not by much.

Okay, I see what the fuss is about. No wonder this girl didn’t want anyone to hurt this orc, he is gorgeous. I am not into Orcs but I could be into this big one right here. He doesn’t like Inquisitor Tonya at all, no matter what she says. “Brittany, I hope you can hear me. This orc, how many options does he have for a wife?”

“A few but all he really wants is to go home. He doesn’t like it here. I can see in his eyes that he hates this place even worse than the Tower. I know he looks big but he is only fifteen.”

“If we can get him to heal like Inquisitor Tonya wants, I know she could find us both full humans.”

“That is up to you. Orkin is my friend.”

“Hello,” Rachel said as she looked at Orkin. “My name is Rachel and I can do the same magic your friend Brittany can. I want you to heal for Inquisitor Tonya. If you do then I will owe you a favor.”

“Can you bring my sister?” Orkin asked.

“Um, the High Mage is busy,” Rachel said.

“Then I don’t see how we can help each other,” Orkin said.

CHAPTER 11

“This is ridiculous,” King Hiram said as he looked over his reports.

The elven war had been going on for a month now, they were a tough group to fight. The elves refused to fight en masse, they hid in their forests and came out only at night to decimate a city. When Hiram had started putting his army on the border the elves just attacked them instead and then fled back to the forest. Going into the forest was suicide and Hiram had lost quite a few men by going in that way. The only good news Hiram thought he had was from the small mountainous border between the Kingdom and the Elven Kingdom. That second border was smaller and fed directly into the DeVry duchy. Hiram had been worried about the Elves cutting a deal with DeVry and walking right on inside to attack the kingdom properly. Hiram had a sizable secret number of soldiers right outside of DeVry to catch Duke DeVry in the act of treason. That took a lot of troops away from the frontlines but the reports Hiram had just seen made things even worse and more puzzling.

Not one elf had set foot in DeVry. Duke DeVry had kept a good number of his roughest men near the border. The problem was that no one had died, all of Duke DeVry’s men had survived and they hadn't killed any elves despite the two seeing each other. Hiram’s other nobles were crying foul, they thought Duke DeVry got an easy post and wanted it to be rotated. His other nobles had lost a decent number of men fighting with the elves and thought they should all be rotated. They wanted Duke DeVry to have his turn at the front. That is what bothered Hiram the most.

Hiram had listened to them and Duke DeVry left two weeks ago to take his turn at the front. Duke Craylix took over defense of the DeVry border and had been overran. Two large cities in DeVry were burned to the ground and sacked. The elves had stayed and fought, what was worse was that they didn’t mind attacking at noon. DeVry had been angry to be moved and said the others would be lax defending his lands and would get his people killed. That was what exactly happened, Craylix had blew it and Hiram was scrambling to keep the Kingdom together. He was in the process of removing Craylix and the idiot could stay on the frontlines until the war was over for such a blunder. Hiram thought briefly about moving DeVry back but decided against it. Hiram’s other nobles would hold that line and not become lax like Craylix. Hiram was angry but thought Craylix’s excuse was sound. The elves had never attacked before at that border, at least nothing as bold as what he faced and now took this time to do it.

“You summoned me Your Majesty?” Tonya asked.

“I am going to want you to talk to Duke Craylix,” Hiram said. “His defense of DeVry was disastrous and has cost the kingdom thousands of coins in taxes. Just make sure that the man was inept and not dishonest.”

“Do you want me to see Duke DeVry afterwards?” Tonya asked.

“No,” Hiram said. “When the attack on the elves came, you interrogated him twice. He correctly pointed out that no other Duke had to take the abuse and left angry. If he is interrogated, he will take it as an affront since by now he knows two of his cities are no more.”

“I know he knows things,” Tonya said.

“But the man is too slick and too well coached,” Hiram said. “It is likely that he has others do his dirty work and claim innocence. Even if you are telling the truth, he has come up with a way to defeat your interrogation. How is his Orc brother doing?”

“He is both difficult and easy to work with, Your Majesty,” Tonya said. “He has been here a few weeks and I can say with a certainty that he is not into human girls. None of those I sent to be friendly have been successful which is something I do not understand. I know he wanted Lord Donahue’s daughter in the worst way.”

“Quality,” Hiram said. “She is a rich noble girl. Duke DeVry wouldn’t let his brother date some random human woman like the orcs in the Tower do.”

