Page 106 of The Widow and the Orcs

But— no.No.They’dalready expanded theSummit’ssecurity, scheduling guards and patrols throughout, andLouisacouldn’t bear even the thought of cancelling it, not now.Sheneeded to see thisSummitthrough.Sheneeded to keep helpingUlfarr, and seeking amends, and finding peace.Andshe often found herself repeating that firstflytingverse she’d learned, one they often returned to in their practice, too.Ifear you not, feeder of wolves.Ifear you not.

Soas the next few days passed, full of plans and meetings and hunting andflyting,Louisadid her damnedest to keep hoping.Tokeep praying.Tokeep trying.Andkeep enjoying this time with all these lovely new friends, withRosa, withSune, withKillikandUlfarr.

AndwhileKillikandUlfarrdidn’t again return to any serious discussions — either thekofi, or to that still-hanging question ofUlfarrploughingKillik—Killikdidn’t bring up the ten nights, or the payment, either.Andinstead, they just kept spending every night together inUlfarr’sbed, playing together, enjoying each other.Sometimeswith the chains, but often without — and some nights, ifUlfarr’sbody wasn’t in agreement, without his hard prick, either.ButLouisaandKilliktook care to still lavish and praise him, to welcome his hands and his mouth and hisrassja, and to remind him that he was desired, he was trustworthy, he was safe.

Andevery morning, waking up in the sky amidst the birdsong,Ulfarrseemed… better.Easier.Hissmiles coming swifter and brighter, his hands relaxed and hungry against them.Andhe commandedLouisaandKillikmore, now, too — not only in the bedroom, but also outside it.Neverin a way that felt overbearing or demanding, but in a way that felt natural and familiar upon him.Asif he was long used to being in charge, and directing the busy world around him, while also accommodating his kin’s needs, and considering their advice.

“Pup,Iwish you to stay with me today, so we can welcome our kin together,” he toldKillik, on the morning theirSummitguests were due to start arriving. “Ishall have much need of your sharp wits and wise guidance.AndLouisa,Iwish you by our side also, but first you ought to again visit your sisters, ach?”

Overthe past week,Louisahad indeed continued making regular trips back to her house, meeting with her staff, and working out plans for theSummit.Ithad taken some careful discussions, and much reassurance fromHalthorrandJoan, butEliseandGladyshad even agreed to open the house to host any families with children who wanted to sleep indoors, so the camp’s common-room could instead serve as a dedicated place forSkaito eat and gather together.

“Ofcourse, sweetheart,”Louisasaid now, leaning up to press a kiss toUlfarr’scheek. “I’lltakeSuneagain too, if you don’t mind.”

ButUlfarralways endorsedLouisaspending time withSune, and his grin was broad and grateful, his hand patting her arse. “Ach,Suneshall welcome this, most of all if you again offer up your horses,” he replied. “Thankyou, my sweetLouisa.”

Louisaflushed and waved it away, whileKilliksnatched up his nearby pack, and shoved it into her hands.Italways seemed to have a full waterskin inside, as well as a good quantity ofSune’sfavourite dried meat, and fruit for her to eat, too.AndLouisafoolishly smiled atKillikas she slung the pack on her back, and then lurched up to press a furtive kiss to his hard cheek, too.

Thetrip to her house now seemed far shorter than it once had, especially with an excitedSuneto sign with along the way.Andonce she’d helpedSunesaddleMax,Louisaheaded for the house, where she found her staff all in the kitchen withHalthorr, and discussing their hosting plans for theSummit.Whichseemed to be progressing well, apart, perhaps, fromElise’songoing anxiety about the situation.

“Look,I’mwilling to go along with the rest of you on this,”Elisesaid, frowning down at the dough she was kneading. “Butyou can’t blame me for being concerned about having a dozen strange orcs in the house, for somesummitthat has nothing to do with us!”

Louisawinced and opened her mouth, butHalthorrhad already stepped closer towardElise, his hand over his heart. “Iswear to you, my lady, my kin should never harm you,” he told her. “Andsome of these orcs are my close brothers, and they all have mates of their own, also.”

