Page 42 of The Widow and the Orcs

Louisatried to ignore the fact that he was referring to possible invasions by humans like her — or perhapsLordRikard— and smiled back toward him. “Thatsounds very wise,” she replied. “Andwhat is that one for?”

Shewaved at the next open-walled structure up ahead, with what appeared to be a variety of chests and shelves — andRagnirapidly led their little group across the next bridge toward it, explaining how it was used to store food and goods.Andfinally, across another bridge, were the houses.Thehalf-dozen small, cozy little houses, tucked into trunks and leaves and branches… and all of them occupied by people.Notjust orcs, but women, and children, too.Families.

Andwhile that shouldn’t have been a surprise,Louisa’sastonishment kept rising higher asUlfarrandRagnimade multiple rounds of introductions.Asmall, dark-haired woman namedPollywas mated to a tall orc namedIgull, and not only were theyLeikr’sparents, butPollyhad a small, wide-eyed orcling on her hip, too.Anotherwoman namedAnniewas plump and blonde, and she laughed as she chased her equally plump orc toddler over the rope bridges.Anda smiling, white-haired woman namedFlorawas curled up in a clever rope swing with a bald, one-armed orc namedGalmr— who also turned out to beOski’sgrandfather.

Andthen, in the last tree-house, they met ahuman man.Aslim, smiling, sandy-haired man namedThomas, who’d been bustling about on his little platform, laying out strips of seasoned meat to dry in the sun.Andonce he’d whistled a tune across the clearing, he was soon joined by the rest of his family — a small, sandy-haired human boy namedAngus, and a burly, stern-faced orc namedElgr.

“Itis good of you to share your lands with us thus, woman,”ElgrtoldLouisa, in a deep, slow voice, as he settled his big arm aroundAngus’ shoulder. “Itmeans much to us, to have such a safe home for our mates and sons.”

Oneither side of him,ThomasandAngusaimed matching, stunning smiles towardLouisa, and something skipped in her chest as she smiled back. “I’mso glad it helps,” she said. “You’veall built a lovely camp here.”

ThomasandAngusboth beamed even brighter, and then pliedLouisaandJoanwith snacks of dried berries, and strips of delicious, honey-flavoured meat.Andonce they’d finished and said farewell, and climbed back down to the ground again,Louisastill felt slightly stunned, staring up at the circle of tree-houses high above.Theseorcs had truly built a life here.Acommunity.Ahome.

“Now, our tunnel toward the mountain is over there, but it’s not much to look at,”Ragnicheerfully cut in. “ButIken you’d like to see our underground common-room?Itstill needs work, but it’s an important part of the camp, too.”

Louisatook a deep, bracing breath, and nodded — but then caught sight ofJoan, whose mouth was hanging open. “Really?” she asked, high-pitched. “Underground?Intoa place that’s likely to fall on our heads at any moment?”

Butbeside her,Halthorrgave a broad, reassuring smile, and swept into a graceful bow. “Iswear to you, woman,” he said, his hand over his heart, “naught shall fall upon your pretty head whilstIam with you, ach?”

Joanrolled her eyes, but then sighed, and threw up her hands. “Fine, let’s go,” she snapped. “Yourealize it might kill you too, though.”

ButHalthorrjust kept grinning, and wavedJoanahead of him with a flourish.Pastthe edge of the clearing, and toward a tall, jagged wall of stone.AndwhenHalthorrandRagnipulled on a jut of rock, a large, square section of the stone drew out, as if it was an actualdoor.

Louisagasped, her eyes meetingJoan’sequally shocked face, whileRagniducked through the door, and waved them into the darkness.AndUlfarr’shand was still onLouisa’sback, gently guiding her forward, though his eyes had flicked backwards, towardRagni’scompanionsKoriandFasti.

“Youtwo stay here and stand guard, ach?” he told them. “Andcall if aught is amiss.”