“He is more skilled than I can imagine, even if he tries to hide it,” Tonya said. “He can slip in and out of minds easily and without detection in most cases. I have had a random guard enter the room to attack him and Orkin was already ready to defend himself despite my guard showing no signs of attack.”

“We already have others that can read minds,” Hiram said.

“And those others are easily slapped away, Your Majesty,” Tonya said. “Orkin is too fast and smooth. He can slide in and be gone before anyone can attack. As far as digging into minds, he is far more brutal than the rest but his rate is near perfect. The others can be tossed aside unless the target is stressed. I have had to mix a bit of sleep depravation, no food and other inconveniences to crack into people. My own skills are still those that I trust most, however he is a good member of my team.”

“My High Mage is busy but when she returns, she is going to want to see her little brother,” Hiram said.

“I have not abused him or the orcs where he lives,” Tonya said. “Orkin was coached, he knows where his limit is, of how far he can push me. Little niceties are slowly bringing him over to your side. He also doesn’t mind being around the half-orcs on my team.”

“I have opened a clinic at the Tower,” King Hiram said. “I have heard of this orc’s healing ability. I never knew body mages were in such high demand but it seems once a week I receive a missive about this orc and can he heal one noble or another. I am making all the orcs work in the clinic under the eye of a trusted healer picked out by the head of the Tower. This war is such that the orcs that are not married with no prospects either have to work there or go to the war.”

“Have people been brought there, Your Majesty?” Tonya said.

“They have and it has been a mixed bag,” Hiram replied. “The money the customers spend is decent enough to make a dent in the war effort. Some are angry because a deformity or something cannot be fixed and want your orc to take a look at them. Forcing a noble to do something like that would be demeaning and DeVry would take it as a personal attack. He is not his brother and has not been combative with me, just not very friendly.”

“It is the same for me,” Tonya said. “Orkin refuses to heal something that he has not been shown how to do. He demands his instructor does it first to show him the way. I have used your two royal healers to coach him. He can reproduce anything they can do easily and I am sure if he were a commoner that he would have a place on your staff. Deformities like Lord Donahue he refuses to touch since your royal healers also can do nothing.”

“Maybe it is time to let your orc go back into the Tower?” Hiram said. “Have you looked into the attack I asked you about?”

“The students were training on how to heal injuries using live orcs,” Tonya said. “Orkin was upset and went to heal someone without permission and was struck. Orkin threatened to tell Duke DeVry which would have been a disaster.”

“I could see the man demanding recompense in flesh,” Hiram said. “And he would get it according to our laws.”

“The outcome is the reason why the orcs in the Tower have more freedom to themselves,” Tonya said. “Four have been taken since the deal, these might stick since it was not voluntary.”

“Voluntary?” Hiram asked confused.

“The orcs do not beg to find a wife or even pretend to want one,” Tonya said. “They are happy in the Tower which is bringing them to the attention of women who used to love the attention. We first thought the orcs were clamoring for a human woman but that is not the case. They hate being alone, the males are family oriented. I think all four just want to be fathers, they do not care who it is with.”

“They were older?” Hiram asked.

“Thirty and above, Your Majesty,” Tonya said.

“As long as Mage babies are continuously made, I have no objection to whatever is going on in the Tower,” Hiram said. After you deal with His Grace, I want you handy to start interrogating any elvish prisoners. You may want to leave your orc in the Tower anyway. If either the High Mage or Duke DeVry sees you with him, they will take him from you, not that I think you really need him.”

“In such a fleeting time to get my answers, I think I will need him,” Tonya replied. “He is the only one of my team guaranteed instant results, relatively speaking.”

“That is true,” Hiram said. “I will write you a missive that your orc has to be made available for needs of the Kingdom as it relates to healing soldiers wounded in battle and interrogating prisoners. You should leave soon and send back word if you find anything suspicious.”

Hiram watched her go and knew she would get results. Craylix was most likely innocent but something would pop up while Tonya was down there. Her team had been the one to uncover the DeVry’s planned coup a few years ago. She would find out if something was going on down there and if his men were fighting as hard as they could have. Maybe seeing his brother would put DeVry in a better mood, especially if he saw Craylix being interrogated. Hiram thought his problems would never end, when he was younger he dreamed of being King, now that he is, he wished he wasn’t. As Prince Hiram he had a carefree life and didn’t have any of the problems he did now.

