Page 60 of The Widow and the Orcs

ButthenSunetwisted around to look at her, and rapidly waved for his friends to stop.Followedby more signs, his hands flying fluid and purposeful, still too fast to follow — untilSuneelbowedTimo, and then nodded purposefully back towardLouisa.Asif saying,Tellher.

Timojerked a nod, and then shot a distracted glance towardLouisa. “Sunesays to put the horses in the stable for the night,” he said hoarsely, as he pointed toward one of the nearest outbuildings. “Theyshall be safe there.Andwhilst you do this, we shall send someone to meet you, and welcome you for your stay.”

Herstay?Louisablinked at him, atSune, and then grimaced, shook her head. “Look,Idon’t want to — impose, or stay any longer than necessary,” she replied. “ButIneed to make sure you’re safe,Sune, and that you get proper care, and —”

ButSunegave a ratherKillik-like roll of his eyes, and again waved toward his friend, who drew in a breath, metLouisa’seyes. “Ach,Suneis safe now,” he told her. “Ourhealer is the best in the realm, and shall do all he can for him.Weshall take good care of him, also.”

Louisa’sheart was still thumping, her eyes darting warily between them — butSuneagain caught her eyes, and gave an irritated wave toward the stable.Andthen signed something else, sharp and decisive, whileTimowinced, and drew in a breath.

“Sunesays you shall stay,” he said. “Youshall settle yourself, and wait forKillikandUlfarrto come for you.Youshall” — he twitched a faint smile toward her — “make our mountain yourhome.”

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Youshall make our mountain your home.

Thosewords banged and echoed throughLouisa’shead as she guidedMaxandMayinto the stable, and settled them into an empty stall.Thestable was clean and dry, with several other horses in it, and it felt bizarrely unreal to be taking offMaxandMay’stack, brushing them down, preparing for a visit toOrcMountain.AplaceSunehad told her to make… herhome.

Butno.No.Hesurely hadn’t meant it like that.Louisawas only reading into it, and feeling unsettled, nervous, unprepared.Shehadn’t at all intended to stay here,Killikhad only wanted to see her in a week, andUlfarrhadn’t even wanted her to meetSune… but what the hell else was she supposed to do?Shewas trapped here now, and her only choice was to keep going, right?

Butgods, she hadn’t properly anticipated it whatsoever, and she frowned down at her clothes as she stepped out of the stable.Alongwith the ash and dust from her morning stove-cleaning project, her shabby work dress was now covered with dirt and straw, and she looked abominably filthy, not at all ready to meet —

Andthen she stumbled straight into someone new, standing just outside the stable.Someonetall and dark-haired and capable-looking, wearing a men’s tunic and trousers, and looking — familiar?

“Louisa!” the newcomer exclaimed, grinning broadly toward her.AndLouisastartled and stared, her heart skipping, as recognition flashed through her thoughts.

ItwasJule.Herold dear friend from years ago.They’dboth been lords’ daughters, and whileLouisahad been a good five years older thanJule, they’d often spent time together, even after they’d both married their horrid lord husbands.UntilJulehad abandoned her life asLadyNorr, and had run off toOrcMountain.

Sincethen,Louisahad heard multiple sordid tales ofJule’sdemise — everything from death in childbirth to being eaten alive by the orcs’ cruel captain.Butthey’d also exchanged a few letters over the years, andJulehad been the one to recommendEliseto her — soLouisahad knownJulewas alive and well, at least.Butnow, blinking at her long-lost friend’s smiling, pink-cheeked face,Louisafelt struck through with the truth of it, and the staggering, gods-damned relief.

“Jule!” she gasped, lurching forward, and suddenly she was caught in a tight hug, while water prickled behind her eyes. “Gods, it’s so good to see you!Ihope you’ve been well?”

Shecould feelJule’sfervent nod, and when they pulled apartJulewas grinning, her eyes bright. “Betterthan ever,” she said. “Andyou too,Ihope?”

Louisaswallowed, searched for an answer — but then was spared by the sudden appearance of another woman, racing out from the mountain.Thisone was small and slim and beaming, her blonde hair flying out straight behind her.

“You’refinally here!” the new woman exclaimed, as she too hurled herself intoLouisa’sarms. “Oh, this is so exciting!I’vebeen askingKillikwhen he’ll bring you, and he just keeps giving me the runaround!Leaveit to him to snagyouas his new mate, and then swan around pretending it’s some grand secret!Howyou’ve been able to bear him,Ican’t fathom!Areyou here to stay?”

Louisa’sthoughts were spinning again — what was this aboutKillik’snewmate? — but she choked a laugh, and drew back to grin at the woman’s eager face.ItwasRosa, the clever, talkative, scholarly girl she’d helped escapeLordKaspar’sclutches several years before — andRosalooked happy and content, the warmth shining in her blue eyes.Andshe was also dressed in an unusual ensemble, featuring a long, belted men’s tunic, and a bright gold choker around her throat.

“It’sso good to see you too,Rosa,”Louisasaid over the lump in her throat, even as she smiled so broadly it hurt. “ThoughI—I’monly here for a short visit.Perhaps” — she glanced uncertainly toward the mountain — “perhaps just until morning?”

ButRosa’sblonde brows snapped together, her head shaking. “Butwhy can’t you stay longer?” she demanded. “You’vejust gotten here!Althoughwait” — she shot a brief, searching glance around the clearing — “isKilliknot with you, too?”

Right.Ofcourse they wouldn’t have heard the entire tale —Sune’sfriends would have been rightfully focused on getting him to the sickroom — soLouisadrew in a breath, and then quickly told them the day’s events.StartingwithSune’sinjury, and then how she’d defended him againstRikard, and brought him here to get medical help.

“Youdid the right thing, of course,”Julesaid firmly, onceLouisahad finished. “Ourhealer is a marvel, and he’ll haveSuneback to normal in no time.But” — her brows furrowed — “did you sayLordRikarddid this toSune?Thathorrid nephew who inherited your lands afterScalldied?”

Louisagrimaced and nodded, and then explained that entire situation, too.TellingJuleabout the so-called trespassing, the traps, andRikard’sthreats and ultimatums.WhileJule’seyes went darker and darker, her mouth tight and thin.

“I’mso sorry you’ve gotten dragged into this,” she said, onceLouisahad finished. “Thoselords have given us nothing but trouble, and the last thing we need is them targeting the camps.Whileyou’re here,I’dlove to sit down together and have a proper discussion about all this — so surely you’ll stay longer than just overnight, at least?”

Butat that,Louisahesitated, and shot another uneasy glance up at the looming mountain.Gods, even staying for one night would be pushing it, right?Killikwas already going to be furious, and surely he wouldn’t welcome her involvement in any political meetings, either…

Butbefore she could reply, another small group of people emerged from the mountain up ahead.Anothergrown orc, together with two orc children, and another woman.Theadult orc was huge and bare-chested, propping the smaller child on his hip, while the woman was tall and striking, with dark hair and golden skin.AndlikeRosa, she was also dressed only in what appeared to be a large belted tunic, though hers also had a gleaming steel dagger hooked onto the belt.

“Oh, good!”Rosaexclaimed, excitedly waving them over. “You’llwant to see your fellowSkai,Louisa.YourememberSimon,I’msure!Andthis isSimon’smateMaria, and their sonsBjornandArnthorr!”

HerfellowSkai?And…Simon?Louisatwitched all over at the shock of recognition, because yes, yes, this was the sameSimonorc she’d met back in the library when she’d first helpedRosa, wasn’t it?ThesameSimonwho’d smiled at her, and greeted her with such surprising politeness.

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