Chapter 17

Killikwas here. Here. With his certainty, his sharpened daggers, his lean, powerful body, looming over Louisa and Rikard both.

Rikardflinched and fumbled backwards, his eyes wide and horrified on Killik's face. And when Louisa followed his eyes, she startled too, shocked to silent, staring stillness.

Becauseyes, she'd seen Killik angry before — or so she'd thought. But this was something else. Something new. His narrow eyes blazing with danger, his sharp white teeth fully bared in a cold smile, the bones of his face standing out stark and unnerving beneath his scarred grey skin. And the daggers in his clawed hands were spinning, moving so fast Louisa could scarcely see them, scattering flashes of light as they whirled.

"I ken you are trespassing, fool man," Killik said, his cool voice at strange odds with the seething fury in his eyes. "And threatening this woman, also. Attacking her, with your grubby hands, and your reeking ugly scent."

Rikard'sface had drained of all colour, and he staggered further backwards, nearly careening into a tree behind him. "You have — no right, orc," he snarled, though his mouth was trembling. "No — right, to be on this land. It's my uncle's land, my family's land, and I'm still Louisa's heir! When she dies, it will be mine!"

Thethought of it seized in Louisa's chest, but beside her, Killik only kept smiling, as a soft growl purred through his teeth. "Ach, you ken?" he drawled. "But what makes you believe she shall die before you?"

Rikard'sbeady eyes dropped to Killik's spinning daggers, and his throat convulsed, the sweat trickling down his brow. "This is unpardonable, Louisa," he choked toward her. "You'll rue the day you ever allowed these vile monsters to —"

Killikcut him off with another step closer, his daggers still spinning as kept smiling, sharp and deadly. "Last warning, fool man," he hissed. You shall leave this land, now. And you shall never, ever touch this woman again."

Rikard'smouth opened and closed, his eyes now intent on Killik's spinning daggers — and then Killik snapped one to stillness, and lunged forward. Not touching Rikard, not even close — but it still drew a high-pitched yelp from Rikard's mouth, his hands flapping over his head. And then he finally staggered around and ran, slipping and stumbling as he went, while Killik's scornful laughter rang through the air.

"Faster, fool man," he called. "Lest a vile monster catch you!"

Rikard'sreply over his shoulder sounded much like a wail, while Killik laughed again. The sound light, almost merry, as if he'd never seen such an amusing sight in all his days.

Butwhen he spun back toward Louisa, his face had gone stark again. His eyes flashing black and deadly, his dagger still spinning in his hand. "Are you hurt?" he demanded, in a voice that scraped up her spine. "Did he harm you?"

Louisatwitched backwards, her heart still thundering in her chest, her hands reflexively rubbing at where Rikard had gripped her arms. "N-no," she managed. "I'm… fine."

Theunnerving darkness in Killik's eyes didn't falter, and he swept a slow, fluid step toward her. "You are not," he snarled. "You yet reek of fear and hunger and weariness, woman. Why have you not eaten, or rested? Did you not even sleep, last eve?"

Goodgods, this orc, and Louisa's mouth made a sound like a groan, or a sob. "No," she choked. "No, actually, I didn't sleep last night. Because you raged at me, and stole my knife, and threatened to kill me! And now Rikard's come here and done exactly the same thing, and now you've gone and just made it worse, and I —"

No, no, she was about to start weeping again, she was so damned tired, so sick of all of this. Sick of Killik, of Rikard, of LordScall, of poverty and failure and fear. And she wasn't going to let Killik see her blubbering again, she was going to leave, and try to find another way. Because now that Rikard had seen Killik, had seen Louisa with an orc, gods only knew what he would do next…

"Ach, wait, woman," came Killik's flat voice, and when Louisa blinked up again, he was standing before her, his body too tall, too close. And the darkness in his eyes had shifted into something else, something she couldn't at all read.

"I did not — threaten to kill you," he said, clipped. "I would not, woman."

What? Louisa gaped at him, shaking her head, while Killik stepped closer, his eyes glinting on hers. "I would not harm you," he insisted. "I have made this vow with you, to the gain of all my kin. And thus, I must keep you safe."

