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“And just who says that, mother?” I give her a challenge because I think they are all forgetting who I am and my position in this tribe.
“It’s been a century. Things are different. There are many things you don’t know and it’s not as simple.”
“One of the differences being my uncle mating with a filthy Bono?”
She clenches her teeth, and her tusks scrape her skin. “You have no idea what we’ve had to do. We made difficult choices to survive. We went through a famine for fifty years and new enemies.”
“You say that like it’s my fault.”
“May as well have been. If you had been responsible and led this tribe like you were supposed to, like your father asked you to, then I would never…” she stops and holds herself and steps back.
“Never what, mother?”
“Look, a lot has changed. Part of the reason I am here is to inform you that even though you are back, getting your position back is no longer a possibility.”
I laugh. I laugh because this just keeps getting better and better.
“Are you going to stop talking in riddles and tell me what’s going on, mother, or do I need to skin someone?”
I see fear flash in her eyes. And for the first time, I regret it. Before I used to revel in others showing me fear and I accepted nothing less. But now I may want the respect of others more than their fear, and my mother is one of the few people I don’t want to look at me with fear. That needs to be reserved for my enemies, not my kin.
“Everything will be explained by your uncle to you and your mate before your welcoming tomorrow.” Then she takes a step back and moves to leave.
“Wait, mother.” I say.
She stops.
“My old chambers. You didn’t give them away too, did you?”
She looks back at me. “They are there but no one has been there since you’ve been gone. Your mate will have to clean them up herself if you want back in your space.”
I clench my jaw. “She’s pregnant, mother.”
“And that is her prerogative.” She turns.
She stops before she goes and looks at me over her shoulder. “Don’t make this difficult for everyone, Igor. Don’t disturb the peace we’ve worked so hard to get. If you really have changed, then think of the kind of tribe you want your offspring to grow into. Do you really want them to be born in war, amongst people who hate them because of you?” Then she leaves.
That lands. It finds me right at my location. My children. Aria. My priorities.
I relax in the bed a little. My mind drifts to Aria. She is due in just over 2 months and she or I really don’t need any enemies in this tribe. With no easy way back to her realm, I need to tame some of my instincts if I want her to have a happy life.
We still need the community; still need their help. And with the possibility of another war brewing, I may have to leave or be busy strategizing for that. I wish it wasn’t so. I am not comfortable leaving her especially since we just arrived.
Sleep takes me away with those thoughts at the fore of my mind.
When I wake, my body is slack. I open my eyes and find two young female orcs. One pulling the needles from my body, the other holding a transparent bowl where the bloody needles are collected.
“Igor, don’t move.” My eyes look to the other side of the room and Aria comes close.
“Are you my doctor?” I smile.
She smiles down at me, standing next to my shoulders as she watches the female’s work. The door opens and she steps away. I frown when I see Soni walk in. I stifle all the negative emotions I have for her. Maybe I need to let bygones be bygones. It has been a century like her daughter so unhelpfully reminded me.
“Imp, you’re finally awake.” She says, tone bored.
“How is Todo?” I ask her.
“Oh, you mean my son-in-law? He’s better than you.” She says it like an insult. My throat bops as I try to swallow the response. Aria looks at me with a frown. Frack. I hope she doesn’t think I am angry Azula is mated to Todo.
