Page 8 of Promised To the Orc
A golden glint from the pack strapped to her back catches my attention. The hilt of the sword shimmers in the light. She is wearing a knife sheath on her hip and has another strapped to her thigh. She is armed, but does she know how to fight? Surveying the amount of guards in the room and their locations, I plan escape in case I must swoop this human to safety.
My father’s guards back away and the woman jumps to her feet, reaching for the hilt of her sword. The hood of her cape falls off her head and sudden familiarity slams me in the gut.
I know that red hair and the way it bursts into spirals with a mind of its own. She used to tame it with braids all over her head tied with strips of cloth ripped from her threadbare clothing. I brought her hair ties once, but she couldn’t use them. The guards would have noticed the brightly colored satin ribbon at the ends of her plaits and questioned her until she gave me away.
I wonder what she did with them.
Alta.
My Alta.She’s here!
My father stops inches from her. “How dare you refuse to kneel before your king.”
Her small chin juts up in defiance, but I see her tremble. Her hand is still on the hilt of the sword. If my father thought she was a threat, she’d be dead already. There’s a reason he’s allowed her to live this long. Barely able to contain my pinched breathing, I remain in the shadows and watch. One wrong move from my father, and I’ll pounce. If I challenge him too quickly, everything will get out of control, and I won’t gamble with Alta’s life.
What is she doing here?
“I came here to make a deal with King Zalcom, but I refuse to discuss it with you on my knees. If I’m not welcome to stand tall and look you in the eyes, then I’ll go home and take my orichalcum weapons with me.”
My father clenches his left hand into a fist. He’s twice her size, yet she’s standing her ground like she’s his equal. Emotions tumble into my heart, each fighting to claim my full attention. She’s always made me feel so many things—things I haven’t felt for another in all this time. We were children, but despite our youth, my heart knew she was my match. In ten years, the warm longing and tenderness I had for her has never faded. I knew she was alive all this time, but I’d vowed to keep my distance so I wouldn’t put her in danger.
She’s brought herself into danger now, and I’ll do anything to keep her safe.
Protectiveness wells inside me. Clenching my jaw, I force myself to stay where I am for a few minutes longer. If I don’t, I’ll rush to her, take her in my arms and take her out of here. My father never knew of my secret friendship with this human, or the promise that we made so long ago. He can never know, even now.
“You brought the weapons that I requested?”
“Of course.” Her voice wavers. For all of her bravery, she’s still very afraid.
He holds out a hand. “Give them to me.”
“Not until we discuss my deal.”
Alta dares take a step back. My father’s face twists in rage and adrenaline drops into my blood, forcing me into motion.
“Father.” Erasing all emotions from my face, I step out of the shadows and walk toward him. “Who is this?”
He gives me a cursory glance and I feel his fury like a physical blow. “Where have you been?”
“Settling a dispute among the guards.”
Alta stands completely still. Her arm must be aching from reaching behind her to hold the hilt of the sword for all this time, but if it does, she isn’t showing it.
I take the steps one at a time, focused on her, but she doesn’t look at me. Does she recognize my voice? Standing beside my father, I cross my arms and will her to look at me, but she refuses. Her eyes remain focused on my father as if she has a single-minded task.
“This human thinks she can make a deal with me. What do you think about that?”
It’s a trick question, one of his games in which there is no correct answer. He’ll become enraged, no matter what I say. “I think you should entertain her deal and decide if it’s worthy over a meal.”
His eyes track to mine in increments, a sneer pulling his lips. “Do you think a human is worthy of sitting at my table?”
Oh, my Alta is worthy of this entire kingdom.
“If she’s a great of an orichalcum swordsmith, as she claims to be, then yes, she is worthy.”
I can’t control the softness in my voice as I say those last three words. Her gaze turns my way, landing on my chest. She blinks rapidly and sweeps her eyes to my face, slowly working from my chin to my nose and gently landing on my eyes. Every hard and jagged edge inside of me softens and melts away, taking ten long years of sawing pain with it.
She’s beautiful. A mature version of the pale-faced, blue eyed, and red-haired human my heart claimed and never released. Her rosy lips part and she blinks again, her face skewing in surprise. A breath works from her mouth, but she catches herself, changing what sounded like my name into something else.
