"I'm sorry..."

"Quit that, taar ambal. It's nothing, to what you've just done for me."

"But it isn't nothing to you, it's so obvious to me! And it's not nothing to me, either."

Maukurz pressed his mouth into her hair, next to her ear, and murmured, "Of course it isn't, my little bird, and you've got something serious coming for you soon. You'd better be careful. You won't be ready." He kissed her temple, then her lips, and then he kissed his son on the top of his head. Maukurz sat up and climbed from bed. "But for now, you rest and get better, and I must go look out for Baiurz and Narzum."

"I hate this," Halla sulked.

She would be more upset, Maukurz thought, if she knew how hard it was going to be for him, with Bregun around. It seemed things had gone well there, as he'd stolen a nap. I'm going to get a whole lot back of what I gave, he thought bleakly. He didn't need to pull any pants on; he hadn't had the nerve to take them off, knowing what would likely happen in the cave that night. What had happened.

They were both asleep, well hidden in Shatauz's furs. Maukurz swept past quickly, and sucked the fresh air outside the cave. He hoped they'd get back soon, with the Orcess. He could use a good, hard run. But the air held no trace of them, so instead he worked out where he stood, until the sky got light.

Maukurz went into the cave and kicked Shatauz lightly in the backside. Shatauz groaned and looked up. "My turn?"

"I let you sleep. But they ain't back, and it's day now."

Maukurz stood back, watching Shatauz go through a range of emotions as he woke next to Bregun. He was obviously glad, and somewhat bewildered, but the present situation overrode whatever the other Uruk felt. They left the cave together, and ranged around a bit, but caught no scent of Baiurz or his company.

"We can't leave the women," Shatauz pointed out.

"I know. Baiurz would want us to sit and wait. Let's get our weapons together, and sit guard."

The summer light warmed, the shadows changed. At midday, Maukurz finally caught scent of Narzum, a moment before his lanky form came bolting out of the woods and dashing up the rocks. Behind him came Baiurz, a hooded figure scrambling beside him.

"We were seen," Narzum said, breathing hard. He leaned forward and clutched his legs. "I haven't run like that since the Fords."

Shatauz swallowed heavily.

Baiurz came up then, scowling, glaring at Maukurz and Shatauz. "We lost them in the pine forest, we took to the water, we climbed cliffs. That girl didn't give us half the strength of armed men. Something's going on there, something that don't bode well for us."

A new voice joined the conversation, as the Orcess approached them, her hooded face revealing a glimpse silvery skin. "White-skin tell you about the tarku in the camp two days ago? They made some sort of deal, and were pointin' all about."

Furious, Maukurz turned on his heel, meaning to shake the woman from her bed. But he stopped, and jerked his thumb at Shatauz. "She's yours now. You go wake her."

"And let's take all of it inside, 'cept for Narzum. You stand guard."

The three Uruks and the Orcess went into the cave, letting Shatauz go ahead to his bed.

"Back off a bit, big brother?" Shatauz asked quietly.

Maukurz shook his head slowly. It had been his call to bring her in, and if she was a threat he'd see it through as he should. Baiurz came up beside him, backing him up.

Shatauz dropped to his knees, and shook her a little. She blinked awake confused, then smiled, then looked over her shoulder at the two glowering above her, and dropped down in terror. The Orcess slipped closer to Baiurz, amused beneath her wide black hood, picking her teeth with a sharp claw.

It took Shatauz a moment to realize they were waiting on him. He frowned, then said, "You didn't give us the straight story on yer folk, Bregun."

"She was not lightly guarded!" Baiurz growled, pointing a claw to the Orcess. "And there were far more fighting Men than you said!"

Bregun flashed horror. She turned to Shatauz, beseeching him alone. "But I didn't know! Those Men must have come early! They'd been... summoned."

"By who?" Shatauz asked her.

"I don't know! That Man in Gondor who calls himself King of Men, I think! But when I left, there were only two guarding her, I swear it! Oh, please!" Her dark eyes flooded with tears.

"It's enough for me," Maukurz said, shaking his head. He'd made a mistake with Bregun, and he'd correct it.

"Brother!" Shatauz choked.

Baiurz glanced at Maukurz. Maukurz remained silent and grim. There was no acceptable reason to permit a danger to his tiny, struggling clan. Having his own woman, and now seeing Bregun lie willingly with Shatauz, he figured there would be others better suited than this woman of slippery Dunland.

But still, Maukurz couldn't order her death. Shatauz was goggle-eyed, staring at him. Maukurz glanced over Bregun coldly. Fine then, let him fuck her a little more. Why not?

