Page 44 of Faeling (Monstrous World #4)

“Yes, my gown.” A greedy gleam in her eye, she told Ravenna, “I’ll come back first thing tomorrow with some fabrics.”

Ravenna forced a smile. The thought of a formal gown, one to reveal her to all of Balmirra, didn’t fill her with enthusiasm—at least not as much as it did Hilde.

Still, it would serve as a decent distraction.

Keeping her hands busy would hopefully keep her mind from wandering. Toward those possible riots.

Taking Vallek’s hand, she asked, “Are we sure such a big event is wise? Might a more controlled release not be wiser?”

“Unfortunately, we’re beyond that,” said Eydis. “Over a hundred kin who know about your true identity are now loose. Some will keep their promise. Others will no doubt become loose-lipped. To get as ahead of it as we can, I think we do this in one fell swoop.”

Scowling at her mate, Hilde squeezed Eydis’s thigh. “What Eydis means to say is, you’re too wonderful a secret to hide.”

Eydis and Ravenna both pulled a face as Vallek and Asta snickered.

Hiding her amusement more diplomatically behind her hand, Bryn reassured them, “The kin are loyal. They may be shocked by this, but they’ll take it in stride. This isn’t the first mating between an orc and otherly—even a fae.”

“No, but it’ll be the first chieftain, the first king,” said Eydis.

“I hope for their loyalty, but we’ll watch for those who may feel as Ulrich did,” Vallek said. Wrapping his arm around Ravenna to tuck her tightly to his side, he told Asta, “I want her own guards assigned to her. Have them sent by morning.”

“I’ll choose them myself,” Asta agreed.

Breaking another apricot in two and giving half to Hilde, Eydis said, “Three days will mean some attend the announcement already suspecting something.”

“There are plenty already talking about the king’s human soothsayer,” Bryn said.

Vallek nodded. “Yes. So this event will set our narrative.”

“It should be enough to get my people in place,” said Eydis.

“Your people?” asked Ravenna.

A sly smile curled Eydis’s lips. “Hasn’t he told you yet? I’m Balmirra’s spymaster.”

Ravenna’s brows rose, but after a moment to think on it, no, that wasn’t really surprising. “That would explain a lot.”

Asta snorted. “Ulrich thought he, as lord commander, was spymaster, but really, it’s always been Eydis.”

Looking more than a little proud of herself, Eydis brushed nonexistent lint from her robes. “I live to serve the king.”

Vallek barked a laugh. “No, you’re just nosy.”

“That, too.”

Ravenna held up a finger. “Forgive me, I’m a novice at espionage. How does the announcement help your spies?”

“Don’t be modest, you infiltrated the orc king’s court very adeptly,” said Eydis with a wink.

Vallek threw her a sour look, but Ravenna just shrugged. “I’m sure only because you let me.”

“Well, that’s true. Although, we never found much about you at all.

” Eydis’s gaze was meaningful, and Ravenna had no doubt the orcess would love to peel her away to reveal all her secrets, just as she did the apricot, but Ravenna was harder than that.

She didn’t know if she would even tell Vallek, and she foresaw few scenarios where she admitted anything to Eydis before Vallek.

Less because he was her mate and more because Eydis was far scarier.

“But to answer your question, this will provide an excellent opportunity to plug a known leak.”

Asta groaned. “Don’t let her go on about the leak again.”

“She needs to know,” Eydis argued. “We believe there is at least one member of staff currently selling information north. Definitely to an Eirean margrave, possibly even to the fae.”

“It might help explain why they think their criminal is in our lands,” said Vallek. He didn’t look at Ravenna when he said it—in fact, no one looked at her at all—but the implication still sat with them in the den.

“Ulrich claimed he had leads on who it might be. I have my doubts.” Eydis shrugged. “His actions the past few months have been…questionable.”

Snapping her fingers, Asta sat up straight. “That reminds me. We need a new lord commander.”

Bryn threw her hands up. “I’m going to bed.”

“The sun isn’t even down,” said Hilde.

“Yes, but you young people are exhausting!”

They laughed and bid her farewell, but Bryn’s departure didn’t deter Asta from the question. Ravenna almost wanted to follow Bryn—it’d been a long day, and it seemed all the decisions were being made this evening.

“The post can go unfilled for a while. It’s not like Ulrich was at his best lately.” Asta chewed on a hunk of cheese before adding, “But the whole situation will be best managed with a new lord commander.”

“Indeed.” Vallek turned to look at Eydis. He opened his mouth, but before he could say it, Hilde got bodily between him and his sister.

“ No. I already hardly see her as it is, she won’t be taking another position.”

