Maria nodded against him, squeezing her arms tighter around his waist. “Thank you,” she whispered, “for seeking your new ways, Simon. Thank you for seeking me. Forseeingme.”
His big hand was stroking at her hair, his pulse thudding slow and sure beneath her ear. And when he drew back, his eyes so painfully intent upon her, there was only this. Only peace. Only…hope.
“I see you, my brave mate,” he breathed. “And with this, I pledge you my troth. I grant you my sword, and my favour, and my fealty. I shall keep yousafe, so long as I am able, and so long as you shall wish.”
It felt like a vow, a gift, a promise. Like something that could never be unspoken, wrapping its truth around Maria’s heart. Making her his,forever.
And as she searched his shimmering eyes, there was no expectation, no judgement. Only this offering, willing and open.You are always free to make this choice.
And Maria was making this choice. Not just for him, for their clan, for their mountain — but for her. Skai.
“I see you too, Simon,” she whispered. “And I pledge you my troth. My sword, and my favour, and my fealty. For as long as I am able, and” — she twitched a smile toward him — “so long as you might wish.”
His grin back was slow, genuine, breathtaking. Broader and easier than Maria had ever seen it, his eyes crinkling at the corners, his teeth white and sharp against his lip. “You honour me, my brave one,” he said, his voice husky, his eyes bright. “Now, shall you come home with me?”
Home. The word a shining, flashing joy, crashing against all the rest, and Maria clutched for it, held it, marvelled at its truth.Home.
“Of course I will,” she said. “Let’s go.”
40
Maria’s journey back to Orc Mountain was a true adventure. One full of challenges, and learning, and laughter.
Simon, of course, proved to be a truly delightful and capable travelling-partner, navigating with just as much ease as Joarr had shown. However, he also had no qualms about throwing Maria onto his broad back whenever she was tired, or taking a two-day detour to show her a spectacular waterfall, or patiently answering every last question that happened to pop into her thoughts.
It meant that he was constantly teaching her, showing her a world of Skai ways she’d never before encountered. Things like how to identify and track prey in the forest, how to lie in wait, how to make kills clean and quick. How to make a fire, how to conceal one’s tracks from humans, how to find water and shelter. Even how to identify the orcs’ hidden underground ways, and navigate them in the dark, and be sure to leave a scent, so other orcs would know they’d passed.
And amidst it all, Simon claimed her, again and again. Taking her against trees, in rushing streams, in the deep underground darkness. Filling her with his power and his scent, in every possible way, until it almost felt like it was an immutable part of her. As though she were forever marked by him, forever claimed by her orc.
Simon’s teeth-marks on her neck had begun to feel permanent too, especially since he always bit her in the exact same place. Always with palpable gentleness, and he always licked it extensively afterwards, ensuring there was no infection or pain.
“No wish to blot your wholenesstoomuch, ach?” he told her, his eyes rueful, when Maria had asked. “Wish to mark you with care, my pretty one.”
He accompanied the words with a gentle flick at Maria’s already-hard nipple — and at her answering gasp, he promptly turned her around, yanked up her tunic and loincloth, and sank himself deep inside. Plunging in again and again, until Maria was juddering and flailing upon him, howling her release to the sky.
She was almost disappointed when Orc Mountain loomed close, early on their eighth day of travelling, but Simon’s eagerness felt truly infectious, his hand spreading wide against her back. “We shall rest and work here for a spell,” he said firmly. “Now that I no must confine you, I shall show you all our mountain. And after this, you shall come out with me again whilst I work, ach? You shall learn more of hunting, and also see our Skai camps, and meet our other Skai women. This shall please you, I ken.”
And suddenly Maria did feel pleased, and almost giddy with excitement. And when they finally reached the base of the mountain later that morning, she was astonished to discover that there appeared to be an entire crowd of orcs and humans milling about outside. Almost as if…waitingfor them?
“Maria!” Rosa crowed, as she bounded over toward them, with John in tow. “Welcome back! I heard what you did to deal with Warmisham, howmarvellous— and you know, there’s a relevant tale I’ve been meaning to tell you — anddozensof our new treatises have already been delivered, and there’s been a positiveuproar!”
She was smiling beatifically toward Maria, her hands clasped over her heart, and Maria laughed aloud, and grinned up at Simon beside her. “I’m so glad to hear it,” she replied, “but I had so much help. From Simon, and the Skai, and all of you.”
She flapped a helpless wave at the crowd all around, because indeed, suddenly it seemed like everyone was here. Baldr and Drafli, Tristan and Salvi, Kesst and Efterar, Olarr and Gerrard, Joarr and multiple Skai scouts, and of course, the orcs’ captain, with a broadly smiling Lady Norr. And in Lady Norr’s arms — Maria twitched, because she hadn’t caught sight of him since her first day here — was her tiny, green-skinned son. Tengil.
“We’ve all heard how spectacular you were, Maria,” Lady Norr said firmly, as she strode toward them, hoisting Tengil upright. “And word is, Warmisham’s kept his mouth shut so far, and has followed through on calling off that wealth-stealing law, and hasn’t even begun any further aggressions against us. Which is truly the best outcome we could have ever asked for. Thank you, from all of us.”
Maria’s face felt very hot, and she attempted what she hoped was a suitable response — at least, until Tengil blinked his big black eyes toward her, andsneezed. The sound high-pitched enough to carry over the chatter all around, and Maria couldn’t help a peal of laughter, an affectionate rub at his downy little head.
“Are youstillallergic to me, after all this time?” she demanded at him. “Or is this your sneaky baby way of telling me I need a bath again?!”
It had indeed been a few days since they’d found a suitable stream to wash in, and Joarr — who’d come over to clap Simon on the shoulder — smirked at Maria, darting a telling glance downwards. “Good work, brother,” he said to Simon. “I smell her from half-day away, ach?”
Simon’s sharp-toothed grin toward Maria was easy, and unmistakably smug. “Ach, it pleases my mate to flaunt my good scent,” he purred. “She is a true Skai, ach?”
The warmth swarmed from Maria’s head to her feet, so forceful that she felt distinctly light-headed, and thankfully Simon settled his strong arm around her waist, and proceeded to greet the rest of their well-wishers. His big body warm and relaxed beside hers, the smile again coming with surprising ease to his mouth.
As he talked, even more orcs had seemed to arrive — the whole scene had begun to feel rather like a morning party — and soon someone brought out a gigantic platter of food, and some drummers began pounding out a merry rhythm. And then some orcs began a sparring-match, while others began dancing, and Maria even caught sight of Bjorn, standing half-hidden behind one of the drummers, and peering around toward them.
