Page 134 of The Widow and the Orcs

Youwere kind to say you wished to adopt me, he signed at her.ButIhope you did not feel pushed to this, or bound to this.Andyou must not feel you need to care for me.

Louisastared at him for a blank, hanging instant, as more wetness stung behind her eyes. “Butof courseIcare for you,Sune,” she croaked at him, and she signed along with it, too. “It’sbeen such a pleasure getting to know you, and spending time with you.AndIdon’t want you to feel obligated to care for me, either, but no matter what” — she wiped at her wet eyes — “it really would be such an honour.Tokeep getting to spend this time with you.”

Sune’sshoulders heavily sagged, his eyes glittering with relief, and beside him,Timogrinned, and clasped his arm.WhileCecilyglanced betweenSuneandLouisa, and then cleared her throat. “Andyou’ll letSunecome around whenever he wants?” she asked. “Andkeep using your horses?”

Itsounded like a challenge, like some kind of test — butLouisaonly nodded, and gave a fond smile towardSune’sface. “Ofcourse,” she said, over the catch in her throat. “Whateverhe likes.Justno more trespassing on murderous neighbours’ property, though,please.”

Sunetwitched a small smile at that, whileCecilyfirmly nodded, and gave him an imperious glare. “Oh, he knows,” she said flatly. “Right,Sune?”

Sune’sglance back towardCecilywas both taunting and unrepentant, and soon the three of them were loudly bickering, and clattering down the stairs together.WhileLouisagrinned and followed after them, the warmth again shimmering in her chest.Home.Skai.Ason.

Ulfarrwas waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, looking still rumpled, but far less muddy than before.Andhis eyes lit up at the sight of her, his hand reaching out to clasp hers, bringing it to his mouth.Andthen he bent his head into her shoulder, into exactly whereKillikhad just bitten her, and gave a deep inhale against it, followed by a soft, lingering kiss.Knowingexactly whatKillikhad done upstairs, and… liking it.Wantingit.

“Ihope my lusty pup pleased you,Louisa,” he said softly, his eyes shining, once he’d drawn away. “Now,Rosahas called us together in your drawing room, should you come?”

Louisanodded, and after an impulsive kiss to his cheek, she accompanied him into the drawing room.Wherea flushed-lookingRosawas indeed waiting, together withJohn-Ka, andJuleandGrimarrandDrafli, andSuneandTimoandCecily, andKillik.

“Oh, good, we’re all here!”Rosasaid brightly, asLouisaandUlfarrwalked in. “Iknow it’s been a busy day, but time is of the essence.Weheard of your adoption plan, and not only is it brilliant, but” — she beamed atLouisa, and then atSune— “it might offer us a significant advantage, too.Andsome excellent property.”

Louisawasn’t at all following, even whenRosagave a hopeful, wheedling smile toward her. “Yourneighbour’s property,” she said meaningfully. “Yourneighbour.Yourrelative.Who’sgoing to be dead soon.Withoutan heir.”

Withoutan heir.Louisa’sbrain was still dragging, struggling to catch up, and she grimaced, shook her head. “Ican’t inheritRikard’sproperty, if that’s what you’re suggesting,” she said. “Itwas difficult enough to gain just this piece of it.Legally, with the entail, it can only go to the closest male relative.”

ButRosawas still beaming, and rapidly nodding. “Yes, exactly,” she said, with a purposeful glance toward…Sune. “Theclosest malerelative.”

Theclosest male relative.Sune.AndLouisastared at him, at his equally confused eyes, as her heart skipped in her chest.WouldRikard’sclosest male relative now be…Sune?WouldSuneinheritRikard’sproperty?

