Chapter 44

Rosahad come to help save the camp.

Thatbizarre claim jangled through Louisa's muddled brain as she stammered her thanks to Rosa, and welcomed her fellow travellers. Which turned out to include not only Rosa's mate John-Ka and their sons, but also John-Ka's closest Ka-esh brothers — two handsome, vaguely familiar orcs named Tristan and Salvi. Who, Louisa belatedly recalled, she'd met back when she'd first helped Rosa — and who, apparently, were now also fathers to Rosa and John-Ka's sons, and had come to care for them, while Rosa and John-Ka helped… save the camp.

ButRosa didn't elaborate as she cheerfully greeted the rest of the camp, and then willingly accepted Ulfarr's offer to stay the night. And as Ulfarr guided Tristan and Salvi and the orclings off toward the brand-new kofi, Louisa took Rosa and John-Ka down into the underground common-room, with Killik close behind them.

"Er, so what do you mean?" Louisa finally asked, once she was seated with Rosa and John-Ka at one of the common-room's tables, while Killik hovered behind her with palpable annoyance. "Why do you think the camp needs saving?"

Rosahad been rummaging in a pack she'd brought, and she swept out a sheaf of paper, several quills, and a bottle of ink. "Two things," she said crisply, as she began preparing her quill. "First of all, back at the mountain, you said that horrid LordRikard threatened both you and the camp — and we've seen enough of these lords to know you cannot ignore that threat. And secondly…"

Sheangled a wary glance up behind Louisa, toward where Killik still looked supremely irritated, his lip curling, his arms crossed over his chest — but his brows had snapped up, too, his eyes glittering on Rosa's face. As if daring her to say the rest of it, and to Rosa's credit, she straightened in her chair, and drew in a breath.

"And secondly," she repeated, "I know Simon and Maria are coming here soon, and Simon will be evaluating your camp, and Ulfarr's leadership. And while I like and respect Simon, and I know he's a good Enforcer, I also think" — she took another breath — "he's far too close to the situation to be trusted to make a clear judgement on it. And while Skai leadership structures are a matter for another day, for now we're stuck with it, which means" — she jabbed her quill between Louisa and Killik — "if you want to redeem Ulfarr, you need to reach beyond Simon. You need to convince the rest of the Skai, too, and maybe even the rest of the clans. You need to make a plan, and make an impression."

Louisahad already nodded, amidst that memory of Killik saying, We must put on a good show. But when she glanced back toward him, he was still glowering at Rosa, and he had one of his daggers in hand, too. "We have already made a good plan," he snapped back. "We seek to show our camp as strong and safe, and Wolf as a good leader and host. And as for this fool lord, we are watching him each day, and guarding these lands. He shall not bring harm to any of our kin again."

Heshot a brief, narrow glance toward Louisa, and it jolted sudden and odd in her chest. Killik had been — spying on Rikard? Guarding her land against him? Every day?

Butacross the table, Rosa scoffed, and shook her head. "It's not just Rikard you need to worry about, Killik," she countered. "This camp is only a short walk away from Dusbury, and do you realize" — she jabbed her quill toward him — "that's the nearest any orc settlement has been to a human town in at least a hundred years? And if Rikard can get an entire town of people worked into a frenzy about the trespassing orcs in their terrifying camp, that's what you need to worry about."

Thetruth of that alarming statement struck Louisa to stillness, because yes, that was absolutely something Rikard would do, wasn't it? Especially if he couldn't find another way to throw her — and the orcs — off the property?

Andwhat if Rikard did succeed in whipping up the town against the camp? Would anyone notice or care if a rabid mob attacked the camp, or drove the orcs off Louisa's property? Would the orcs have any real recourse, beyond fighting back? An action that could surely lead straight into a war?

Louisa'suneasy glance back at Killik found his mouth pressed tight, his hand rigid on his dagger. But he wasn't replying this time, and Rosa drew in another bracing breath. "And," she continued, "I don't think your plans for impressing Simon and your clan are going to cut it, either. Your camp being strong and safe, and Ulfarr being a good leader — that's all the bare minimum, isn't it? You need to do something bigger. Something so spectacular, no one will question it."

Louisa'sbreath caught, and she hadn't even noticed she was clutching her own knife, her fingers clammy and tingling. Because it was too close to her own thoughts, wasn't it? Their current plan wasn't enough. They needed to put on a good show. Something spectacular.

"I agree with you, Rosa," she said, in a rush. "We need to do everything we can. Ulfarr is too important. This camp is too important."

Hervoice sounded hoarse, pleading, and her glance up at Killik felt pleading, too. But he still wasn't speaking, still just frowning at her, and gripping his dagger. But maybe… maybe listening.

"Did you — have anything in mind?" Louisa asked Rosa, squaring her shoulders. "Any ideas or suggestions? Initiatives that have worked in similar situations before? Maybe" — she groped back through her memories — "some kind of expanded communications effort in Dusbury? Continuing the work you've been doing there, somehow?"

Rosalooked deeply gratified by this suggestion, but then her eyes again flicked up to Killik. "I think we need to hear from the Skai first," she said, slower. "Your clan has borne so much, maybe more than any of the other clans. So" — her head cocked sideways — "what's something you think the clan needs, Killik? If you could conjure up anything to help your clan, anything at all — what would it be?"

Killikblinked, as if this wasn't a question he'd ever before considered — and then he jerked a shrug, and gave an aimless wave of his dagger toward the room around them. "Just — a place such as this," he said, his voice cracking. "A place where we can rest, and heal, and welcome the weak and weary amongst us. A place with good tall trees to live in, and deep tunnels to hide in, where our sons can play, and learn, and grow — and mayhap meet humans nearby to be friends and mates with, also. A place where we can finally be Skai, and yet be… safe."

Hislonging quivered through the air, clutching in Louisa's belly, and perhaps Rosa felt it too, her eyes large and bright, her tooth biting at her lip. "A place to be Skai," she repeated, hushed. "And to welcome the weary, and play, and grow. And meet humans…"

Shewas tapping her quill on the table, her expression now distant, thoughtful, focused. And then she choked an excited little yelp, and began writing. Her quill rapidly sweeping across the page, while Louisa exchanged a brief, bemused glance with Killik behind her. But then his narrow gaze flicked back to Rosa, and to where her mate John-Ka was smiling at her with fond approval, and even reaching over to tap his claw at something she'd written on the page.

"Yes, I agree," Rosa replied, with a quick, distracted smile toward him, before writing even faster. "The entire town. And the mountain. And all the other camps?"

John-Ka nodded, while Louisa's bemusement just kept rising, and finally she took a breath, cleared her throat. "Well?" she asked. "What are you suggesting, then?"

Rosa'ssparkling eyes snapped up, her grin warm and eager. "You need an open house," she said firmly. "Or a camp-warming party. Or better yet" — she gave a triumphant flourish of her quill — "an official SkaiSummit for Rehabilitation, Reconciliation, and Rejuvenation. All ages welcome!"