Page 113 of The Widow and the Orcs

“Oh,I’mso glad you came!”Louisaexclaimed, lurching forward for a round of quick hugs. “Wouldyou like to try mining some amethyst?Orbraiding some rope?”

BothStefanandAmeshyly nodded, and then traipsed off withHalthorrtoward the rope-braiding.WhileElise’swary eyes had caught onRosaandGeva’stable, as if she might actually be interested — soLouisacheerfully waved her over and introduced her, while her heartbeat thumped oddly in her chest.

Gods, she wanted this so much.Andthey were so close.Soclose.

Shedrew down a deep breath as she headed back up to the clearing again, just in time forKillik’srope-walking lesson.Asmall crowd had gathered around where they’d tied a long, sturdy rope between two trees — not high enough to be truly dangerous, but still high enough thatLouisa’sbreath caught at the sight ofKillikeasing himself out onto it.Hewas dressed in a crisp white tunic, and a pair of slim black trousers — all courtesy ofCecily— and he looked impossibly elegant as he held to the tree behind him, and felt the rope beneath his feet.Hissoft leather boots seeking, settling — and then he carefully released the tree behind him, and stepped forward.

Afew whistles and cheers broke out around them, butKillik’seyes stayed focused straight ahead, andLouisacould see him drawing in breath, grounding himself into the rope.Andthen taking step after careful step, his arms outstretched, his lean body taut, the muscles shifting beneath his lovely clothes.

Andwatching him,Louisa’sheart skipped in her chest, the longing pooling deep in her belly.Gods, he was stunning, he was one of the most beautiful things she’d ever seen in her life — and then his hand carefully reached up to his hair, and plucked out one of his daggers.Hurlingit in a single smooth stroke toward the tree-trunk ahead of him, where it sank deep with a thud.Andin another swift movement, he threw his second dagger to join it, as his hair fell long and black and shining over his shoulders.

Thesight of it skitteredLouisa’slonging even deeper, and she exhaled at the feel ofUlfarrsettling behind her, his warm hand curving around her waist.Andwhen she glanced up at his face, his eyes were fixed onKillik, glimmering with yearning and pride. “Heis magnificent, is he not?” he murmured. “Myfierce, perfect pup.”

Louisaswallowed and nodded, and sank a little closer against him. “Heis,” she murmured back. “AndIthink —Ithink he’d love to hear that from you, sweetheart.Ifyou’d be willing to tell him.”

Ulfarr’schest hollowed, his gaze catching strange on hers — but then he nodded, short and curt.Andit was enough to settleLouisa’sshoulders, sinking her even heavier against him.UlfarrlovedKillik, andKillikloved him.Andthey would finally talk about this, and sort it out.Theywould.

Shejoined the crowd’s loud, raucous cheers asKillikreached the tree-trunk — where he made a show of yanking out his daggers, and then spinning around, and hurling them both into the opposite tree instead.Whippingup more delighted cheers around them,Ulfarr’sperhaps booming loudest of all.

Afterwards,Killikhelped multiple orclings and children give rope-walking a try, striding along on the ground beside them as they lurched and wobbled on the rope.Oneof the orclings wasSimonandMaria’solder sonBjorn, and as he walked, clutching tight atKillik’sshoulder,Louisa’sgaze kept darting sideways toSimonandMaria, who were both standing nearby, watching with fond smiles on their faces.They’dboth seemed to enjoy theOpenHouseso far, and they’d often been surrounded by friends and well-wishers — andLouisahad even overheard one elderlySkaicongratulatingSimonon such an excellentSkaievent.

Itall settledLouisa’shope even deeper, because damn it, thiswasan excellent event.They’dbrought theSkaitogether, they’d introduced the camp to the community, they’d brought humans and orcs just a little closer together.Andwhile some of the human guests had kept their distance, preferring to watch rather than participate,Louisacould still see how it helped.Showingthem orcs who weren’t warriors or enemies, but instead teachers, and athletes, and crafters, and engineers.

However, the sparring tournament was yet to come — and at a meaningful sign fromRosa,LouisanudgedUlfarrover toward the pair of fighting rings they’d set up, just outside the clearing.Thetournament’s otherSkaiparticipants were already assembling, and at a loud whistle fromIgull, their human guests began to filter over, too.

“Next, we welcome you to ourSkaiSummitSparringTournament,”Ulfarrannounced in his deep steady voice, once the crowed had gathered. “Skaisparring is not meant to harm or wound, but only to test our speed and strength, and grant us joy with our kin.Butto make sure of this” — he waved toward a bored-lookingRurik, standing at the edge of the ring — “our medic will stand by, and offer his help whenever this is needed.”

Thankfully, no one seemed to question any of this, and nextUlfarrcalled forward fourSkai— includingKillik, now stripped to the waist — for their first pair of matches.AndonceUlfarrhad introduced eachSkaiby name, they paired off and bowed to each other, clasping their hands tight.Andthen, at another whistle fromIgull, they faced off in the rings, and attacked.

