STOP!
This is book 4 of 4
Head back the way you came and start with, The Beast. And if you like that, take a look at The Leader and finally The King. Lit mods, if you're reading this. It'd be great if you could bundle books up like you do for series'.
Anywho! Thanks for sticking around all this time. It's been a blast writing this series. I learned a lot. I'm STILL learning a lot.
So, stick around. Bring some snacks. And enjoy the ride!
Monty
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Chapter One
It was a cold and stormy night... Not like I gave a shit, but that's hardly the point. The point was-
"ALRIGHT! ENOUGH!"
I sighed as Chit's voice rang out. Turning my head, I caught sight of her as she stormed back into our room. On her tail was the orc woman, Gul-Tra, who looked equally as mad. I stood to head them off, when Eila followed in behind, before peeling off to stand in my way.
"Eila?"
"This has to happen," she assured me.
I watched as Chit opened up the wardrobe she had made to store her armour. With the bulge of her stomach, she wasn't able to wear it, but the armour wasn't her goal. Reaching into the back, she pried free her mace. The elfin one I had taken from Darjl's personal armoury when Eila, Ally and I had made our original escape from this place.
I made to push around Eila as I saw the weapon in Chit's hand, but my first Elfin wife stood in my way again. I gave her a frown, but with the curve of her stomach in the lateness of her own pregnancy, I was feeling a mite protective over her... And the rest of them.
"If you think I'm going to take it easy on you, you will be sorely mistaken!" Gul-Tra shouted.
I growled and wanted to intervene, when I saw Chit's expression. It flashed over me for a moment. It became quickly apparent my little housewife was a little house tiger. But since Eterisk had returned the seed, that was currently growing in Chit's womb... Well it was probably more accurate to refer to her as a house drarskk. And with that look directed at me, for even a moment, I figured she had this sorted out.
My little half-orc shoved her full-blooded counterpart away and stormed towards the dining table. I watched in equal parts worry and pure amazement, as she gripped the edge of the hardwood table. And flipped it over on its side. That must have been quite the feat, as even Gul-Tra hesitated.
"Hurry up!" Chit roared. "I'm sick of this idiocy!"
"It is our-"
"It is YOUR culture!" Chit shouted. "I was born and raised in a human controlled town! And even if you win this fight, I don't consider myself the head wife!"
Gul froze, before frowning, "You don't?"
"No," Chit growled.
"That would be me," Eila smiled.
Gul had a confused look on her face as she looked between my two wives. I spotted movement and rolled my eyes at the naiad trio who were holding Nimue the mermaid between them. The four of them had worked up quite the friendship during their time in the bath, and I felt a little bad about how long they'd been in there. Though... They didn't have any complaints. Apart from being as curious as Lonty and the other fetz, they had just about everything they ever asked for... EVERYTHING.
"Then... Why does she defer to you in front of the others?" Gul frowned.
"Because this isn't an orc tribe," Chit growled. "This is my family. The people I love and in matters of the household, Eila listens to me, while I listen to her in matters of running the castle or warfare."
Gul nodded softly, before turning her back on Chit. I saw the fury in her expression at being dismissed by the orc. Gul had been pressing since Chit had swelled visibly. She wanted to be recognised as a wife and had tried numerous times to seduce me. Since Chit had regained her strength, my small half-orc had taken it upon herself to take care of things. But that backfired with the situation we were now in. Gul was the first wife of the former war leader. An orc who had killed his previous wives and would probably have done so again with her. But that was before he accepted my challenge for a duel.
Now, she was mine, at least as far as orc culture went. And Chit, despite her reasonings and upbringing, chafed at the idea of being beholden to that culture. Especially now we had an orcish war band living at the walls of Elfin Vakt. So there was this massive impasse that had sprung up. Where Gul wanted to join the family, but wasn't willing to meet with the rest of my wives as individuals. Instead, she focussed on Chit, being the orc of our group and sought to challenge her repeatedly.
At first, Chit just brushed her off. But when Gul became insistent, quiet mutterings, turned into harsh words. Harsh words made into threats. And now, as Gul turned her back on Chit, I could see a vein bulging in her temple.
"So, it is you I need to overcome," Gul nodded at Eila's back. "Why was this never told to me before?"
"Because you never asked," Eila told her as she turned to face the Orc.
Gul pondered Eila's words for a moment before shrugging. "No matter. Once I finish with you, I can take my place at the head of this family and be done with it."
"For starters, the head of this family is, and always will be our husband," Eila frowned. "But I wouldn't fight you, anyway."
"Then you will step aside?"
"No," Eila shook her head. "No, I am going to watch Chit put you in your place. Because she's right and we don't cater to orc culture within our home."
Gul's eyes snapped to me, and she frowned. "You're a war leader."
"Only because you all won't leave," I shrugged. "Rules for staying on my land is to not cause trouble. I figured at least one of you would have broken off by now to start your own group."
Gul frowned as if I'd said something strange. Before shaking her head. But it was Chit who stepped up.