Hiram wiped at his eyes and stood up. He needed to head to the frontline himself. That would spur the men into action and taunt the enemy. He would also start logging the great forest, one tree at a time and was in no hurry. The lumber would be useful and it would give the elves less of a place to hide. They had killed more men that his men had elves but the war wouldn’t be sustainable for the elves. They could only have a child a decade and would eventually run out of warriors. By the time that happened, Hiram knew he would just give up as well since his people would be hurting. He had to make the elves pay in the long run, that started with getting rid of the forest.

The more he thought about it, the better the plan seemed. He also had to make nice with Duke DeVry. If the man wanted to take over the Kingdom, now would be his best shot. DeVry also didn’t want the position he was in either. The man definitely wouldn’t be ready to be King. The lumber that would be taken from the great forest could go to rebuilding the cities Duke DeVry lost. That and whatever is taken from an eventual sacking of an elvish city can be used to soothe any hurt feelings.

CHAPTER 12

“Orkin you are quiet today,” Brittany said.

“I am going to see my brother,” Orkin replied.

“Yes, but you are going to stay with me,” Tonya said as Orkin could feel two sets of people inputting ideas into his head about liking his job.

“I am still happy to see one of father’s clan,” Orkin replied. “My sister will be there as well.”

“They will be busy, just like you will be,” Tonya said. “You are supposed to heal when you get there. There are many nobles who may make the trip.”

This orc is a pretty package with a dumb head. I am going to mix in nobles with the soldiers and make a fortune. I can use their presence to dig into their heads for any secrets. Someone has to know something about the elf attack. Perhaps if I can find them then this war could be over.

“The papers you showed me said wounded soldiers,” Orkin replied. “Is soldier like warrior?”

“You will heal whoever is placed in front of you,” Tonya snapped.

“Yes, Inquisitor Tonya,” Orkin replied.

He is going to have the High Mage or even the Duke investigate this. Why does this orc hate healing people so much? It doesn’t cause any pain; he is just being difficult. Relax Tonya, it would have been the icing on your cake, not your cake. You are still His Majesty’s favorite and even without the orc you would do good things while you are here.

“Are we close?” Orkin asked.

“In a few hours I think,” Brittany said. “How many captives has the army caught?”

“None,” Tonya said and frowned. “The few they had killed themselves. We would have eventually let them go but they decided to take that choice out of our hands. More will be caught while we are here. I am going to have them stripped and placed under heavy guard.”

“Well then at least we will have people to heal,” Brittany said. “I have been studying with the non-magical healers during my off time and I can help a little. Do you know how many injured we have?”

“We have a decent amount,” Tonya said. “At least we did three days ago when I received my update.”

“I wonder if we will know anyone there?” Brittany said.

“Why would you know the wounded? Rachel asked.

“Not them, the body mages,” Britanny said. “I knew a few short hair orcs and I heard some of them were sent up here from Inquisitor Tonya.”

“Why would you know any orcs?” Tonya asked. “What is a short hair orc? Is that a new species?”

“They are just orcs that cut their hair,” Britanny replied. “They do it because most human women do not like men with long hair, especially the long black silky orc hair. It is naturally oily so most women who would marry an orc want their hair cut. I knew a few of them, they wanted me to make up my own clan and wanted to join it.”

“Your own clan?” Tonya asked interested.

“Orkin could tell you more,” Brittany said. “But male orcs like to be a part of a big family surrounded by people who may or may not be blood related. It is like a bunch of families who get together to make one big family. One of them thought a friend of mine was starting a clan and everyone demanded to join. When she said she wasn’t then I started getting requests the next day about making my own clan.”

“So a bunch of orcs want to be your family?” Rachel said. “Sounds disgusting.”

“You are orc,” Orkin said. “Do you think you are disgusting?”

“I am not an orc,” Rachel said. “My grandmother was the half orc.”

“You still have orc in you,” Orkin said. “Would you be happy if people called you disgusting?”

“I look almost human,” Rachel said.

“You look like orc to me,” Orkin said.

“I don’t think they are disgusting,” Brittany said. “At least not anymore. I never paid attention to orcs before I met Orkin. Well, my father lived with us but I was always attracted to human boys. I know I cannot be with an orc but some are cute when you get to know them. Even if I could be with an orc, I doubt I ever would. I don’t like how they date.”

