Another day in this hell.

You need to be strong, Igor. Remember your woman and your offspring.

I inhale deeply and exhale slowly. My body feels the effect of the latest dose of the poison. My limps are still weaker, but I have been trying to not give away my tells. I have remained eyes closed so they don't know how much to give me.

I just focus on my breathing and not trying to physically exert myself, something I was doing the last four days since I woke up here. I am hoping my body will come to play and start immunizing itself from the poison.

Orc bodies react quickly to internal shocks like poison. If it doesn't kill our bodies then our bodies learn to live with it and builds immunity quickly, which is something humans don't have as strongly as us. Our bodies are tougher because our world is harsher.

I'm sure it will adjust. And I hope it does quickly. But until then I need to bide my time and gather information. Although only Shepherd and that donkey face Shamus have come, and all they do is gloat.

Shamus came yesterday to tell me to confess to what I was doing with Aria. I was very careful to not react, telling myself that my day will come and when I am out of here, I will crush his throat and I will take it slow.

I hear footsteps coming, but they don't sound like the steady ones of soldiers or with a harder sole like Shamus and Shepherd. I decide to keep my eyes closed. The steps stop but they aren't close. I hear them retreating, then they come back. Then they approach carefully. The person finally stands outside. And I know who it is without opening my eyes.

"Hi, Igor." The voice of my former friend and my biggest enemy. The hate I feel for this man is unparalleled.

"Look, I don't have a lot of time. I just came here to—"

My eyes open because I want whatever he wants to say to say to my face. I make my body remain still and I don't give him any reaction besides my eyes. Does he think there is an excuse I will accept for betraying me and worse, Aria?

His throat bobs and I watch it closely. All the things I will do to him. maybe I should skin him and feed him his own skin. Maybe crush his voice pipe so he can't even cry for mercy. Maybe break his legs and use them to beat him to death.

One thing is for sure true though, I will place his head at Aria's feet, like I will do for all our enemies: Shamus's head and Shepherd's. When they are safe, I will come for them one at a time and I will lay waste to all of them.

That is the day they will know, the day they will realize the grave mistake seeking me and her out was. The day they meet the king of the Modo tribe.

"You left me no choice, Igor."

I continue staring, making my intentions clear. He is a dead man walking.

"I was in debt, and I needed the money."

Is he saying he betrayed me for money?

"The doctor?" I finally speak because I need to be sure of the facts.

He looks away and I have my answer. The doctor never said anything, it was all him. How could I get so blindsided? That will be the last time I trust anyone, especially if my family is involved. Aria was looking to me for protection with our child.

I maintain the eye contact. Looking at the pathetic excuse of a man. At least men like Shamus have the guts to hate a person clearly. And I prefer them, at least you can point at your enemy.

"I will have your head." I say to him, voice calm. I am fishing for information. See what he can tell me about where I am. If he'll be afraid I actually can.

He looks back at me.

"That will be impossible. The iron is reinforced with magic." He doesn't look like he believes that.

"I will enjoy it."

His eyes widen a little before he brings them back in.

"You are just bluffing, Igor." He tries to be even toned but I've known him for decades. "You will rot here, and you will die in this cell because you will neve—"

He is interrupted by a few footsteps echoing the halls and he steps back a little. I close my eyes before saying, "Your family, how are they?" only low enough for him to hear.

I don't need to see his reaction. He knows what I mean.

"How is our prisoner today, Hanser?" the victory in his voice unmistakable but I keep my eyes shut.

"Still not saying anything." Hanser answers and I almost want to open my eyes. Why is he lying to his friends?

"Well, have you told him about the day's festivities?"

"I was about to tell h—"

"Don't tell me you were here apologizing like a whimp. You don't owe him any loyalty. That loyalty belongs to your kind. Don't ever forget that Hanser."

"I understand."

"Give him double." I hear Shamus say and two shots graze me, and I groan inwardly. My body tightens intensely as the pain seizes me suddenly, and I clamp my teeth together and my tusks press roughly on my skin until I taste iron.

I breathe through my nose as my body trembles slightly involuntarily. The pain is both paralyzing and awaking. I feel all of it. I feel every pull of my tissue and every tightening of my muscles.

After a while the initial sting subsides and I feel my head getting clogged with black noise and I try to fight it, but the darkness has me floating in my own head by a force like an unrelenting river.

I blink and it's like everything is moving slow and simultaneously closing in on me. I try to focus on breathing still.

Igor, just breathe.

I hear voices talking but its like they are talking far away. I hear iron clash against iron, and I only partially see them opening the cage. I stay put. I need to...to let them unchain me. They must be taking me somewhere again.

I try to keep my eyes open but its difficult. Aria. I have to try for Aria. I feel something cold hook around my arms, and I am yanked forward. I growl trying to resist but I move somehow. I quickly black out, then the next time I open my eyes I am moving but I am in a passage and only the sound of iron boots ring.

They are taking me somewhere.

I black out again and next time I open my eyes a large iron door is opening, and I blink to see multitudes of humans. I black out again, only to open my eyes again and I find myself in the middle of an arena. My head lolls to the side and I squint my eyes and I see soldiers lining the edges.

Breathe, Igor. Just breathe.

But I also need to get the lay of the land. I hear the crowd settle.

"Citizens of the Gango kingdom..."

I know that voice. I move my body, but my movements are so restricted. I am still chained, hands and feet.

"The greatest terror that has attacked our peaceful kingdom, stealing my wife—"

My ears sharpen. Aria. Where is she? I try to move so I can face the speaker.

"...and endangering the life my wife carries in her. So, in honor of your queen's return, please welcome our best and strongest."

My body finally turns and my eyes land on her crying face. I blink as I exhale. The whole world stills as I see only her. She sniffles and I feel her sorrow in my own heart.

"Don't cry." I move my lips.

She holds her belly. It is slightly bigger than last time I saw it. My theory may be right. I breathe a smile. but my joy falters when I see her panicked face. She tries to get up, but Shepherd grabs her hand, and she winces in pain.

I growl and I try to move.

How dare he touch her. I will kill him.

"Let the tournament begin!"

Before I know what that means I feel a sharp kick as an iron boot connects with my mid-section. In my vulnerable state, I feel more pain from it than I normally would. But all of that is not my main focus.

I just look at her. My beautiful Aria. She looks unharmed for the most part but how long will that last. How will I save them? How will I save my family?

I need to get out of here. If only the rune had disappeared, but it hasn't. It still is over a month until it does. Something hard hits my face and I feel my whole-body tense in extraordinary pain, and I taste more iron in my mouth. The crowd goes wild. I feel another and they go manic with excitement.

'Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.' That is all that is rumbling in this arena as all the humans are united to see me vanquished. They think I'm the evil amongst them. When I turn to try to find Aria again and I see her standing up, and she looks like she wants to jump in and save me.

I open my mouth and I smile at her, my brave dove. I shake my head slightly to her. Our day will come but it isn't today and she must know I will save us.

"I will save you." I move my lips, hoping she understands.

Then I see her shaking her head frantically, and before I have a chance to look back, I am surrounded by a few men and my body is assaulted with punches, kicks, and blades. It goes on for a while.

I am pulled to be on my knees before something hits the back of my head and everything goes black.

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