Page 122 of The Widow and the Orcs

Rikardshot a furtive glance at the ground around them, and shook his head. “Iknow my land,” he snarled, even as he took a step backwards. “Iknow where my traps are, andI— ahhhhh!”

Hereared up, wildly kicking with his leg, because — there.Oneof the sharp steel traps, now clamped tight and vicious around his ankle.

Butit hadn’t been there before,Rikardhad even stepped in that same spot before — right?Butsomehow, the chain attached to the trap had been hidden beneath the leaves, snaking away toward… towardKillik.Whowas gripping the end of the chain in his hand, and giving it a brief, experimental yank.

Rikardflailed and staggered, and then crashed down to his knees on the earth. “Howdareyou, you foul brute,” he spat, between heavy gasps. “Iam a — lord of this realm — and you will release me — atonce!”

ButKillikonly laughed again, tipping his head back, his eyes narrowed to glittering slits. “Howdoes it feel, fool man?” he asked. “Mayhapyou now regret doing this tomywoman?Andtomyson?”

Louisacould seeRikardfighting to collect himself, to push through the pain — and then he shoved up to his feet, raised his sword, and lunged.Staggeringstraight towardKillik, closer, closer, too close, asLouisa’sheart leapt and screamed.Rikardwas going to attackKillik, and kill him, no, no,no—

WhenKillik— stepped aside.Socalm, so fluid and graceful.Andhe’d somehow swung up the chain, twisting it aroundRikard’sother leg, soRikardtripped, and then crashed headfirst into the earth.

Killik’slaugh was light and merry, his dagger spinning in his hand. “Lastchance, fool man,” he purred. “Shallyou now be wise enough to beg for my mercy, and swear never to touch or threaten my kin again?”

Rikardsnarled and staggered upwards again, glaring atKillikwith wild eyes. “Youwon’t get away with this, orc,” he gasped. “Youkill me here, in the exact same place where my uncle died, on the same day when you had hundreds of orcs crawling all over the property?You’llstill take the fall for this.You’llstill take down your precious treaty, and launch awar!”

Hewas slowly advancing towardKillikagain, his trapped foot dragging, his hand gripping at his sword — because he was trying to distractKillik, damn it, so he could rush in, and use that sword to kill him.WhileKillikjust kept standing there, now thoughtfully tapping his dagger against his chin, and even glancing back atUlfarr.

“Ach, what do you ken,Wolf?”Killikasked, his tone easy, conversational. “Mayhaphe is not wrong upon this.Mayhapit would be safer for him to die alone in his bed.Mayhapnext week?”

Andoh, the wayUlfarrwas smiling back atKillik, his teeth sharp and white, as the sheer malevolence kept glittering in his eyes. “Ach, this sounds best, pup,” he replied. “Sodo not mark him up too much,Iken.”

Killikhuffed a heavy, resigned sigh, and then finally glanced back atRikard.AtwhereRikardhad still been staggering closer, sweeping up that huge sword, aiming it straight atKillik’sneck.No, no, he couldn’t, no —

Buteven asLouisayelped, her hand outstretched,Killik’sdagger flashed.Flipped.Flew.Flewstraight toward…Rikard’sface.

Rikardscreamed and staggered backwards, his hand frantically clutching at — at hiseye.AndKilliklaughed as he spun his second dagger, even gave it a long, leisurely lick with his curling black tongue — and then hurled it atRikard, too, deep into his — hisbelly.

Rikardbent double, and his shriek rang through the air, shrill with panic and pain.Andthen he staggered, and tilted, and spun, and then — then —

Thud.

Louisaflinched, cringed, her eyes wrenched shut — but the sound seemed to keep reverberating, singing again and again around them.Thud.

Rikardwas… dead?

Andthen — a laugh.Killik’slaugh, bright and gleeful, carrying through the air.Catchingstrange inLouisa’sbreath, snapping her eyes up — to whereKillikwas clutching at his shaking waist, the mirth so blithe and amused in his sparkling eyes.

“Youhear him squeal,Wolf?” he said towardUlfarr, between chuckles. “Andhow he danced!Ach,Ihave been dreaming of that forweeks.”

Somethingodd was twitching onLouisa’smouth, jostling in her chest, and she shot a blinking, helpless look atUlfarr.Perhapsexpecting him to admonishKillik, to correct him…

Butoh gods,Ulfarrwas smiling, too.Hisgrin broad and stunning, despite that danger still glinting sharp in his eyes. “Goodwork, pup,” he said, deep and decisive. “Andthese look to be good clean wounds, also.”

Killikbeamed proudly back toward him, looking for an instant almost like a hunting-dog who’d just gained a kill for its approving owner.Anowner whose smile only went fonder asKilliklaughed again, his shoulders shaking with sheer, delighted glee.

AndasLouisawatched, blinking, that jostling in her chest finally shuddered up, burst up out her throat — and somehow she was laughing, too.Shrill, sharp, helpless, shaking her all over, so convulsive she couldn’t stop.Andoh gods, what must they think of her, it wasn’t funny, it wasn’t,LordRikardwasdead—

Orwas he?AndwhenLouisashot a wincing, searching glance up atUlfarr, he was smiling back at her too, so warm and indulgent — but his other hand was signing swiftly toward the trees. “Rurik, come and do all you can to cover this, and grant this man a few more days’ life,” he said. “Butcome seeLouisa, first.”

Wait.Rurik?Rurikwas here?Butyes, there he was, striding coolly out from behind a tree, and coming over to kneel besideLouisa.Touchinghis hand besideUlfarr’son her back, and then sliding it downwards, over her hip, her thigh, her knee, her ankle.

“Naughtthat ought to last,” he toldUlfarr, clipped. “Butget this trap off her, and tend the wound, andIshall look again after.”

Ulfarrnodded and signed a swiftthank-youtoward him, butRurikwas already turning and walking away.TowardwhereKillikwas now kneeling overRikard’sfallen form, and carefully drawing out his daggers.Spatteringfresh blood all over him, and overRikard, too.

“Thisis yet a mess, brother,”Ruriksnapped atKillik, settling his hand overRikard’sslack, unseeing face. “Didyou need to puncture hiseye?”

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