Chapter 58

Foran instant, the world stopped. Time stopped. And there was only Killik, Killik smiling that cool, glittering smile, as he plucked Louisa's knife from Rikard's slack hand, and placed it firmly back into her own numb, trembling fingers.

"You said orcs shall be the killers?" Killik continued, still smiling, even as Rikard roared, and lunged toward him. "I ken for once you were right, fool man."

Heleapt backwards as he spoke, easily avoiding Rikard's attack, not betraying even a hitch in his breath. "Ach, and I warned you," Killik purred, as he leapt back again. "I told you what should come next, if you harmed this woman."

Rikardwas on his feet, now, breathing hard, and he shot a dark, assessing glance back toward Louisa, his hand slightly raising his sword. As if he was about to spin and run for her after all, swing that shining blade straight down onto her neck —

Butthen he jolted, his eyes snapped wide, fixed on something beside Louisa — and wait, it was… Ulfarr. Ulfarr, here. Crouched huge and hulking beside her, and where had he even come from, and he —

Helooked furious. Malevolent. Deadly. With his glinting flashing eyes, his furrowed brow, his bared white teeth. And he had a massive, gleaming scimitar gripped in his big hand, while his other hand gently settled against Louisa's heaving back, stroked slow and careful against it.

"No," he growled at Rikard, deep and dangerous in his throat. "No. You shall never touch our woman again."

Rikard'smouth contorted, his body skittering backwards, away. "How dare you orcs threaten me," he gasped. "You can't do anything to me. Everyone will instantly know who did it! The camp of killer orcs next door!"

ButUlfarr's dark expression didn't waver, and Killik laughed again, tinkling and amused. "Ach, but as you said, fool man, we are on your land," he said. "With your own fool traps, scattered all about, where anyone might step."

Rikardshot a furtive glance at the ground around them, and shook his head. "I know my land," he snarled, even as he took a step backwards. "I know where my traps are, and I — ahhhhh!"

Hereared up, wildly kicking with his leg, because — there. One of the sharp steel traps, now clamped tight and vicious around his ankle.

Butit hadn't been there before, Rikard had even stepped in that same spot before — right? But somehow, the chain attached to the trap had been hidden beneath the leaves, snaking away toward… toward Killik. Who was gripping the end of the chain in his hand, and giving it a brief, experimental yank.

Rikardflailed and staggered, and then crashed down to his knees on the earth. "Howdare you, you foul brute," he spat, between heavy gasps. "I am a — lord of this realm — and you will release me — at once!"

ButKillik only laughed again, tipping his head back, his eyes narrowed to glittering slits. "How does it feel, fool man?" he asked. "Mayhap you now regret doing this to my woman? And to my son?"

Louisacould see Rikard fighting to collect himself, to push through the pain — and then he shoved up to his feet, raised his sword, and lunged. Staggering straight toward Killik, closer, closer, too close, as Louisa's heart leapt and screamed. Rikard was going to attack Killik, and kill him, no, no, no —

WhenKillik — stepped aside. So calm, so fluid and graceful. And he'd somehow swung up the chain, twisting it around Rikard's other leg, so Rikard tripped, and then crashed headfirst into the earth.

Killik'slaugh was light and merry, his dagger spinning in his hand. "Last chance, fool man," he purred. "Shall you now be wise enough to beg for my mercy, and swear never to touch or threaten my kin again?"

Rikardsnarled and staggered upwards again, glaring at Killik with wild eyes. "You won't get away with this, orc," he gasped. "You kill me here, in the exact same place where my uncle died, on the same day when you had hundreds of orcs crawling all over the property? You'll still take the fall for this. You'll still take down your precious treaty, and launch a war!"

Hewas slowly advancing toward Killik again, his trapped foot dragging, his hand gripping at his sword — because he was trying to distract Killik, damn it, so he could rush in, and use that sword to kill him. WhileKillik just kept standing there, now thoughtfully tapping his dagger against his chin, and even glancing back at Ulfarr.

"Ach, what do you ken, Wolf?" Killik asked, his tone easy, conversational. "Mayhap he is not wrong upon this. Mayhap it would be safer for him to die alone in his bed. Mayhap next week?"

Andoh, the way Ulfarr was smiling back at Killik, his teeth sharp and white, as the sheer malevolence kept glittering in his eyes. "Ach, this sounds best, pup," he replied. "So do not mark him up too much, I ken."

Killikhuffed a heavy, resigned sigh, and then finally glanced back at Rikard. At where Rikard had still been staggering closer, sweeping up that huge sword, aiming it straight at Killik's neck. No, no, he couldn't, no —

Buteven as Louisa yelped, her hand outstretched, Killik's dagger flashed. Flipped. Flew. Flew straight toward… Rikard'sface.

