The Orc and Her Bride (The Sapphic Orcs of Torden Book 1) by Lila Gwynn

Author:Lila Gwynn [Gwynn, Lila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eldest of Three
Published: 2023-02-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

It wasn’t until late the next day that Elketh understood Ruga’s change of heart.

At breakfast—Elketh attended this time without being asked—the two sat next to each other on the bench. This was their first normal meal together. Elketh was careful to participate in the conversation, as she had the night before. Everyone seemed to be warming up to her except for Hedda, who sat at the queen’s side sullenly in her leather armor.

The skald recited a story in flowery verse about a beautiful maiden who fell in love with an artist, and Elketh nudged Ruga in the side, raising her eyebrows.

“Is this the one about you?”

Ruga smirked behind her ale. “This is much too chaste to be about me.”

“How scandalous.”

“I’m sure you’ve done worse back home.”

Elketh gave Ruga a light elbow to the ribs, and Ruga laughed. Hedda scowled at them. Elketh supposed not everyone was as kind as Ruga. What she did had been pretty severe, and rubbing it in Hedda’s face that she wasn’t facing any punishment seemed like a recipe for sending the guard running to the queen to profess the truth.

Even with that hanging over her head, it was nice to flirt again. Elketh always felt at her best when she could be playful. She was grateful that Ruga was willing to indulge her.

After breakfast, Elketh planned to go to the archery range. If she was going to be stuck here, she was going to make the most of it. Whenever she got back to Branwen, she planned to commission a place to practice like the training grounds near Vakker Castle.

She never got the chance to go.

To her surprise, Ruga stopped her outside the dining hall. “You’ve been cooped up in your room for a lot of the time since you arrived,” Ruga said. “I want you to see what I contribute here.”

“Will you be painting portraits?” Elketh suggested. “I’m happy to pose nude.”

Ruga rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “Unfortunately, it’s a lot more diplomatic than that.”

She had a written list of people to visit. It wasn’t in her handwriting. Not that Elketh paid a lot of attention to what Ruga’s handwriting looked like, or had parsed through the papers on her writing desk or anything. “I’m pretending we’re in love to everyone?” Elketh asked, realizing they were going door-to-door.

“I doubt anyone expects us to be in love,” Ruga said. “Just getting along. The only thing you’re pretending is that you still intend to marry me.”

It was a relief to hear Ruga talk like she didn’t mean for the alliance to happen. Elketh followed her, quickly growing bored, as Ruga went around town, knocking on doors of businesses and homes alike. Several of the people they visited were in sour moods when Ruga got there, only to be appeased by a bag of coin or a gift. Even though the task was tedious, Elketh was eager to participate and prove how much she meant her apology. She did not apologize often. Ruga had Elketh carry a sack of goods that became significantly lighter as they went on.

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