BothKoriandFastinodded, their expressions solemn but pleased.AndasUlfarrguidedLouisatoward the cave’s dark opening, it occurred to her that whileUlfarrhadn’t often spoken during the tour, instead allowingRagnito take the lead, he still seemed very much in charge, somehow.Andeven now, as they stepped into the cave,Ulfarrwas again signing something toRagni— andRagniaccordingly nodded and spun around, snatched something from the wall, and blazed it into light.

Itwas a torch,Louisarealized, squinting in the sudden light — and then she stilled all over, blinking around at… the room.Thelarge, stone-walled underground room, with a smooth polished stone floor, a huge stone fireplace, and a variety of furniture scattered about.Longwooden tables and benches, shelves and chairs, and even what appeared to be a few fur-covered beds, partially obscured behind a large, hanging red curtain.

“Thisis our common-room,”Ragniproudly announced, with a sweeping wave of his hand. “Itis where we oft come to rest and play, and also our safe place to stay whenever we are under threat.Andwhen the rest of the tunnels are finally dug” — he waved at the bare stone walls around them — “they shall lead into other rooms, also.”

Louisawas struck truly speechless by this point, gaping at this impossible room, and then atUlfarr’sface.Atwhere he was twitching another small smile toward her, his hand squeezing against hers.

“Mayhapnow this is too much, ach?” he asked, quiet. “Iken you did not expect to find all this here.”

ButLouisaflapped her hand toward him, and shook her head, blinking back the prickling behind her eyes.Becausesuddenly it just felt — right.Right, somehow, that this camp should be here, on this land.

Because— how many orcs hadLordScallkilled, in that endless war?Howmuch grief and pain had he caused, whenLouisahad been powerless to do anything about it?Andnow — nowLordScallwas dead, and the orcs were still here.Louisawas still here, usingLordScall’sland to help the people he’d harmed.Givingthem… peace.

“No,I’mglad it’s here,” she toldUlfarr, and she meant it. “Imean, yes, it is definitely more thanIexpected, but none of it is beyond whatKillik’scontract said, either.Andit’s — so lovely.Iappreciate how it’s camouflaged, and how it respects the natural surroundings so well.AndI’mso glad you have such a lovely place to call home.You” — she drew in a deep breath — “you deserve it, sweetheart.”

Ulfarr’shand spasmed against hers, and his eyes flicked past her, toward whereHalthorrandJoanwere now standing withRagniby the fireplace. “Thisis so kind of you,Louisa,” he said, hoarse. “ButI—Ido not make my own home here.Imust needs yet live back at the mountain, forIam not —”

Hebroke off, grimacing, his eyes darting back toward the fireplace. “Butach, it is a good home for them,” he added, faster than before. “Andit shall be even better and safer once the tunnels are dug, most of all for our orclings.”

Itwas a clear bid to change the subject, and despite the sudden surging question — why wasn’tUlfarrable to live here? —Louisaattempted to nod, to follow. “Er, so why haven’t you dug the tunnels yet, then?” she asked. “Isit a matter of not having the workers to manage the job?”

Ulfarrshook his head, his shoulders sagging. “Itis not the workers we lack, but the guidance, and the safety,” he replied. “TheKa-esh are the only orcs amongst us who can guide this, but they shall not even grant us a date to visit.HelpingtheSkaiis not their —”

Hebroke off again, huffing a heavy sigh, his eyes squeezing shut.Suggestingthat this was something deeply important to him — indeed, something that again had him speaking with confidence and purpose and ease.SoLouisaforced her scattered thoughts to keep following, to draw together everything she remembered about theKa-esh clan.Killik’sobvious derision toward them, and that sweet clever girlRosashe’d helped…

“WhataboutRosa?”Louisaasked, searchingUlfarr’sface. “Isshe still living at your mountain?Maybeshe would be able to help, somehow?”

Ulfarr’sglance towardLouisawas surprised, but he nodded. “Ach, she yet lives there,” he said, “and we did seek help from her and her mate, but they were not able to sway their kin upon this, either.”

Oh.Louisagrimaced, and squeezedUlfarr’shand. “I’mso sorry to hear that, sweetheart,” she told him. “IfIknew a geologist,Iwould march them off to you at once.”

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