Page 63 of The Widow and the Orcs

ButdespiteLouisa’sever-rising consternation, she again allowed herself to be guided along, up toward what indeed turned out to be a schoolroom.Abusy, full-on schoolroom, outfitted with bright artwork, toys, and books, and occupied by several dozen young orcs of all ages.Theywere currently in the midst of what appeared to be a loud, enthusiastic drumming lesson, led by two drummers — a bulky, smiling orc, and a beautifully dressedEziranwoman with multiple gold beads in her tightly braided hair.

“Oh, you’reLouisa!” the woman said, onceJulehad waved her over, and introduced her asGeva, the school’s director. “We’vebeen dodging impertinent questions about you for what feels like an age now!I’msure you’ve heard all aboutKillik’swork here, have you?He’ssuch a wonderful teacher — andUlfarr, too.Theorclings absolutely adore them both.”

Louisawas again stunned into blank silence, because no, no, she hadn’t known there was an actual school here, because they weren’t together, they weren’t… mates.Thiswas only for the deal, only for five more nights, andKillikhad only wanted to see her in a week.Andgods, she wasn’t even supposed to be here, and what wasKillikgoing to say — and something spasmed in her throat, even as she attempted a jerky, too-late nod.

“It—I’mso glad to hear it,” she managed. “Itlooks like such a lovely little school.Whatkinds of subjects do you teach?”

Thankfully, this led to an in-depth discussion of the school’s curriculum, including a list of all the subjectsKillikandUlfarrapparently taught, which included sparring, climbing, agility training, and hunting.Andeven asLouisakept the smile on her face, kept asking what she hoped were appropriate questions, that tightness kept worsening in her throat, clenching in her belly, too.Sheshouldn’t be here.Sheshouldn’t be giving these lovely, friendly women the wrong impression.Afterthis, she would probably never see them again…

Shewas deeply grateful when they finally said farewell, andRosawaved her andJuleout of the room. “Nexton theNewMateExperienceis the nursery!”Rosasaid brightly. “Andour sons are staying there this afternoon, so you can meet them, too!”

Theirsons?Louisa’sbelly clenched again, but she nodded, and soon found herself in a cozy, well-appointed nursery.Itwas apparently run by a group of caretakers from theBautulclan, orcs and women both — and they were caring for perhaps a dozen young orcs, includingRosaandJule’stiny, adorable sons.Andyes,JuleandRosaapparently both had two orc sons —each— andLouisafelt almost dizzy as she watched their small grey bodies eagerly clinging to their mothers.Herfriends had… orc sons.Twoeach.

“ThisisTengil, andTykkr,”JuletoldLouisa, as she hoisted them on each hip. “Canyou say hello toLouisa,Tengil?”

Julesmiled toward the older of her two sons — he might have been around three years old — and he solemnly nodded towardLouisa, and even put his little clawed hand over his heart. “Hewwo,Woo-isa,” he said solemnly. “Wewe-come you to our home.”

Oh, gods, he was so adorable it hurt, andLouisaput her own hand to her heart, and bowed back toward him. “Thankyou,Tengil,” she said thickly. “It’sso good to meet you.Andyou,Tykkr.”

Tykkrjust gazed at her with his huge baby eyes, so impossibly bright in his plump baby face, andLouisahad to force herself to breathe, and to turn towardRosa’ssons, too.Theywere namedThorinandSamuel, and they were just as painfully adorable, clinging to their mother with their tiny orc claws.

“They’rejust the absolute sweetest,”Louisasaid toRosaandJule, her voice only slightly cracking. “Myheartfelt congratulations.Toboth of you.”

BothJuleandRosasmiled and waved it away, but even asLouisasmiled too, her throat felt even tighter, and a distant ache had begun pulsing behind her eyes.Becauseshe’d never told eitherRosaorJuleabout her inability to have children, and while neither of them said it, she could still feel the silent inevitable questions, dangling too powerfully between them.Doyou want children?Whenwill you have them?Willyou have them withKillik…

“Couldwe go seeSunenext?”Louisaasked, through her constricted throat. “I’dlove to see how he’s faring.”

BothJuleandRosawillingly agreed, and soon they were back in the corridors again, and heading downwards.WhileLouisafought to find her breath, to settle her whirling, shouting thoughts.Sheneeded to just get through this, and leave first thing in the morning.Fivemore nights, that was all…

Itwas a relief to finally reach the sickroom, which was situated in what seemed to be the middle area of the mountain.Itwas large, clean, and well-appointed, with beds separated by tall dividers, and multiple orcs resting in the beds.AndLouisa’seyes instantly caught onSune, lying on a nearby bed with his leg outstretched, and his two friends sitting on either side of him, their heads bent together.