“How do they date?” Tonya asked, too curious to control herself.

“Full orc girls are bigger than the guys,” Brittany said. “They are supposed to claim one and then fight off all challengers, sometimes to the death. If the orc boy doesn’t want them then the girl continues to beat up anyone who wants to try for the boy until the boy agrees to the match. All of the orc boys agreed that is how it should be done.”

“That is ridiculous!” Rachel said. “None of the women who married an orc had to go through that at the tower.”

“Because that orc only wanted to escape the Tower,” Brittany said. “They really didn’t want a human woman.”

“I would never be with a woman who wouldn’t fight for me,” Orkin said.

“That is the weirdest custom I have ever heard of,” Rachel said. “There shouldn’t be any fights and if there was then it should be for the girl.”

“I would never fight for a girl,” Orkin said.

“Then you would make a horrible husband,” Rachel said.

“I do not want to be anyone’s mate,” Orkin said. “At least not in these lands. My sister told me she would find me someone suitable if I change my mind.”

Orkin drifted off to sleep for the rest of the trip. When he awoke, the carriage had stopped and he was in the military camp where they staged themselves while facing the border. Orkin had been awaken by someone wearing the animal that his brother and father wore. Orkin climbed out of the carriage and could see his brother was yelling and threatening Inquisitor Tonya. His brother was not happy and threatened to cut Tonya from ear to ear and only calmed down when Tonya had told him that the King was not far behind them.

“Brother?” Orkin said as his brother stomped over and grabbed Orkin’s chin and looked at his face.

“Did anyone hurt you?” Duke Jacoby DeVry asked.

“No,” Orkin replied.

“I am amazed,” Jacoby said. “Our lands are being ransacked by people who are not even pretending to protect it. Every night our citizens are either raped and killed while our towns are sacked. No one is guarding my borders and they are letting the elves over freely. I was made to come here so DeVry can be burned to the ground!”

“Your Grace,” said a man wearing purple mage robes. “I assure you that His Majesty will do everything possible to protect the Kingdom, including DeVry.”

“I have had enough of you!” Jacoby screamed. “Say one more thing and your head will roll across this ground. My people are being slaughtered while you sit here safe. I didn’t lose not even one of my citizens when this started. Now that I have left, six communities have been sacked and my people defiled. I know what this is all about, this is to punish my people for a coup no one living had any part of!”

Orkin saw the man in the purple robes wanted to say more but did not. The King was behind them and Orkin was shocked the man didn’t beat them here. Orkin only saw glimpses of the man while he talked to Inquisitor Tonya and he was always surrounded with people. Just then a set of loud horns blew, Orkin had heard them before and knew it meant the King was arriving. Inquisitor Tonya and the man in purple both seemed relieved that the King was there. Jacoby looked at Orkin with a hard stare and Orkin started reading his mind.

Is anyone trying to read me right now? Stomp once if the answer is yes, scratch your head if the answer is no.

Orkin scratched his head and let out a yawn. He could see Inquisitor Tonya talk to Brittany and Rachel and then felt both women sending happy thoughts to Jacoby.

“Smile and act like you are having a good time,” Orkin whispered.

“So, have you been well little brother?” Jacoby said with a slight smile.

“Yes,” Orkin said.

“Lord Define I am sorry for threatening you, I am just worried,” Jacoby said as he looked at the man with the purple robes. “You as well Inquisitor, my thoughts are on my people and is making me stressed. Seeing my little brother is lifting my mood a bit. My mood will be totally lifted if I can go back to protect my people.”

“I will tell His Majesty your concerns right away,” the man in the purple robes said.

“I would appreciate it,” Jacoby said. “The Inquisitor has told me that you are supposed to be working for her or with her Orkin. She can have you back after I have a meal with my little brother. Until the King summons me that is.”

Orkin followed Jacoby through the camp and into a big tent. There were guards all around it and on the inside were older humans who were looking over a bunch of little figures Orkin thought were supposed to be the elves since they had fake little trees surrounding them. Orkin was shown to a seat as his brother ordered everyone out of the tent, one person was supposed to get food and the rest were supposed to be on guard duty. Once his brother was satisfied, he started talking to Orkin.

“They were trying to put ideas into my head?” Jacoby asked.

“Yes,” Orkin replied.