“But,” she said, breathless. “Ihaven’t even adoptedSuneyet!They’llsee the dates, and they’ll suspect, and —”

Buther heart was still thundering, her eyes pleading onRosa’sface, because gods, yes, she wanted that property.ShewantedSuneto have that property.Shedidn’t want another horrid lord waltzing in, breathing down her neck, threatening her kin and her camp…

ButRosajust kept smiling, and whipped a sheaf of papers up off the table. “You’reallSkai,Louisa,” she said firmly. “Surelyyou can manage a little forgery?Datingthese a month ago, perhaps, and then slipping them into your lawyer’s office?Killiktold me you visited him a few weeks ago, with some paperwork you wanted him to review?”

Louisastared at the papers, her mouth opening and closing, because — yes.Yes, she had done that, hadn’t she?Andof courseKillikhad been spying on her then too, of course he’d known all that, and this couldn’t possibly… work.Couldit?

“It’scertainly worth trying,”Julecut in, with a determined glint in her eyes. “Thoselords have used adoption in the past to their own benefit, so why can’t we do the same?AndI’llbe honest, we’d be very happy to gain access toRikard’sproperty, and keep it out of those lords’ hands.It’sa good location, a good defensive position, if we ever needed it.”

Besideher,Grimarrnodded, his eyes settling heavy onLouisa’sface. “Andit shall also be a great gain to us,” he said, “to keep building this camp here, and welcoming humans to it, and deepening these bonds between us.Withnot only these cleverSummits, or other events thus — but with this school you are planning, also.”

Right.Theschool.Morewarmth bubbled inLouisa’sbelly, and she smiled back, and squeezedUlfarr’shand. “Ofcourse,” she replied. “It’sbeen such a pleasure, and we’d love to do more.Tokeep offering our kin a place to rest, and heal, and learn and grow, and be safe.”

Ulfarr’shand drew hers closer, whileKillikstroked up her back, his eyes soft and approving on her face. “Ach,” he said, quiet. “Justthus.”

Louisafervently nodded, her eyes prickling, and soon she was seated across fromRosaat the nearest table, reading contracts and signing papers, whileKillikpeered over her shoulder.WatchingasLouisaswore to care forSune, to treat him as her own, to appoint him as her lawful son and heir.

Shecouldn’t help a reflexive sniff asSunesigned the papers too, and then flashed her a careful, stunning smile.Andonce it was all settled,Killikgave an approving pat toLouisa’scheek, and snatched the envelope into his hand.

“Ishall take this to your lawyer myself, and place it with your file,” he said. “Andthen we shall meet back at the camp, and have a grandSkairevel in honour of all these gains, ach?”

AgrandSkairevel.Itstill didn’t feel real, but besideLouisaUlfarrsmiled and nodded, and signed his thanks towardKillik.WhileRosanodded too, beaming back and forth between them. “It’sbeen a very productive project,” she said, with satisfaction. “Thankyou for letting me be part of it.”

ButnowLouisa’seyes were prickling again, and she shook her head. “No, thankyou,Rosa,” she replied, her voice hitching. “Youdidn’t need to do any of this, and you’ve just been so, so generous.Itwas so good of you, and it’s meant so much to us.Allof us.Thankyou.”

Rosadismissed it with a careless flap of her hand, though her eyes looked bright, too. “It’struly my pleasure, sister,” she said. “Backwhen we first met, you were so kind to me, and helped me so much, whenIneeded it most.Youdidn’t blame me, or judge me, or ask for anything in return, andIjust” — she lurched towardLouisa, squeezed her tight — “Ijust wanted to return the favour.Thankyou, sister.”

Ohgods, nowLouisawas full-on weeping, the water streaking down her face, and she squeezedRosaback, and gulped into her shoulder. “Ihope you’ll keep coming by,” she said, between sniffles. “I’vereally loved working with you.”

Rosawas sniffling too, but when she backed away she was beaming again, and giving a decisive nod. “Ofcourse,” she said. “Wealso need to keep protecting you fromFilak, don’t we?Andbesides” — she drew herself taller — “you’ll need help setting up your new school!Weought to establish a new committee at once, don’t you think?Howabout theWolf-CampWildernessandWellnessEducationalColloquium?”

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