Chapter 29

You shall make our mountain your home.

Thosewords banged and echoed through Louisa's head as she guided Max and May into the stable, and settled them into an empty stall. The stable was clean and dry, with several other horses in it, and it felt bizarrely unreal to be taking off Max and May's tack, brushing them down, preparing for a visit to OrcMountain. A place Sune had told her to make… her home.

Butno. No. He surely hadn't meant it like that. Louisa was only reading into it, and feeling unsettled, nervous, unprepared. She hadn't at all intended to stay here, Killik had only wanted to see her in a week, and Ulfarr hadn't even wanted her to meet Sune… but what the hell else was she supposed to do? She was trapped here now, and her only choice was to keep going, right?

Butgods, she hadn't properly anticipated it whatsoever, and she frowned down at her clothes as she stepped out of the stable. Along with the ash and dust from her morning stove-cleaning project, her shabby work dress was now covered with dirt and straw, and she looked abominably filthy, not at all ready to meet —

Andthen she stumbled straight into someone new, standing just outside the stable. Someone tall and dark-haired and capable-looking, wearing a men's tunic and trousers, and looking — familiar?

"Louisa!" the newcomer exclaimed, grinning broadly toward her. AndLouisa startled and stared, her heart skipping, as recognition flashed through her thoughts.

Itwas Jule. Her old dear friend from years ago. They'd both been lords' daughters, and while Louisa had been a good five years older than Jule, they'd often spent time together, even after they'd both married their horrid lord husbands. UntilJule had abandoned her life as LadyNorr, and had run off to OrcMountain.

Sincethen, Louisa had heard multiple sordid tales of Jule's demise — everything from death in childbirth to being eaten alive by the orcs' cruel captain. But they'd also exchanged a few letters over the years, and Jule had been the one to recommend Elise to her — so Louisa had known Jule was alive and well, at least. But now, blinking at her long-lost friend's smiling, pink-cheeked face, Louisa felt struck through with the truth of it, and the staggering, gods-damned relief.

"Jule!" she gasped, lurching forward, and suddenly she was caught in a tight hug, while water prickled behind her eyes. "Gods, it's so good to see you! I hope you've been well?"

Shecould feel Jule's fervent nod, and when they pulled apart Jule was grinning, her eyes bright. "Better than ever," she said. "And you too, I hope?"

Louisaswallowed, searched for an answer — but then was spared by the sudden appearance of another woman, racing out from the mountain. This one was small and slim and beaming, her blonde hair flying out straight behind her.

"You're finally here!" the new woman exclaimed, as she too hurled herself into Louisa's arms. "Oh, this is so exciting! I've been asking Killik when he'll bring you, and he just keeps giving me the runaround! Leave it to him to snag you as his new mate, and then swan around pretending it's some grand secret! How you've been able to bear him, I can't fathom! Are you here to stay?"

Louisa'sthoughts were spinning again — what was this about Killik's new mate? — but she choked a laugh, and drew back to grin at the woman's eager face. It was Rosa, the clever, talkative, scholarly girl she'd helped escape LordKaspar's clutches several years before — and Rosa looked happy and content, the warmth shining in her blue eyes. And she was also dressed in an unusual ensemble, featuring a long, belted men's tunic, and a bright gold choker around her throat.

"It's so good to see you too, Rosa," Louisa said over the lump in her throat, even as she smiled so broadly it hurt. "ThoughI — I'm only here for a short visit. Perhaps" — she glanced uncertainly toward the mountain — "perhaps just until morning?"

ButRosa's blonde brows snapped together, her head shaking. "But why can't you stay longer?" she demanded. "You've just gotten here! Although wait" — she shot a brief, searching glance around the clearing — "is Killik not with you, too?"

Right. Of course they wouldn't have heard the entire tale — Sune's friends would have been rightfully focused on getting him to the sickroom — so Louisa drew in a breath, and then quickly told them the day's events. Starting with Sune's injury, and then how she'd defended him against Rikard, and brought him here to get medical help.

"You did the right thing, of course," Jule said firmly, once Louisa had finished. "Our healer is a marvel, and he'll have Sune back to normal in no time. But" — her brows furrowed — "did you say LordRikard did this to Sune? That horrid nephew who inherited your lands after Scall died?"