“I knew it,” Jacoby said. “When I was being questioned by the Inquisitors I was not as angry as I should have been about the elf attack. The second time I forbid anyone but the Inquisitor herself from being near me during the interrogation and felt like myself.”

“I think they will try and read you,” Orkin said.

“They can try,” Jacoby said. “I can feel most people trying. I have a necklace like you do. With you around I will not have to worry about the exceptionally skilled ones.”

“Are the elves that bad?” Orkin asked.

“No,” Jacoby said. “We have come to an understanding. They knew that I would eventually be moved to the other side of the kingdom to prepare for war. They just wanted to know when. Most of their forces is at the border in DeVry. They are crushing those fools who took over for me. The cities have been sacked and burned but the elves give plenty of notice so my citizens can escape. Those they find they normally just smack them around a bit and give them an opportunity to escape. Normally they make sure the prisoners see the elves rape or murder a human. In reality the same whores I paid off are having sex and the same couple of men are pretending to be killed. My citizens think they saw the real thing so they would stand up to any Inquisitor’s questioning. I have my people in place blaming the King for DeVry being destroyed. Whenever I eventually get released to protect our lands I am guessing a good number of the Royal Army will go with us. The elves will shift their men and go after this place.”

“So you are not really upset?” Orkin asked.

“Of course I am upset,” Jacoby said. “I want DeVry to be its own kingdom and it will be. My people will be angry enough at the king that they will want to lash out. Already my men here are nervous and worried about their families back home. A few of my men have received the fake news that their entire family may have been slaughtered and cannot see for themselves less the King brand them traitors. Their family isn't really dead, just captured and then let go.”

“Will it work?” Orkin asked.

“I don’t know,” Jacoby said. “I have a sizable number of orcs with me. I plan to offer any who come to my lands their freedom. I am even offering them a way to get back to the clans once the fighting is done. I hope many of your healers come running over. This would hurt the Kingdom if they decide to go after us. Right now, the Kingdom is still too strong so we are slowly bleeding them.”

Orkin felt someone brush his mind and followed the magic back to its source. There were three mind mages that he was not familiar with trying to probe the tent. Two of them were having trouble with all the men around the tent. The one that got through had latched on to Orkin first and Orkin kept the magic. He was sending back that he was scared of the elves and worried about if they would kill him and his brother.

“What is it?” Jacoby asked.

“Mind mages are trying to read us,” Orkin said. “I sent back what they expect to hear.”

“The King is close, at least his people are,” Jacoby said. “He is probably getting the news that Earl Hebner who he sent to replace Duke Craylix had almost been wiped out. Duke Craylix and what was remaining of his men were there also and got trounced along with him. Both were lucky to escape with their lives. The elves marched through DeVry and allowed themselves to be pushed back. Things were harder when Craylix and Hebner’s men fled to avoid being killed. Now they are back together as one group, the elves can kill them easier since they are crowded together. Who knows, the elves probably have already and are just waiting for the next group to go to our border to be destroyed.”

“What happens if we are sent back?” Orkin asked.

“Then we will relax for a few months while the people on this side have it rough,” Jacoby said. “Already the King has a plan where he wants trees cut down and have sent lumberjacks for the mission. The elves have been targeting these men with their arrows, normally just a leg shot or other non-fatal wounds. A deadly strike would make the men seek retribution. A wound would just scare people to leave before they are killed.”

“Here comes the King,” a guard said as he stuck his head through the door.

“Your Majesty,” Jacoby said as he took a knee and bade Orkin to do the same.

“DeVry,” Hiram said. “We both know you are angry, thank you for the decorum. I am not trying to bring ruin upon the people of DeVry.”

“Only my people are suffering while the incompetent people you sent to guard my lands stay holed up in luxury,” Jacoby said. “My people are continuously being punished because you sent the weakest of defenders to give a token effort to protect my lands. Even worse is that you then had your pet inquisitor kidnap my little brother.”

“Are you accusing me of something?” Hiram said angrily.

“My people are dying and you do not care!” Jacoby screamed. “Your so-called citizens are being massacred because you pulled me out of my lands so the elves can loot it.”

“Duke Craylix has assured me that he was trying his best but may have been caught off guard,” Hiram said.

“He is an idiot who wants to see my lands burned,” Jacoby said. “What do I tell my citizens when they wonder why I abandoned them? What do I tell my men right now? They are here while their daughters and mothers are ravished and their sons killed. All while Craylix laughs it up at doing your dirty work.”

