“I mean he makes an amazing blood sausage,” I clarified with a soft giggle. “ But I have since discovered many other wonderful qualities of his too.”
I pressed a side of my face to his chest, snuggling closer. The beating of his heart sounded strong and comforting.
“Let Reizon’s guards go unharmed,” I said. “Let them carry the message back to the Avilet Kingdom that I’m dead, so no one will come looking for me ever again.”
“Are you sure no one will? How about him?” Agor flipped his thumb over his shoulder at Reizon’s body. “Wasn’t he important? Won’t someone want to avenge him?”
“Reizon’s importance was mostly in his own head,” I assured Agor. “He had no true friends, just rivals and accomplices. Most of them will be relieved by the news of his death, the rest won’t care.”
“How about the king?” Agor worried. “I would like to avoid the trouble of dealing with a king’s army invading our Wetlands.”
“Before leaving the grand duke’s palace, I sent a letter to the king, revealing Reizon’s plan for the crown. King Belin knows that Reizon was planning to assassinate the crown prince and usurp the power. Reizon will be branded as a traitor. The king will send no army to avenge him or me. Besides, the kingdom currently leads several wars, requiring all their resources elsewhere. Frankly, the king will be glad to acquire both the lands of my late husband and all the properties of Reizon. The Wetlands are safe, I promise.”
Gathering me in his arms, Grat pushed up to his feet. “You are a brave, smart woman who will never cease to amaze me, Khala. But we need to get you clean, and I’ll have to do something about that cut on your stomach.”
“It’s nothing.” I waved him off.
“Nothing isnothingwhen it comes to you, sweetheart. I have to make you happy, and I’ll do everything for that.”
“Bog orcs.” Becca smiled, getting up too. “They don’t do anything halfway, Khala. When they fall in love, they fall hard.”
Love?
Did Grat love me?
My heart warmed at that idea. The heat spread up to my cheeks, and I hid my face in Grat’s shoulder.
“Just one more question, please.” Agor stopped us. “What was the duke transporting in all those wagons? Do you know, Khala?”
“Oh yes, the wagons…” Becca smirked, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
“Pretty much my late husband’s entire estate is packed in there,” I said. “Everything of any value that Reizon could take. Gold, jewelry, art, dining silver, furs, rugs, clothes, furniture, you name it.”
“Hmm.” Agor tossed his massive mace in his hand. “Dragging all those heavy wagons back and forth across the Wetlands isn’t easy. What would you say if we relieved the duke’s people of that burden? Provided we leave enough of them alive to deliver the news of your death to the king?”
“I’d say go for it.” I shrugged. “Otherwise, the duke’s soldiers will loot the wagons once they learn that Reizon is dead.”
“I don’t usually condone raids, but it’s sorely needed in this case.” Becca stretched her shoulders in anticipation of a fight.
“Becca.” I touched her arm. “You can have anything you like from the wagons. Take it all if you want. But there’s a silver jewelry box that I would really like to have back if possible.” I didn’t care about the king’s letter I kept in the box, but I had something far more precious to me stored in there. “I have several of Rolly’s drawings in that box. He liked to draw plantsand animals, and I want to have them back please. They’re all I have left of him now.”
She paused, giving me a long, warm look, then squeezed my hand reassuringly.
“I’ll get you the box and your stepson’s drawings even if that’s the last thing I’ll do,” she promised, then added with a smile, “And welcome to the clan, Khala.”
CHAPTER 15
KHALA
Grat wouldn’t let me walk back to the cabin, carrying me all the way to the clearing instead. Here, he wrapped me in a knitted blanket and put me in a chair by the fire pit while he restocked the fire in the stove under the tub and filled it with water.
When the kettle boiled, he made me a cup of tea, then started making breakfast.
“I’ll get some sausage from the cellar.” I made a move to get up, but he placed a hand on my shoulder to stop me.
“I’ll do it. You need to rest.”
“Grat,” I laughed. “I’m not hurt or wounded. I can do things.”
