Page 95 of Faeling
Over the last six days of travel, the party of orcs had quickly grown accustomed to her now staying beside the king, wearing her true face. While not all were happy about the new arrangement, they appeared to begrudgingly accept it.
That was good enough. At least for now.
It was strange. Whenever she noticed a lingering wary gaze, a new determination grew inside her. It took a few days to describe it to herself, but eventually Ravenna found that she…wanted their approval. She cared what these orcs, those closest and most loyal to Vallek, thought of her.
The sensation was a new one. Isolated in the seaside cottage with her mother, there were never many people she had to impress. By the time she was an adolescent, they’d stopped visiting Aine’s remaining family, and she hadn’t seenMaxim’s Illyinia kin since she was small. Once in a while, they traveled to the nearby fishing village, Ravenna disguising herself with glamour to appear as Aine’s full-human daughter. The fishermen and their families were hearty, no-nonsense people who rarely thought about the recluse and her strange daughter.
Now, though, she wanted to make a good impression. More than that, she wanted their respect—not just as the king’s mate but as Ravenna. It wouldn’t happen immediately, of course, and she intended to earn that respect. Yet the realization that she wanted to endeavor at all still surprised her.
As the barges ferrying them across Lake Lovath neared Balmirra, the port walls extending into the crystalline water spread wide in welcome, Ravenna once again slipped the glamour over her face. She and Vallek had agreed that until an official announcement was prepared, she would maintain herkonedisguise outside of his quarters in the citadel. Those in the party had been told last night to keep their silence until the announcement was made.
The thought of the announcement had another nervous knot in her gut pulling tight. She didn’t know what form the announcement would take, nor how it would be received, and the unknown left her feeling more unsteady than she did on the lake waters.
Vallek had made plenty of assurances, but there was only so much he could truly promise. Still, his confidence didn’t waver, and so neither did Ravenna.
The king’s return to Balmirra was met with the usual enthusiastic fanfare. The barges pulled up to the dock to the roaring applause of hundreds. Orcs lined the streets and leaned out windows to get a look at their triumphant king. As their party disembarked and began the climb up to the citadel, criers weresent ahead, announcing the news that the eastern tribes had pledged fealty to Vallek Far-Sight.
On one of the switchback turns of the main promenade, Ravenna spied down from her place near the front of the column to see the group of eastern tribesmen, kept in the center of the party and bracketed by berserkers three deep. To a one, their heads turned like an owl’s, their eyes just as wide as they gaped at the majesty of Balmirra.
What an experience it must have been, to go from the small encampments in the eastern foothills to the splendor of this ancient stronghold. She could sympathize.
The climb up to the citadel, marching in procession as they were, took the better part of two hours. Ravenna was determined to do it unaided, just like everyone else, even though her thighs were positively burning by the time the citadel’s curtain wall rose around them.Thank fates.
More than a little sweaty under the cowl of her cloak—which Mattias had kept safe for her after Ulrich ripped it off—Ravenna hid beneath its shadow. As the party spilled into the courtyard, finding relief in the shadow of the citadel as they greeted friends and kin, she slipped to the front of the column.
She watched with no small amount of pride as Vallek ascended the stairs of the basilica, turning on the top step to face the party. Pulling Hormhím from his belt, he lifted it high above his head to another bout of applause and whoops. Berserkers beat their breastplates and staff stomped their feet in a loud show of support.
“My people! We return united!”
Cheers echoed through the courtyard, surely down into the city below.
“This day is yours. So is my gratitude. You have helped forgethis kingdom,yourkingdom. To peace!”
“To peace!” they cried.
“Rest, celebrate, and know that the histories will always remember your strength.”
The courtyard burst with applause and good will. Eventually, the neat column broke up into smaller groups, warriors seeking their barracks, others returning home, some staff heading up into the citadel, and others leading the eastern tribesmen into the basilica.
A touch on her shoulder had Ravenna turning to behold Asta, beaming down at her.
“Welcome home,tristah!”
Despite the glamour, Asta threw her muscled arms around Ravenna in a crushing embrace.
“Hello, Asta,” she wheezed.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes. It’s been soboringwith both you andbreddahgone.”
Ravenna snorted a laugh. Yes, they had been well into their own melodrama when they left for the east.
After finally releasing her, Asta took Ravenna by the shoulder to lead away. “C’mon, let’s get you off those weary feet.”
Once they were safely inside the cool walls of the citadel, deep within Vallek’s private wing, Ravenna let the glamour fall.
Asta hissed through her tusks to see the fading bruises. “All-Mother, what a prick. Honestly, it’s about time Vallek dealt with that bastard.”
Ravenna only nodded diplomatically, not quite wanting to admit that although the sight of Ulrich’s smashed body wouldhaunt her, she wasn’t at all sorry about it. She doubted most orcesses would bat an eye at their mate cleaving a head in two for them, though.
