"So no one would have ever suspected her," Darcia cut in.
"Her connection to Varo?" Lukor asked, his gaze darting between the two.
"Distant cousins, I believe," Golic supplied.
Lukor rubbed his smooth chin. "If I were to name Varo to the line of succession, perhaps that would at least garner him to my side."
Darcia raised her eyebrows. They rose even higher when she glanced over his shoulder at the fortress. "Come, Golic, let us prepare."
The two goliaths walked away, and Lukor pivoted to see Ivy, dressed like a barbaroness, on the drawbridge, arms crossed, a frown causing faint lines to form on her forehead.
She did not move to approach him, nor to oversee her barbarians, so he walked over to her, back straight, chin up. As he neared, his steps slowed and he grinned. "Ivy. You—"
"You're leaving."
Karrina's cold tone was hot compared to Ivy's.
"Not without a farewell kiss."
Her frown deepened.
"The trolls," he explained.
"They will kill you for slaying their skuleader."
"You care for me. I'm touched." He placed his hands above his heart.
"Do not tease."
The pain and anguish in her eyes was more than he could bear. "What would you have me do?" he asked desperately. "My people do not accept me as their leader."
"And they will reject you all the more once they realize exactly how deep your allegiance is to the barbarians."
"If I thought I could leave them in a capable goliath's hand in my stead, I would hand over the crown immediately."
"Perhaps there is a goliatha," she said dryly.
He snorted. "Surely not."
"So nothing I can say will dissuade you. You're leaving."
Me her eyes clearly added.
"At the very least we will distract the trolls and prevent them from attacking you again until your defenses are complete," he offered, knowing full well it would not placate her.
"You must do what you must." Her chin high, she pursed her lips.
He so wanted to sweep her into his arms and kiss those lips and make her forget her pain.
But she rubbed her arms, head lowered. "I cannot tell them."
Ivy, uncertain? So strange and yet human of her. He loved her all the more for revealing her vulnerable side.
"I haven't either."
"We can't wait long."
"We won't." He had to touch her and settled for holding her hands. "We're both new leaders. Our people have suffered greatly lately, yours much more so. Once our peoples have accepted us, we can start our life together."
"Our life," she repeated in a daze.
"I swear to you, we will one day be happy and live peaceful lives."
She blinked and pushed him away. "Happy? Peaceful?"
"Stranger things have happened." His smile stretched across his face. "A goliath and a barbarian fell in love."
"True." Ivy inhaled deeply. "You will stay safe and return to me."
"I swear to you I will."
Why did he feel as if he was lying?
Ivy rushed into the fortress and, despite knowing tongues might tell stories, motioned with a flick of her wrist for Lukor to follow. His scent — natural mixed with wood and sweat and musk — filled her nose. Abruptly, Lukor yanked on her arm and forced her around, slamming her back against the wall. His lips assaulted hers, and she parted them to suck in a breath. His tongue invaded her mouth. The curves of her body melted into the firmness of his. She grabbed his black hair to tilt his head to the side, allowing them to deepen their kiss.
The pounding of her heart almost overshadowed their gasps, but then she heard another sound — footsteps. She placed her hand on Lukor's chest and shoved him back. Her swollen lips and her certainly flushed face had to give them away. Lukor's hair was a wild mess from her fingers running through it, and she had to clasp her hands together to keep from fixing his soft locks.
Glaive approached, a curious expression on his face as he looked at the two leaders. "The moat is completed, or at least, dug. What shall fill it?"
Ivy cleared her throat and tried to regain a level of composure. One glance at Lukor and her heart raced anew. With a start, she realized the bodice of her armored dress had lowered to reveal far more of her skin than she cared to show to anyone save Lukor. She crossed her arms and tried to not draw attention to her chest as she fixed it.
"Leave the moat to me and commence with gathering the weapons." At least her voice sounded strong and firm despite her quivering insides.
The barbarian bowed at the waist. Straightening, he opened his mouth before closing it.
Ivy nodded.
Glaive shifted uneasily. "Have you chosen..." His face turned into a hardened mask as he glowered at Lukor.
Lukor reached a large hand toward his axe.
Ivy eased between them. "Unfortunately, my choice has been made for me."
She could feel Lukor stiffen behind her. How furious he must be with her for taking the coward's way out, but if she dared mentioned love, she would lose her barbarians before they died out.
"I was wounded on the battlefield and almost died. An elf came to heal me, but only after he... forced me to promise myself to the golock."
Glaive maneuvered around the barbaroness without touching her to stand before Lukor. "Is this true?"
Ivy stared at the stone floor the goliath stood upon, unable or unwilling to see the expression upon his face.
"Aye," Lukor finally said. "Curious that the elf would wish such a union."
"Especially since they are aiding the trolls," Ivy interjected, desperate to get Glaive to see reason.
But the normally reasonable barbarian did not look impressed. "A barbarian. And a goliath. Do you know what this means?"
Ivy dipped her head. After a shaky deep breath, she said, "Yes."
