[Queen of Orcs 01] - King's Property by Morgan Howell

Author:Morgan Howell [Howell, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-three

For the rest of the day’s march, Dar left her spot behind the orcs only when thirst drove her to the water barrel. Each time, she felt apart from those who drank there. Through practice, they perfected their techniques of exclusion. Dar gave up trying to use the ladle. Conversation was impossible. The air of scorn was palpable. Though no one threatened Dar, she felt menaced.

Every time Dar retreated, she found Kovok-mah waiting for her. She was unsure why, for he had grown taciturn and his thoughts seemed elsewhere. At first, Kovok-mah’s quiet mood mirrored her own. The day’s events had thrown her off balance, and she wanted to mull them over. Yet, by afternoon, Kovok-mah’s silence began to make Dar uncomfortable. I know nothing about him, and he might be my sole companion.

“Where’s your home?” asked Dar after she returned from another chilly visit to the water barrel.

Kovok-mah fixed his gaze on the mountains. “My mother’s hall lies there.”

“In the Urkheit Mountains?”

“That is their washavoki name. We call them Blath Urkmuthi.”

Dar translated. “Cloak of mothers?”

“Hai. They sheltered mothers when we fled washavokis.”

Dar had a hard time imagining orcs fleeing anyone. “Why would urkzimmuthi flee?”

“Have you not seen ants overpower larger creatures?” asked Kovok-mah. “There is strength in numbers.”

“Do you mean washavokis took your land?”

“Hai. Long ago.”

“I’m sorry,” said Dar.

“Why? You did not take it.”

“I’m sorry my kind did. Mer nav nervler.” I am sad.

“Hai, Ma snaf.” Yes, I also.

“Does your father’s hall also lie in Blath Urkmuthi?” asked Dar, wishing to turn the conversation from human wrongs.

“Fathers have no halls,” said Kovok-mah. “They move to hall of muthvashi.”

“Muthvashi? What’s that?”

“When muth and min live together and have children, what is that called?”

“Married?”

“I think so,” said Kovok-mah. “Muth chooses her married.”

“I think you mean her ‘husband.’”

Kovok-mah looked confused. “These are words I have not learned.”

“When man and woman—min tep muth—get married,” said Dar, “muth is called ‘wife’ and min is called ‘husband.’” Dar suddenly looked puzzled. “Do you mean muth chooses their husband?”

“Hai, but she must ask his muthuri first.”

After a long and sometimes confusing conversation, Dar pieced together a picture of orc family life. In Kovok-mah’s society, not only did the females choose their spouses, they had the higher standing. All the females in a hall were related—the daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters of the clan’s ruling mothers. A husband lived in his wife’s hall and all his children belonged to her clan. His daughters would spend their entire lives in the same hall, their status increasing as they aged.

Females not only owned and ruled the clan halls; the surrounding land and the food it produced was theirs. They guided the males, who served as providers, protectors, and artisans. Dar tried to envision a life where men considered her wise and deferred to her authority, but it seemed too far-fetched. Yet Kovok-mah spoke as though this was the natural order of things, ordained at the world’s creation.

Though such a life was beyond her imagining, it gave Dar an insight into why Kovok-mah had saved her.

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