Page 40 of Faeling
The orcesses all bowed their heads in respect, smiling up at him with silver-capped tusks and low-cut tunics. His blood rushed hotter at the sight of such bounty, his eyes hardly knowing where to look first. Many a male would kill for such a choice.
“And what would you hope to gain by such a union, my friend? To part with any of your kinswomen is a high price.”
Hrothgar harrumphed, as if this part needed to be dislodged from his throat. “An Innrini queen would…unify our kind.”
“So you would recognize my position?”
The old chieftain’s lips thinned between his yellowed tusks, but eventually he said, “Aye. I’d treat with you.”
Vallek hid his triumphant smile behind his hand, instead nodding gravely at Hrothgar’s offer.
It was just what Vallek had wanted. The reticent chieftain of Innrinhom had come himself to barter for peace. This was everything he and Eydis had been working toward. A peaceful, diplomatic end to eastern resistance to his kingship. Finally, he would have a unified orcish kingdom, strong enough to meet the Pyrrossi threat.
He should have enjoyed it. He should already be considering which of the three orcesses would suit him best.
Except, he thought none of that. No, his thoughts were only for the angry faeling in his quarters.
The All-Mother was known for her cruel sense of humor. Just when Vallek had everything in his grasp, it seemed she would make him choose.
The east without bloodshed. Or his fae mate—with perhaps alittle bloodshed.
Gods, this was truly a mess.
10
It was a long, long time before anyone returned to the king’s quarters. In fact, it was nearly sunset by the time Vallek returned, with Eydis in tow.
At the sound of someone entering, Ravenna jumped up from where she’d been lazing about on one of the plush sofas in the den, halfheartedly embroidering between intermittent naps. She hurried to the threshold but stopped just before they came into view, not wanting to appeartooeager.
Breezing confidently through the archway, Ravenna came to stand in the middle of the central hall to meet the siblings. Vallek’s gaze immediately found her, and although he nodded in acknowledgement, his attitude was markedly cooler than that of yesterday.
Ravenna turned her attention instead to Eydis, watching the orcess closely as Vallek shrugged out of his robe and began to pull the caps from his ears and tusks.
Eydis nodded politely at her, too, although she wouldn’t keepher gaze.
Something had happened.
Looking between the both of them, Ravenna’s suspicions only grew. Their shoulders were too tense, their gazes too flighty.
“I assume the city isn’t under attack,” she said. The great horns of the citadel would have sounded across Balmirra if that were the case, of course, but she wanted to get them talking.
After a whole day by herself—she’d long ago released Brynhíl from having to babysit her—she was anxious to hear the news. Were she free to don her disguise and move about the citadel as a human soothsayer, she could’ve easily found out everything in the servants’ dining hall. All the best information was to be had there.
Instead, she’d been cloistered in his quarters with nothing better to do than embroider and plot. For an hour she considered turning all of his socks, trou, and undershirts inside out, but that would likely only create more work for Brynhíl. Then she considered setting fire to his regalia, but there again, that would only annoy him and create work for someone else.
Hanging her head out of one of the windows had confirmed what a sheer drop it was to the citadel courtyard below. If she tied all of his fine bedding together, it might be long enough to get her down—right to the center of the courtyard with dozens of guards waiting to nab her again.
If she could fly down, she would. However, her little wings had always been too small and weak to sustain true flight. On a particularly strong updraft, she might be able to glide, but as far as getting four stories down, her wings would only slow her fall enough so that she’d perhaps break an ankle rather than a leg.
A whole day with nothing to show for it—except wild schemes and growing anxieties without a clear release. Oberon was nohelp. Although he assured her the herd would attack Balmirra’s gates to free her if she wished, he thought it much wiser for her to give in and claim herazai.
Fucking over fighting? Other unicorns would be scandalized to hear it.
No they wouldn’t,he scoffed. Then, after a pause,And you won’t tell them.
It was difficult to reach Callistix from such a distance. Although her grandmare likely would have been happy to slash and skewer orcs on her horn, there were foals now in the herd to consider.
For now, Ravenna was on her own. And that meant she needed information. Starting with whatever had happened today that made these two orcs unwilling to look her in the eye.
