Page 31 of The Widow and the Orcs

Rikard’sface had drained of all colour, and he staggered further backwards, nearly careening into a tree behind him. “Youhave — no right, orc,” he snarled, though his mouth was trembling. “No—right, to be on this land.It’smy uncle’s land, my family’s land, andI’mstillLouisa’sheir!Whenshe dies, it will bemine!”

Thethought of it seized inLouisa’schest, but beside her,Killikonly kept smiling, as a soft growl purred through his teeth. “Ach, you ken?” he drawled. “Butwhat makes you believe she shall die beforeyou?”

Rikard’sbeady eyes dropped toKillik’sspinning daggers, and his throat convulsed, the sweat trickling down his brow. “Thisisunpardonable,Louisa,” he choked toward her. “You’llrue the day you ever allowed these vile monsters to —”

Killikcut him off with another step closer, his daggers still spinning as kept smiling, sharp and deadly. “Lastwarning, fool man,” he hissed.Youshall leave this land,now.Andyou shall never,evertouch this woman again.”

Rikard’smouth opened and closed, his eyes now intent onKillik’sspinning daggers — and thenKilliksnapped one to stillness, and lunged forward.NottouchingRikard, not even close — but it still drew a high-pitched yelp fromRikard’smouth, his hands flapping over his head.Andthen he finally staggered around and ran, slipping and stumbling as he went, whileKillik’sscornful laughter rang through the air.

“Faster, fool man,” he called. “Lestavile monstercatch you!”

Rikard’sreply over his shoulder sounded much like a wail, whileKilliklaughed again.Thesound light, almost merry, as if he’d never seen such an amusing sight in all his days.

Butwhen he spun back towardLouisa, his face had gone stark again.Hiseyes flashing black and deadly, his dagger still spinning in his hand. “Areyou hurt?” he demanded, in a voice that scraped up her spine. “Didhe harm you?”

Louisatwitched backwards, her heart still thundering in her chest, her hands reflexively rubbing at whereRikardhad gripped her arms. “N-no,” she managed. “I’m… fine.”

Theunnerving darkness inKillik’seyes didn’t falter, and he swept a slow, fluid step toward her. “Youare not,” he snarled. “Youyetreekof fear and hunger and weariness, woman.Whyhave you not eaten, or rested?Didyou not even sleep, last eve?”

Goodgods, this orc, andLouisa’smouth made a sound like a groan, or a sob. “No,” she choked. “No, actually,Ididn’t sleep last night.Becauseyou raged at me, and stole my knife, and threatened tokillme!AndnowRikard’scome here and done exactly the same thing, and now you’ve gone and just made it worse, andI—”

No, no, she was about to start weeping again, she was so damned tired, so sick of all of this.SickofKillik, ofRikard, ofLordScall, of poverty and failure and fear.Andshe wasn’t going to letKilliksee her blubbering again, she was going to leave, and try to find another way.Becausenow thatRikardhad seenKillik, had seenLouisawith an orc, gods only knew what he would do next…

“Ach, wait, woman,” cameKillik’sflat voice, and whenLouisablinked up again, he was standing before her, his body too tall, too close.Andthe darkness in his eyes had shifted into something else, something she couldn’t at all read.

“Idid not — threaten to kill you,” he said, clipped. “Iwould not, woman.”

What?Louisagaped at him, shaking her head, whileKillikstepped closer, his eyes glinting on hers. “Iwould not harm you,” he insisted. “Ihave made this vow with you, to the gain of all my kin.Andthus,Imust keep you safe.”

Louisa’slaugh escaped on its own, too loud and shrill, and no, no, now the water was spilling from her eyes, streaking down her cheeks. “Safe?” she echoed. “Youtold me you would bring medoom, ifIdared to so much as touch your precious wolf!Andnow this, and —”

Sheshook her head, dragged her shaky arm over her cursed leaking eyes, almost scraping her cheek with the rusty knife.Whilebefore her,Killiktwitched, and then snatched the knife from her hand.Andafter a brief, disapproving scowl down toward it, he hurled it away over his shoulder.

“Iwould not harm you,” he repeated, harder than before. “Lasteve,Iwas only…”

Butthen he grimaced, frowning beyond her, his breath exhaling harsh. “You… did well, last eve,” he said curtly. “YouhandledWolfwith care and kindness, and brought him pleasure, and joy, and peace.Thiswas all whatIasked of you, and you honoured your word in this, andIkenI…”

Hisvoice faded again, and he rubbed at his mouth, shook his head. “IkenIhave only ever witnessed him finding such joy thus,” he said thinly, “withme.”

Hewinced, his gaze briefly catchingLouisa’s, and looking almost… regretful.Almostapologetic, even.Thoughthis damn well wasn’t an actual apology, andLouisahad no right to feel even the slightest sympathy, none whatsoever.

“Well, in case you’ve forgotten,” she snapped back, “hewaswith you!Itwasyou in charge, and you telling him what to do.Yousetting it all up, and sorting it out, and guiding us both, and giving him that.Noneof that would have happened, without you!”

Hervoice was too sharp again, too tenuous in her heaving chest, and she half-expectedKillikto snarl and snap back, but instead, he… sighed.Nodded.Andfor an instant, his eyes on hers looked almost… grateful.

“Wolf… thanked me, when we met this morn,” he said, hoarse. “SaidIhad given him a great, great gift.Andthen he offered to kneel for me, and grant me whateverIwished.”

Oh.Andthat wasn’t,wasn’tjealousy, surging inLouisa’schest, coiling with the longing and relief — and before her,Killikrolled his eyes, and sighed again. “Butno,Idid not,” he said flatly. “Imade up some fool excuse, and sent him away.AndIshall keep spurning him, and fending him off, for these next eight nights.Butwhen they are done” — his eyes flashed — “Ishall have him weeping and screaming for me, beneath a ploughing he shall never forget.”

Right.Ofcourse.Andeven amidst the still-whispering jealousy,Louisaexhaled, her shoulders sagging.Andshe even rolled her eyes back toward him, earning what might — might — have been a twitch of a smile in return.

“Sonaught to fear, woman,”Killiksaid smoothly. “AndIshall speak to my kin upon thisRikard.Youken they are aware of all this, for we are well used to these fool lords raging against us, ach?Butwe shall take further care, and be sure to stay well away from his lands.Ach?”

Well.Louisa’sbody sagged a little more, her hand rubbing at her mouth. “Andwhat about youthreateningRikard?” she asked, though her voice was more tired than accusing. “Youtaunting him, and running him off like that?”

Killik’sgaze cut toward whereRikardhad gone, and he gave a careless shrug. “Whatabout this?” he asked. “Hewas on your land, and he touched you without your leave, and sought to harm you.Heought to be thanking me for not throwing my dagger into his eyeball instead.”

Louisashould not,not, have betrayed a smile at that, let alone the low lurch of warmth in her belly.Killikhad… defended her.Helpedher.Andhe was still here, studying her with something shifting, shimmering, in his dark eyes.

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