Page 91 of The Widow and the Orcs

Killiksniffed, and pursed his lips, and flipped his dagger in his fingers. “JusttheSkaiSummit,Iken,” he muttered, under his breath. “Oughtto be more than enough.”

Rosa’sdelight lit up her face, andLouisafelt her own smile widening, too — but she still wasn’t even fully following, damn it. “Soyou mean — we’ll host an event here?” she asked carefully. “And… invite people to attend?WhileSimonandMariaare here?”

Rosavigorously nodded, and she was already taking more notes, her quill streaking across the page. “Yes, exactly,” she replied. “Weinvite as manySkaias we can think of, and we’ll welcome orcs from all the clans, too.And” — another flourish from her quill — “we invite the town.Wewelcome them to come and tour an authentic orc camp, with tunnels and tree-houses and food and games and prizes!”

Louisa’sbrain was still lurching to catch up, though she was leaning forward in her chair, gripping at the table. “Andwe can help to prevent any fear-mongering fromRikard, too,” she said slowly. “Wegive people a chance to see the camp for themselves.”

Rosanodded again, her eyes dancing on her page of notes. “Andas you suggested, sister, it will be anexcellentaddition to our ongoing communications campaigns,” she said firmly. “We’vealready done plenty of in-person outreach in town, along with all our flyers and publications — so this is a logical next step, isn’t it?Invitingthem to experience orc culture and an orc community firsthand, and to show them that it’s not scary or intimidating.Toprove to them that they can have fun here, and besafe.”

Louisa’sheart skipped, whileRosafrowned up atKillik, and tapped her quill at her chin. “AndIthink it would be good for theSkai, too,” she added, quieter. “Somuch of your culture and history was lost in the war, and you ought to be supported in celebrating what you still have.Honouringit, and rebuilding it, and sharing it.Witheach other, and the other clans, and humans, too.”

Shesounded so earnest, so intent, andLouisa’sglance back atKillikfound him looking — thoughtful.Disarmed.Almost… hopeful.

“Andyou really think,”Louisaventured, “we can just… do that?Decidethat?Andmake sure it all happens whileSimonis here?”

She’dasked it toKillik, rather thanRosa, and she winced at the darkness again flickering through his eyes — but across the table,Rosasniffed, and snatched over a new sheet of paper. “Ofcourse we can,” she said crisply. “Simondoesn’t own your clan, does he?Ifanything,Ulfarr’shistory as aSkaileader goes backfarfurther than his.Andbesides” — her mouth curved into a dark little smile — “what kind of leader wouldSimonbe, to miss theSkaievent of the decade?Ormaybe even the century?”

Louisa’slaugh choked in her throat, and she shot another amused glance up atKillik, who was finally smiling, too. “Ka-esh,” he muttered, but it sounded almost indulgent. “No, he would not miss it,Iken.”

Well, then.Louisa’shopefulness simmered in her chest, and her hand foundKillik’s, squeezing it tight.Feelinghim squeeze back in return, even as his eyes flicked toward the door.TowardwhereUlfarrhad just come down, his head tilting as he strode toward them.

“Wolfought to hear this, also,”Killiksaid now, as he signed something towardUlfarr, and then waved him into a chair. “Mayhapyou could explain this again,Rosa?”

Itwas surprisingly polite, coming fromKillik, andUlfarrlooked surprised, too — but he willingly sat, and glanced warily between them.WhileRosadrew in a breath, straightened her notes, and then — toLouisa’sever-rising astonishment — launched into an in-depth presentation of the plan.Speakingwith startling clarity and enthusiasm, and even creating impromptu charts and diagrams as she went.

Bythe end of it,Ulfarrlooked thoroughly stunned, gazing blankly atRosa, and then atLouisa, and then atKillik, who had finally sunk himself into a chair. “Andyou wish for this, pup?”Ulfarrasked. “Youshould welcome this, for us?”

Killik’sthroat convulsed, but he twitched a brief, decisive nod. “Ach,Wolf,” he said. “Iwould.”

Ulfarrnodded too, and his gaze slid back towardLouisa. “Andyou,Louisa?” he asked, slower. “ThisSummitwould be on your land.Itwould show you as an ally to orcs, far beyond all the rest you have yet done.Itmay worsen this strife from your neighbour, and make you more of a target for him.Ormayhap for other lords and powerful humans, also.”

Right.Louisagrimaced, because he wasn’t wrong about that — and he reached across the table, and grasped her hand in his. “Youhave already done so much for us,Louisa,” he said. “Forour kin, and for the camp, and for — for me.Ido not wish to ask you to bear more risk or pain or fear on our behalf — or to draw this risk upon the kin you care for.Thisis your land, and your home, and you do not owe us this — or aught else.Youdonot.”

Louisaswallowed, searchingUlfarr’seyes, feeling that gentle caress of his fingers on her hand. “Soif you do not fully wish for this,Louisa,” he continued, “Ido not, either.Yourwelfare and your safety are of the utmost worth to us, and no matter what you choose upon this, we shall uphold you, with all our strength.”

Heglanced towardKillik, as if including him in that statement, too — and thoughLouisacouldn’t quite readKillik’sexpression, he gave a curt nod.Andthen raised his brows toward her, as if saying,So?Whatdo you decide?

AndasLouisablinked between them, it again felt like it had at the mountain, when she’d prayed toSkai-kesh.Whenthat certainty, that peace, had settled itself upon her, and sunk deep into her bones.Ulfarrwas considering her needs, and asking her permission, and accepting her choice.Hewas recognizing her ownership of her land, and her responsibilities toward her people.Andhe was offering to uphold her and her choices.Toshare his strength with her.Toface this with her.

AndLouisa— wanted to face this.Shewanted to support the camp.Shewanted to keep helping the peopleLordScallhad harmed.Shewanted to keep making amends.Seekinghope, and healing, and peace.

Andmaybe — she shot another look atKillik— she wanted to keep proving it, too.Shewanted to stand tall with theWolfof theSkai.Andmaybe — maybe with his favourite pup, too.

Soshe squeezedUlfarr’shand, and drew in breath from the earth.Drewin that strength, that hope, that… peace.Hers.

“Yes,” she said, without a trace of hesitation in her voice. “Let’sdo it.”

46

Theystayed up late into the night, intensively discussing their plans for theSkaiSummit.Firstworking through a draft schedule, and then priorities for safety and security, and finally, a list of possible activities, games, and events.

“Whatkinds of games and activities would you consider traditionallySkai?”RosaaskedUlfarrandKillik, as her quill raced across what must have been her dozenth sheet of paper. “Somethingyour fathers would have done, maybe?Ortheir fathers?”

KillikandUlfarrexchanged a thoughtful look, and it wasUlfarrwho spoke first. “Knife-throwing, and tracking, and sparring-matches, always,” he said slowly. “AnySkaigathering ought to have a sparring tournament.But” — he grimaced — “we should not wish to frighten the humans with blood or wounds, either.”

ButKillik’smouth pursed, his head tilting. “Unlesswe could gain a healer for theSummit.ASkaihealer, mayhap.”

“Wait, there areSkaihealers?”Rosacut in, her voice sharp. “Who?Where?”

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