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“No concerns?” She didn’t look convinced.
“Well, I will have to get a ring made. Magna made our best jewelry, but I think Skaard would be up to the task.” I said, considering it, “When?”
“When?”
“Yes, when should I ask?” I repeated.
“Ah, that is for you to decide. But given that you are to be declared jarl and jarlin in two months, rolling the wedding into one big celebration makes sense. So, I would say sooner rather than later.”
“Have you suggested combining our leadership change with a wedding to Piper?” I asked.
“No, I thought I’d let her think you came up with the idea, being excellent as it is and you being the perfect mate you are,” she sassed.
I understood why Billie and Piper got along so well. Billie was talking to me just like Piper would.
“Well, I guess I need to head to the smithy. Is there any place in particular I should propose?”
“Someplace that is meaningful for both of you would be best,” was all she said before she left me to formulate a plan.
CHAPTER19
PIPER
After frantically working on multiple last-minute touches, moving day finally arrived for the human females. I’d spent the last couple of days splitting my time between helping the women pack up the meager belongings they had acquired since arriving and spending time with Osif’s team and some of the other members of the tribe furnishing all of the women’s rooms with the basics. With all the help we had, we planned to move everyone—including the displaced male orkin, all in one day. The entire tribe was all hands on deck.
I was on trip two of carrying belongings from one space to the next when I noticed a commotion up ahead at the new living quarters. Humans and orkin steadily moving in and out of spaces suddenly slowed. I watched as all eyes shifted to the edge of the village. I followed to where everyone was looking to see what could only be described as a nightmare.
Magna, or someone who appeared to be Magna, stood at the front of a small group of orkin. He was so bruised and covered in what seemed to be a mixture of blood and mud, that it was hard to recognize him. The orkin behind him didn’t look to be in any better physical condition. I saw what looked to be roughly splinted broken limbs, gashes covering body parts, and even what looked like a missing eye.
“Holy fuck,” I breathed.
The air seemed to stand still as Magna stepped forward, limping and clearly putting in a great deal of effort to walk steadily. The tribe quietly split as Astrid rushed forward, followed closely by Agnarr.
“Hello, Magna. It looks as if you may have had a rough time,” brow raised as she assessed him.
At this, Magna fell to his knees. A collective gasp rippled throughout the entire tribe.
“We’ve come to beg for your forgiveness. We have come to acknowledge the error of your ways. We have come to ask to be accepted back into the fold,” Magna croaked, his voice sounding as rough as his appearance.
“And what has caused such drastic change in perspective?” Astrid asked.
“Well, we did not get very far on our journey before we were attacked by a pack of skogskatts at night. None of us are trained as guards and we naively thought we could protect ourselves. We didn’t even think to set a night guard. They attacked on the third night of our journey. We lost two immediately. Almost all were injured. We sought shelter in a cave and stayed for several dagrs trying to nurse our most injured back to health. We lost another, but the rest were fit enough to continue.”
“So being attacked by skogskatts convinced you that humans and females should be treated as equals?” she asked icily.
“No, no,” he shook his head, “we attempted to continue but were soon intercepted by a group of orkin from the Snaerfírar tribe on their way to trade with the Vátrfírar. They immediately provided us with aid and supplies, much to our surprise. However, things turned ugly once we explained why we were leaving Fýrifírar. Jarlin Piper was correct. Snaerfírar does have a half-orc amongst their tribe and they are fiercely protective of him. He was part of the group headed to Vátrfírar. He didn’t want to see any bloodshed, but in my foolishness, I shared my thoughts on human women, and they attacked. We lost another male before Steve intervened. His tribe was furious and refused to take us in, but they did allow Steve to explain his position and how his mother came to be a part of their tribe. He advised that we make amends. It has taken us nearly a vika to get back to Fýrifírar,” Magna finished and slumped back on his knees, clearly exhausted.
Astrid assessed the pathetic orc in front of her for a long moment.
“I cannot make this decision alone. It will be for the elders to decide,” she said finally. “In the meantime, I am willing to see your injured are cared for—which appears to be all of you.”
Astrid whipped her head around, looking through the tribe. As if on cue, one stepped forward.
“Emla, will you and Inga take them to your cabin? Do you have room for all of them?”
“Já, já, we can manage them all.” She waved a hand dismissively, unfazed by all the injuries in a way only a seasoned healer would be. “I will need some help getting them all there, though.”
Agnarr stepped forward, past Astrid and Emla, and held out a hand to Magna. His face was stony, but his hand remained out all the same. It was silent as Magna reached out and grabbed it, pulling himself up. I felt my eyes well up with tears, watching Agnarr extend such grace. Damn me for being such a crier.
