Page 2 of The Savage Vow
“You summoned me, and I came almost immediately,” Nargol replied haughtily.
That earned her a huff of amusement. Tulak lifted his head, his amber gaze landing on her. Pride shined bright in his eyes. Her father was always one who boasted about his daughters. She knew without him uttering a word that he loved her and her sister dearly.
Nargol crossed the room and stopped in front of the table.
“You walk like your mother. I swear that female can sneak up on me when I’m least expecting it.” He smirked.
“Please tell me you did not summon me to discuss how I walk.” Nargol smirked, too.
Tulak stood to his full height, the glint in his gaze hardening. He scowled, and his scar deepened, giving him a fierce look. She clasped her hands behind her back, pleased with his comparisonof her to her mother. Dura Cydassi was one warrior she had always wanted to emulate when she was a young orc.
“No,” he said. He folded his arms. “I summoned you for answers.”
Nargol nodded. She knew why he’d requested her presence. She’d promised that she would get answers from the orcs they had captured. It had been bloody, but she’d gotten a lead on who the attacking orcs were.
“One of the orcs I interrogated gave me something,” she said.
“Only one?” He arched an eyebrow. He was not pleased at this answer.
“Most of them took their vows of secrecy to the grave,” she griped.
She slammed her hand down on the table and stared at him. Was he doubting how proficient she was at her job? He shouldn’t be. She was damn good at what she did. That was why he’d given her the position she held. Magoza, the commander, helped lead his army.
Nargol got needed information.
The reason she was just a tad bit late to his meeting was because of having to change her bloody clothing. She couldn’t imagine her mother would appreciate a trail of blood through the fortress.
She reached into her cloak and set down a small leather satchel. She reached inside and brought out the item and laid it on the table. She’d sliced it off the arm of the orc who had spilled information. It was a piece of flesh, and she’d tried to dry as much of the blood off it as she could. It was better than dragging a dead orc to her father.
The skin bore a crude sigil—two slash marks through a circle.
Tulak stared at the marking. A low growl emanated from him.
“The Ogola clan,” he barked.
“That was the clan he claimed. I got his name, and that was all he would give me,” she said. No matter how much she’d pushed, the orc wouldn’t say anymore. She hoped whatever he was covering up was worth dying for.
Tulak’s eyes snapped to her. He ran a hand along his jawline.
“Cardu has sworn loyalty to me,” he said.
The leader of the Ogola clan had recently been to their stronghold. He’d come with other clan leaders with their concern over her sister’s choice in a mate. When six or more leaders came together, it was known as a Council of Clans. A council had been formed to protect Aghon from destruction.
Apparently, Amuleta and Magoza’s mating was putting Aghon in danger.
Nargol bit back a snort. There were too many other issues they needed to worry about than who Magoza took as a mate.
“Many have,” Nargol said. She pointed to the flesh and snarled. “But obviously someone is moving against us.”
“Do you truly think Cardu would have instigated the attack?” Tulak asked.
He walked away from her and stood near the window that overlooked the courtyard. Cardu had been very vocal against Tulak that night the council had arrived. She tilted her head to the side and stood to her full height. There was something about Cardu that had always bothered her. Could she see him trying to overthrow her father?
Feck, yes, she could see it.
Cardu was an orc who would want the power of being the chieftain of their people.
“He’s been in the royal box before. He would know the layout and how to send orcs to attack it. You know he was still against Magoza mating with Amuleta even after the other leaders gave their support to the two of them. Those orcs who attacked were targeting Amuleta,” Nargol said.
