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He tilts his head back and laughs at me. It burns my pride, which is stupid, considering I should be way more worried about my hide. Hide, not pride.
“Laney,” I cry. “Run! Get out of here.”
I spare a glance for Laney, and my heart sinks to my feet. She’s been stunned by the orc’s blow, groggy and bleeding in the dirt.
“Yes, Laney,” the orc sneers. “Run! Get up and run so you won’t have to see what I do to your big sister.”
I glance at Laney again and then at the orc. I let the sword droop in my grip a bit. Actually, I don’t know how much of it is me letting it droop and how much is because my arms just can’t hold it up any longer. I would have to snatch up one of the bigger orc swords. Too late to do anything about it now.
“Listen,” I say, my voice breaking as my lips suddenly go dry, “if you let my sister go, you can have me.”
“I can have you in any case,” he growls.
I hear the clash of steel from up on the hill. His eyes dart that way and then back to me.
“You’ll have to force me, and you don’t have time for that.” My eyes narrow. “You don’t want bruised, whimpering seconds, do you?”
His face contorts into a mask of contempt and rage. The worst thing you can do is point out a man’s inadequacies to him, even if he’s an orc.Especiallyif he’s an orc.
“If you’ll let my sister go,” I say, my voice steadier this time. “I won’t fight you. I’ll … I’ll make it good.”
My face burns with shame. Like I would know how to make it good. When it comes to fleshly pleasures, I haven’t had the pleasure, so to speak. I’d listened to the older girls growing up, though, and I know a little bit about the carnal act. Enough to know that it’s a lot better when you cooperate.
Then again, some orcs like it when women fight back.
“Oh, you’ll make it good,” he snarls. “You don’t get to drive bargains with me.”
He takes a step toward me, and I lift the sword point between us. I guess an adrenaline surge is going through me because the sword barely wavers now.
“Then I’ll sell myself as dearly as I can.” My voice sounds so fierce I almost believe myself. “Maybe I can’t win against you, but I can hurt you. I can make you suffer.”
“Weak lower form,” he snarls. “You’re the only one who is going to suffer.”
“Try me.” I wish I was half as confident as I sound. I don’t have to win this fight. I just have to stall this orc long enough that Laney can recover and escape.
“Oh, I will.”
“Then do it,” I snap.
He licks his thick lips, and his eyes grow narrow and crafty. He’s not advancing on me. Obviously, he doesn’t know how much of a novice I am with a sword. Or how hard it is just to hold the stupid thing up, let alone swing it. Otherwise, he’d have overrun me by now.
Then again, I remember my grandpa talking about everyone having apuncher’s chancein a fight. Even a weak or unskilled opponent could hurt you if you didn’t take them seriously enough.
I decide to play on his fears and force a cavalier smile on my face.
“Come on, Sleesak,” I snarl. “You won’t be the first orc to split himself on my blade. Maybe I’ll take your armor and your balls as a souvenir.”
He growls. It is a low and primal sound like an animal might make. I’ve done it now. I’ve made him angry. If I were a master swordsman or even just one with training, I might be able to take advantage of his rage. Lure him into making a mistake. Alas, as it stands, I don’t have that option.
Apparently, the orc has more caution than anger in him. He grins and lets his own sword droop down.
“Come, now,” he says in what he probably considers a reasonable tone. “There’s no point in making this hard on yourself or your sister. If you’ll put down the sword and be a good girl, I’ll tell the others she’s too mangy and diseased for the stew pot.”
“No chance. You want me to put this sword down. You let her go first.”
Laney struggles to her feet, then flops back down to her bottom. Her brains seem scrambled. I hope she doesn’t have a skull fracture. That can be lethal without a doctor, and there are not many of those left. I guess a shaman might be able to help, but I don’t see one of those around either.
She needs help. She can’t run. I have to find a way to win this fight, somehow.