Thehuman audience gasped, the tension and alarm rippling through the air — but once the sparring orcs had settled into a rhythm, punching and kicking and ducking and twisting, the tension seemed to skitter into curiosity, or even excitement.Becausewhile it was clear that each orc wanted to win, it was also obvious that this was only a contest, only a game.AndLouisa’smouth drew up at the sight ofKillikleaping and whirling and kicking, his movements exaggerated and flamboyant, perhaps intended less for combat effectiveness, and more to entertain the audience.Toput on a good show.

“He’sgood, right?” came a familiar voice, and whenLouisatwisted to look, it wasMaria, with a wry grin on her mouth. “Oneof my absolute favourites to watch.Go,Killik!”

Louisablinked, but then grinned back, and loudly holleredKillik’sname, too.Earninga brief glance from him over toward her, and even a swift sign from his hand —watch this— as he swung a sweeping kick to his opponent’s head.

Louisalaughed and cheered together withMaria, while more warmth and hope bubbled in her chest.Theywere doing this.Theywere really, really doing this.Andit truly was lovely to talk and laugh withMaria, and cheerKillikon together, until he finally did gain the win, tackling his opponent to the ground with an impressive flourish.

“Ourfirst winner,”Ulfarrannounced afterwards, graspingKillik’shand, and raising it high. “Killik, ofClanSkai!”

Louisacheered as loudly as she could, whileMariawhistled and stomped beside her.Andas the rest of the tournament progressed,Mariaoffered helpful explanations and commentary, too — about different orcs’ backgrounds and fighting styles, and which ones she favoured to win.Ofcourse,Simonwas her favourite, and he soon proved to be a truly outstanding fighter — but whenUlfarrfinally entered his own first round,Mariapraised his speed and technique, too.Andthen she even cheered along withLouisaasUlfarreasily won his match, flashing a rueful smile through the crowd toward them.

Afterthat,Louisawas fully caught up in the excitement, cheering for match after match, as the pool of winners grew smaller and smaller.BothKillikandUlfarrproved to be fierce contestants, andKillikfinally only lost to the leanRightHandDrafli, who also turned out to be a stunningly vicious fighter.WhileUlfarrwon every single one of his matches, wielding his size and weight to his full advantage — at least, until he found himself facing none other than —Simon.

Therewas an instant’s hushed silence all around them, and besideLouisa,Mariahad gone silent and still — but thenUlfarrgave a low bow towardSimon, his hand in a fist on his sweaty, heaving chest. “Ishould be glad to forfeit, brother,” cameUlfarr’svoice, decisive and carrying. “OurEnforcerdeserves this honour, as our clan’s faithful leader, and ourSummit’sfavoured guest.”

Therewas another moment’s stillness — but thenSimonreached out, and firmly clapped his hand toUlfarr’sshoulder. “Ach, come and fight, brother,” he replied. “Iken we shall show our guests a good fair match.”

Ulfarr’sastonishment flashed across his eyes, stilled his sweaty body — but then he smiled, slow and grateful, as he bowed low again.AndwhenIgullgave the starting whistle,Ulfarrlunged forward with shocking speed, and blockedSimon’ssurging attack with a sharp swing of his forearm.

BesideLouisa, bothKillikandMariashouted at once —Killikhad come over to join them, too — andLouisa’shands clapped over her mouth, her eyes frozen on the match.OnUlfarrandSimonpunching and ducking and swinging and swerving, their big bodies moving almost too fast to follow, their heavy grunts ringing through the clearing.Anddespite her racing heartbeat,Louisacould appreciate just how well matched they were, with their similar height and weight, and their similar style of fighting, too.Enoughthat at one point, they both threw and blocked the exact same punch at once, a development that drew a genuine-sounding laugh fromSimon, and a grin fromUlfarr, too.Almostas if — as if they truly were enjoying this.

“Watchhis right,Wolf!”Killikshouted besideLouisa, promptingUlfarrto duck just in time, whileMariasigned atKillikwith what looked like a curse, and shoutedSimon’sname even louder.Hervoice carrying over the stomps and claps and cheers, enough thatSimonglanced toward her, squared his shoulders, and then lunged forward again.AndthoughUlfarrtwisted sideways,Simonjust caught his arm — and suddenly it was over,SimoncrashingUlfarrto the earth and twisting his arm behind him, whileUlfarrshook his head, and signed his defeat.

Killikloudly groaned, glowering viciously towardMaria, butMariawas grinning and hollering, andLouisacouldn’t stop smiling, either.Ithad been a fair, well-met match, andSimonhad agreed to faceUlfarr, and treat him as an equal.Whichsuddenly seemed far more important than who had won or not, especially with this crowd of cheering, chatteringSkaiall around them.WitnessingUlfarr’sdefeat, yes — but also howSimonsmiled as he reached down, and drewUlfarrback up to his feet.

“Wellmet, brother,”Simon’sloud voice called, over the hubbub all around. “Agood match.”

Ulfarr’sgrin was broad and delighted, and perhaps a little weepy, too.EnoughthatKillikabruptly stalked back over to the ring, where he called outSimonas the winner, and then announced the final match of the tournament, betweenSimonandDrafli.

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