Page 39 of The Widow and the Orcs

Ulfarr’smouth contorted, his eyes dropping, clearly betraying the truth inKillik’swords — and wait, was this whyKillikhad directed them the way he had, too?OrderingLouisaintoUlfarr’slap, wanting her to face him, giving them all those commands.NotbecauseKillikhad actually wanted to see her, or please her, but because… because he hadn’t wanted her trying to touchUlfarr.Hehadn’t wanted her to bringUlfarrpain.

“Oh,”Louisamanaged, over the sudden lump in her throat. “Well.I— hope you heal quickly,Ulfarr, andI’msorryI— didn’t realize.Istill had — such a lovely time.Thankyou.”

Therewas only silence fromUlfarr, another twisting grimace on his mouth, and finallyLouisajerked away, groping for her clothes, yanking them on with shaking hands.Becausesuddenly she just needed to leave, needed to be away from him, from this, from them.Sevennights, only seven more nights, now, and how did she keep forgetting that?Andeven ifKillikwasn’t yelling and raging this time, he’d still made his point just as loudly, madeLouisa’splace just as clear.Nomatter how many hunting trips he took her on, no matter how much pleasure he gave her, he still only cared aboutUlfarr.Thiswas only a deal, only about gaining her land, her freedom, her future.Andthat was all.

Buteven asLouisalurched up, her eyes fixed on the hayloft’s ladder, something — grasped her.Somethinghot and powerful and — familiar, curling around her wrist.

Louisaflinched, whipped around toward it — but she was already relaxing again, because it was onlyUlfarr.Andwhen he blanched, and hurriedly released her wrist, she even clutched for his hand again, squeezing it tightly in hers.Becauseshe — she likedUlfarrtouching her.ShewantedUlfarrtouching her.Ulfarrwas… safe.

“Whatis it, sweetheart?” she asked him, searching his eyes. “Isthere anything else you need?”

Ulfarr’sbig shoulders heaved, his pained eyes rapidly blinking on hers. “Ionly —” he rasped, wincing, shaking his head. “Iwished to say — if you should ever wish to — to visit our camp,Ishould be most honoured to — take you there.Showyou.”

Really?Louisa’seyes widened, as a slow, genuine smile pulled at her mouth. “That’s— very thoughtful of you,” she said. “Iwould — love that.Ofcourse.Anytime.”

Ulfarr’sbreath exhaled, his stiff shoulders sagging, and he smiled back toward her, small but true, the warmth shimmering in his eyes.Andthen he broughtLouisa’shand to his mouth, pressing a soft, sweet kiss against it.Andfor a breath, she only wanted to throw herself at him, curl back up in his strong safe arms, forgetKillik, forget everything…

Butshe could still feelKillikbehind her, could almost taste his rapidly rising anger, scraping against her skin.Becauseshe surely wasn’t supposed to have agreed to such a thing withUlfarr, this was only supposed to be seven more nights, right?

Butshe couldn’t seem to take it back, couldn’t bear to break that hopeful smile onUlfarr’sface.Andfinally she twitched backwards, away, drawing her hand out ofUlfarr’swarm grip, away from his soft sweet mouth.Away, pastKillik, past his frowning, disapproving eyes, scramble down the ladder, away…

AndthoughLouisakept her head bowed as she went, she could still feelKillik’seyes, burning into her, dragging down her back with seething, unsettling certainty.

He’smine, they said, without speaking a word at all.Sevenmore nights, and thenIshall never set eyes upon you again.

20

Louisawoke the next morning to the sight of a frantic, flush-facedGladys, bursting into her bedroom.

“Missus!” she yelped, her voice grating throughLouisa’ssluggish thoughts. “There’san orc at the kitchen door!”

Therewas an orc at the door.Louisa’sheart skipped, and she shoved up in bed, rubbing at her eyes. “Whichone?” she demanded, too sharp. “Andwhat does he want?”

“Heasked foryou!”Gladyswailed, jabbing a finger towardLouisain the bed. “Andit’s the one who grew the tree-trunk in his trousers!”

Oh.Ulfarr.Ulfarrwas here?Askingfor her?Andwait, maybe it was an emergency, maybe something had happened, andLouisascrambled out of bed, and threw on the first dress she could reach, before haphazardly pinning up her messy hair, and splashing her face with cold water.She’dagain slept terribly, taunted by dreams of blood and mockery and furious orcs, and nowUlfarrwas here —

Shenearly tripped as she raced down the stairs, sprinting past a blinkingJoanin the corridor, and a terrified-lookingElisein the kitchen.Andwhen she threw the door open, her chest heaving, there was indeed —Ulfarr.Hishuge, fully clothed body nearly filling the entire doorframe, his hand rubbing awkwardly at his neck.

“Ach,Louisa,” he said, with a brief, uneasy glance toward the kitchen beyond her. “I— wished to ask — if you might yet wish to — come to the camp.Withme.”

Hewanted to go visit the camp — now?Andfor an instant,Louisacould only stare at him, still dragging for breath, her heart clanging wildly in her chest.Whilebefore her,Ulfarr’salready-flushed face seemed to go even redder, and he winced, and lurched a step backwards.

“ButIken —Imayhap — misunderstood,” he said, rushed and hoarse. “Iought to have first — sent word.Iam — sorry,I—”

Butwait, no, no, andLouisajolted forward, clutched his stiff hand in hers. “No, of course,” she replied, too quickly. “I’dbe delighted to.Please.Justgive me a moment, whileI—”

Tellmy staff, she’d been about to say, but when she glanced over her shoulder, she found all three of them standing assembled behind her, and staring at her. “Notto intrude, missus,” saidGladys, curling her lip, “butIdon’t think it’s particularly… wise, to be going out alone and unchaperoned with an orc, is it?”

Unchaperoned?Goodgods, as ifLouisawas a blushing debutante, and she shot an incredulous look atGladys, even asUlfarrcleared his throat from the doorway. “Ihad… thought of this,” he said. “SoIaskedHalthorrto come, also.”

Wait.He’dinvitedHalthorr?Asachaperone?Andyes, yes,Louisa’sdarting glance into the yard beyondUlfarrfoundHalthorrpoking his head out from behind a nearby tree, and giving her a cheerful wave.Andas she blinked back toward him, there was the strangest urge to laugh, and to hurl herself intoUlfarr’sarms, and squeeze him as tightly as she could, while fondly informing him that an orc was truly the worst possible chaperone, but he was so sweet to think of her comfort, and…

“I’llgo,” cut in a grim voice, and whenLouisaglanced over, it wasJoan, a look of weary resignation in her dark eyes.Whilebeside her,Elisegasped, her hand clapping over her mouth — and at the sight of it,Louisa’smuddled brain jolted into clarity again.Shestill didn’t want to upset or frighten her staff, no — but she’d also somehow decided, without deciding at all, that she wanted to be honest about this.Maybejust because ofUlfarr, coming straight up to her door like this, just as he’d promised, without demand or complaint.

“Ifyou’re really willing to come, that would be lovely,Joan,”Louisasaid, as steadily as she could. “AndIknowUlfarrwill take very good care of us.Right, sweetheart?”

Ulfarr’seyes widened, while behindLouisa, there were several affronted gasps — but oh, it had been worth it, becauseUlfarr’smouth softened, his eyes shimmering into something warm, almost reverent. “Ach, always,Louisa,” he murmured, as he gently clasped her hand, and brought it to his mouth. “Itshould be a great honour.”

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