Page 36 of The Savage Vow
“Okay,” Makhel murmured.
They both moved closer to the table. Nargol studied the map and confirmed silently. She definitely knew the area. She’d read about it and was intimately familiar with what they would find there.
“Within those ruins is a document. An artifact. It has records from the time when clan leadership was decided by strength and divine favor.”
“You want a story?” Makhel’s brow furrowed.
“I want proof,” Hagu snapped. He slammed a fist down on the table.
Nargol stiffed just as the other orcs did. She unclenched her fists and exhaled. She eyed the orcs who hadn’t moved from their posts around the room.
“It is the original written word. Tulak had kept it buried because it undermines his right to rule.”
Nargol leaned closer to the map. Her heart beat fast, despite her fight to will it to slow down.
“If it has existed all of this time, why hasn’t anyone destroyed it?” she asked.
“Because even Tulak fears the gods.” Hagu’s sharp gaze cut to her.
The air grew thick. The hairs on the back of Nargol’s neck rose. Her warning beacon inside her chest was blaring loud and clear. They needed to get out of here soon.
“You will retrieve it. It will be a two-day ride there and back. If you survive, bring it back to me untouched.”
“And if we don’t?” Makhel asked softly.
Hagu leaned his big meaty hands on the table. His gaze hardened, and a devilish smile spread across his face.
“Then you were never a part of this.”
The weight of the mission settled over her. The ruins. Ancient law. Proof that could shatter not only her father’s ruling legitimacy but her sister’s as well. Magoza was the next to lead. This was not a test meant to be passed easily.
This was meant to break their clan’s reign, but Nargol was sure the history books she had pored over as a child would not lie. Her clan, her father, and all of the generations before him had a right to sit on the throne.
No one was going to take that away from them.
She’d do what she’d must to keep a Cydassi on the throne.
Makhel glanced at her. Nargol gave a single nod.
“We’ll do it,” Makhel announced.
Hagu studied them for a long moment, then inclined his head.
“Good. You leave at dawn,” he said.
“Will do,” Nargol murmured.
They spun on their heels and stalked out of the building. One they were back in the open air, Nargol could breathe again. She inhaled deeply. They remained quiet, mounting their shukans and making their way through the streets. The tension followed them until they were out of the eastern quarters. They continued to ride in silence for several minutes until they were sure they were not being followed.
“We should leave immediately,” Makhel said. “Stock up and go now. Why wait until the morning?”
“I need to stop in town first,” Nargol said.
“No. We need to leave now. We don’t have time for you?—”
“This is not a request, and don’t forget who you are speaking to,” Nargol said softly. She guided Torch in the direction of the shop. She was sure Orlena was already at work.
“We have a mission to accomplish.” Makhel’s jaw tightened. “And you want to stop and see your human?”