"With the only female barbarian pledged to a goliath, we are doomed." A sudden light in Glaive's eyes shone. "Perhaps not all hope is lost. You two could be married but not enjoy relations, and a barbarian could—"
"Goliaths view married seriously," Lukor growled. "If a barbarian were to touch Ivy, I would rip him from limb to limb."
"How barbaric of you," Glaive muttered. "You misplaced your trust in this elf, O Barbaroness."
"You would rather I be dead for over a day now?" she countered.
Finally the barbarian rubbed the back of his neck and sighed heavily. "You had no choice, I see, but the others will not like it."
Glaive stared at her, waiting for her to say something, most likely I do not like it.
But that was a line she dared not cross.
"The weapons aren't going to gather themselves," she said pointedly. "Do not forget the gloves."
"The goliaths have already collected most of them." Glaive threw Lukor a nasty look. "We will retrieve what they have not." He stepped backward, gave a hasty bow, and left, throwing glances behind him after every third step until he left the fortress.
Ivy sighed. "I thought he would never leave."
The copper specks usually visible in Lukor's eyes were hard to see, his eyes had darken too much.
"You're mad."
He rubbed her biceps, sending a shiver through her body that went straight to her heart. "I do not blame you—"
"I do love you," she whispered, swinging her body closer to his.
A low growl rumbled from his chest. "And I you."
She lifted onto her toes to kiss him.
Only he leaned back, increasing the space between them. "You understand I, and my people, cannot stay here."
"When are you going to tell them?" Ivy missed the warmth of his body already.
"There's... complications."
The sound of his worried tone concerned her. "A goliatha?"
"Aye. Karrina."
"Wants you because you're golock?"
"I don't think she truly wants me."
How curious. Did not goliathas see Lukor a
s attractive as she did? "Just power then," she assumed.
"She is next in line."
Ivy wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled her head against his neck. "Promise me you will keep that vixen away. I do not trust this Karrina with you, or your life."
"You have nothing to fear." His chuckle caused her to bounce against him.
"Oh, but I do," she confided.
"You are strong and capable."
"You are strong and capable." She squeezed his biceps, feeling the firmness of his muscle contract beneath her hand.
"Capable of what?" he asked, his nose tickling her ear.
"Capable of..." How she wanted him, wanted to be married now.
Why not?
"Should we get married before you leave?"
"Before I tell my people?" Lukor's eyes glittered. "They will slay me where I stand. Nay, allow me to gather them to my side and then I will tell them. Besides, if we marry in secret without allowing our people to be there, they will never accept us or our union."
"Who knew goliaths could be so intelligent?" she teased, easing a lock of his soft black hair back from his forehead. A whisper of disappointment eased out of her as his fingers stroked her neck. Her skin tingled from the contact, which ended far too soon.
Lukor grimaced as he stepped back. "We must leave now."
As proficient as the goliaths were, she could not endorse such a perilous endeavor. "Are you certain this is a good idea?"
"I am certain this is the best way to get the goliaths to rally within my reign and accept me as golock. The barbarians—"
"Are you worried about me?" She tried to lighten her tone, but she narrowed her eyes. "It's not as if I haven't killed barbarians before, including Thunhall."
"Your father. That must not have been easy."
"Easier than you think," she murmured. But she didn't want to talk about the barbaron right now. "My heart is yours, married or not."
"I will never do anything to dishonor you." Lukor pressed his lips to her hand. Before she could say more, he walked away.
The emptiness of the fortress pressed against her, and Ivy had to flee. Being barbaroness was impossible, especially when ruling without a barbaron. However, in this case, ruling solo might be easier on her people.
Leaving Ivy behind haunted Lukor. His legs wanted to grow roots like the trees to stop his progressive march, but on he pressed, urging his people with words of encouragement and a helpful hand when a younger goliatha's pack started to slip from her back.
He made it a point to avoid Karrina, and by the time they halted for a meal and to set up a small camp for the night, he had not yet seen the goliatha. It did not surprise him a moment that she sought him out first.
"You look as you did when you told everyone the first report of Lucia's death." Karrina sat beside him on a large rock.
Lukor jumped up and paced about the small fire ringed with pebbles and stones.
"How did your farewell go with the barbaroness?"
Cunning Karrina. She missed nothing.
Perhaps not responding was his best course, and he stood with his back to her, feeling a warmth spread over his body as he thought of Ivy and her passionate kisses. How he already missed her.
He shoved thoughts of her lean, strong body aside and faced the goliatha. "What is it you want, Karrina?"
The goliatha pressed on her knees and stood. The leather straps of clothing she wore did little to cover her body. Hardly dressed for a battle.
"You know what I want."
"I will not join you."
"Then we have a problem."
"Aye, the trolls and their blades." Playing the fool had to be the best course now.
She scowled, shadows covering half of her face.
"You deny them as a threat?" he challenged. "They have already killed far too many goliaths."
"Shall we discuss how those goliaths' lives never should have been placed in danger in the first place? This is a fool's mission, and you well know it. Why you fancy that ruthless, one-toned woman I will never understand."
Lukor's hands tightened into fists at his side. "It is not for you to understand."