Eliseshot him a dark look, but it had none of the fear she’d once held toward him — andHalthorroffered her a kind, encouraging smile, and came a careful step closer. “Ishould yet be honoured to do allIcan to ease your distress upon this, my lady.MayhapIcould sleep outside your door, should you welcome this.”

Itwas perhaps a sign of how many nightsHalthorrhad now spent here, sleeping in odd locations around the house, becauseElisestill didn’t look slightly alarmed, and instead aimed another sharp glare toward him. “Oh, really?” she asked, in icy tones, as she hurled her dough onto the counter. “Butwhat aboutJoan?Youwouldn’t want to leaveherat risk too, would you?”

Ahunted look crossedHalthorr’seyes, and he glanced uneasily towardJoan, who was watching all this in silence, her arms folded over her chest. “N-no, my lady,”Halthorrreplied, too quickly. “Mayhapyou — you two could bed together, soIcould guard you both at once?”

Thehopefulness was almost comical on his face, whileEliseandJoanexchanged a furtive, speaking look, and then frowned away from one another.LeavingHalthorrto blink helplessly between them, his shoulders sagging, and finallyLouisatook pity on him, and cleared her throat. “Ithink that’s an excellent idea,” she said firmly. “Andwith the children’s room attached toElise’s, it makes the most sense for them, too.”

Shedidn’t wait for them to argue further, just ducked out the door again, smiling to herself as she headed toward the stable.Whereshe foundSuneridingMaxin a swift, fluid canter around the paddock, andLouisa’ssmile drew higher as she watched him sweep past.Hewas a natural rider, with an easy affinity with the horses, and it had been a genuine pleasure seeing his rapid progress, and the true joy he’d seemed to find in it.

Lookinggood,Louisasigned at him, when he came around again.Maxlikes you.

Sune’sface ducked, but he furtively signed back on his next swing past, saying,Thankyou.Andthen,Dowe have to leave already?

“Well, our guests are arriving, andIpromisedWolfI’dcome back to help,”Louisareplied. “ButIalso promised we’d set up some horseback rides, so why don’t we take them back together?”

Sune’sgrin flashed wide and stunning across his face, and he eagerly nodded.Andsoon they were companionably riding south together, as that warmth again shimmered inLouisa’sbelly.Ulfarrwanted her by his side.Hewanted her to meet his kin.Hewas working so hard to earnSimon’sapproval, to regain his place amongst his kin — and he wanted her to be part of it with him, and withKillik.Hispups.

Theywere so close.Theywere so, so close to making this work.ToredeemingUlfarr, and making this his home.Gainingthat peace.

Louisadrew in a deep, contented breath, drawing up strength fromMaybeneath her — when she caught sight ofSunesigning at her.Themovements quick and furtive, almost as if he didn’t want to ask.

Nowthat you live at the camp, he said,will you now wedUlfarr, and grant him a son?

Louisanearly choked, her hands spasming onMay’sreins, as the warmth caught, curdled into something cold and still.Wouldshe wedUlfarr, and grant him a son.

Itwas as though time had swallowed her up, somehow, and spat her out weeks ago, when she’d first takenSuneon horseback, and he’d asked her this same question.Because— because the answer hadn’t actually changed since then.Hadit?Despiteall her time withKillikandUlfarrat the camp, there had still been no agreements, no commitments between them.Anynight could still be the last, andKillikonly had to choose it, and say it, for it to be the end.Forever.

Getrid of the orcs,shoutedRikard’svoice, deep in her skull.Ican ruin you.Getready to say your farewells…

“Um,”Louisabegan, with a grimace. “No.We’restill just” — she swallowed — “friends.”

ButSunefrowned straight back at her, and then gave an exaggerated roll of his eyes.Ican scent you, he signed.Youare not only friends.

Right.Louisaswallowed again, drew in the breath fromMaybeneath her. “Look, it’s just —I’vealready been married, and it was an absolute disaster, andIalready have peopleIneed to care for, and…”

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