Louisagrimaced and nodded, and then explained that entire situation, too. TellingJule about the so-called trespassing, the traps, and Rikard's threats and ultimatums. WhileJule's eyes went darker and darker, her mouth tight and thin.

"I'm so sorry you've gotten dragged into this," she said, once Louisa had finished. "Those lords have given us nothing but trouble, and the last thing we need is them targeting the camps. While you're here, I'd love to sit down together and have a proper discussion about all this — so surely you'll stay longer than just overnight, at least?"

Butat that, Louisa hesitated, and shot another uneasy glance up at the looming mountain. Gods, even staying for one night would be pushing it, right? Killik was already going to be furious, and surely he wouldn't welcome her involvement in any political meetings, either…

Butbefore she could reply, another small group of people emerged from the mountain up ahead. Another grown orc, together with two orc children, and another woman. The adult orc was huge and bare-chested, propping the smaller child on his hip, while the woman was tall and striking, with dark hair and golden skin. And like Rosa, she was also dressed only in what appeared to be a large belted tunic, though hers also had a gleaming steel dagger hooked onto the belt.

"Oh, good!" Rosa exclaimed, excitedly waving them over. "You'll want to see your fellow Skai, Louisa. You remember Simon, I'm sure! And this is Simon's mate Maria, and their sons Bjorn and Arnthorr!"

Herfellow Skai? And… Simon? Louisa twitched all over at the shock of recognition, because yes, yes, this was the same Simon orc she'd met back in the library when she'd first helped Rosa, wasn't it? The same Simon who'd smiled at her, and greeted her with such surprising politeness.

But… wait. That meant this was the same SimonHalthorr had spoken of, too. TheSimon who was the Enforcer, he'd said. TheSimon who had made that rule, and broken apart Ulfarr's pack, permanently.

Andalso — Louisa's stomach clenched — this was the SimonUlfarr had brought up, just the night before. Wolf is dead, he'd said, with such grief in his wild eyes. Simon kill him, break him, shame him before all the clan.

Andblinking at this Simon, it occurred to Louisa that he was the only orc she'd met so far who was even bigger than Ulfarr. He was impossibly tall, his chest and shoulders broad and powerful, and covered all over with vicious-looking scars. He also had several shining weapons hanging from his belt, and that might have been one glinting in his neat black braid, too. And had he used one of those weapons to… kill Ulfarr's wolf? To shame him before all the clan?

"Er, hello," Louisa made herself say, far too late, pasting a smile to her mouth. "It's, er, good to see you again, Simon. And nice to meet you all, too."

She'dmanaged a nod toward Maria, and then the two children. Earning a curious smile from the smaller orc in Simon's arms, and a suspicious nod from the older one, who might have been twelve years old. While this Maria flashed Louisa a swift, stunning grin, and even reached forward to shake her hand.

"It's so good to see you again, Louisa," she said warmly. "I'm not sure if you remember me, but we've met a few times. Back when I was the Duchess of Warmisham."

What? Louisa's mouth dropped open, her eyes gaping at this Maria's face. Because yes, the Duchess of Warmisham had been a young, beautifully dressed woman with golden skin and dark hair, and she'd always seemed deeply unhappy — and no wonder, because DukeWarmisham was yet another horrid warmongering lord, and also the father of LordKaspar, that vile cretin Louisa had gotten entangled with after LordScall. And yes, she had heard rumours of something gone wrong with Warmisham's wife, hadn't she? And something about her running off a few years ago, never to be seen again…

Louisa'soverwhelmed brain was still taking far too long to digest this, to make sense of it. How the hell had the Duchess of Warmisham ended up at OrcMountain? And mated to this huge Simon? With two sons?

"Well," Louisa finally said toward the duchess — Maria — with an attempt at a smile. "I offer you my deepest congratulations on escaping your ghastly toad of a husband. And gaining such a lovely family, too."

Mariagrinned back, and squeezed her older son a little closer. "It was a much-needed improvement," she said wryly. "And we're all so glad Killik has finally found a mate too, aren't we, Simon?"

Themate thing again. Louisa couldn't hide her wince, and opened her mouth to counter that point — but then froze at the look on this Simon's face. Because he hadn't answered Maria's question, and instead, he was frowning at Louisa, his heavy brows furrowing as his glinting eyes flicked up and down her form. As if… as if he was judging her.

