Part 45

Greza awoke sometime in the middle of the night to raised voices and the sound of a key in her door’s lock. 

When the door opened Duke Verin came in followed by Onata. 

He looked furious and she recoiled away until she saw his face grow soft and he smile. 

“Come with us, Greza.  We’ll get this sorted out.”

He then turned back to the guards and his face grew cold again. 

“I’ll deal with you two in the morning,” Verin said. 

He helped her up and took her out into the courtyard where Sgt. Karak stood with a group of other soldiers.  Tempest, Alethia and a few other officers were there.  She looked around for Richkurk but didn’t see him.  He was probably off on a secret errand. 

“She’s the one that attacked me, Duke,” Karak said. 

“And why would she attack you?”  Verin asked.

It seemed Greza was in the middle of an impromptu trial.

“Well, Duke, she’s been sleeping around with most of my men here and when I told her to leave and not come back…see, I don’t like whoring going on in my unit, she got angry and sucker punched me.  Just ask anyone here.  They’ll all tell ya she’s a bit of a bed warmer.”

The men behind him all murmured in agreement and nodded their heads. 

“Does she have anything in her defense?”  One of the officers said.  (Probably Karak’s officer.)

“I never did anything of the sort!  He was drunk and wanted to bed me and when I refused he tried to attack me,” Greza said.

“She couldn’t beat me unless she sucker punched me,” Karak said. 

Most of his men fell silent and she heard Alethia snicker behind her. 

“You don’t know who Greza is, do you?”  Verin asked.

“I know enough.”

“Did you know that’s she’s our top hand to hand trainer?   I’d have you two spar to prove it, but I already know she could take you down in less time it would take to explain how.  She wouldn’t need to sucker punch you.”

“Well…maybe, maybe not, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s been playing the whore in my platoon and I don’t like it.  That’s why she hit me.”

“And what do you say, Sgt. Greza?”  The officer asked. 

Apparently he was the impromptu judge. 

“I’m a virgin,” Greza said. 

Karak laughed as did most of his platoon. 

“It’s true!”  Greza said.  She could feel her face grow warm. 

All this was going on with Duke Verin standing right there.  If he believed one word these men were saying then all respect he might have for her would vanish and she’d just be scum to him. 

“I can find the truth out,” Alethia said. 

“No need,” Duke Verin said. 

“How so,” the officer asked.

“Because I know Greza.  She wouldn’t lie.”

“And these men that fight so honorably for you, are they not worthy of your trust?  There are procedures to follow, Duke.”

“It’s okay,” Greza said. 

Verin nodded to Alethia. 

Alethia came up and stood very close to her. 

“I’m not going to do any spell.  I don’t care if you are or aren’t.  I’m not going to let them disgrace you like this,” Alethia said.

“But I am.”

“You are?  How?  Never mind.”

She waved her hand as if performing magic and then turned away from her.

“It is as she said.  She is a Virgin.”

She could hear grumbling coming from Karak and his men. 

“What say you now?”  Verin asked to Karak. 

“Nothing, Duke Verin,” Karak eventually said as he looked to the ground. 

“Thought so.  You’ve accused an innocent soldier and tried to put her name in the mud.  No pay for two months for the entire platoon, including its officer.”

Verin dismissed everyone and took her, Onata, Alethia and Tempest up to his private study.

“I’m sorry it took so long to find you,” Onata said on the way to the study.  “But we never thought to look for you in the prison.  No one knew what happened to you.  When you didn’t show up for class we started looking.  It wasn’t until Verin received a report that a half Ork woman was arrested that he charged down here.”

Onata spoke in a hurried voice and kept her hand on her shoulder.  She had been worried for her. 

When they arrived at his study they took seats and Verin ordered food to be brought up to her. 

“I’m sorry this happened,” Verin said.  “It does not reflect well on my men.”

“I knew it would get sorted out,” Greza said.

“But it shouldn’t have had to get sorted out.”

“Wait,” Tempest said. “You really are a virgin?”

Greza wanted to shrink and disappear.  This was not a subject that should be openly discussed.  Especially not in front of Verin. 

“I am,” she managed to get out. 

This day couldn’t get worse.  She’d rather be held captive again for several more months. 

“Tempest!” Alethia said.

“What?  She used to be a slave, right?  I’ve never heard of a virgin slave.”

“I had a protector,” Greza said.

“Who?  Don’t tell me the Divine Unknown Ones or whoever they are,” Tempest said.

“No, but he was a follower and taught me everything I know.  He couldn’t protect me from the arena where I killed more people than I care to remember.  No, I was soiled in a different way, but soiled nonetheless.”

“It’s alright, Greza.  You don’t have to explain yourself to us.  We know your worth.”

And what was her worth?  Was she just a simple scout to him?  It was silly to think that she’d be anything more.  He was the leader of a mercenary company that was about to go to war with the Empire.  He didn’t have time to waste thoughts on her.  She was a soldier, a weapon in his arsenal and nothing more.

She couldn’t stop thinking about him.  He was the embodiment of perfection.  He was strong, kind, thoughtful and dedicated.  Every word he said was etched into her heart where she could relive them in the quiet moments of the night.  But her words were soon forgoteen.  She was fortunate that he even remembered her name. 

She was a tool and nothing more.  The more she tried to reach beyond that the more suffering and heartache she’d feel.  It would be better if she didn’t have to see him than be reminded of everything she would never have. 

Her parentage had never bothered her but she did have to look at the reality of the situation.  Dark Elves were viewed as heartless, conniving predators and Orks were ugly brutes with no redeeming qualities.  To be both was no blessing to a good man such as Verin.  Like any good commander he’d use her strengths for his own purposes, but anything more was impossible.    

“Something wrong, Grez?”  Onata whispered. 

“I’m just tired.”

Onata held her gaze a few moments more before answering. 

“Just eat something first.”

When the platter of food arrived she ate quickly and then excused herself, saying that she had had a difficult day.

She then went back to her bunk and cursed the feelings that were growing inside her like an unwanted weed.  She didn’t know if this was what the poets called love, but she wanted to be near Verin always and help and support him.  He was the finest man she had ever known.