For an instant, Simon glared at Baldr, as though he hadn’t approved this little disclosure in the least — but then he exhaled, his jaw tightening in his cheek. “There is naught better orc than Baldr to help in this,” he said. “He learnt to fight with the Skai, and is thus a match for any of my kin. He also has the ear of the captain and his mate each day, and this is of great worth to us. Now” — he gave Baldr’s shoulder another shake — “come with us for a spell, ach, brother?”
Baldr willingly obliged, and soon they were all striding down the corridor together, Baldr in front, Maria and Simon behind. And as Maria walked, she couldn’t seem to stop glancing at Simon’s sharp, ever-frowning profile in the lantern-light, while her thoughts twisted and churned.
He was really —protectingher, against Ulfarr. As his mostpressing priority. And thus, bringing in an orc he trusted, to live in a room directlybesideher. While also comforting said orc about his personal problems, and apparently even playing his hand atmatchmaker? Being…kind?
And for an instant, there was the abrupt, almost overwhelming urge to touch him. To lean into him, to stroke her hand against his stiff back. Perhaps even to say,Thank you, this was a lovely reward, even if I know it wasn’t really a reward at all…
But no. No. Maria did not —couldnot — understand this asshole in the slightest. Gods, in the short time since she’d awoken, he’d treated her like a dog, he’d exposed her before his friend, he’d given her latrine access in exchange for converting to his fucked-up religion…
And when Simon finally glanced down toward her, it was almost as though she saw her own misgivings reflected in his eyes. As though that wall had again snapped down between them, hiding him away, leaving only a taunting, mocking sneer behind.
“Now, woman,” he said coldly, “I take you to the Skai arena. Where again, you shall seek to please me, and earn your next reward.”
That was surely the challenge back in his voice, perhaps even a threat. And Maria shouldn’t rise to it, she shouldn’t — but the retort was somehow already there, escaping out her mouth. “Oh, and what might this thrilling reward be?” she demanded. “Maybe you’ll feed me? Give me a drink of water?”
But Simon’s curling lip was all distant, insolent amusement, reeking of provocation, of danger. As though — an unpleasant chill rippled down Maria’s back — he was surely about to enjoy this, whatever fresh hell it might be.
“No, woman,” he said firmly. “It is where you shall learn” — his grin sharpened — “to fight like a true Skai.”
16
Maria would learn tofight?!
She must have squeaked some kind of inappropriate response, because the challenge in Simon’s eyes only flared brighter as he guided her after Baldr through yet another hole in the wall.
“The Skai arena,” he announced, with a broad wave of his hand. “The best in Orc Mountain. It is an honour to spar with us here.”
And once again, Maria seemed struck in place, her eyes blinking blankly at this huge, echoing room of —chaos. Teeming with multiple massive, half-dressed orcs, lunging and swinging at one another, growling and grunting, making impact with fists and feet and an astonishing variety of blunt woodenweapons.
The room’s ceiling was higher than any Maria had seen so far, and stone steps angled up the edges of it all around, providing vantage points from which spectators could sit and watch. And in the very middle of the room was a circular, flat stone dais, perhaps as tall as Maria herself — and upon it, two orcs were furiously brawling, fighting to hurl one another off the sheer edge to the hard floor below.
Their battle was surrounded by yet more brawling orcs on the floor, and while several of the orcs had glanced over to look at the door — atMaria— none of them actually stopped their fighting, or made any attempt to approach. And as she stared at them, one of the orcs who’d been staring back was promptly tackled face-first into the floor by his opponent, who then leapt off, kicked him in the ribs, andlaughed.
And even if Maria could admit, in some distant part of her brain, that the idea of learning to fight wasn’t an entirely unpleasant one, did Simon really expect her to do sohere? Likethis? Like that vicious-looking orc, over there, who — she winced — had just grabbed his opponent’s groin with his claws, andyanked?!
“Come, woman,” Simon cut in, voice brisk, before striding off toward the nearest empty area. “You shall obey me in this, and seek to learn our ways, and earn my reward.”
Maria glowered at his back, and briefly considered arguing, protesting, making a scene — but then again, a room full of brawling orcs and deadly weapons seemed perhaps an unwise place to risk such a thing. And beside Simon, Baldr had actually grinned at her over his shoulder, his eyes sparkling with clear anticipation.
So Maria gritted her teeth and followed, vaguely noting that at least this particular area was empty, and its hard floor was covered with an assortment of soft-looking furs. However, this brief reassurance was instantly ruined by Simon, who’d waved Baldr away, and then whirled around to glare down at her, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Have you ever known aught of work, woman?” he demanded. “Or of sweat, or struggle?”
He’d cast a disdainful glance down at Maria’s hands — at their smooth, uncallused skin, no doubt, speaking of a life of comfort and leisure — and she felt her face flushing, her hands tightening to fists. “I’m not a total weakling, if that’s what you’re asking,” she replied flatly. “I didplentyof work growing up, and I’ve always preferred being busy. But after my marriage, I —”
She bit the words off, far too late, because an all-too-predictable shadow had passed across Simon’s eyes. “Ach, to thishusband,” he sneered at her. “Show me your strength, then. Seek to strike me.”
Tostrikehim?! Maria gaped at him, again utterly dumbfounded — gods, she’d never truly struck anyone in herlife— and Simon gazed straight back at her, cold, implacable. “In aught way you wish.Now, woman.”
Now. The rebellion flared again, choking at Maria’s throat — but she dragged in breath, stamped it down again. He was just an orc. She would humour him. Gain her freedom. That wasall.
So she clenched her fists, braced herself, scowled at his obnoxious face — and thenpunchedhim. Driving her fist straight into his exposed neck, since surely it would be softer than the rest of him —
But even so, the sudden impact of her pristine knuckles against hardened orc sent her staggering sideways, pain spearing down her outstretched arm. Good gods, it had been like punching arock, and surely that was enough, now? Surely?
But Simon, who hadn’t even moved or flinched at the impact, was already frowning, giving a curt, predictable shake of his head. “Ach, no,” he said flatly. “Come closer. Feet wide, held hard to the floor. And you no use arm to push. Use here.”
His hand dropped down to the rippled muscle at his own bare waist, gripping it with careless nonchalance — and somehow, against all fathoming, Maria’s eyes followed to linger on the sight, while something dipped low in her own belly. Recalling, too clearly, those other times, when that hand had gripped even lower, easy and familiar, and…
