“You should call her Muth Mauk, for that’s who she is,” said Zna-yat. “And how could she send you here? I thought your muthuri forbade you to see her. Has she changed her mind?”
“Muthuri remains unchanged, but Muth Mauk has made me one of her mintaris. You’ve been named one also.”
“This news mixes sweet with bitter. Muth Mauk has honored me, but by choosing you she’s placed herself in peril.”
“I think she knows that, which is why she sent me here.”
“Will you live here forever? Cousin, any wise nose can tell how you feel.”
Kovok-mah sighed. “I know, but maybe Muthuri will relent. Dargu thinks she may.”
“That seems unlikely. She craves granddaughters.”
“Perhaps your muthuri could speak with mine.”
“I think she already has,” said Zna-yat. “I know her ways. Don’t look to her for hope.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You wouldn’t, and that’s your virtue.”
Zna-yat’s answer perplexed Kovok-mah, but he didn’t pursue the matter. Instead, he asked him how things had fared since Dar’s departure. Kovok-mah was unsurprised when Zna-yat complained that the washavokis showed little understanding—a quick survey of the room around him was evidence of that. It was minimally suitable, and Zna-yat told him that the washavokis had objected to every improvement. “If they had their way, we’d be sleeping outside sacred circle,” said Zna-yat. “There’s no proper bath. Our food is little better than when we marched with soldiers. They call us friends, yet this is how they treat us.”
“Has no one spoken to washavoki queen?”
“Garga-tok has spoken to her, but little has changed. When I guard her, she smells of fear.”
“How can this be?” asked Kovok-mah.
“Washavokis have no sense.”
“Yet Darg.Muth Mauk made peace with them.”
“She didn’t want us to kill for them,” said Zna-yat, “so she pledged we’d protect their queen instead. Muth Mauk was wise to make that treaty, but washavokis may lack wisdom to keep it.”
A washavoki shouted in the human tongue from the doorway. “Messenger! Queen will see you. Come.”
Kovok-mah headed toward the man, pausing only to remove his traveling cloak. He retained his sword, knowing that washavokis commonly wore weapons within their dwellings. He followed his escort into a huge room. Its entrance was guarded by two armored urkzimmuthi, but the room itself contained only washavoki sons, who were dressed in gaudy colors, and their great mother. She sat upon a wooden platform that was somewhat like a stool with a high wall in back and little walls to place her arms on. The platform was elaborately carved and covered in places with yellow iron. It seemed a place of honor, and Kovok-mah guessed it was a throne.
The washavoki great mother offered no blessing, but stared silently. Kovok-mah had the uncomfortable feeling that she was expecting him to do something, but he had no idea what it was. After an awkward silence, he acted as though he had been blessed, and bowed. “Thanks, Great Mother,” he said in the washavoki tongue.
“I’m told you bear a message,” said the queen.
“Hai, Muth Mauk sends you greeting.”
“Moot Muck? Who’s he?”
“It is name every queen takes.”
“And who is Moot Muck now?”
“You know her. She made treaty with you.”
“Dar? She said she was dying.”
Kovok-mah noticed that the queen glanced at one of the washavoki sons who stood near the throne. Kovok-mah followed her gaze and was astonished by whom he saw. Bah Simi! he thought, “Blue Eye” being the orcs’ name for Murdant Kol. Kovok-mah seized his sword hilt, but didn’t draw the weapon. He noticed that Bah Simi seemed pleased by the action. Kovok-mah turned his gaze back to the queen and responded to her comment. “Muth la preserved Muth Mauk’s life.”
“I’m pleased to hear that,” replied the queen.
Kovok-mah didn’t think she looked pleased. Words without meaning, he thought. “Muth Mauk says she is pleased there is no killing. She hopes your urkzimmuthi guards satisfy you.”
“They do, although they are slovenly guests.”
“I do not know this word ‘slovenly.’”
“I gave them a fine room to live in, and they ruined it. Also, they’ve behaved indecently.”
“What does ‘indecently’ mean?”
Kovok-mah was surprised when Bah Simi spoke instead of the queen. “Your Majesty, it’s futile to explain decency to an orc. The concept is beyond them.”
The remark caused some of the sons to make their laughing noise, and Kovok-mah noted that the queen also fought against a smile. “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “It’s more important that we’re at peace.”
Kovok-mah was perplexed by the queen’s behavior. He was aware that he was being insulted, but he neither understood why nor knew how to respond. None of them understands our speech, yet they mock me for not understanding one of their words. Wforse, they won’t explain it. If it weren’t for Dargu, I’d forsake this ill-mannered queen. He glared at Kol, whom he suspected had inspired his rude reception. Bah Simi was always Dargu’s enemy. Knowing that he had to say something, Kovok-mah nodded and said, “Hai. Peace is good.” “Does Moot Muck have more to say?”
“I have spoken all her words, but she would like you and I to talk together.”
“This is not a good time for that,” replied the queen quickly. “Soon, perhaps.”
Kovok-mah realized that he was being dismissed and bowed. “Shashav, Great Mother.” Then he left the room.
Soon after the audience, Girta also left the throne room. She retreated to a private chamber, then sent for Tolum Kol. When he arrived she said, “You were right! Dar wasn’t dying.”
“Apparently not,” replied Kol.
“I signed that treaty because I thought she was. She said there was no time to waste. Now what should I do? Tear it up?”
Although pleased that Girta had turned to him for advice, Kol was alarmed by her question. Without the treaty, the orcs would depart into the mountains, and provoking a war would be nearly impossible. “I think that would be hasty,” he replied.
“Why? It was based on deceit.”
“Dar’s deceit. The orcs lack her guile. Notice how clumsy her messenger was this afternoon”
“He acted pretty hostile for someone who likes peace,” said Girta. “The way he looked at you! I thought for certain he was going to draw his sword.”
Kol smiled wryly. “That’s because I knew him. You see, he was Dar’s lover.”
Girta’s face took on a look of appalled curiosity. “No!”
“When you see him, ask him if he slept with her. He’ll admit it. He’s proud of it.”
“So why does he hate you?”
“Jealousy. Dar tried to seduce me before she seduced him.”
“I don’t know if I can abide such sordid creatures around the court.”
“For the while, it’s safer to leave matters rest and not tip our hand. Let Dar think we trust her. Without their mistress present, the orcs are much like guard dogs—vicious, but useful. They’ll keep your other enemies at bay.”
“But you say they’re my enemy, too. Or, at least, Dar is.”
“Yes. And we must deal with her eventually, but we need not be hasty.”
“This sounds like a dangerous game,” said Girta.
“It’s always perilous to rule. But I know orcs, Your Majesty, and I’m always at your service.”
“That service has proved invaluable so far. Only you saw through Dar’s schemes. Does it not seem strange that in a court filled with nobles and generals I must turn to a tolum for sound advice?” “If the advice is worthy, its source doesn’t matter.”
“You only say that because you’re new to the ways of court. You’re not respected because of your rank.”
“It matters not to me.”
“It does to me. I shall elevate you, if only to wipe the smirks from haughty faces.”
“If you wish to honor me,” said Kol, “why not name me Queen’s Man? There are no orc regiments to command, so the rank’s an honorable but empty title.”