I didn’t know how to finish the question, but my father did.
He raised a brow at me over the lip of his mug, then lowered the vessel.
“You think I’d let the bastard slowly starve to death, bleed to death, all over my dungeon floor? Aye, you’re right…but I wouldn’t send my daughter down to deal with him if that were the case.”
I let my head come up, and I slowly exhaled as I stared at him in shocked silence. Not that he’d called me his daughter—although that was rare enough as ‘twas, usuallyI was justgirlwhen he needed something from me. But it seemed to indicate that he thought I hadvalue. That I was worth protecting?
He continued, which was good, because I couldn’t seem to find words to respond.
“Tomorrow, you’ll bring him what you think he needs to stay alive. I don’t need himhealedor hearty, for God’s sake…” Father took a big bite of the meat then chewed as he mumbled, “he’s my enemy, after all.”
He swallowed, then reached for the ale again. “Just keep him alive. I have something special planned for him at Hogmanay, a guest I’m hoping to impress into an alliance, and I need the Bloodfire beast at least able to stand by then.”
Gripping my skirts in my suddenly sweaty palms, I backed away. “Yes Father, I understand. Thank you for explaining.”
Only, he hadn’texplained, not really. All I knew was that I wasn’t to let Kragorn die, and I told myself the spike of excitement I felt about that was because I’d feel that way aboutanybeing with whose care I’d been entrusted.
Another servant bustled into the Great Hall, struggling under a platter piled high with mutton. My father flicked his fingers at me dismissively as he eagerly watched the new addition to his meal.
Grateful for the release, I dropped a curtsey then backed away, allowing myself to breathe a sigh of relief only when I reached the steps to the kitchens.
Since my sisters had left Tarbert Keep for their marriages and Father no longer took pride in dressing us all up toshow off at mealtimes, I was pleased to take my meals tucked away in a corner of the kitchens.
He hadn’t seemed to notice, or care.
That evening, I spent my time making lists of supplies. After I ate, I gathered what I would need then spoke with the cook. I’ll admit that while I didn’t actually lie outright, I did tell him I had my father’s orders to heal the orc, and he agreed to help me.
That night, I lay in my bed—I might be the youngest and most worthless of my father’s daughters, but I was still entitled to an actual bed in the chamber we used to share—and stared up at the canopy.
I remembered the heat from the orc’s skin, the way his lips had twisted in pain, the spark ofinterestin his dark eye. He’d been half-mad with fever and starvation, aye, but he’d watched me as if I were remarkable.
Worth watching.
Direct attentionalwaysmade me uncomfortable and short of breath. ‘Twas why Father had never sought out a marriage contract for me. That, and I was the least attractive of my sisters, with my mousey hair and sallow skin and twisted foot. He’d said so often enough, which is why I’d tried so hard over the years to make myself useful.
Over these last months, when I’d felt Kragorn watching me, I hadn’t been surprised to feel prickles over my skin. But today, when I’d worked up the bravery totouchhim…I’d felt those same prickles again. And they hadn’t been awful.
But he was a horrifying beast, one who had killed my father’s men.
They’d been trying to kill him.
Aye, but everyone knew what orcs did to their enemies—maim, slaughter,devour. I’d heard the stories.
So did Sorcha and Roxanna and Effie. But they married the beasts anyhow.
My sisters and cousins had been kidnapped, poor things. I knew their husbands were now Father’s allies, but they hadn’t had a choice in the matter. I could only imagine what horrors they must face in the orcs’ world…what pain and deprivation.
Aye, ‘twas better for me to remember the beast in the dungeon was that: a beast. A monster. His gaze might be clouded from pain, but surely that’s what he deserved.
Right?
But the next morning, I struggled to wait until the appointed hour I could gather my supplies and descend to the dungeons. I told myself I was just anxious to make my father proud of me, not that Iwantedto see the beast again.Notthat I wanted to heal him.
I recognized the lie for what it was as my breath caught when I saw that dark gaze watching me.
“Be careful with him, milady,” the guard—an older man today—grunted as he reached for the keys on his belt.
“Thank you,” I whispered, keeping my gaze down as I held out my tray. “I brought you some pottage and hearty brown bread, good sir. I know your dinner is not for hours yet, but I thought you might like to try some now?”
