Chapter 45

Louisa'smouth dropped open, as disbelief cracked through her whirling thoughts. An official SkaiSummit for Rehabilitation, Reconciliation, and Rejuvenation? Really?

Herdisbelieving gaze darted back up toward Killik, who looked just as stunned as she felt — but he quickly recovered, and jabbed his dagger toward Rosa. "No," he snapped. "No, you irksome Ka-esh. We shall not" — he took a breath — "call it this!"

Louisajolted, gaping up at Killik's face, because he was quibbling over — the name. Not the idea altogether. Right?

"NoSkai shall even be able to speak this," Killik continued, with another sharp jab of his dagger toward Rosa. "Let alone invite their kin to this Summit for Rehabilitation, Reconciliation, and Rejuvenation!"

Therewas an instant's startled silence, but then Rosa's mouth quirked, and she rolled her eyes. "Oh, fine," she snapped back. "What far superior name would you give it, then?"

Killiksniffed, and pursed his lips, and flipped his dagger in his fingers. "Just the SkaiSummit, I ken," he muttered, under his breath. "Ought to be more than enough."

Rosa'sdelight lit up her face, and Louisa felt her own smile widening, too — but she still wasn't even fully following, damn it. "So you mean — we'll host an event here?" she asked carefully. "And… invite people to attend? WhileSimon and Maria are here?"

Rosavigorously nodded, and she was already taking more notes, her quill streaking across the page. "Yes, exactly," she replied. "We invite as many Skai as we can think of, and we'll welcome orcs from all the clans, too. And" — another flourish from her quill — "we invite the town. We welcome them to come and tour an authentic orc camp, with tunnels and tree-houses and food and games and prizes!"

Louisa'sbrain was still lurching to catch up, though she was leaning forward in her chair, gripping at the table. "And we can help to prevent any fear-mongering from Rikard, too," she said slowly. "We give people a chance to see the camp for themselves."

Rosanodded again, her eyes dancing on her page of notes. "And as you suggested, sister, it will be an excellent addition to our ongoing communications campaigns," she said firmly. "We've already done plenty of in-person outreach in town, along with all our flyers and publications — so this is a logical next step, isn't it? Inviting them to experience orc culture and an orc community firsthand, and to show them that it's not scary or intimidating. To prove to them that they can have fun here, and be safe."

Louisa'sheart skipped, while Rosa frowned up at Killik, and tapped her quill at her chin. "AndI think it would be good for the Skai, too," she added, quieter. "So much of your culture and history was lost in the war, and you ought to be supported in celebrating what you still have. Honouring it, and rebuilding it, and sharing it. With each other, and the other clans, and humans, too."

Shesounded so earnest, so intent, and Louisa's glance back at Killik found him looking — thoughtful. Disarmed. Almost… hopeful.

"And you really think," Louisa ventured, "we can just… do that? Decide that? And make sure it all happens while Simon is here?"

She'dasked it to Killik, rather than Rosa, and she winced at the darkness again flickering through his eyes — but across the table, Rosa sniffed, and snatched over a new sheet of paper. "Of course we can," she said crisply. "Simon doesn't own your clan, does he? If anything, Ulfarr's history as a Skai leader goes back far further than his. And besides" — her mouth curved into a dark little smile — "what kind of leader would Simon be, to miss the Skai event of the decade? Or maybe even the century?"

Louisa'slaugh choked in her throat, and she shot another amused glance up at Killik, who was finally smiling, too. "Ka-esh," he muttered, but it sounded almost indulgent. "No, he would not miss it, I ken."

Well, then. Louisa's hopefulness simmered in her chest, and her hand found Killik's, squeezing it tight. Feeling him squeeze back in return, even as his eyes flicked toward the door. Toward where Ulfarr had just come down, his head tilting as he strode toward them.

"Wolf ought to hear this, also," Killik said now, as he signed something toward Ulfarr, and then waved him into a chair. "Mayhap you could explain this again, Rosa?"

Itwas surprisingly polite, coming from Killik, and Ulfarr looked surprised, too — but he willingly sat, and glanced warily between them. WhileRosa drew in a breath, straightened her notes, and then — to Louisa's ever-rising astonishment — launched into an in-depth presentation of the plan. Speaking with startling clarity and enthusiasm, and even creating impromptu charts and diagrams as she went.

Bythe end of it, Ulfarr looked thoroughly stunned, gazing blankly at Rosa, and then at Louisa, and then at Killik, who had finally sunk himself into a chair. "And you wish for this, pup?" Ulfarr asked. "You should welcome this, for us?"

Killik'sthroat convulsed, but he twitched a brief, decisive nod. "Ach, Wolf," he said. "I would."

Ulfarrnodded too, and his gaze slid back toward Louisa. "And you, Louisa?" he asked, slower. "ThisSummit would be on your land. It would show you as an ally to orcs, far beyond all the rest you have yet done. It may worsen this strife from your neighbour, and make you more of a target for him. Or mayhap for other lords and powerful humans, also."

Right. Louisa grimaced, because he wasn't wrong about that — and he reached across the table, and grasped her hand in his. "You have already done so much for us, Louisa," he said. "For our kin, and for the camp, and for — for me. I do not wish to ask you to bear more risk or pain or fear on our behalf — or to draw this risk upon the kin you care for. This is your land, and your home, and you do not owe us this — or aught else. You do not."

Louisaswallowed, searching Ulfarr's eyes, feeling that gentle caress of his fingers on her hand. "So if you do not fully wish for this, Louisa," he continued, "I do not, either. Your welfare and your safety are of the utmost worth to us, and no matter what you choose upon this, we shall uphold you, with all our strength."

Heglanced toward Killik, as if including him in that statement, too — and though Louisa couldn't quite read Killik's expression, he gave a curt nod. And then raised his brows toward her, as if saying, So? What do you decide?

Andas Louisa blinked between them, it again felt like it had at the mountain, when she'd prayed to Skai-kesh. When that certainty, that peace, had settled itself upon her, and sunk deep into her bones. Ulfarr was considering her needs, and asking her permission, and accepting her choice. He was recognizing her ownership of her land, and her responsibilities toward her people. And he was offering to uphold her and her choices. To share his strength with her. To face this with her.

AndLouisa — wanted to face this. She wanted to support the camp. She wanted to keep helping the people LordScall had harmed. She wanted to keep making amends. Seeking hope, and healing, and peace.

Andmaybe — she shot another look at Killik — she wanted to keep proving it, too. She wanted to stand tall with the Wolf of the Skai. And maybe — maybe with his favourite pup, too.

Soshe squeezed Ulfarr's hand, and drew in breath from the earth. Drew in that strength, that hope, that… peace. Hers.

"Yes," she said, without a trace of hesitation in her voice. "Let's do it."