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Andperhaps she was pushing too much, now, but the camp was still on her land, she had a right to know, didn’t she?AndthoughKillik’sglance back was narrower this time, he sighed, and nodded. “Ach, it has,” he replied. “Afterall these wounds, manySkaido not yet wish to return to our mountain — but they yet long for a safe place nearby for their mates and sons.Sowith this camp, we can offer them help, and a quiet place to rest.Mayhapeven room for this… healing.Thispeace.”
Healing.Peace.Itclutched deep inLouisa’sbelly, and she nodded, let out a slow breath. “I’mglad,Killik,” she said. “Ireally hope it helps.”
Shemeant it, her voice low and earnest, her eyes sober on where he was glancing over his shoulder toward her, and twitching another nod.Andfor a breath,Louisawas caught on the sight of him, on the truth of him telling her all this, trusting her with this, even taking her hunting like this, it was…
“Ack!” she yelped, as her too-big boot slipped on a rock beneath her, nearly hurling her sideways into the surrounding bog — butKillikhad already whirled around, and lunged back toward her.Hisstrong hands gripping her shoulders, hauling her upright again.Holdingher still, solid, safe.
Louisagulped for air, fought to calm her racing heartbeat, to attempt an apologetic smile toward him — but to her vague surprise,Killikdidn’t release her, or step back.Instead, he just kept standing here, holding her in place on the uneven rock, which was still doing its damnedest to tip her into the marshy muck all around them.
“Breathe, woman,”Killiktold her, steady and firm. “Breatheinto your foot, and the rock.Drawdeep into the earth, feel it draw up into you.”
Andsomehow,Louisaobeyed.Haulingin more deep, dragging breaths, drawing them up from the earth, through the sharpness of the rock beneath her.Andit did feel steadier, easier, her weight sinking onto the rock, finding the strength of it, the solid ground beneath.
“Thankyou,” she said, with another grateful smile atKillik’sunreadable face.Atwhere he was still standing here holding her, his hands gripping tightly onto her arms.Thetouch not calling up even a twinge of that familiar old alarm — and he’d never touched her at length like this before, had he?Beyondthose brief pats to her cheek?
AndperhapsKillikhad realized that too, his gaze darting down toward his hands — but he still didn’t release her.Justtook a slow step backwards, without even looking, and thereby revealing another pointy, slippery rock between them.
“Nowagain,” he ordered. “Withthe earth.”
Louisanodded, a foolish action that almost staggered her sideways — butKillikstill held her steady, safe.Soshe drew in a long, fortifying breath, envisioned the earth drawing her down, as she drew it up into her foot.Andthough her step forward was slow, shaky, she didn’t slip on the stone, or the next.AndKillikkept guiding her backwards, step by careful step, until he drew her to solid earth again, on the opposite side of the bog.
“Oh, thank the gods,”Louisasaid, with genuine relief. “Andthank you.Again.”
Killik’seyes shifted, flickered on hers — but then he shrugged and glanced away, angling his head toward the south. “Oughtto keep going,” he said curtly. “Thebuck is yet there, but mayhap not for long.”
Right.Hunting.Thethought flipped inLouisa’sbelly, twisting her mouth, because of course this wasn’t — anything.Thiswasn’tKilliktaking her into his confidence, or wanting to spend time with her.Thiswas all just some bizarre manifestation of his guilt from the night before, or maybe even his well-placed fear that she would decide this wasn’t worth it, and abandon him — and his camp — for good.
Shefought to keep repeating that truth as they quietly tracked the buck through the forest, heading steadily southwest.UntilKilliksigned for her to be still, andLouisacould just catch a glimpse of antlers, jutting up from the brush ahead…
AndthenKillikkicked off, and ran.Sprintingwith sudden, shocking speed across the clearing, his body a graceful grey blur of movement.Hishand drawing back, a flash of silvery steel flying through the air —
Killikwhooped even before the buck fell, his laugh joyous and bright.Andthen he launched into one last flying leap, another blade flashing in his hand — and it was over in an instant, the buck’s body twitching to stillness beneath him, the scent of fresh blood flaring through the air.
“Thatwas — a very impressive kill,”Louisamanaged, once she’d caught up to whereKillikwas already cleaning his daggers beside the fallen buck. “Congratulations.”
Killikshrugged, but then he waved her forward, and — to her surprise — launched into another lesson.Thisone about how to tie and hang the buck, and then carry it safely back toward her house.Andthen, once they’d reached the yard, he even showed her how to dress the buck, and ready its pelt for drying.
Itwas all new toLouisa— deer-hunting was well beyond what she could manage alone — and while it was a grisly, messy business,Killikworked quickly and cleanly, offering clear explanations as he went, and answeringLouisa’squestions without complaint.Italso turned out that her knife had been noticeably improved by his alterations, making the work far easier than it surely would have been otherwise.
“Good,” he finally said, with satisfaction, as he helped her heap fresh venison onto a large pallet she’d fetched. “Nowhelp me carry this to your house.”
Louisagratefully nodded, mopping the sweat off her brow with her sticky, bloody sleeve before helpingKilliklift the heavy pallet between them.Andit was only then that she caught sight ofJoan, standing stock-still beside the stable, and gaping atLouisaandKillikwith abject disbelief in her eyes.
Damnit.Louisastill hadn’t talked toJoansince the incident withUlfarrleaving that morning, and she shot her an apologetic half-smile. “Afternoon,Joan,” she called out, as steadily as she could. “Killik’shunted us a deer.Couldyou go collectEliseandGladys, and start the fire, and ready the kitchen?We’llneed to cook some of the venison, and then salt the rest.”
Thankfully,Joandidn’t argue, and she curtly nodded before dashing off ahead toward the house.AndwhenLouisaandKillikreached the side door, the kitchen was already bustling with activity —Eliseclearing the counter,Gladysstoking the fire, andJoanhauling up a heavy bag of salt from the cellar.Andwait, the children were here, too, both of them casting shocked, wide-eyed glances towardKillik, and then rushing towardElise.
“Orchere!”Stefanyelped, clinging toElise’sskirts, whileElisestaggered backwards, her face ashen.Andcurse it,Louisadidn’t need another dramatic scene right now, and suddenly she couldn’t bear the thought of it, not after today.Notafter allKillikhad done.
“Yes, this is an orc,”Louisasaid toStefan, as she andKilliksettled the heavy pallet onto the counter. “Hisname isKillikofClanSkai, and he hunted us this entire buck today, all by himself!Youwant to know how he killed it?”
Elisecringed, shaking her head and drawing the children closer, butStefan’seyes were bright with eagerness, andAmelooked cautiously curious, too. “How?” she asked, her small voice carrying through the room. “Hescare it to death?”
Louisawinced, and shot a rueful glance towardKillikbeside her. “No, even he couldn’t do that,” she replied, fighting to keep her voice light. “Butinstead, he pulled out his hairpin, and threw it!Killedthe buck with a single hit to its head!”
BothStefanandAmegasped, and between them,Eliselooked truly horrified — but whenLouisadarted another glance atKillik, he was… nodding.Nodding, his expression almost tolerant, as he reached up, and plucked one of the daggers out of his hair.
“Thisone,” he said, holding it out so the children could see it. “Itis good for throwing, ach?Theend is sharp, and the blade thin, so it flies fast and true.Likea deadly little bird.”
