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ButonceLouisareturned home, and then threw herself into what should have been an enjoyable afternoon of hunting, she still couldn’t find the hope, or the peace.Andinstead, her cursed thoughts kept wheeling back toKillik, toUlfarr, to that damned letter.
HadUlfarrreceived the letter by now?Whatwould he think of it?Wouldhe actually consider returning?Or, more likely, would he think the letter embarrassingly forward, for a woman who had already so thoroughly embarrassed herself?Wouldhe laugh at it, or throw it away?Swearnever to see her again?
Bythe time the sun was setting, still with no sign ofKillik— or any viable game for supper, other than a highly alarming skunk —Louisawas fully convinced the letter had been a total waste, just like her afternoon spent hunting.Andwith a heavy sigh, she finally turned back toward the house, trudging through the trees, rubbing at her prickling eyes.Ofcourse it had been useless, what else had she —
Whensuddenly, something dropped down before her.Somethingtall and grey and far too close, sendingLouisareeling backwards, her heart screeching in her chest.Itwas —Killik?
Butyes, yes, it wasKillik, rising gracefully from his crouch, and giving a longsuffering roll of his eyes. “Whatdid you kenIwas, a porcupine?” he said dryly. “Awandering chicken?”
Louisa’sheart was still pounding too loud, her breaths quick and shallow — but her mouth twitched, and she attempted a halfhearted glower toward him. “Well, then?” she demanded. “WhatdidUlfarrsay to the letter?”
Asmall smile curled acrossKillik’smouth, smug and satisfied. “Ach, this helped, asIknew it would,” he replied. “Hedid not believe you had written it, at first, but it was luck that you wept upon it, and thus, he could scent this.”
Luck, thatLouisahad wept on the letter, and she kept glaring atKillik, waiting.Buthe was enjoying this, damn him, plucking one of his daggers out of his hair, and giving it a leisurely whirl. “Hehas never before had a letter from a woman, ach?” he continued, with relish. “Heread this again and again, and then demandedItell him all you said and did.Foronce” — his smile was a full-on smirk, now — “all this weeping and wailing served to my gain, ach?”
Louisarolled her eyes back toward him, but her alarm and irritation had entirely faded, in place of a strange, lurching eagerness. “Andthen?Whatdid he say?”
Killikkept smirking at her, and gave another lazy whirl of his dagger. “Hesaid it was a pretty letter,” he replied blandly. “Andthat you write” — he betrayed a faint wince — “just as sweetly as aKa-esh.”
AsaKa-esh.Thatwas another one of the five orc clans,Louisavaguely recalled, and — she cast her thoughts backwards — it had been the clan that sweet scholarly girlRosahad been affiliated with, right?AclanKillikdidn’t want involved with his precious wolf, perhaps.
“Verywell, but what then?”Louisademanded, now playing straight into the smug bastard’s hands, butKillik’sexpression shifted again, back to triumph, or even relief.Asif — as if he really did want this to work, too.Asif he’d genuinely welcomedLouisa’sletter, and her concerted attempt at making amends.
“Then,”Killikdrawled, his eyes almost warm onLouisa’sface, “he bathed, and dressed, and braided his hair.Andhe now sits in your bedroom, and awaits your return.”
Wait.Ulfarrwas inLouisa’sbedroom?Waitingfor her?Now?
Louisacould only stare atKillik, her heart now galloping against her ribs, as his smile curled even higher, into something dark, something dangerous, full of menace and glee.
“Soyou shall ready yourself, and come to us,” he said. “Andthis time” — his voice dropped, into a soft, vicious threat — “this time,Ishall makesureyou scream.”
14
Bythe timeLouisaclimbed the stairs to her bedroom, she was trembling with nervousness, her hands tingly and clammy, her thoughts screaming unhelpfully through her pounding skull.
Whatif she messed this up again?Whatif it was even more of a disaster than last time?Orwhat ifUlfarrhad already changed his mind, and left?
Butno, no,Killikhad gone on ahead toLouisa’sbedroom, while she’d washed up and eaten a quick supper.Andif something had changed, surely he would have let her know.Right?
SoLouisasquared her shoulders as she clutched for her door, and shoved it open.Revealingher familiar room, lit by her familiar flickering lamp, and…
Theorcs.Twoorcs.Killik, sprawled in his usual chair by the desk, and…Ulfarr.Onceagain seated in that same place on the bed, fully dressed, his hands tightly folded in his lap.
Ulfarr’seyes instantly darted up towardLouisa, his big body stiffening — and then he lurched to his feet, and lumbered over toward her.Hissteps heavy and unsteady, his gaze uneasy on her face.
“Ach,Louisa,” he said thickly, and his hand twitched forward, almost as if to grasp hers — but then it dropped just as quickly, snapping to a fist at his side. “Ihope you do not mind — ach.Killiksaid — your letter —”
Hisface was flushed, the sweat beading on his brow, andLouisatook an instinctive step toward him, before jerking belatedly to a halt. “No,I’m— so glad you came back,” she said, in a rush. “You— got the letter, then?”
Evenas she said it, she shot a chagrined grimace towardKillik, who predictably scoffed, and rolled his eyes.ButUlfarr’seyes stayed solemn and intent on hers, his head giving a curt nod.
“Ach,” he said. “Thisletter was… very kind.Mostof all afterI… left you, last eve, asIdid.”
Hisvoice and eyes dropped, his mouth bitterly twisting, andLouisashook her head, flapped her hand between them. “It’sfine,” she replied, too quickly. “Completelyfine!Iabsolutely understood, of course.”
ButUlfarr’seyes darkened, gone even more morose than before.Thesight of it clutching miserably inLouisa’sgut, strong enough that she jolted toward him, almost as if to touch him —
Butthen,Ulfarr— flinched.Flinched, as if he couldn’t bear her touch — or perhaps couldn’t bear to be here at all.AndLouisafroze in place just in time, as ice cracked up her spine, and heat burned behind her eyes.Gods, he still didn’t want it, there was no way this was ever going to —