Rikardscreamed and staggered backwards, his hand frantically clutching at — at his eye. AndKillik laughed as he spun his second dagger, even gave it a long, leisurely lick with his curling black tongue — and then hurled it at Rikard, too, deep into his — his belly.

Rikardbent double, and his shriek rang through the air, shrill with panic and pain. And then he staggered, and tilted, and spun, and then — then —

Thud.

Louisaflinched, cringed, her eyes wrenched shut — but the sound seemed to keep reverberating, singing again and again around them. Thud.

Rikardwas… dead?

Andthen — a laugh. Killik's laugh, bright and gleeful, carrying through the air. Catching strange in Louisa's breath, snapping her eyes up — to where Killik was clutching at his shaking waist, the mirth so blithe and amused in his sparkling eyes.

"You hear him squeal, Wolf?" he said toward Ulfarr, between chuckles. "And how he danced! Ach, I have been dreaming of that for weeks."

Somethingodd was twitching on Louisa's mouth, jostling in her chest, and she shot a blinking, helpless look at Ulfarr. Perhaps expecting him to admonish Killik, to correct him…

Butoh gods, Ulfarr was smiling, too. His grin broad and stunning, despite that danger still glinting sharp in his eyes. "Good work, pup," he said, deep and decisive. "And these look to be good clean wounds, also."

Killikbeamed proudly back toward him, looking for an instant almost like a hunting-dog who'd just gained a kill for its approving owner. An owner whose smile only went fonder as Killik laughed again, his shoulders shaking with sheer, delighted glee.

Andas Louisa watched, blinking, that jostling in her chest finally shuddered up, burst up out her throat — and somehow she was laughing, too. Shrill, sharp, helpless, shaking her all over, so convulsive she couldn't stop. And oh gods, what must they think of her, it wasn't funny, it wasn't, LordRikard was dead —

Orwas he? And when Louisa shot a wincing, searching glance up at Ulfarr, he was smiling back at her too, so warm and indulgent — but his other hand was signing swiftly toward the trees. "Rurik, come and do all you can to cover this, and grant this man a few more days' life," he said. "But come see Louisa, first."

Wait. Rurik? Rurik was here? But yes, there he was, striding coolly out from behind a tree, and coming over to kneel beside Louisa. Touching his hand beside Ulfarr's on her back, and then sliding it downwards, over her hip, her thigh, her knee, her ankle.

"Naught that ought to last," he told Ulfarr, clipped. "But get this trap off her, and tend the wound, and I shall look again after."

Ulfarrnodded and signed a swift thank-you toward him, but Rurik was already turning and walking away. Toward where Killik was now kneeling over Rikard's fallen form, and carefully drawing out his daggers. Spattering fresh blood all over him, and over Rikard, too.

"This is yet a mess, brother," Rurik snapped at Killik, settling his hand over Rikard's slack, unseeing face. "Did you need to puncture his eye?"

"Ach, I did," came Killik's cool reply. "You ought to be glad I did not stab the other one to match."

Rurikgave an irritated huff, but his brow was furrowed in concentration, both his hands pressed over Rikard's face. As if — wait. WasRurik — healing him?

Louisashot a wide-eyed, questioning glance toward Ulfarr, but he'd now shifted down beside her, his gaze focused and intent on her ankle. On that damned horrible trap, still cutting through the leather of her boot, sinking painfully into her skin.

"Igull and Elgr," Ulfarr called over his shoulder, his voice deep and decisive, even as his eyes stayed fixed on the trap. "You two seek for any scents of blood, and cover this as best you can. Ragni and Kori and Fasti, you cover the tracks, most of all the ones from Louisa's land. Halthorr, you stand watch, and scent for any men. AndSune, you come help me with this."

Louisatwitched, twisted around, stared — because wait, they were all here, too. All of Ulfarr's faithful former pack, fanning out into the trees, following his orders. Igull and Elgr were already pacing around them, scenting for the blood, and Ragni and Kori and Fasti were jogging back toward Louisa's land, as Halthorr headed toward Rikard's. WhileSune slipped from behind a nearby tree, and strode over to Ulfarr and Louisa. His hands signing at Ulfarr as he knelt, and then together they gripped the trap on Louisa's ankle, and yanked it open.

Therelief was sudden and staggering, shuddering through Louisa's aching body. And she twitched again at the feel of Ulfarr tearing her boot further open, and then — the warm, shocking sensation of his mouth. Gently kissing and licking the ragged wound the trap had left behind, as his soft eyes met Louisa's. "You shall be well again soon," he murmured. "This shall help you heal, ach?"

Itwould? ButUlfarr's eyes were still so steady, so certain, even as his hand signed something else toward Sune. Something about cleaning the trap, and… setting it again?