Eydis chuckled as Vallek swung his gaze over to Asta.

She shook her head furiously. “Not interested.”

“It would take time away from fucking her way through the barracks,” Eydis teased.

“ Exactly . Plus—paperwork.” Asta pulled a face.

“There’s Captain Mattias,” said Ravenna.

“He would be a solid choice,” agreed Vallek. “He’s loyal, and that’s just who I need around us. Especially now.”

“I’m not sure Mattias is devious enough,” observed Hilde.

“Yes, he’s tragically noble,” added Eydis.

When Vallek’s gaze fell on Ravenna, she met it with a scowl. “Careful,” she said, “I might become offended.”

“I hardly think it’s an insult to call you devious.” Toying with a lock of her hair, Vallek said, “We will need to find you duties as queen. To keep you occupied.”

The others giggled as Ravenna pinched his side mercilessly.

“I do think you’d be an effective lord commander,” he insisted, trying to both squash her to his side and avoid her pinches.

“Seconded,” declared Eydis.

Ravenna flushed. The vote of confidence meant a great deal coming from Eydis.

Noticing the change in her, Vallek laughed. “You trust her opinion more than mine?”

“Yes. You’re biased.”

Hilde and Asta hooted with laughter, and Vallek grinned fondly.

“That I am.” Leaning down to kiss her temple, he gently suggested, “Think on it?”

“All right.” Although, when she did think about it in the moment, one thing did come to mind. “I’d like to take part in discussion with the eastern tribesmen, though, whatever I decide.”

Vallek’s heavy brows lifted. “Oh?”

Nodding, Ravenna explained, “I too am a newcomer to Balmirra.”

He beamed with pride, making her flush again.

“My queen,” he praised. “You will be one for the ages.”

When Hilde arrived the next morning, buried beneath armfuls of supplies to beset his mate with options, Vallek took his leave. Although there was much to prepare for his introduction of Ravenna to all of Balmirra, there was one task that had to be done first.

Vallek had to bury his past before he looked to his future.

He met Mattias and a handful of his berserkers near the barracks, Ulrich’s pitch-sealed coffin covered in a burgundy shroud. Atop it lay the chains of office he wore and the signet ring he used. With a Balmirran rock Mattias handed him, Vallek struck each, breaking the chain and ring.

The ruined regalia glittered uselessly in the morning sun, the sight of it curdling Vallek’s stomach. Although hidden beneath the shroud, the coffin’s telling shape was a haunting reminder of that day—and how little Vallek wished to perform these last rites.

It shouldn’t have been like this.

But it was.

And he’d vowed, as not just a chieftain but a king, to fulfill all rites. He occupied his throne in celebration and in mourning, in victory and in uncertainty.

Vallek nodded to his warriors, and as one, they lifted the poles attached to the side of the coffin, bearing the former lord commander on their shoulders for his last journey.

He led them in a small, somber procession from the citadel. Those up and about early enough stopped what they were doing, watching on in solemn silence as they passed.

Down through the city they went to the house of Ulrich’s sister Uma. She lived with her mate and aunt, the last of Ulrich’s kin. As far as Vallek knew, Ulrich had grown estranged from his kin as his duties increased. It’d been many years since Vallek himself had seen Uma.

Still, when he knocked upon her door, he immediately recognized her when she opened it. Although bearing a few more lines and gray hairs, she shared Ulrich’s serious mien. Uma took in the sight of the king with little expression, her gaze eventually flicking behind him, to the shrouded coffin.

She didn’t seem surprised to see any of it.

Calling over her shoulder for their aunt, Tylda, she said nothing to Vallek until joined by the older orcess.

“Ulrich’s finally come home,” said Uma.

Vallek bent to kneel on their threshold. He swept his hand through the dirt on their stoop, and despite the distressed noises the orcesses made, he smeared the grime across his forehead.

An ancient act of shame, of contrition.

“Please,” he said. “Forgive me.”

Ravenna hadn’t quite realized what all designing and constructing this special new gown would entail. Hilde arrived early, as promised, and they spent the better part of the morning debating fabrics and fits.

Over breakfast, a more traditional orcish silhouette was rejected. Even in a few of Asta’s old garments from when she was an adolescent, the thick, stiff pieces overwhelmed Ravenna’s lither frame. It was a relief to shrug off the heavy leathers and brocade.

Instead, they focused on the duality of light fabric and precise construction.

By lunchtime, they had sketches and a plan.

Ravenna spent most of the afternoon standing on the low table, pulled out from the den into the central hall to give Hilde room to maneuver. It took hours, but eventually, with just pins and fabric, the shape of a gown began to appear from the chaos.