"You wish to impress her. I can see that much. And so can several of the others." Karrina grinned, and the light of the fire made her lighter green skin sparkle compared to the blackness of her darker markings.
"All we need concern ourselves are the trolls and the threat they pose us. Understood?"
Her face hardened. "You do not wish me an enemy, Lukor."
"Be gone." He waved her away.
She stomped off, her boots crunching against the grass and rocks.
A short time later, Darcia approached. Most of her body was covered in clothing, as most of the other goliathas choose to go about, tanned leather that accented the two greens of her skin.
His cousin glanced over at him several times while she tended the fire. "You look troubled."
As much as he tried not to think of Ivy, the more he did.
Trolls.
"Another day and night and we should soon be on troll land. Get some rest, Darcia. Your body has been through much."
She sighed. "You are in love. Karrina will flay you alive if she knew."
"She suspects."
"Suspecting and knowing are too different things. You had best learn now who is on your side and who prefers Karrina. And the latter, you had best learn how to dissuade from her."
"Everyone likes to tell me what to do," he said dryly.
Darcia flicked her hand toward him. "You know I'm right. I already know Halcrom and those closest to him are on your side."
"Not too surprising." Halcrom was one of the more vicious goliaths, always engaging in fights and duels, his rage rivaling that of a barbarian's. Any side that guaranteed him a chance to shed blood was the one he would support.
"And while his fraction is sizable..."
"I know." Damn it all, had Darcia always been so sensible? No, she hadn't. Her time in captivity had tamed her, but he could see a spark of wildness still burning within her eyes. Good. Had she lost that too he might start thinking poorly of his wife-to-be, especially considering that every mark and bruise and scar upon her body was the direct result of Ivy coming across her, even if Ivy herself had not been the one to lash out upon the goliatha.
Lukor tried to focus on the truth that he would have done the same had the positions been reversed. And what did that say about him? No wonder the elves might want the destruction of the fledging races. Save for possibly the humans, none of the other races have killed as many as the trolls, goliaths, and the barbarians.
"You've changed," he said, withdrawing from his thoughts.
"So have you." Darcia leveled him with a stern gaze. "You're too restless and damned impulsive."
"Wasn't I always?" He nudged her away. "Sleep. For my sake."
She wrinkled her large nose at him and retreated toward a small tent.
Lukor paced around the camp, keeping to the shadows, listening to the grunts and snores of those sleeping and catching tidbits of conversations here and there. One made him stop short and lean closer.
"Why do you think the golock is so keen on the barbarians?" a gruff male voice asked.
"He's never been the same after his sister died. Hated the barbarians so much for so long. It is a puzzle," a gentle female voice agreed.
"Don't you all find it strange that Kril volunteered to help cart our dead back home?" This goliatha sounded shrewd. "I overheard him talking to Brisum that Lukor and that barbarian princess were getting rather... close."
A gasp.
A snort.
"No," the gentle goliatha said. "You can't be serious."
"I am. Kril saw them with his eyes. Believe you me, I speak the truth."
"Regardless, barbarian or no barbarian, I would rather Lukor be golock than Balog. He did us a favor," the gentle one said.
"But a barbarian... his mind is clouded." The goliath sounded peeved. "I tell you who
I want. I want—"
"How are you this evening?" Lukor boomed, stepping forward.
The taller goliatha jumped, the goliath looked ashamed, and the goliatha with a scar marring her dark green cheek eyed him with open disdain.
"Well?"
"Quite fine," the tall goliatha said in her soft voice.
Lukor nodded and smiled at her before turning to the male. "I do believe you were saying you wanted something?"
Even in the dim lighting of the fire, the goliath clearly blanched, both greens draining from his face. "I want..."
"Go on. What needs have you?" Lukor pressed. When the goliath didn't answer, Lukor faced the gossip. "And how are you?"
She scowled and looked away.
"I know we have faced much turmoil and change lately, and for some of it, I was not home to experience, and I am sorry. But I am here now, and whatever course we take, we take as one, and for the betterment of our race." He patted the goliath and gentle goliatha's shoulders. "All we have is our lives. The goliaths must stomp out any who dare oppose us."
"And what if some from within oppose us?"
Lukor kept his face blank as he met the haughty goliatha's gaze. "Then we shall become like the humans, too consumed with hatred. The division within our race may be our undoing and not the trolls. 'Tis a risk I am not willing to take. Are you?"
She nodded once, a swift, not derisive movement. "I see your point."
Good. If only he could get the majority of the rest of the goliaths and goliathas to feel the same.
From her tower, Ivy alternated between watching the goliaths flee with great haste and supervising her barbarians work with equal great haste. She should help them with the work, but knowing Glaive had most likely spread the word about her and Lukor had her hiding here.
Hiding.
Ivy, Barbaroness of the Barbarians. Twenty years old. Hiding like a frightened child.
She laughed at herself. Before she could turn around to join her men with the labor, a knock sounded at her door.
With grace, she pivoted around to see Steel before her, only inches separating them. One of the tallest barbarians at nearly eight feet, he towered over her. More muscles than man, he was a brute who destroyed most things he touched.
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