Page 89 of The Widow and the Orcs

Andwhile it was a dirty, sweaty job, working withKillikagain turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable.Perhapsbecause he again pointed out tracks and nests and burrows toLouisaas they went, and guided her through any tricky terrain, and even helped her hunt a rabbit to eat for lunch.Andperhaps also because he didn’t balk at her various questions about the camp, or building thekofis, or even aboutSune.

“Ach,Sunecanspeak aloud, if he wishes,”Killiktold her, when she tentatively asked. “Buthe does not oft wish to, and we have no wish to force this.Ourkin ought to learn to sign instead, andWolfandIhave sought to uphold this.Bothin our school, and throughout the mountain.”

Itwas very generous of them, toLouisa’smind — but when she toldKillikso, he only huffed a laugh, and shook his head. “Ach, you ken not howIhave suffered for this,” he said wryly. “ThatRosawent and formed aSocietyforSkaiSigningScholarshipandDissemination, and has not ceased nattering me over it since!Asif she has not yet granted me enough grief with herOrcMountainEducationalCongress!”

Louisalaughed, earning an aggravated roll ofKillik’seyes toward her.Buther thoughts were still caught onSune, and on another question that had been vaguely nagging at her ever sinceSunehad first shown up at her door.

“DidSuneever tell you,” she began, careful, “why he ended up onRikard’sproperty in the first place?Washe looking for you andUlfarr?”

Killikhuffed a laugh, and shook his head. “No, he well knew where we went,” he replied. “Hecame there to look foryou.Hewished to face the woman who willstealWolfaway from us, he said.”

Louisa’sbreath caught, her eyes widening onKillik’sface, because —Sunehadn’t really thought that, had he?Andwhy wasKilliktelling her this?Washe — was this another test, somehow?Anotherchallenge?

“Ihope you — clarified that for him, then,” she said, a little too stiffly. “Idid try to tell him myself, too.Iknow how muchUlfarrneeds you, and loves you.Bothof you.”

Killikshot her a brief, searching look, and then jerked a dismissive, too-casual shrug.Andblinking back at him,Louisawas again suddenly, bizarrely reminded ofSune.Andof the waySunehad looked, the way he’d answered, when she’d told him she knewKillikcared for him.Maybe.I’mnot sure.

“Oh, right,Iforgot,Ulfarrwould never wantyou,”Louisadrawled, in her best attempt at mimickingKillik’susual mocking voice. “Hedoesn’t like you atall,Killik.That’swhy he’s always watching you, and doting on you, and talking about you.Praisingyour hunger and your wisdom and your loyalty.Callingyou hisfierce lusty pup, theSkai’sfinest weapons wielder, with yourstrongSkaiseed.”

Thederision was far too strong in her voice, ringing out between them.Andin return, that might have been a quiver, rippling upKillik’slean body beside her — soLouisahuffed a low laugh, and elbowed him in the side. “Gods, didn’t you hear your wolf just this morning,” she added, “when he scolded me for dishonouring you?Andhad you punish me by holding me upside-down, and jamming yourself down my throat?”

Thatwas definitely a quiver fromKillikthis time, and then a hoarse little laugh. “Ach, this was almost as he was… before,” he replied, quiet. “Asif he was… theWolfof theSkaiagain.Socalm and settled and easy, you near forget he has teeth — until he spins around andslaughtersyou.”

Louisa’sbreath caught, even as a smile quirked at her mouth. “Justlike his favourite pup, right?” she said lightly. “ButI’m— glad to hear it,Killik.And” — her smile faded, her eyes intent on his face — “you know, he really is lucky to have you.”

Itcame out sounding wistful, enough thatKillikshot a narrow glance toward her.Andthough she braced herself for some kind of mockery, he only gave a low exhale, a jerky shrug of his shoulder. “Ach, the luck is all mine,” he replied. “Wolfsaved me, whenIneeded him most.ThusIshall never cease upholding him, not until he asks this of me.Andmayhap” — a bitter little laugh — “mayhap not even then.”