"Commander," Maukurz said. "Sir, I'd talk to yuh alone."

The Commander narrowed his eyes, and Maukurz didn't know if he'd passed the test. They walked outside, and he said, "I wanna let Halla talk to her. A woman should judge another woman, I think. And Halla won't hesitate to tell me if that woman's dangerous to Luka. And us."

"Halla's no killer," Baiurz said, spitting on the ground. Maukurz straightened up a little more, almost subconsciously.

"Yes, sir. I know it well. I also think, let's find out what we can from Bregun, now she's here. We can always kill her. Let's watch her and learn for a bit."

"And if we're found?"

Maukurz grimaced, his eyes darkened. He almost seemed in pain. "She can't move like this. Not the sort of moving we'd need to do. We gotta make sure we're not found. Everything we do, hunting, scavenging, gotta be sharper and better."

Baiurz nodded curtly. "Then that's what we'll do, for now. But as soon as Halla can hold onto you, we go north."

"Akhoth," Maukurz murmured. He went back inside, throwing a look to Bregun meant to terrorize. She slunk down into the bedding. He said in the Black Speech, "Do what you like with her for now, so long as you watch her. But you might not have her for long. I think she's here to cross us."

Shatauz groaned softly. "That'd be real fuckin rotten for me, Captain."

"I know. All the same. Take your fill of her; but remember, right now, if nothing changes, she's a walking corpse. And try to find out if her people are meaning to move against us."

Shatauz nodded. Maukurz glanced over his shoulder, remembering the Orcess. He was overwhelmed by female scent; couldn't tell, almost, where it all was coming from. He'd been wrong when he'd thought the scent of an Orcess would hold no attraction for him. Though Halla owned him absolutely, this female would smell alluring anyone he'd known in Isengard. He could almost believe she was ripe to breed on. The Orcess shifted her weight under his scrutiny. He kept in Black Speech, asking her, "What's your name?"

"Uliima, Captain." She stood up then-taller than Maukurz thought she was, almost to his shoulder-and pushed her hood back. Her black hair was caught up in a crest of interwoven braids, running down past her shoulders. Her skin was pale and her eyes were red. Maukurz had never seen anything like her, but he saw right away that she had a warrior's posture. There was an empty sheath at her hip-the Mannish tribe had robbed her of her sword, obviously-and her right arm was slightly stronger, hinting that she was an archer as well.

"That pit in the corner has jerky. You can get yourself some. Then tell Commander Baiurz about what you saw in the Mannish village."

"I know that girl isn't telling the truth," Uliima replied crisply.

Maukurz arched a brow. "She saved your ass, at any rate."

"Mannish honor," Uliima smirked merrily. "Touching."

Maukurz nodded, waving his hand at her. Yes, Bregun smelled like treachery, that was obvious enough. But this Orcish female could never understand what it was to be Uruk-hai males alone, the last of their kind; there were complications to consider.

He walked around the sheet and found Halla awake, lifting Luka over her head and bringing him down for a kiss, again and again. Her smile blossomed when she saw him, and Maukurz felt himself melting. Nothing could compare to her, and he felt pity for Shatauz. Halla must have heard some of the trouble, for as soon as she kissed him in greeting, and he took Luka from her hands, she whispered, "It was an ambush? Are we in danger?"

"Not quite," Maukurz murmured, adding pointedly, "And no, we're not in danger."

He couldn't help smile as Luka grabbed a fistful of his long black hair and yanked hard. "But I want her to spend time with you, so you can try to understand her."

Halla nodded. Then she seemed to crumple, and she pulled on his arm, whispering, "Please take me outside."

"It'll hurt you, ashgaz-izub. You know that."

"Maybe a little, but I can't stand this anymore! I haven't been off my side since Luka was born!"

"Not yet, Halla. 'Member what you told me when my leg was broke?"

Halla nodded, pouting only half in jest, before real tears slipped over her eyes. Maukurz looked up; Luka was falling asleep in her arms. He was desperate to be careful with Halla, but if she was hurting so much in her mind, then some risk ought to be worth taking. Maukurz grinned at her then, lying beside her to kiss her, then slipping under the blanket. He grasped her top leg gently, ever so carefully pulling it onto his shoulder, listening carefully for a cry or shriek. When none came, he clutched her hips firmly in his hands-she wouldn't move, no matter how desperate she became-and pressed his mouth between her legs, a slow, lingering kiss. Her little whimper pricked his ears, and his own blood ran hot and hard to taste her again. But he smothered his own desire-he'd take care of it himself-and set out to bring tears of another sort to her eyes.