Butyes, yes, of course, that made sense. They wanted to leave the scene just how they'd found it. And then… and then…

Adistant, jangling hope was whispering in Louisa's belly, even as her thoughts kept streaming with questions, with uncertainty, with the wondering wheeling disbelief. They couldn't truly get away with this… could they? Whatever the hell it was?

"So what," she gasped, between her shallow breaths, "what are you planning here, exactly?"

Ulfarr'sglance toward her was warm, and he gave another gentle kiss to her stinging ankle. "AsKillik said," he murmured, "it would not be wisest to kill this man here, so close to your lands, and so close to where his uncle died, also. So instead" — he nodded toward Killik and Rurik — "we shall heal his outward wounds, and take him home to his bed, and wait for him to meet his death there."

Louisablinked at him — they could really do that? — and Ulfarr nodded, gave her ankle another careful kiss. "Rurik is a clever healer, ach?" he said. "I ken this man shall not wake again, but it shall look as though he died in his sleep. Heart trouble, mayhap."

Louisa'sbreath caught, her eyes darting back to Rikard's sprawled, unconscious body. "But — how will you even get him back home? He has staff, right? And men? Guards?"

ButUlfarr's mouth quirked up, his head shaking. "I ken one of Filak's new tunnels now near reaches his house, and that shall be a great help," he replied. "And as for his guards, I ken they are yet patrolling the rest of his border, and keeping watch for you. They have been doing this each night for many days now, and oft crossing onto your lands seeking you, also."

Right. Just as Killik had said, too. AndLouisa stared at Ulfarr for a long, unseeing moment, as her thoughts whirled and churned. Rikard had been stalking her, and trying to murder her, and Killik and Ulfarr had known, and…

"But why didn't you tell me before?" she demanded, and curse it, that was too much hurt in her voice, in her eyes. "If you knew that, all this time?"

Ulfarrwinced and exhaled, angling a brief glance back toward Killik. "I wished to tell you," he replied, slow. "But…"

Abitter laugh escaped Louisa's mouth, because he didn't even need to say it, did he? "Let me guess, Killik didn't want to tell me?" she asked, too sharp. "BecauseI needed to keep trying to impress him first? I needed to prove I was good enough to know such things? Worthy enough?"

Ulfarrblinked at her, his brow slowly furrowing, but Louisa couldn't stop now, it was all too much, too strong, too painful. "ButI wasn't," she breathed, pleaded, at Ulfarr's eyes. "I wasn't good enough for him. I've never been good enough for him, no matter what I did. So he lied to me, again and again and again, and then he decided to leave!"

Hervoice scraped out around them, betraying her to all the orcs still moving around them, and she belatedly winced, shook her head. No, no, this wasn't important, she didn't need to bring this up now, and…

ButUlfarr just kept looking at her like that, his forehead furrowed, the bewilderment shimmering in his eyes. "Ach, no, Louisa," he said, as he carefully grasped her scraped hand, and brought it to his mouth. Kissing there, too, gently trailing his tongue against the raw, stinging skin. "Killik wished to leave due to my failings, not yours. AndI ken you have greatly pleased him, with all you have done. I have never seen him care for a woman, or hunger for her, as he has with you."

What? No. That was ridiculous, Killik didn't care about her, Killik had tried to leave — but Ulfarr's eyes looked very certain, now, his lips still softly kissing at her stinging palm. "AndKillik only did not tell you all we knew of this Rikard's plans," he continued, "because he had sworn this vow to guard you, and protect you. And he knew how deeply this man distressed you, and he did not wish to bring you more fear and worry and pain. Most of all before this Summit, and all that came with it."

Louisaswallowed, shook her head, as Ulfarr's mouth just kept kissing, now moving up her wrist, to the raw skin on her forearm. "Killik swore to me he would tell you after the Summit," he said. "But we lost sight and scent of this Rikard for long enough that he found you. And this was again our failing, Louisa, and only ours. Not yours."

Louisashook her head again, but Ulfarr's mouth kept kissing, licking, tending. "None of this was your failing, Louisa. You have shown yourself so kind, and so brave, and so true. You have granted us so much help, and so much strength, and so much joy. So much" — he swallowed, gave her a sad little smile — "so much peace, sweet Louisa."

So much peace. It caught in Louisa's throat, in her chest, because despite all this mess, they'd still given her so much peace, too. BothUlfarr and Killik had, with their safety and their certainty and their pleasure, with the lessons and the camp and all of it, all of it. AndLouisa had tried so hard, done so much, hoped so much, but…

"But," she gulped, on a shaky breath. "But it wasn't enough for you, either. You really wanted a son, all that time. More than anything else."