Louisashot a chagrined glance downwards, following his eyes — and again found the alarming sight of her shabby, filthy ensemble. "Er, I hope you'll forgive my appearance, this all happened quite suddenly today," she said. "AndI was just telling Jule and Rosa, I won't be staying long, either."

Simon'seyes shifted as she spoke, but he kept looking at her like that, almost as if he was angry with her. While beside him, Maria looked confused, and a little alarmed, too — until finally Jule cleared her throat, and stepped forward between them.

"If you haven't already, Simon, we ought to send for Killik at once," Jule said. "He and Ulfarr will want to hear about their son's injury, and I'm sure Killik will want to welcome Louisa here, and show her around the mountain, too."

Louisacouldn't help a grateful look at Jule, but then her eyes caught on Simon again, on his grim, forbidding face. "Er, but that's certainly not necessary," she said quickly. "I'd originally meant to camp elsewhere anyway, or I could even just sleep out here with the horses…"

Juleand Rosa both instantly balked at this, Jule waving her hands, and Rosa loudly protesting that she could do no such thing. ButLouisa's eyes stayed fixed on Simon, because he clearly didn't want her here, and she didn't want to cause trouble, either. Especially if it might involve Killik and Ulfarr, or Sune, and…

"No, woman," Simon cut in now, in a deep, accented voice. "You ought to stay until Killik comes home. We shall speak with you again then."

Oh. There was another instant's awkward silence, in which Maria cast another confused look at Simon's face, and Jule and Rosa exchanged uneasy glances. Until beside Louisa, Rosa pulled herself taller, and cleared her throat. "Well, the Enforcer has spoken!" she said, a little too brightly. "So you'll stay the night, at least, right?"

Theredidn't seem to be any point in arguing, and finally Louisa twitched a nod, and said a strangled thank-you. And soon she found herself being herded off between Jule and Rosa toward OrcMountain, leaving the others behind. And when Louisa shot a furtive glance backwards, Maria still looked just as confused as she felt, while Simon kept frowning beside her.

"What's with Simon?" Rosa demanded, once they were hopefully out of his earshot. "It's not at all like him to be so rude! You'd think he'd be pleased to have his kin-brother's new woman come to visit!"

She'dshot Louisa an affronted look, dragging her a little faster toward the rising stone wall of the mountain before them, while on Louisa's other side, Jule gave a too-casual wave of her hand. "I'm sure it's nothing," she said, though she didn't quite meet Louisa's eyes. "Now, Louisa, what would you like to do first? Would you like to rest? Or have a meal, or a hot bath? Or check in on Sune, or take a tour of the mountain?"

Butas she'd spoken, she'd led Louisa toward what appeared to be a corner, or maybe a crack, in the mountain's sheer stone wall before them. And suddenly they were… inside.

InsideOrcMountain.

Louisagasped, blinking at the sight around her, as genuine shock flashed through her chest. Because it wasn't — small, or dark, or cramped, or musty, or any of the things she'd expected. And instead, she was standing in a broad, beautifully carved stone corridor, with a series of flickering lamps lining the stone walls, and large, brightly coloured rugs covering the flat stone floor.

"Uh," she said, still gaping around at it, and then at Jule and Rosa, and then up at the corridor ahead. Which seemed to break off into more rooms, and more corridors, as if it truly was a home. A home, here, under a mountain. Killik and Ulfarr's home. The home that had apparently brought Ulfarr such pain and grief — and clearly at least one enemy — even as he was still bound here, held here for his sins.

AndLouisa was here now too, fully trapped in this, whether Killik approved of it or not. And suddenly, there was Killik's own voice, jostling up into Louisa's whirling, whipping thoughts.

Shall you stand tall with the shamed Wolf of the Skai. Show me. Prove this to me…

Andthen Sune's words, too. Stay. Settle yourself, and wait for Killik and Ulfarr to come for you. Make our mountain your home…

SoLouisa swallowed hard, drew in breath, squared her shoulders. "Well, since I'm here, I might as well do — all of it," she said. "And see and learn as much as I can. If you don't mind?"

Butboth Jule and Rosa grinned at her, as if this was exactly what they'd been hoping for. "Oh, we don't mind at all," Rosa replied, with a devious-sounding cackle. "Now come along, sister, and enjoy the all-new, all-empowering OrcMountainNewMateExperience!"