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Chapter Nineteen

Susara

T he sunny day was far too pretty to deal with all this nonsense.

I stood to face the madness of my villagers, and my hand was gripped tight. Father refused to let me go. “Susara, please . Stay out of this. Let Headman Gerald handle it.”

He was scared. I could see that written all over his face. He was scared and in pain and thought he was about to lose the only person he had left.

“Father, I can’t stay out of this,” I said firmly. “You know I can’t. I’m directly in the center of it.”

My father’s face went stricken, brows pinched, mouth tight, eyes misty.

And then. . . he released me .

“Thank you.” I exhaled a sigh of relief and turned to face the crowd.

Into the faces of the nearly fifteen villagers, most of whom were men armed with pitchforks and scythes.

Another chunk was the town gossip and Waston’s closest friends.

The ones who loved to stir up the most trouble and who everyone knew exaggerated the truth to spin a better tale.

After all the lies they’d told in the past, how had they convinced so many to believe them now?

“Absolutely nothing of this has been done against my will,” I announced to them, raising my voice as a rumble of disbelief rolled through them. “And, of course, I wasn’t taken from my room! Why would you think it had? I’ve been out at night with my sheep a thousand times before. You all know this.”

Roerra, a round, old woman who owned a very profitable candle shop and spent most of her free time with Waston, stepped forward. “If you were not taken by force, how do you explain the state of your room?”

“What exactly do you mean by the state of my room?” I looked around them in confusion, then back at my father, who was pale.

Jovi, one of the town whittlers, spoke up from the back of the group. “Your father said there was overturned furniture.”

Overturned? “Do you mean the lamp that I knocked over? I did that by accident.”

“Then explain your dress ,” Waston cried. “The one that was torn to shreds on your floor.”

“Torn to shreds?” I shook my head. “I popped a few buttons out of my dress in my haste to change. I was angry that Father was giving the flock to Jophel. I took it out on the dress. That’s all.”

There was a rumble of disquiet through the crowd, but not every tone was laced with disbelief.

“What about the boot print, then?” Glennd, one of the burly woodsmen, cried. “That massive, disgusting print that took up half of your bed?”

Oh, that stung. “That footprint is mine.”

“There’s no way! It was far too huge and ghastly!”

Wool and wails. “My. . . feet aren’t that big, are they?”

“Your feet are perfect.”

Caivid’s low voice caught all my attention. He was still held firmly by his chief, though I doubted he needed to be. He wasn’t struggling .

I looked back at my father, who was sitting tightly on the rock. I sighed heavily. “All this time, I’ve never doubted your trust in me, Father. You still hold faith in me, don’t you?”

My father’s eyes widened a moment and then he swallowed hard. “I just. . . can’t lose you too, Susara.”

I reached out and took his bony hand in mine. They were chilled, and I swung off my cloak to give to him, settling it around his shoulders. “And you won’t. I know what I’m doing. Please trust me.”

He searched my face for a long moment, and I held my breath.

And then, finally, he gave my hand a tight squeeze and whispered. “I do trust you.”

All my tension left me in a rush, and I pulled him into a tight hug. Fades, when had he gotten so small? So weak.

When had our roles switched? He was no longer my caretaker. I was his.

And I knew what I needed to do.

I let him go and went to Caivid’s side. “You can let him go, Chief Brovdir. I’ve got it.”

The quiet male raised his brows at me but did not hesitate to release Caivid.

“You get away from him,” Jophel raged, trying to break free from Headman Gerald’s grip so he could get back to his feet. Caivid tensed, but I gripped his hand tight, rubbed my fingers over his knuckles.

“Calm down,” I ordered him.

And he did. He relaxed into my touch and his expression went soft.

My heart swelled for him.

“Blast it all, Jophel!” Headman Gerald gripped the obnoxious man by the collar, but Jophel still fought, using the crook to try to leverage himself up. My crook. “Stop being a fool!”

“ She’s the fool!” Jophel spat. “Thinking she can lead that flock on her own! A tiny, useless woman like that has no right to—”

Rage burst behind my eyes. I stepped forward and slapped him across the mouth so hard the crack of it echoed in the woods.

“That”—I snatched my crook out of his grubby hands and slammed it down between his legs, right in front of his groin—“is the reason that no woman would ever take you for a husband. ”

Jophel was shaking and pale as he looked down at how close my crook had come to smashing his manhood. The silence of the group was almost tangible. Even Waston was stunned.

I took advantage of the moment and said loud and firm so all could hear.

“All this has been a misunderstanding, and it, truthfully, doesn’t involve any of you. My father was worried for my safety, so I found someone who was willing to protect me.” I went back to Caivid’s side and touched his arm. “Beyond that, there’s nothing more any of you needs to know.”

Jovi spoke up again. “You. . . really would rather be alone in the woods than be married?”

I could hear the confusion in his tone, could see it mirrored in many other faces. Oakwall Village was a peaceful place, set in its traditional ways, and fighting against them was often a headache.

But it was worth it. Because change was the only way we could grow.

“I would.” I turned to my father as I spoke.

“I’ve loved my life. Out in the woods as a family, guiding the flock, making memories.

That’s where I feel the most at home. The most at peace .

I know it’s strange for a woman to want to walk the woods all day, but I do.

It should not be stolen from me because it’s not how things are traditionally done, and it certainly shouldn’t be out of fear. ”

My father searched my face for a long moment, his eyes soft, posture loose, heart open.

And he nodded. “Yes, I agree. As long as you have protection, I will not force you to give up the flock.”

I wanted to collapse from relief, and instead, I rushed to my father and threw my arms around him. “Oh, thank you, thank you!”

He gave me a tight squeeze.

And then he let me go.

“You cannot be serious!” Jophel said, though his voice wavered. “You’re going to let your daughter be alone in the woods with this beast ?”

