The certainty of that stuttered, slightly, as Rosa realized John had led her into the library — he wasn’t going to just leave her again? — but no, no, he only strode to the table, plucked up her new book, and thrust it into her hands before drawing her back to the door.
“I meet with the captain and his mate each morning,” he said, without Rosa even asking. “Today, I wish you to speak to them of thisdiscoverythat you have made.”
There was no refusing, of course, especially once John had led Rosa up through the Ash-Kai wing, pointing out various rooms of interest along the way. And soon she found herself ushered into a cozy, firelit meeting-room, which — Rosa twitched — contained not only Jule and Grimarr, but also Baldr and Drafli, two orcs Rosa didn’t recognize, andSimon.
They were all sitting around a low table, and John made a rapid round of introductions — the scarred but warm-eyed orc beside Baldr was named Nattfarr, of Clan Grisk, and the hulking, hideous orc beside Simon was called Olarr, of Clan Bautul. They greeted Rosa with surprising politeness — Nattfarr even flashed her a quick, genuine smile — but Rosa also didn’t miss the exchanged glances around the room, the clear hints of uncertainty, or perhaps even wariness, at her unexpected presence.
“My woman has made adiscovery, in my library,” John announced to them, once he and Rosa were seated at the table. “I wish her to speak of this to you.”
Rosa froze — John wanted her to dowhat? — but the bland look in his eyes clearly said, again, This is what you wanted, isn’t it? You wanted to be part of my life. Show me what a good pet you can be.
And the challenge in that, the command in it, somehow made it easier. Made it possible for Rosa to open the book, and begin speaking, with a voice that only slightly wavered. Making an actual, if ad hoc, scholarlypresentationto a room full of huge, intimidating, terrifying orcs.
But they listened. And asked questions. And then, to Rosa’s ongoing astonishment, they even launched into a lively, surprisingly intelligentdiscussion. Debating first the author’s credibility — Olarr’s father’s father had lived in Osada, apparently, and had spoken of an orcling specialist there — and then whether any of the findings had since been replicated, to anyone’s knowledge. And then which findings were worth seeking to replicate, and which actions, if any, should be next pursued.
John actively participated in the conversation, making points with impressive rapidity and eloquence, and showing himself entirely unafraid to call out his fellow orcs — or even to throw around the potentially incendiary point of Jule’s current pregnancy. He also included Rosa in his arguments, giving her openings, almost as if testing her — and after her initial shock, Rosa took the bait with gusto. Expanding upon his points with as much coherency as she could muster, often calling on particular passages in the book for added reinforcement.
By the end of it, not only was Rosa thoroughly enjoying herself, but John had managed to gain Grimarr’s permission to further research several of the book’s key assertions, while also commandeering new resources — more rooms, certain orcs from other clans, more time from Efterar, and something called trading credits. To Rosa’s astonishment, John even pitched her idea of teaching classes on common-tongue to improve orc-women relationships, which seemed to come as a genuine surprise to everyone at the table.
“You Ka-esh would truly offer this?” Grimarr asked John, the suspicion all too clear in his assessing eyes. “Toallclans? Not only Ka-esh?”
His gaze had flicked, with purpose, to Simon, who together with Drafli had remained the quietest orc in the room, and whose eyes were now narrow and suspicious on John’s face. “Ka-esh no wish to teach Skai,” Simon said, with a distinct air of finality. “Ka-esh wish Skai to stay stupid and alone, anddie.”
Rosa didn’t miss John’s sudden stiffening beside her, his lip curling. “We wish for no such thing,” he snapped, his voice chilly. “If you Skai truly wish to learn, we should be pleased to teach you. Has not Tristan well served you thus, these past days?”
Of course no one could argue against Tristan, not even Simon — and soon John had been tasked with creating an additional proposal on the subject to present the following week. An order that he accepted with just as much nonchalance as the rest, though Rosa didn’t miss the telltale glint of satisfaction in his eyes.
“That went well, didn’t it?” she asked him, once they’d said their farewells, and were again walking through the corridor. “You’re pleased, right?”
John’s sidelong look at her was indeed pleased, and perhaps even proud. “Ach,” he replied. “This is more than I have gained for my work in many months. It helped, I ken, to have a woman’s own voice in this.”
Rosa fought to ignore the surge of answering warmth, and tilted her head, eyeing him in the lamplight. “But surely Jule has supported your work, until now? She’s a clever woman. And alsopregnant. With an orc’schild.”
But John shrugged, steering Rosa around the corner with a brush of his hand. “The captain keeps her safe here, where Efterar can care for her each day,” he said. “And thus, she does not fear for her life, as most women do in her state. And she is most loyal to the captain, whose most pressing matters are the men, and peace between the clans. And” — John shrugged again — “she is not a scholar, as you are.”
As you are. He really meant that, Rosa realized, blinking up at his impassive face. He’d said that, he didn’t look concerned or even uncomfortable, in fact he barely seemed to notice he’d said it at all…
“You really,” Rosa said, breathless, “think I’m ascholar?”
“Ach, are you not?” John said, absently guiding her around another corner. “You have studied five languages, you have read legions of books, you are quick and curious. You find the hidden heft within what you see and read, and then speak it with clearness and ease. Even one of the most powerful humans in therealmstole you for his own, so he may gain from your insights.”
No one had ever said anything so lovely to Rosa in quite possibly her entirelife— and without thinking, she launched herself bodily toward John, clutching her arms around his waist, burying her face in his warm chest. “Thank you, my lord,” she breathed. “Thankyou.”
He’d momentarily stiffened, clearly startled — but then she felt him relaxing again, one hand stroking at her back, the other coming to tilt up her face toward him. To where he was looking bemused, but maybe even affectionate, too.
“Foolish pet,” he said. “You shall not be so thankful, mayhap, when I command you to plan this fool Skai-teaching scheme you have now bound me to. And then you shall propose your plan in a week, just as the captain has asked, in my stead.”
Rosa jabbed at his side with her elbow, but she couldn’t seem to stop grinning at him, or even standing on tiptoes to press a quick, furtive kiss to his neck. He wanted her to write aproposal. He wanted her topresent it. As not his work, but herown.
“And,” John continued, lower, though his head had tilted away, almost as if to better expose his neck to her mouth, “you ken these lessons shall need teachers, woman. More than only Tristan.”
His voice seemed casual this time, but surely,surelywasn’t — and Rosa felt her body lock against his, her heart madly, wildly beating. What was he saying. What, good gods, was hesaying.
But a fleeting, wide-eyed glance at John’s carefully blank face said everything for him. He was saying the same thing he’d said last night in the library. And when he’d taken her like that, five times. When he’d slept the whole night through with her in his bed, and showed her his pleasure-den, and asked her to present her findings to a room full of orcs.
And the same thing Rosa had said, perhaps, when she’dagreedto all that. When she’d finally discovered all this devious orc’s secrets, all the hidden depths of his depravity, and still said, Thank you, my lord.
His eyes were so wary, so gods-damned distant. So —afraid. And Rosa should have been afraid too. Of the war, the future, her library, Lord Kaspar, that deadline that had somehow dwindled to eight short days…