Louisastudied him for another long, silent moment, her head slowly tilting.DidKillikreally still thinkUlfarrwould stop wanting that?Stopwantinghim?MaybethatUlfarrwould finally heal, and move on with that new son, and leaveKillikbehind waiting and longing, like a lost little pup whose owner had forgotten him…

Louisaswallowed, opened her mouth — butKillikhad stalked off up ahead, without looking back.Andas she followed him back toward the camp, the longing and the determination settled deeper into her belly.Sheneeded to do this.Fixthis.ForKillik, forSune, forUlfarr.Forherself.

Soshe threw herself into the rest of the day’s work with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.HelpingKilliksort and stack all the wood they’d hauled, and then consulting with him andThomason the best place for a garden, and the latrine.Andthen she did some braiding withFloraandGalmr, during which she learned how to knot ropes for ladders and hammocks, and even managed to make a hammock forSune’snewkofi.Andfinally, she worked withLeikrand his little friends to clear rocks from the clearing, and add them to the firepit.Justdoing whateverKilliksaid needed to be done, without question or complaint, until the sun hung low on the horizon.

ButonceKillikhad climbed high into the oak tree withElgrandIgull, finally setting the bones of the newkofiin place,Louisafound herself wiping her sweaty forehead, and blinking around at it all.Becauseyes, the camp already looked better, tidier, the clearing more open and welcoming.AndSune’skofiwas almost finished, now, a cozy little bough-covered hut against the tree, withLouisa’snew hammock hanging outside.

But.Evenif they finished it all, the newkofiand the garden and the latrine, would it be… enough?Surelyit would help, of course, butSimonwas coming here to judgeUlfarr, not the state of his camp.Right?

Louisatwitched asUlfarrhimself slid down the rope fromSune’snewkofi, his face and chest covered in a sheen of sweat. “Ach,Louisa,” he said, as he settled his warm hand against her back. “Youmust be weary, for you have done so much for us today.Ithank you, yet again.”

Heleaned over, pressed a kiss to her hair, andLouisawillingly sank against him, inhaled the sweaty-sweet scent of him.Anddrew up the question she didn’t want to ask, but…

“Whatdo you thinkSimonwill really be… looking for, when he comes?” she ventured, with a wince. “What’smost likely to sway his opinion of you?His… judgement?”

Ulfarr’sbody stiffened, andLouisacould hear the sudden rapid thud of his heartbeat, too loud against her ear. “WhenSimonfirst cast judgement upon me,” he replied, halting, “he saidImust earn his reward.Imust work for our clan, and our kin, untilIagain gain his trust.”

Right.Andthe camp was work, yes, it was helping theSkai, helpingUlfarr’skin… but surelySimonwould want to see more than that.Hewould want to see… what?Agood show,Killikhad said.Ulfarrhad to earn this, gain his trust…

Buthow?Whatelse could they do?Whatcould show such an intangible thing?Whatwould be sure to be… enough?

“Wolf!” hissed a voice from above, and whenLouisaglanced over, it wasRagni, furiously signing from his watch-tree, and waving toward the south.Andin return,Ulfarrjerked around to look, frowning, while the rest of the camp went suddenly, curiously still.Exceptfor the faint flashes of blades being drawn, andLouisacould seeKillikslipping down from the oak tree, landing in a silent low crouch.Signingswiftly towardRagni, who signed back into the forest, and then back atKillik.Whostared for an instant, and then let out — a groan?

“We’rehere to seeLouisa,” called a voice, a familiar voice, ringing high and clear through the trees. “Couldyou let her know we’re here?”

Louisastartled, and then lurched forward, jogging across the clearing toward the voice.Towardwhere — wait — there was an entire group of orcs, climbing up out of the tunnel that led to the mountain.Andat the front of them, beaming brightly towardLouisa, was —Rosa.

“Wewanted to accept your invitation to come visit your new camp,”Rosaannounced. “Andmore importantly” — she drew herself up straighter — “we’re here to help you save it.”

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