Contents
Chapter Thirty-Three: Orka
Overview
Orka searches Darl’s taverns for Drekr, is forced out, and trails a scarred man to The Dead Drengr, watched by one of Helka’s drengrs. Behind the tavern she stops a child-taking, killing two handlers and freeing the captives. Breca is not among them, but Orka learns Drekr is inside and advances to confront him.
Summary
Orka, cloaked and hooded, drinks quietly in a Darl tavern while probing for information on Drekr. After the landlord ejects her for asking, she lies in wait and follows a burn-scarred man through the dockside maze to a larger tavern, The Dead Drengr, guarded by two heavies and a woman bearing Helka’s black-and-gold winged shield.
Circling to the rear by the canal, Orka discovers two men loading hooded, bound children onto a boat. Acting instantly, she throws her axe and kills the first handler, then rushes the second, cutting him down with a seax and knocking him into the water.
Orka calms the terrified children, asking for Breca. None know the name. She frees their bonds and learns from a girl that “others like us” were held inside the tavern but are now gone. The name Bersi is tied to the fallen handler.
Questioning further, Orka confirms from an older boy that Drekr is inside The Dead Drengr. She instructs the boy to take the boat or flee with the others, then turns toward the tavern, intent on confronting Drekr and pursuing the trail to Breca.
Who Appears
- OrkaHunts Drekr in Darl; follows a lead to The Dead Drengr; kills two child-handlers; frees captives; advances to confront Drekr.
- Burn-scarred manLeaves the tavern Orka was in; unwittingly leads her to The Dead Drengr.
- Serving girlApproaches Orka; deflects questions about Drekr and alerts the landlord.
- LandlordEjects Orka when she asks about Drekr, prompting her to set a tail.
- Helka’s drengr (woman with black-and-gold winged shield)Guards The Dead Drengr’s entrance; signals Helka’s faction’s presence.
- BersiChild-handler at the canal; killed by Orka; named by a rescued girl.
- Older boy among the childrenAssures Breca is absent; agrees to help the freed captives.
- Rescued girlReveals others were held inside earlier and identifies Bersi.
- DrekrTarget of Orka’s search; identified by children as being inside The Dead Drengr.