“I sent Earl Hebner to back him!” Hiram screamed.

“And did he do it?” Jacoby asked? “Or is he relaxing while my people are slaughtered to a man? I didn’t let one elf pass my lands. Not even one. You sent me here to teach my people a lesson, a very horrible one. My men outside know you for what you are, Your Majesty. They know you brought them here so their families can be wiped from the face of the Kingdom. I am not going to continue to look in their faces and tell them lies about how you respect their sacrifice. You wanted their families dead and now that is exactly what it happening. We know we are going to sit here until all of DeVry is destroyed while you pat yourself on your back.”

“I will not be talked to in this manner!” Hiram said.

“It is called the truth,” Jacoby said. “But at least you can look at yourself in the mirror.”

“All damages will be paid out by the crown,” Hiram said, calming himself. “Either that or the nobles I have watching the area will pay from their own coffers.”

“Pay who?” Jacoby asked. “Dead people? They don’t have need for coin, they are dead.”

“We need to crush the elves once and for all,” Hiram said. “They are the real enemy!”

“As you say, Your Majesty,” Jacoby said.

“It isn't, as I say!” Hiram yelled. “It is the truth! I have sent more men than you had protecting the pass. I am trying to protect your lands, not destroy them. I have heard about you raving, it is borderline traitorous.”

“And what is a King that doesn’t care about his people?” Jacoby asked. “You sent the worst idiots you could find. If not, then why are my lands ransacked while you are here with me? If you were serious, the Royal Army would be there, my sister would be there, you would be there! Instead you are here while Hebner and Craylix laugh at the destruction of DeVry.”

“Enough!” Hiram yelled. “I am in a hard enough place as it is.”

“I don’t care,” Jacoby said. “Your people are not dying.”

“Everyone is my people!” Hiram said. “I am not letting you go home. You find me someone that you think is competent and I will send them and their men to protect your borders.”

“You,” Jacoby said. “You are the King and you claim the incompetence shown by your picks was a mistake instead of a plan, I want you there.”

“You don’t order a King around,” Hiram said.

“Then let's stop playing this game,” Jacoby said. “I already said my peace and I can tell you don’t care if every woman in DeVry is ravished and every boy put to the sword. It is your kingdom, do with it as you will.”

“It is my Kingdom!” Hiram said and then sighed. “This wasn’t supposed to be this way. I wanted to come in here, let you rant and assure you that you have not been abandoned.”

“I have been abandoned,” Jacoby said. “You even dug in the knife by letting my little brother be kidnapped by your inquisitor.”

“Take him back,” Hiram said. “I wanted his help in breaking any elven prisoners we may have. Tasha can do her job without him. Parts of the Royal Army marches in DeVry as we speak and more men are being spun up. The elves cannot maintain their attacks for too much longer. Eventually they will lose enough that they have to start falling back and then we can begin the peace process. Attrition is their main enemy, they are just too angry to realize it and will throw their lives away to prove a point.”

“I have already given my peace,” Jacoby said.

“I know this is frustrating,” Hiram said. “But this is war and this is how war is. I am content to just defend. DeVry has not been abandoned, we will eventually build her up better than ever and you can tell your men that came from my mouth. They have been doing their jobs with the elves and the Kingdom will repay them for their hard work.”

“As you say, Your Majesty,” Jacoby said.

Pit. This damn traitor is angrier than I have ever seen him. I am still not letting him leave this front no matter how many people are killed. I need an actual commander of men. Maybe if I leave him here I can take all of my forces and sweep over DeVry. Just my luck is that the elves will attack and he can claim he was abandoned. I need to bring him over to my side, I need leverage. His orc looks happy, maybe he would be a way to apply some pressure but it might do just the opposite. I bet this traitor is thinking about a coup right now. He is a smart one, he has not sent his Orc to read me. Maybe that is what I need, to get his Orc or whoever else to read me. At least he would know that I am not trying to get his lands destroyed.

“Have faith Jacoby,” Hiram said. “Out of the ashes a better thing always rises. Enjoy your time with your brother and know I am available if you need to talk about anything, not just the war.”

“I will send my missives through my sister,” Jacoby said.

“That is sufficient,” Hiram said as he left the tent.

“He thinks you are a traitor and will never send you back to your lands,” Orkin said as Jacoby looked at him.

