Page 24 of The Widow and the Orcs

“Ach, enough,” cut inKillik’sflat, impatient voice. “Enough, both of you!”

Louisastartled, andUlfarrdid too, both their heads snapping sideways.TowardwhereKillikhad leapt out of his chair, and was now stalking irritably toward them, and jabbing his dagger at the bed.

“Sit,” he snapped. “Bothof you.Now.Andwe shall have a lesson, ach?”

Therewasn’t even a thought of disobeying, amidst the frantic mess swarmingLouisa’sthoughts, and she twitched a nod, stumbling toward the bed.AndUlfarrobeyed too, his big body sagging heavily down beside her, whileKillikbegan pacing back and forth before them, his dagger now aiming erratically between their faces.

“First, woman,” he said, with a frown towardLouisa, “if you wish to gain an orc’s trust, you cannot speak false to him upon your fear, or your grief, or your shame.Heshall never welcome this, or believe this as truth.Forhe can scent the truth of these feelings upon you!”

What?Louisablinked blankly up atKillik, who was looking alarmingly sincere, and jabbing his dagger toward her. “Almostall orcs can scent these,” he continued flatly. “Evenan orc with such weakened scenting asWolf’s.Andthis is even worse when the speaker’s scent shouts their truth as loud and clear as yours!Youwerenotglad whenWolfleft you last eve, this was notfine, and you yetreekof grief and shame upon this!”

Oh.Oh,no,Ulfarrcouldn’t possibly have smelled all that — but besideLouisa, he was rubbing at his nose, and not meeting her eyes.WhileKillikwhirled back towardUlfarr, and poked his dagger into his chest, hard enough that the tip pricked through the neatly tied laces of his tunic.

“Andyou,Wolf,” he snapped. “Youleft this woman alone in her bed last eve, without a word of kindness or farewell.Andafter this, she yet wrote you this pretty letter, and told you her truth, and welcomed you back here again!Whydo you not thank her, and seek to speak pretty words in return?Orif not this, at least offer her your own truth, before she decides you are not worth her time or forgiveness?!”

Hesounded genuinely irate, his eyes flashing onUlfarr’sdrawn face, and something swooped inLouisa’schest, catching in her throat.Killikwas — defending her?Supportingher?Takingher side?

Butyes, yes, he wasn’t backing down, his glinting eyes fixed toUlfarr.AndtoLouisa’songoing astonishment,Ulfarr— nodded.Nodded, even as his mouth contorted, his breaths heaving, his eyes angling dark and miserable towardLouisa’sface.

“I— thank you, for welcoming me here again,Louisa,” he said, with a quiet, stilted formality. “Andfor writing me this kind letter, also.Ideeply regret howIleft you, this past eve, andIshall seek to — make amends to you, upon this.”

Butgods, his voice, his eyes, the misery and the resignation coiling inLouisa’sgut, and she was already shaking her head, waving it away — whenKillik’sdagger swivelled back toward her, dangerously close to her throat. “Truth, woman,” he hissed. “Notthe pretty words you ken he wishes to hear.Heshould far rather hearyou, ach?”

You.Truth.Louisawinced, searchedUlfarr’swan face — but yes, yes, he was nodding again.Hewanted to hear…her.Hertruth.

Louisa’sheart pattered faster, her hands gripping clammy to her knees, but she drew in a shaky breath, let it out. “W-well,” she finally managed, into the choking silence. “I…IsupposeIwasquite upset when you left last night.Itbrought to mind a lot of thingsIthought —Ihoped —I’dforgotten.ThingsIthoughtIshould be — over, by now.”

Shecringed as she said it, her eyes fearful onUlfarr’sface, but he only nodded again, his swallow convulsing in his throat. “Ach,Louisa,” he said, hoarse. “Me— also,Iken.”

Itsettled something inLouisa’schest, because yes, yes,Ulfarrhad his own dark past, too.Anddid his have to do with… women?With… this?

ButLouisashoved that question aside, and hauled in another shaky breath.Searchedfor her own words, her own truth. “ButIstill — wanted you,Ulfarr,” she whispered. “Istill — do.Ijust —Ijust like you very much, and find you very attractive, and” — she dragged in more air, forced out the words — “Ireally still want to try to make this work, for the rest of our ten nights.Ifyou still do.Andnot just because ofKillikhelping me, but also because of — you.”

Hervoice sounded rushed, pleading, her eyes still frozen onUlfarr’sface.Becausewhat if he still balked at the ten nights?Atthe still-lingering truth that this was just a dealKillikhad made?Witha time limit, and a very significant payment at the end?

Andyes,Ulfarr’seyes briefly flicked toKillik, too — but then he exhaled, and met her eyes. “Ach,Louisa,” he said, softer than before. “Iyet long for you, also.Youare so lovely, and you have shown me such kindness, and your hunger scented so… so sweet.Itshould grant me deep joy, to yet spend the rest of these ten nights with you.”

Well.Louisacouldn’t stop her sudden, weepy smile toward him, and oh, he was smiling back, too.Slow, shy, tentative, but gods, it looked good on him, warming his rugged face, flickering like that in his eyes.Andwhen he glanced downwards, and carefully moved his hand toward hers, she willingly met it, clasping her clammy palm against his warm skin, squeezing tight.

Hishand squeezed back, his shoulders sagging even lower.AndLouisacouldn’t seem to speak, or look away, and she was distantly grateful whenKillikhuffed a satisfied grunt from where he was still standing before them.Andwhen she glanced up, he twitched an approving nod toward her — and then brought up his hand, and gave a brief, approving pat to her cheek.

Andwait, his other hand was pattingUlfarr’scheek, too, his still-clutched dagger-blade swaying dangerously close toUlfarr’seyes — but ifUlfarrnoticed, he didn’t seem at all concerned.Ifanything, he’d even tilted his head a little intoKillik’stouch, his eyes fluttering, his breath exhaling harsh.

“Good, both of you,”Killiksaid firmly. “Now, how did you begin this, last eve?Whateased you into this, to start?”

Louisafought to consider that, casting her thoughts backwards, to when it had felt most… easy, the night before.Beforethe awkwardness, and the embarrassment, and the mess.

“Well, we… talked,” she said, with a sidelong glance towardUlfarr. “About… other things.”

Shedidn’t miss the shift of gratefulness inUlfarr’seyes on hers, the heavy exhale as he twitched a nod.Whilebefore them,Killikgave an exasperated sigh, and again waved his dagger back and forth between them. “Thenspeak,” he snapped. “Ofmore…other things.Forthe love ofSkai-kesh.”

Right.Louisadrew down another breath, let it out shaky and slow. “Well,” she said, too quickly. “Um.What… what kinds of things do you enjoy,Ulfarr?Howdo you like to spend your spare time?”

Itcame out sounding high-pitched, wholly artificial, and she belatedly winced up towardKillik, who might not approve of her asking such personal questions, especially if they might risk touching upon the forbidden topic ofUlfarr’spast.Butthankfully,Killikdidn’t seem disconcerted, and he’d swung his imperious dagger back towardUlfarr, waiting for his answer.

Butfor an instant,Ulfarrlooked — blank.Confused.Asif the concept of enjoying something, liking something, was almost too foreign to grasp.ButLouisacould see him dragging in breath too, filling his huge chest, as he rubbed his free hand at his sweaty forehead.

“Ach,I—IkenIwork to serve and help my kin, and my — my son,” he replied, his voice stilted. “Withmuch — sparring.Scouting.Teaching.Hunting.Fighting.”

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