Page 17 of Tryggred By the Orc

Ebenhalf-smiled and nodded, even as he glanced around, and went to collect a small shovel and a bucket. “Mayhapafter we clean this out,” he replied, with as much firmness as he could muster. “Weshould not wish to leave it there to fester for next time, ach?”

Thankfully,Duffdidn’t protest, and even helpedEbenclean the vent with surprising enthusiasm.AndwhileTryggrhad seemingly returned to his laundry-scrubbing behind them,Ebencould almost feel him still listening, watching, his eyes prickling onEben’sback as he dumped the detritus down the scullery’s ash chute, along with the drained mouse.Which,Duffsadly lamented, did not taste nearly as good as the rats.

“Ach?”Ebenasked over his shoulder, as he scrubbed his hands in the sink, and then wavedDufftoward it, too. “Youken, rats bear some properties that make them easier to digest, and thus may gain you more nutrients.Doyou oft long for rats to eat?”

Dufffervently nodded as he washed his hands too, the scent of his hunger swirling into the air, andEbenconsidered that for another moment. “Iken you may need more of a specific nutrient, and this is why you crave this so strongly,” he said thoughtfully. “Ishould be glad to bring you some of our tonics to try, should you wish?Mostorcs like the taste very much, and some have fresh blood in them, also.”

Dufflooked cautiously intrigued by this, and behind them,Tryggrfinally cleared his throat. “Can’tsee how it’s not worth trying,Duff,” he said firmly. “Thanks,Ka-esh.”

Eben’sface heated, but he smiled and waved it away. “Iam happy to help,” he said, and then twitched at the familiar words, at the way they caught and flared inTryggr’seyes.AndTryggrwasn’t washing again, was just kneeling there looking atEbenwith something almost wolfish in his eyes, andEbendrew up to his full height, drew up his breath and his courage.Hehad to try.

Keepit up.Showhim.He’llcome around…

“Icould help in — other ways, also,” he said, too quickly. “Icould” — his eyes darted downwards, toward the bloodstained tunicTryggrwas scrubbing — “bring some chalk powder, to help with stains.Ormayhap more lye, for soap.Ora solution to help keep the drain clean, and free of foul vapours that could harm you.OrharmAlma, who you are meant to watch over.”

Hewas still speaking far too fast, his eyes wide and almost pleading onTryggr’sface.Andoh, that was surely softness inTryggr’seyes, in his rueful little half-smile, half-grimace.

“Ach, well, all right, then,Ka-esh,” he said, husky. “We’llbe glad to have you,Iken.”

Ebencouldn’t help his sudden, relieved smile, beaming brightly down towardTryggr’sflushed face.Andif he wasn’t mistaken,Tryggr’shands fumbled the tunic in the water, his face gone slightly redder than before.

Andit was something, it had to be something.AndEben’ssmile pulled even wider as he nodded, and drew in a deep breath of that sweet, succulent scent.Tastingof him.Onlyhim.

“Thankyou, sir,” he said, to those watching, shifting eyes. “Ishall do my best.”

14

Forthe next few days,Ebendid his very best.Keepingup with his most important work in the sickroom, while also offering whatever support he could in the scullery.

Itmade for more long, busy days, but somehow, they didn’t seem nearly as exhausting as before.Perhapsbecause it meantEbenleft the sickroom at a reasonable hour every afternoon, to ensure he could still catchTryggrin the scullery — and more often than not,Tryggrwould eventually send him away to supper, or to bed.

“Offwith you,Ka-esh,” he would say, with a militant glint in his eye. “Youneed rest, remember?Don’twant you crashing like that again.”

Ebenhadn’t once attempted to argue, and in truth, it was a strange, surprising relief to be told, to have all the doubts and obligations firmly snatched from his hands.Andif he wasn’t mistaken,Tryggrrather enjoyed having his orders obeyed, too — and he would watch intently as he waited forEben’sanswer, his brows raised, his expression cool and assessing.

“Ach,Iken, sir,”Ebenwould reply, reflexively putting his hand over his heart, in what he now knew wasSkaisign language forthank you. “Ishall return tomorrow.”