“You were able to read him with the necklace?” Jacoby asked.

“He was being scanned by someone else from outside,” Orkin replied. “I don’t think he noticed me or he would not have been so truthful.”

“He is under pressure,” Jacoby said. “His Kingdom is falling down all around him.”

“He is thinking about leaving you here alone while he finishes the elves in your lands,” Orkin said.

“I would leave the border undefended and the elves would have an easy time of it if he did,” Jacoby said. “I want you to stick to me. I know people are going to try me and I want them to try.”

EPILOUGE

“Obliterated,” Jacoby said as he looked at Orkin. “Almost 90% of the forces sent to guard my lands have been killed and many others were taken prisoner. The elves plan on just defending and no longer wish to attack since their big victory.”

“You don’t want your own lands?” Orkin asked.

“I do but perhaps this is not the right time for it,” Jacoby said. “I am in no hurry, we will just have to be a part of the kingdom for a bit longer. The King is going to get the same news I received in a few hours, all the troops he sent, wiped out. The Kingdom’s forces are less than 60% of what they should be and any other enemies will be chomping to get a piece of us.”

“What about your lands?” Orkin asked.

“I have already began fixing the damage and I will send the King back his coin,” Jacoby said. “Like I said, the elves still owe me for delivering them so many slaves that I do not think money will be a hindrance.”

“So did you win?” Orkin asked.

“I am still going to send the Orcs who fought along with me the chance to go home,” Jacoby said. “I know the King was aware of my decree to free any Orc who helped out in the war and I am going to do just that. Many of them may go back to your clans but I think some will stay.”

“No more Orc slaves?” Orkin asked.

“There will still be some in my lands,” Jacoby said. “I cannot force people to get rid of their property. I cannot imagine they will be happy with the amount that will stay on.”

“Why would they stay?” Orkin asked.

“Coin,” Jacoby said. “I need decent healers and the money they could make would allow them to go back in style. Some of these orcs do not remember what it was like back where they were born. Who would volunteer to rush off into the unknown with little or no resources? I am going to put someone in charge of seeing those that want to leave a way home.”

“What about me?” Orkin asked.

“That is difficult,” Jacoby said. “Our sister has gotten missives from a lot of wealthy families and His Majesty has taken an interest in you. He knows that him and I are not in a good place and may see marrying you off to a family member of his as something that would end the gulf between us.”

“I want my mother,” Orkin said.

“And I have made arrangements to have her brought here, if only temporary,” Jacoby said.

“You have?” Orkin said surprised.

“You are family and she gave our father some semblance of peace in his final years,” Jacoby said. “Orc females are normally not allowed but I am sending my personal carriage along with my guard force to find her. Jessix is her name?”

“Yes,” Orkin said.

“She will be a guest of mine and maybe she can see about getting all of the orcs who want to leave a place with her,” Jacoby said.

“She would like that,” Orkin said.

“If you try and leave with her,” Jacoby said. “I cannot protect you. You would be caught again and I would have to disown you. I have many enemies and so do you. Enemies of mine have asked about having you heal for them.”

“I understand,” Orkin said. “When will she be here?”

“Whenever she is,” Jacoby said. “We are not coming off this border any time soon. His Majesty may want to leave a force to just watch this border. I cannot tell how long he will keep us here.”

“And the elves will not attack?” Orkin asked.

“Why should they,” Jacoby said. “They knew this was a losing battle. Smart choice is what their plan is now. Sit silent and wait for the Kingdom to get into another battle. They know we cannot go into their forests and they are not going to come over here. They will miss their orcish slaves they get from the Kingdom but the human ones they gained will suffice for now. They may even find another source for Orcs. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they started snatching up humans for their workers.”

“I want all of Orc gone,” Orkin said.

“Unless you have a way to make that happen little brother,” Jacoby began. “I suggest you take the small victories. I wanted my own Kingdom so bad I could taste it. It is not going to happen so I must be satisfied with the little victories. Well, this victory is not so little but it is still not what I wanted.”

“Thank you,” Orkin said.

“I know things are difficult,” Jacoby said. “And your mother is probably an upstanding Orc but I will always believe that I can take care of my family better than anyone else. If you have friends still in the Tower, let me know. I cannot grab all of them but I can get a few married off and back where they belong. I doubt anyone is going to go search for some random Orc, you may not be able to go but your friends will.”