Louisa'slaugh escaped on its own, too loud and shrill, and no, no, now the water was spilling from her eyes, streaking down her cheeks. "Safe?" she echoed. "You told me you would bring me doom, if I dared to so much as touch your precious wolf! And now this, and —"

Sheshook her head, dragged her shaky arm over her cursed leaking eyes, almost scraping her cheek with the rusty knife. While before her, Killik twitched, and then snatched the knife from her hand. And after a brief, disapproving scowl down toward it, he hurled it away over his shoulder.

"I would not harm you," he repeated, harder than before. "Last eve, I was only…"

Butthen he grimaced, frowning beyond her, his breath exhaling harsh. "You… did well, last eve," he said curtly. "You handled Wolf with care and kindness, and brought him pleasure, and joy, and peace. This was all what I asked of you, and you honoured your word in this, and I ken I…"

Hisvoice faded again, and he rubbed at his mouth, shook his head. "I ken I have only ever witnessed him finding such joy thus," he said thinly, "with me."

Hewinced, his gaze briefly catching Louisa's, and looking almost… regretful. Almost apologetic, even. Though this damn well wasn't an actual apology, and Louisa had no right to feel even the slightest sympathy, none whatsoever.

"Well, in case you've forgotten," she snapped back, "he was with you! Itwas you in charge, and you telling him what to do. You setting it all up, and sorting it out, and guiding us both, and giving him that. None of that would have happened, without you!"

Hervoice was too sharp again, too tenuous in her heaving chest, and she half-expected Killik to snarl and snap back, but instead, he… sighed. Nodded. And for an instant, his eyes on hers looked almost… grateful.

"Wolf… thanked me, when we met this morn," he said, hoarse. "SaidI had given him a great, great gift. And then he offered to kneel for me, and grant me whatever I wished."

Oh. And that wasn't, wasn't jealousy, surging in Louisa's chest, coiling with the longing and relief — and before her, Killik rolled his eyes, and sighed again. "But no, I did not," he said flatly. "I made up some fool excuse, and sent him away. AndI shall keep spurning him, and fending him off, for these next eight nights. But when they are done" — his eyes flashed — "I shall have him weeping and screaming for me, beneath a ploughing he shall never forget."

Right. Of course. And even amidst the still-whispering jealousy, Louisa exhaled, her shoulders sagging. And she even rolled her eyes back toward him, earning what might — might — have been a twitch of a smile in return.

"So naught to fear, woman," Killik said smoothly. "AndI shall speak to my kin upon this Rikard. You ken they are aware of all this, for we are well used to these fool lords raging against us, ach? But we shall take further care, and be sure to stay well away from his lands. Ach?"

Well. Louisa's body sagged a little more, her hand rubbing at her mouth. "And what about you threateningRikard?" she asked, though her voice was more tired than accusing. "You taunting him, and running him off like that?"

Killik'sgaze cut toward where Rikard had gone, and he gave a careless shrug. "What about this?" he asked. "He was on your land, and he touched you without your leave, and sought to harm you. He ought to be thanking me for not throwing my dagger into his eyeball instead."

Louisashould not, not, have betrayed a smile at that, let alone the low lurch of warmth in her belly. Killik had… defended her. Helped her. And he was still here, studying her with something shifting, shimmering, in his dark eyes.

"Now, you ought to eat," he said, in a tone she couldn't read. "Come with me, and hunt for a spell."

Wait. Really? Killik wanted Louisa to come with him? Hunting? Now? And she could only blink at him, blank and disbelieving, while he grimaced, and then pulled something out of the rear of his trousers. Something… wait. Louisa's knife?

Andyes, yes, it was her knife, but it was also… different. Slimmer. Brighter. Sharper. Looking more powerful, more deadly, than before.

"Our smith Argarr was at the camp, so I had him alter this for you," Killik said, flipping the knife in his fingers, and passing it into Louisa's hand. "This shall now better serve you, and keep you safe."

Louisablinked down at the knife — it even had new soft leather wrapped around the hilt — as more warmth simmered in her belly. Killik had taken her knife, and then he'd… fixed it. Improved it. To help her.

Andwhen Louisa glanced up at him again, he was intently looking away — but that might have been a faint flush, creeping up his neck. He'd helped her. He'd done it on purpose. Maybe even… as an apology.

"Now come, woman," he said, deep and decisive, coiling more heat, more hope, into Louisa's belly. "And learn to hunt like a Skai."