Page 113 of The Orc Warrioress and the Elf Lord

With Findas in the court, he could keep things a certain way for women like that. He liked to have women to give to men he wanted to influence or appease, and he made it so those women were given a certain position at court, allowing them to be present at dinners and balls and other events. Without Findas’s protection, however, no one would have an ounce of respect for this poor girl.

“I’ve forgotten your name,” he said to her.

“Katil, my lord,” she said. “I am, well, it was easy enough to get here and to undo the lock on the door and I suppose I could… but it can’t be now, because it’s the middle of the day. Perhaps if I come back some other time, when everyone is asleep? Of course, how will I get out of the room where I’m sleeping, because there are four of us in there? Maybe if I wait and creep out after they are asleep?”

“What are you going on about, Katil?” he said.

“Oh, rescuing you, obviously,” she said. “I’m scheming with Gathren about it.”

He set down the pen and felt so overcome that tears were forming in his eyes. “Gathren knows I’m here. She’s trying to free me?” How could he doubt it, though? Of course she would. He felt overcome. He got up and went to sit on his bed, head in his hands.

“My lord?” said Katil.

He let out a breath. He looked up at her. “Tell her I have a way out. But it means that she cannot come to Cirlahir to seek me in weeks or years or whenever we were telling ourselves it could happen. If I say that it was her, if I give her the credit for the High King’s demise, they will forgive everything. So, tell her she need not worry over me, or rescue me, or… tell her she is free.”

Katil furrowed her brow. “Well, that was rather a lot to remember, my lord. Perhaps if I could write all that down?”

He laughed softly. “When will you see her again?”

“Soon, in just an hour or so. We have a meeting place.”

He thought that through. He couldn’t be out of here in an hour, could he?

GATHREN COULDN’T BELIEVE it when she came to meet Katil and she came with Iahir in tow. He looked haggard, his eyes shadowed, his features hollowed out, and his shoulders sagged. He came straight for her, though, and he took her and guided her into an alley. “Best not be too conspicuous,” he said to her.

They walked.

She looked up at him. “You rescued yourself.”

“No, I used you,” he said. “They wanted me to blame it on you, so I did. I was feeling conflicted about it, because it seemed wrong to do that to you, but then I discovered you were out here trying to rescue me, and I decided you would not mind.”

She let out a helpless laugh. “So, then… what? You did not kill the High King? I did?”

He nodded. “That is the way of it.”

“Will anyone really believe that?”

He shrugged. “I do not know. Probably not. I don’t think it really matters, because whatever this sham of the leftovers of the court is here, it’s not very effective, and Larhil is with Marthlis negotiating with the orcs. Do you know anything of this?”

“No, I haven’t… I have not really turned myself back in to my father, I’m afraid.”

“I didn’t think you had a choice. I thought there was some escort who was going to take you right to him.”

“Well, he tried to…” She glowered off into the distance. “I had to kill him.”

“By the dawn, are you all right?” He was horrified.

“You can see I’m all right,” she said.

“I’m sorry I left you alone,” he said.

“Oh, as if you would have been much help!”

He smirked.

She smirked.

They stopped walking. The alley here was full of piles of ash from fireplaces and crumpled newsprints. Otherwise, it was empty.