Ulfarr'seyes briefly closed, and that was genuine pain, tightening on his mouth. "Ach," he said, heavy. "I will not deny that I have wished for a son. It has always seemed to me the… the height of what a strong, worthy Skai ought to gain. A son of Skai blood to care for, to fight beside, to carry my name beyond me."

Louisa'seyes dropped, the ache twisting in her belly, because yes, of course, she could understand that. She'd perhaps felt the same way, for so long, until…

"But these past moons," Ulfarr added, "and mayhap these past summers also, I have come to see… other ways. I have seen all I have gained, without this. I have seen this camp. I have seen my teaching at the school. I have seen the son I have already gained. The son who has been such a great, great gift from Skai-kesh."

Hiseyes had flicked toward the east, where Sune's dark head was scarcely visible, bent over where he was still resetting the trap. "When we three fought, back there on the path," Ulfarr continued, quieter, "Sune… overheard this. I did not scent him there, and I ken Killik was too distressed to scent him, also. But after you left, when Sune showed himself, he was weeping, and he said — he said —"

Ulfarr'sbreaths sounded ragged now, his eyes glimmering as they held on Sune's bowed head. "He said he has always known he would never be as good or as worthy as a blood-son," he whispered. "But he begged us not to send him away, even once we gained a new son. Abetter son. And ach, I could not — I cannot —"

Astreak of water escaped Ulfarr's eye, and he shook his head, flexed his jaw tight. "I cannot bear that he even thought this," he croaked. "I thought he knew how much we care for him. There is naught in this realm that could take him from me, for he is my son. He is Killik's son. He shall always, always be our son."

Hisvoice was fierce, utterly certain, as his hand slipped to his heart, closed tightly against it. "SoI vowed this to him, before Skai-kesh," he continued. "I told him I had no wish for a new son. No need for a new son. And this… this was truth."

Hisvoice shifted again, softened, his blood-streaked hand wiping at his wet face. "This was truth," he repeated, as something like relief shimmered in his eyes. "I have spent so many of my days caring for the orclings of my pack, and fearing for them, and teaching them, and seeking to keep them safe. I ken I have raised many, many sons, ach? And now" — his breath exhaled, slow — "they raise… me. They stand and fight beside me. They bring me such honour, and such joy. And when I am gone, they shall carry my name beyond me. They shall speak of the good I have brought this clan, and not the grief, or the pain."

Louisaswallowed, glancing at all the diligently working Skai around them. Igull and Elgr, Ragni and Kori and Fasti, Halthorr, Sune. "And now, they begin to have their own sons, too," Ulfarr said, with unmistakable awe in his voice. "AndI wish to — to be part of this. I wish to… savour this. I wish to cherish this time with them, and most of all, with Sune. I wish to welcome all I have, and be thankful for these gifts, without always seeking out more. Most of all if gaining more might bring… less. Less of what I most long for, in the end."

Hiseyes caught, lingered on where Killik was now standing up again, stretching both arms over his head. His lean, blood-streaked body looking so powerful, so dangerous, so… content.

"I long to be a good father to Sune, and to my brothers," Ulfarr continued, low. "ButI also long for you, Louisa. I long for you, and for Killik. I long for what we have built between us, these past weeks. I care not what we name this, and I have no need to make you a wife — but I yet wish for this joy, and this comfort, and this peace. This… family."

This family. It rung low and true in Louisa's belly, so stark and raw with longing, and she followed Ulfarr's eyes back toward Killik, who was now striding toward them with swift, steady steps. He had blood smeared not only over his hands, but also his chest, his face, even his mouth — but Ulfarr's expression was still so warm, so fond. His hand swiftly signing, Good, Killik. Thank you.

Killikwaved it away, his intent gaze now darting between Ulfarr and Louisa, and Ulfarr drew in a slow, heavy breath. "I have just been speaking to Louisa," he said, "of all we spoke of with Sune. Of how we have no need of a new son, or a wife. And how we yet long for her, and wish her to stay with us."

Killiktwitched, but then he went unnaturally still, and his eyes on Louisa looked hunted, almost afraid. "But," he began, with a wince. "I ken you should yet be happier, Wolf, if you —"

Louisa'sstomach plunged, because Killik was again saying no, no, no. And before he could speak any further, she choked a swallow, made herself nod. Made herself face this. Speak truth.

"I have no desire to — to push Killik into something he doesn't want," she told Ulfarr, too quickly. "And he doesn't want — me. He only did all this with me for — for you, sweetheart."

Sheeven tried to smile at Ulfarr, but found to her surprise that he was — frowning. Frowning between her and Killik, his mouth hard, his eyes flashing with… disapproval. With stark, genuine anger.

"No," he hissed. "No. I have had enough of this, from both of you. I shall bear no more foolishness, and no more falsehoods. And today, I shall finally have" — his voice deepened, decisive, dangerous — "your truth. Now."