AllFreeNovel
Share Us
BesideLouisa,Ulfarrhad stiffened all over, his eyes narrow and surprisingly flinty on whereKillikwas striding toward them.ButKillik’sface was carefully smooth, expressionless, what had he done, what had he decided…
“Wherewere you,Killik?”Ulfarrdemanded, his voice harsh enough to makeLouisablink. “Whydid you leave us?”
Killikblinked too, and flicked a brief, almost imperceptible glance towardLouisa’sface. “Istayed the night withSune,” he said, too lightly. “Thoughtone of us ought to make sure he stayed out of trouble.”
Oh.Louisa’srelief shuddered through her breath, dropped her stiff shoulders — but damn it,Killikcould still be lying, he could still have found another bedmate first… right?AndperhapsUlfarrthought the same, because he lurched towardKillik, and thrust his face down into his neck.Sohe could… smell him.Sohe could make sure he was telling the truth.
Butyes, yes,Ulfarr’sbreath exhaled with obvious relief, his hand clapping firm againstKillik’sshoulder.WhileKillik’seyes stayed carefully unreadable, even as he gaveUlfarr’sback a brisk pat in return.
“Goodmorn to you also,Wolf,” he said. “Now, we ought to make ourselves ready for thisSummit, ach?SunesaysCecilyhas set out fancy clothes for us, and we have much left to prepare, do we not?”
Right.TheofficialOpenHousewas set to begin at noon, with their full slate of games, classes, and activities.Andwhile they’d set much of it up already, there were still multiple crucial items on their list for the morning.SoLouisadrew in breath, and made herself nod, even as her eyes kept searchingKillik’sface.Whilebeside her,Ulfarrnodded too, and then turned toward — oh.Sune.
Louisahadn’t even seenSunestanding there, but he’d clearly been watching, his narrow eyes flicking fromUlfarr, toKillik, toLouisa, and back again.Whatis amiss?he signed.Whydo you all scent thus?
Therewas an instant’s awkward silence, in whichUlfarrrubbed at his nose, andLouisashot another searching glance towardKillik.Whosighed, and then squared his shoulders, and metSune’seyes. “Ionly failed to tell themIwas staying with you last eve,” he replied, his voice carefully light. “Butnow they know, and we three shall speak more together later, ach?AfterthisOpenHouseis done.”
Sune’sexpression relaxed again, andUlfarr’sstiff body softened, too.Andsomething leapt, bright and hopeful inLouisa’sbelly, because even ifKillikhad walked out like that last night, maybe — maybe he’d actually listened to her, after all.Maybehe’d just needed time and space to think about it.Andif he really wanted to talk more about it later, maybe — maybe he was finally going to be honest withUlfarr, too.
Whichmeant — they could still fix this.Theycould.Theywould.
“Thatsounds good,”Louisasaid firmly, with a wavering, hopeful smile towardKillik’sface. “Thankyou,Killik.”
Henodded back, though his eyes didn’t quite meet hers.AndasLouisablinked toward him, suddenly there was the awareness, the weight, of all those heavy, deeply betraying things she’d told him the night before.Ilove you.Ineed you.Iwill never, ever get over you.
Itflushed hot in her face, dropped her eyes to the mossy earth at her feet, whileKillikcleared his throat. “Weought to eat, and set to work,” he said. “Thisday carries great weight, and has the power to alter much for us.”
Right.Yes.Itwas a critically important day, and it was vital that they carry it off.AndLouisasank into the firm strength ofUlfarr’shand on her shoulder, guiding her closer, together withKillikandSune.Andonce they were all clustered together in a ring,Ulfarrsaid a heartfelt prayer toSkai-kesh, asking for his blessing, and his guidance, and his safety.
Andthough he didn’t speak it,Louisacould again feelUlfarr’slonging, his desperate hope.Hisneed to earn this, to show this, to gain his clan’s forgiveness.Togain this as his home.
Andwhen they drew apart again, there was only determination, low and powerful inLouisa’sbelly.Theywould do this.Theywould gain this, together.Asa clan, and maybe even as… a family.
Andyes, it was there inKillik’seyes too, and inSune’s.TheywereSkai.Theywere family.Theywere home.
“Thenlet’s go,”Louisasaid, making the sign for victory. “Andput on a damn good show.”
53
Thefirst-everSkaiSummitOpenHousewas a wild, chaotic success.
They’dfinished setting up right on schedule, andLouisahad felt almost nauseous as they’d waited for their official launch at noon.Whatif no one came?Whatif only a few people came?WhatifLouisa’sold friends all came and mocked her and left?
Butas they’d waited,Rosahad remained unfailingly optimistic, pointing out that one could always rely on people to be nosy — and that even if no one else came, there were still dozens of orcs and women and children already here to enjoy the day’s activities.Buteven all theSkaimilling about had seemed nervous too, quietly murmuring to each other, and glancing repeatedly toward the road.
ButthenRagnihad called down from his watch-tree, and soon the first group of guests had come around the corner — a family whoLouisahad invited, who’d once lived on her street inDusbury.Andshe had almost tripped as she’d stumbled over toward them, shaking their hands, and welcoming them to the camp.
They’dseemed shy and wary at first, but unmistakably curious, too, just asRosahad promised.Andas soon asLouisahad sent them off withJulefor their first guided tour, another group showed up, and then another.Andthen a long steady stream of them, men and women and children too, all blinking up at the camp with wide, awestruck eyes.
Louisastayed on welcoming duty throughout, enthusiastically greeting anyone she recognized by name, and handing out the activity schedule and mapRosahad printed.Andsoon the camp was full of chattering voices and shouting children, andLouisa’sheart skipped every time she turned to look.
Becauseit truly did look — wonderful.Thecamp was decorated with hundreds of paper lanterns and streamers, cheerfully waving and spinning in the branches above, and ropes and ladders also hung from every tree, inviting guests to climb and swing and explore.They’dalso set up multiple snack and drink tables, along with signage and gathering points for their planned schedule of activities.
Andalong with the ongoing rotation of guided tours, many activities were well underway, too.Killikwas leading the honey-hunting expeditions — the “honey” all dangling copper coins, tucked amidst the trees — whileUlfarrhad begun knife-throwing lessons, showing their attendees how to throw at a huge wooden target, which had multiple funny creatures stamped upon it.Argarrhad also set up a makeshift forge in the clearing, teaching guests how to make nails, andThomasandElgrwere leading children and orclings in a treasure hunt, with clues and prizes hidden throughout the forest.
Therewere multiple activities set up down in the common-room, too, and during a break in the guest arrivals,Louisaducked down to look.Filaknow had three separate tunnels to explore, all winding off in opposite directions, and apparently — in some bizarre stroke of generosity — he’d even decided to allow each visiting child to mine a small piece of amethyst.Whileout in the common-room itself,IgullandPollypresided over a dice tournament at the tables, and by the fire,FloraandGalmrwere demonstrating how to braid rope.Andat yet another table,RosaandGevasat beside a large sign that proclaimed,Eagerto educate your children in an enriching cross-cultural environment?Signup for updates on theWolf-Camp’snew school!
“Thisis unbelievable,Lou,” came a familiar voice behind her, and whenLouisawhipped around, it wasJoan, a wry grin on her face.Andwith her wereEliseandGladysand the children, too, all of them looking cautious but curious, whileHalthorrbeamed proudly behind them.
