Page 131 of The Widow and the Orcs

Hervoice came out steady, not judging or angry, but just… asking.Justwanting to hear the truth, to finally set it all out between them.Becausethat payment was something else she hadn’t wanted to face, wasn’t it?Somethingshe’d wanted to escape, and forget.

ButperhapsUlfarrhad wanted to escape it too, his mouth twisting, while on her other side,Killikgave a gentle slap to her arse. “Ach, we are yet gathering it,” he replied. “Andyou shall yet have it, woman.Ithas only taken longer than we meant.”

Louisastudied him for a long moment, searching for the truth in that, seeking to find the right question.Becauseperhaps she’d realized, over these past weeks, thatKillikandUlfarrweren’t wealthy.Theydidn’t have that much extra coin lying around.Andneither did their campmates, or even their clan, and…

“You’reborrowing it, then?” she asked, her voice careful. “Fromwhere?”

Killikshrugged, and gave a vague wave ahead toward the camp, toward their mountain. “Frommany places,” he replied. “Butnaught that shall bring us harm, or lead to your land being lost.Sothere is no need to fret over it, ach?”

Louisawatched him for another long, hitching breath, as her stomach flipped in her gut.Theywere — taking her debts upon themselves.Andthey weren’t even trying to take that part of their agreement back, even now that they’d settled the rest of it between them.They’dmade a vow to pay her debts, and they were keeping it.

“Well,”Louisasaid, through her choked throat. “I’vedecidedIwant to break that vow.Wedidn’t keep to the ten nights, andIdon’t want the rest of your coin, either.”

Therewas more silence, fromKillikandUlfarrboth, and they exchanged a meaningful glance, asUlfarr’shand caressed against her back. “But— we yet wish to help you,Louisa,”Ulfarrsaid, low. “Wewish to uphold your wishes.Andyou wish to keep your home, and guard your kin, ach?Youwish to have control overyour property, your freedom, and your life.”

Right.Itwas a direct quote of whatLouisahad told him earlier, and she drew in breath, searched for truth. “Ido still want all that,” she replied slowly. “Butmaybe — maybe we can face it together, and find another way.Likewe did with theSummit.Yourlast payment was enough to keep the property safe for at least a while longer, and in terms of the inheritance issue…”

Herfeet suddenly tripped, faltered, her gaze blank and unseeing on the darkening horizon.WhilebothKillikandUlfarrsnapped to stillness too,Ulfarr’shand tense on her back,Killik’scircling tight around her wrist.

“What?”Killikdemanded. “Whatis amiss?”

Louisahuffed a half-laugh, and shook her head. “Ijust…” she began, and her heart was pattering faster, her breaths heaving short and shallow. “Iwas just thinking” — she darted a look between them — “marriage isn’t the only option, right?Maybewe could consider — another family connection, instead?”

BothUlfarrandKillikwere just watching her now, waiting, andLouisafound the earth beneath her feet, drew it in deep.Drewin strength, truth,Skai…

“Whatif,” she said, as the hope caught, held, shimmered. “WhatifIadoptedSune?”

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Whatif she adoptedSune.

Louisaflinched at even the sound of it, the shocking presumptuousness of it.Theutter arrogance, to think she could just waltz in and adoptKillikandUlfarr’sson, but — but —

“Idon’t mean to saySunewould need to — honour it,” she said, too quickly. “Orsee me as his mother, or any kind of authority over him.AndIwouldn’t at all want him to feel obligated, or coerced, or anything like that!Ijust” — she had to pull in a breath — “Istill have no interest in getting married again, or having another baby, butIstill want to protect my land, andIfeelIcould trustSuneto honour my wishes, andI’vestill always wanted a —”

Shecringed, shook her head, snapped her mouth shut, far too late.No, no, it wasn’t about that, and gods, the wayKillikandUlfarrwere both looking at her now,Ulfarr’seyes blank and unseeing,Killik’sglittering with something she couldn’t at all read.Andgods, she was making a mess of this, she sounded like some kind of son-stealing creep, and…

“Imean,” she gasped, “we’d still need to talk to lawyers, make sure it could work.Butif we can makeSunelegally my son, he would also be — my heir.Becauseunder the terms of the treaty, he’s just the same as a human now, right?Andthat way, if anything ever happens to me, or if any more murderous lords show up” — she hauled in another shaky breath — “I’dstill protect my sisters, and my property, and the camp, without any need for marriage whatsoever.Right?AndmaybeSunewould feel more settled that way, too, because he could be sure he always has a place here, with his family.With— our family.Allof us.”

Ulfarrwas still staring atLouisa, his body utterly still, butKillik’seyes were flashing, not with anger, or judgement.Butwith — with approval.Withappreciation.

AndthenKilliklurched toward her, yanked her close, and laughed.Laughedwith bright, genuine joy, the sound carrying through the trees. “Youshould wish for this?” he breathed, hot into her ear. “Truth,Louisa?”

Hepulled back to look at her, searching her eyes, his nostrils flaring — butLouisacould only beam back toward him, her eyes prickling. “Yes,” she said, steady and certain. “Truth,Killik.”

Shemeant it, meant it with all her breath, all her soul.AndKillik’ssmile was smaller now, softer, his claws tickling gentle at her cheek. “Good,” he murmured. “Weshall go speak toSuneat once.AndRosa, also.”

Hetruly had to be pleased, if he wanted to speak toRosa, andLouisagrinned back at him, and nodded.Andthen glanced towardUlfarr, too, wanting to include him in this — but he was still just staring at them.Stillwith that stunned, distant blankness in his eyes.

Butit wasn’t the look he’d worn so often before, with all that uncertainty and loss.No, no, it was just surprise, and delight — and in a lurch of movement, he sweptLouisainto his arms, too.Rockingher back and forth, squeezing so hard it hurt.

“Iam so honoured,” he whispered, “that you would wish to make our son your own, also.”

Louisaclutched him back as tightly as she could, her eyes blinking hard. “Butonly if he even wants it, that is,” she said. “Couldyou talk to him together, and make sure you hear his honest response, and give him time to consider it?Andthe freedom to refuse, without any constraints whatsoever?”

Hersideways glance atKillikfound him nodding, his hand gently gripping at her shoulder. “Weshall,” he replied. “Wehave no wish to push him into this, either.Wewish him to know how much we care for him, just as he is.”

Ulfarr’sbreath exhaled, and he nodded too, whileKillikgave a wry roll of his eyes towardLouisa. “Andach,Ishall tellSunethis,” he said. “Ishall keep telling him this, and showing him this, until he is sure of it.”

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