“Restrain yourself!” Headman Gerald bellowed into his ear. “I’ve already decided you’ll be mucking the pigs for the rest of winter, Jophel. I suggest you shut your mouth or you’ll be scrubbing them out all year . Good luck finding a wife while you’re stinking of shit.”

Jophel went pale and shut his mouth tight.

“Why should Jophel restrain himself?” Waston cried. “This is ridiculous!”

Caivid growled under his breath and I went to his side and took his hand. He exhaled out his tension in an instant.

“This male stole her right out of her bed and manipulated her into lying for him,” Waston continued. “You have no proof that he didn’t!”

“And you have no proof that he did !” I snapped.

“We do!”

I blinked as Jovi pushed his way to the front. It was then I noticed he had a huge, bulging bag slung over his shoulder. “I brought the print!”

“You brought the what?” What on Faeda was going on?

“I told you not to!” Waston snapped.

“But why not?” he asked as he carefully removed the gray wool fabric that had been neatly folded inside his bag. “I don’t understand. This is our proof! ”

“Because I told you to! That’s why!” Waston shrieked.

“Is that. . .” I blinked rapidly as he got the bulky item out. “Is that my blanket? ”

“It sure is!” Jovi began to unfold my wool blanket onto the muddy ground. “It has the footprint he left! This is the proof he was in your room.”

I almost cackled with glee .

“Put that away !” Waston cried. “We don’t need to go this far!”

“Why not?” I asked. “Because you know it will prove him innocent?”

She sputtered. “It couldn’t possibly! That footprint was too huge to be anyone’s but an orc’s!”

I looked her dead in the eyes, and she paled. “Let’s get to it then.”

Waston sputtered with indignation, but there was nothing more she could do. My blanket was laid out and the print of my boot was right there, a deep brown stain right in the middle.

“Come over, warrior!” Jovi was grinning as he pointed to the print. “Let’s put an end to this farce. I’m ready for breakfast.”

I laughed, so relieved that at least one of the villagers was seeing reason.

Caivid came over without hesitation and placed his foot next to the print. Many came over for a closer look.

The difference in size was tremendous. His foot was nearly twice the size of mine.

“Susara?” Jovi waved me over.

Ah, blast it all. I really didn’t have a choice, did I ?

I walked over and put my boot down right on top of the print.

Perfect match.

“Well, what do you know?”

“Guess her feet are that big.”

“Fades. . . didn’t realize a woman’s foot could be so huge.”

My cheeks burned, but then warmth caged around my shoulders and Caivid dipped low to my ear. “Next time we’re alone, I promise to show you how perfect I think your feet are.”

Now my whole body was burning.

“This isn’t over!” Waston shrieked, “Mark my words. I will prove that these warriors shouldn’t be allowed to stay here.”

And then she stormed off down the path, glowering at the orc chief and Caivid as she went. I was alarmed to see that more than half the villagers followed after her.

But then those who remained also began to walk back toward Oakwall. They gave both Caivid and I sheepish smiles as they passed with their pitchforks lowered. A few murmured apologies. Most bowed their heads as if embarrassed.

It was over.

I wanted to collapse with relief.

“Caivid,” Chief Brovdir said. Caivid tensed, but all the male said was, “report to Chief Sythcol about the flood before the end of the day.”

Confusion made my brows go up as Caivid asked, “Is there something going on with the floods?”

The chief glanced in Headman Gerald’s direction, who was busy wrestling Jophel to his feet and lowered his voice. “Not sure yet. No need for panic. Just. . . be sure to report.”

“I will,” Caivid promised.

“I’m taking him back,” Headman Gerald called as he pushed Jophel toward a horse-drawn cart I hadn’t even noticed. He shoved him into the back, on top of a load of musty hay, and Jophel didn’t say a word, just ducked his head.

Headman Gerald faced us again and bowed slightly. “I apologize, Chief Brovdir, warrior Caivid, for all the trouble. I promise to work twice as hard not to let something like this happen again.”

“We are at peace,” Brovdir assured, and I exhaled a sigh of relief .

“Shepherd Tomind,” Headman Gerald called to my father. “Would you like a ride back in my cart?”

My father nodded and struggled to his feet. I hurried to his side.

But Caivid got there first. He took Father’s arm gently and guided him to the headman’s cart. My father followed willingly, though his eyes were as large as the moon.

“Shepherd Tomind,” Caivid said carefully after my father had gotten settled on the bench next to the headman.

I gathered up my blanket and brought it over to him.

Caivid took it from me and helped arrange it in my father’s lap.

“I promise you I will never do any harm to your daughter. My intention will always be to protect her and keep her hale. You have my solemn vow.”

I held my breath as my father looked from him to me.

Finally, he said. “I trust my daughter, and she trusts you. That is good enough for me.”

Caivid beamed, and so did I.

“You can walk her back,” my father said to Caivid, shocking us both. He took off my cloak and handed it back to me. Then he turned his sharp eyes to Jophel. “I have business regarding this man. I’m not sure mucking pigs is enough for trying to soil my daughter’s name.”

“Agreed,” Headman Gerald said, and Jophel hunched his shoulders.

“But I expect you to join us for breakfast, Caivid,” my father said sternly. “I have quite a few more questions left for you regarding your. . . arrangement with my daughter. You best be ready to answer them.”

Caivid swallowed hard and nodded.

With that, Headman Gerald clicked his tongue to spur the horse into motion. Brovdir called a goodbye as well, already nearly around the bend back to Rove Wood Clan.

And just like that, it was over. I wanted to collapse from relief.

Warmth enclosed my hand, and I looked up to find Caivid holding it tight in his own. He smiled down at me in a way that made my heart squeeze. “Let’s walk back together.”