Page 19 of Promised To the Orc
“Won’t he come for me? He’s going to want the orichalcum. And he won’t reinforce the decree to keep humans safe unless I marry you.”
He likely won’t honor it even if she does, but I don’t say that. I don’t want to upset her further. I’ll find a way to fix this.
“The Great Feast is the day after tomorrow. Leaders and representatives from all five clans will arrive at any time. My father will be so preoccupied with politics that he’ll likely forget all about taunting you with the wedding.”
I can tell she doesn’t believe me. I don’t believe it, either, but I will fix it. I will keep her safe, no matter what.
Picking up a sweet bread, Alta pulls it apart and inspects the cream filling. Does she remember how I brought her one of these so many years ago? I’d been hiding it in my pocket for two days and it was stale by the time I brought it to her, but she ate it with so much joy that I couldn’t wait to bring her another.
“Tell me about your life since I escaped to Ritka. I’ve missed so many years with you.”
Our eyes meet and hold, and a rush of heat blasts through my body.
“I will, but first I have a question.”
She hitches a brow and takes a small bite of bread. “What?”
“How much do you remember about your escape from the ice minds?”
Discomfort flashes across her face and she sets down her treat. I feel guilty, but I need to know. “Not much, to be honest. I was sick, remember? I had the fever.”
I nod, clearly recalling how terrified I was that she might die.
“I took a bath in the freezing pool hoping that it would cure the fever. My father helped me from the water and tried to get me warm but one of the orc guards came and said I was dying. He dragged me down the death tunnel toward the pits. I remember nothing after that except opening my eyes and looking up… Fresh air was all around me, and it waswarm, and so bright. My father was holding me. He said the brightness was coming from the sky. I’d never seen the sky before, Tor. Or the sun, or clouds, and I was afraid of these things above me, so high that I couldn’t touch them. I must have passed out again and the next thing I knew, I was in Ritka.”
Great sadness swells within me. How I wish I could’ve rescued them all sooner.
A small smile tugs at her lips. “My father got the fever a few days after we arrived in the village. Jeluca had given me tea and herbs to help cure my sickness but, they didn’t work on my father. I begged her to place him outside where he could look at the sun and the sky and I know those things gave him great joy as he died. I’m so glad he didn’t die in the ice caves. I don’t know what happened that night, Tor. All my father would say about that night is he took down a guard and got the keys, but I never believed that was the full story.”
It’s not. I suffered after that night, but I don’t regret it. I’d suffer again, and again if it meant her freedom.
“I’m sorry about your father, Alta.”
“He was all that I had. Him… And you.” She shifts uncomfortably in her chair. “Can we leave? I’m feeling confined in here.”
Realizing this back room has no windows or source of natural light, I take her hand and quickly lead her outside. All her years in the ice caves makes it hard to be anywhere that doesn’t have a light source. Cursing myself for my stupidity, I keep her tightly against my side and lead her to the market street where vendors set out their wares each day. It’s bustling even more in anticipation of the Great Feast. She walks on high alert beside me, staying close while peeking at the various stalls and goods. She’s getting less attention here than before, probably because everyone is caught up in bartering for goods.
A stall with colorful fabrics draws her attention, so I take her there. She presses her arm against mine as the vendor looks at her suspiciously.
“Prince Tor! How can I help?”
“The lady is looking.”
“Yes, of course. The lady.”
Alta backs up and turns to go, but I stop her with a gentle arm around her waist. “You have every right to be here.”
The vendor hears me and suddenly wears a smile. “Yes, my lady. Please browse my fabrics. My wife makes them on her loom. Fine threads for beautiful clothes.”
Hesitating, Alta looks at me, then to the fabrics and a selection of shimmering ribbons. She touches them with a wan smile. Is she remembering the time I brought her hair ribbons? She hadn’t been able to accept them in case my father’s guards found out.
She runs a length of blue ribbon between her fingers.
“For your wedding, my lady? My wife is also a seamstress. She can sew you anything—”
“What did you say?”
The vendor looks at me with wide eyes. “My wife… is a seamstress…”