Theyall glanced up asLouisaapproached, and then the green orc —Timo, his name had been — leapt to his feet, and gave a bow towardLouisa. “Pleaseforgive my rudeness when first we met, woman,” he said. “IamTimoofClanGrisk, and we thank you for keepingSunesafe, and bringing him back to us.Heis already much healed, ach?”

Louisa’sshoulders sagged, the tightness loosening in her chest, and she smiled towardTimo, and towardSunein the bed, too. “I’mso glad to hear it,” she said, glancing down toward whereSune’sleg did look much improved, the trap’s awful cuts now almost —fully healed?!“You’relooking — so much better?”

Shecouldn’t quite hide the disbelief in her voice, and in returnSuneangled a brief glance across the room, toward where another new orc — a big, heavily scarred fellow — was striding over toward them, and nodding curtly towardLouisa. “Itwas a good thing you brought him,Skai, and kept him off his leg,” he said, in a clipped, matter-of-fact voice. “Itwould have eventually healed on its own, but he’d never have walked properly again.Butnow thatI’vefixed the bone fracture, and healed together all the torn tissues around it, he should be as good as new within a few days.”

Oh.Well.Louisa’sconfusion studded through with a sharp, sinking gratefulness, and she let out a shaky, relieved exhale. “Thankyou so much,” she told him. “Thatis — truly miraculous work, sir.Isthere some kind of — billIought to pay for your services?”

Shefought down her wince at the thought — she’d have to dig intoKillik’sfinal payment to cover it — but the orc scoffed and waved it away. “CallmeEfterar,” he replied. “Andwe don’t take payments here.But” — he darted a wry look atSune— “Ido expect you to stay put,Sune, so no running off on that leg, unless you want to be knocked out for the day.”

Withthat, thisEfterarturned and strode off again, leavingSunefrowning resentfully after him.ButTimoand the girl exchanged a decisive, meaningful look, andTimoclaspedSune’sslack hand, as the girl gripped at his shoulder.WhileSunegave aKillik-like roll of his eyes, followed by a brief, incomprehensible sign of his hand, and a jerk of his head at —Louisa?

“Oh, of course,” the girl said quickly, as she leapt to her feet and lurched towardLouisa. “Ihaven’t introduced myself either, haveI?I’mCecily, and it was so lovely of you to helpSune, and defend him like you did.Ifthere’s anything you need during your visit, just let me know, thoughI’msureJuleandRosahave been taking good care of you, and…”

Hervoice trailed off, her eyes darting uneasily betweenJuleandRosa, and then narrowing as they settled back onLouisa.Orwait, damn it, onLouisa’sstill-filthyclothes.Whichshe’d entirely forgotten about, and which she’d just worn while traipsing around on a full tour ofOrcMountain, meeting gods knew how many people, and making them think this ratty, grimy woman wasKillik’smate.

“Look, no judgement, because you’re obviously a helpless fashion disaster of aSkai, just like him,” thisCecilysaid now, with an irritated wave of her hand toward whereSunewas glowering at her from the bed. “But— you two!Whyhaven’t you offered her a bath?Ortaken her to the shop for a new outfit?”

Shewas glaring betweenJuleandRosa, both of whom had blinked at each other, and then glanced down atLouisa’sensemble, as if they’d just noticed it, too. “Damnit,Icompletely forgot,”Julesaid, with a wry, apologetic grimace. “Sosorry, sister.”

Rosanodded too, looking deeply chagrined, while before them,Cecilygave a smug smile, and pulled herself up straighter. “Well, fortunately, you’ve now found the rightAsh-Kai,” she said firmly. “Nowlet’s get you a properOrcMountainmakeover!”

31

TheOrcMountainMakeover, it turned out, was just as overwhelming as theOrcMountainNewMateExperience.

Itbegan with an admittedly much-needed bath in a huge heated pool, whileJule,Rosa, andCecilystood guard outside the door.AndonceLouisahad dried off, wrapping herself in the huge towelCecilyhad fetched,Cecilybegan what felt like an attack on her wet, messy hair, plying it with a light oil, and then detangling it with a wide-toothed comb.Andthen, explaining her process as she went, she twisted it up with two long, pointed crossed hairpins, not unlike howKillikwore his daggers.

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