Hedidn’t think he imagined the satisfied hitch inTryggr’sscent — especially at being calledsir— and even ifEbencontinued to read in his bedroom after supper, he could still almost hearTryggr’svoice, close and hot in his ear.Youneed rest.Keepit up.Showhim.He’llcome around…

SoEbendutifully went to bed, though he often needed to stroke himself off before he could fall asleep, gasping and arching as visions of a hungry scarred prick and sharpSkaiclaws pulsed behind his eyes.Hehadn’t returned to thedýflissasince that night he’d been injured, and while he still longingly hesitated each time he passed it, he couldn’t dare risk entering it again.Notnow, not whenTryggrwould instantly scent it upon him.

AndTryggrdid scent for it,Ebenwas almost certain.Everyday whenEbenstepped into the scullery,Tryggr’sfrowning eyes would dart up, his nostrils flaring.AndEbencouldn’t deny scentingTryggr, too, seeking out any changes, any new traces of other orcs — but there was still nothing.Stillonlyhim.

Itmade it too easy to beam atTryggr’swatching, wary eyes, and then even to shyly greet the scullery’s other occupants.Thisalmost always includedDuff, but often an eager youngGrisknamedTimo, an indolentBautulnamedGaukr, and theAsh-KaicookGegnir— and, of course,Almaherself.AndEbenhad been pleased to see thatAlma’scondition had continued to steadily improve, to the point where she’d not only taken over the management of the scullery, but also the mountain’s overall housekeeping efforts — essentially fulfilling the empty role of the mountain’s formerKeeper.Aconsiderable and often thankless endeavour, to be sure, butAlmaembraced the workwith genuine-seeming enthusiasm, and treated her helpers with quiet, consistent kindness.

“Thankyou so much,” she would say toEben, warm and earnest, whenever he brought in some lye, or drain cleaner, or even a long brush to scrub out the vents. “Thatwill be a great help,I’msure.”

Ebenalways flushed and waved it away, though he often found himself glancing toward her afterwards, inhaling slow and deep.Notonly scenting for any signs of further weakness or illness upon her, but also breathing in the distinct scents ofDrafliandBaldr, now woven into her own, and deepening with every passing day.Suggesting, much toEben’songoing surprise and relief, thatDraflihad indeed continued to honour the terms of that astonishing offer he’d made, welcomingAlmainto his relationship, and his bed.Draflihad even madeAlmakneel and suck his seed in the scullery, clearly marking both her and the room with his scent, as a true orc mate would — and according toTryggr’sgleeful retelling,Draflihad even done it whileTryggrandDuffhad watched, signing her cool, casual orders that she’d instantly and eagerly obeyed.

Tryggr’sadmiring envy as he’d recounted the tale had been blatantly clear, promptingEbento pay far closer attention to theSkaisign language, while also keeping an admittedly too-curious eye out for any sign ofDrafli’sreturn.Andthough he was disappointed in that regard,Ebenalso hadn’t missed how several new buckets and cleaning implements had mysteriously appeared, bearing onlyDrafli’sscent — and after hearing about the rodent infestation fromTryggr,Draflihad apparently even gone and broughtAlmaacat.

Ifshe can keep it up, showBossshe’s worth his time,Iken he’ll come around…

Itwas more relief inEben’sthoughts, more hope curling low in his belly.Andas the days passed, it made it easier to laughand chat — and even sign — with his new colleagues, and to keep offering whatever help he could.Whichhad so far included a thorough cleaning of the drain and vents, an expansion and repair of the ash chute, an ongoing supply of lye and chalk for soap and stains, and help with folding and delivering the laundry when needed.Ebenhad even begun a daily delivery of fresh tonic forDuff, formulated to include several of the proteins present in rat-meat.Whichproved such a success thatTryggrshowed up early one morning in the sickroom, and flashedEbena sheepish smile from across the workbench.

“Duff’snot feeling so good today,”Tryggrsaid, “and he’s been asking for the sweetKa-esh’s sweet drink.Wouldyou mind making a batch early?”

Ebendidn’t mind at all, of course, and instantly set to work mixing it up, whileTryggrwatched over the workbench.AndthoughEben’shands still shook as he worked, he managed not to spill anything, and smiled atTryggras he gave the bottle one final shake, and passed it over to him.

---