Chapter 2

WhenLouisa walked up her lane toward the kitchen's side door, her cheeks were dry, her back straight, her head high. Betraying no sign whatsoever of the unfortunate incident with Rikard.

Orso she thought.

"Lou-Lou!" Ame cried out, rushing over to greet Louisa with a wide smile on her little gap-toothed mouth — but then her smile faded, her blue eyes sobering. "What's wrong? You sad?"

Louisaswallowed and attempted a smile, rustling a hand against Ame's golden head. "Just a little overtired, sweetheart," she said, as lightly as she could. "Speaking of which" — she raised her brows at Ame — "isn't it almost your bedtime?"

Thequestion had the desired effect, sending Ame sidling toward the door, while casting a wary look toward her mother Elise. Who was watching with distinct amusement from the kitchen counter, where she'd been kneading dough for the next day's bread.

"Soon, love," Elise told Ame, with an affectionate smile. "You and Stefan can play until I've finished this, all right?"

Amenodded and rushed out the door, while Elise darted a too-knowing glance toward Louisa. "So what's wrong, then, ma'am?" she asked. "Something untoward happen out there? I told you, you oughtn't to be out in the dark alone, most of all with those orcs lurking about!"

Hervoice was scolding, but her rounded pink face was as kind as always, the concern bright and genuine in her blue eyes. And while Louisa wanted to wave it away, she'd come to consider Elise a true friend these past few years. Perhaps because she'd been a strong recommendation from an old friend named Jule, who'd no longer been able to keep Elise on staff, because Jule had run away to none other than… OrcMountain.

Truly, it was beginning to feel like a theme, or a curse, and Louisa sighed, rubbed at her aching temples. "I just ran into Rikard," she said heavily. "He's furious with me for allowing the orcs on the property. Told me I'll regret it, if I don't get rid of them."

Elise'smouth thinned, and she shook her head. "That scum," she snapped. "He's still just vexed because you won't marry him! Although" — she bit at her lip — "perhaps you could just send the orcs away? I mean, it really is quite… dangerous, having them so close. Don't you think?"

Hervoice had dropped, her eyes uncertainly searching Louisa's face, and Louisa bit back another sigh. She knew Elise had been a firsthand witness to that entire situation between Jule and the orcs, which had begun with a deadly, terrifying orc raid on Jule's household — but it had also all happened well before the peace-treaty, when the orcs and humans had still been at war. And since then, Louisa hadn't heard a single reliable account of an orc raid anywhere in the realm — and instead, she'd heard multiple astonishing tales of orcs helping humans, just like they were helping her. Doing odd jobs, clearing roads and building bridges, giving food to people who needed it.

Andwithout that food, how would Louisa keep feeding her household? Gods, what was she supposed to do?

"Look, Elise, of course I understand if you aren't comfortable with the orcs being nearby," Louisa finally replied, her voice wooden. "So if you'd rather start looking for other employment, please be assured that I will support you without qualification, and give you as many glowing references as you need. I'll do everything I can to ensure you and the children are —"

"No, ma'am!" Elise interrupted, her eyes a little wild, now. "That's not at all what I meant — I wouldn't like another post at all! You've been so generous, and I'm very, very happy here!"

Louisa'sshoulders sagged, the relief studding through her chest, and she gave Elise a wan smile. "I'm glad to hear it," she replied, "but you don't owe me anything, Elise. Especially with your pay being late this month. Again."

ButElise rapidly shook her head, flapping her flour-covered hands. "We understand, ma'am!" she said. "We know times haven't been easy for anyone lately. And the children are so happy here, and you give them so much freedom — and me, too. We'd be so upset to leave here, please."

Louisa'sshoulders sagged lower, her breath exhaling. "Then of course you'll stay as long as you like," she said, as firmly as she could. "AndI'm going to just — head to bed early, and give this more thought. I'll see you in the morning, then?"

Elisewarily nodded, and Louisa turned around, and trudged up the stairs toward her bedroom, high up in the attic garret. Where she'd always felt safest, alone in the peace and quiet, and as far away as possible from the likes of Rikard.

Butdamn it, maybe she would soon lose this, too. She'd already sold off so much — including her own heavily mortgaged house in the nearby town of Dusbury, and most of her horses, and all her fine clothes and jewels. She'd also cut costs wherever she could, and she'd pensioned off multiple staff. Leaving her only with Elise, her elderly housekeeper Gladys, and her capable, long-serving head groom Joan. And though Joan did her best to help out with the grounds and gardens, too, it was just too much for one person to handle — so Louisa had begun taking on much of the manual outdoor labour herself. Weeding, gardening, making repairs, feeding the chickens, fetching eggs, even hunting small game.

Butit wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. The larder was bare. The root cellar was empty. The debts were still crushing, the payments never-ending. And what was Louisa supposed to do, she would not sell her freedom, she would not marry Rikard, not ever —

Shestrode into her dark bedroom without looking, yanking off her belt and riding dress, hurling them onto a chair. And then she lurched to the dressing table, feeling for the lamp in the dark, lighting it with a familiar flick of her fingers.

Butin the lamp's sudden light, she caught sight of her own pale face, frowning back toward her in the large looking-glass. Showing in stark relief the heavy furrow between her brows, the dark shadows beneath her eyes, the deepening lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth. And even the silver hairs sprouting from her widow's peak seemed more plentiful than usual, silently shouting at her of being — Rikard's foul voice loomed in her thoughts — past her marrying prime.

Louisashook her head, squeezed her eyes shut, gritted her teeth tight. No. No. She would never marry again. She was living her life on her own terms, and she was going to keep trying, find a way through this…

Buthow? Damn it, how? How the hell was she supposed to survive, for possibly another forty whole years? How could she take care of her staff, those children, herself? With no coin, no food, and Rikard breathing down her neck? And now she'd made it so much worse by threatening him with the orcs, and now she had to find a way to keep the orcs off his property, and —

Aprickle. Something — wrong. Creeping up her spine, wrapping cold fingers around her chest. Something — behind her, oh hell, and Louisa whipped around so fast the room spun, her eyes searching, finding — finding —

Theorc.