Page 20 of To Hunt a Ruby Remedy

“Taking over a few household tasks was the least I could do. Your grandson is making a charm for me that I can’t afford.” I ladled out a bowl of soup and put the kettle over the fire.

Grandmother Molle accepted the bowl. “Ranulf is letting you help around the house?”

I smiled. “I didn’t give him much of a choice, then bribed him with bread and pie.”

Ranulf’s grandmother laughed. “Smart girl. What’s your name?”

“Scarlette.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Scarlette. Now, tell me about this dragon-hunter. All we heard down in Ortfel was that someone was asking around about dragons.”

“His name is Gideon. He arrived in Wulfkin a few days ago and did everything he could to convince the villagers to share what they knew. He offered silver; when that didn’t work, he tried to get everyone drunk, but Mistress Weslet was having none of it.” I prepared two mugs of tea and brought them both to the table. “He arrived at the cottage yesterday. He is out looking for the dragon now.”

I stopped there, not sure if I should say anything that betrayed that I knew the identity of the dragon. I wasn’t fond of deception, but I figured it was Ranulf’s decision to tell his grandmother that he had let an outsider in on the secret.

Did everyone in the villages know? Mistress Weslet must, it was why she had needed to send a note to Ranulf. Was the secret only that Ranulf could change forms, or was there more to it?

“The hunter is staying here?”

I pulled my thoughts back to the conversation at hand. “He wouldn’t take no for an answer, and unlike me, he can pay for his room.”

My questions would have to wait for later. Not that I truly expected Ranulf to explain everything.

Grandmother Molle waved her hand through the air in a dismissive gesture. “That room is meant for people in need. You have more right to it than the huntsman.”

The garden door opened again.

“Nana!” Ranulf crossed to his grandmother’s side in a few easy strides and kissed her on the cheek. “Everything went well with the birth?”

I rose, letting Ranulf and his grandmother talk. I prepared another mug of tea and grabbed two more bowls for soup.

“I was there. Of course it went well. I stayed a few extra days to make sure mother and child were doing well. They are strong. They’ll be fine now.”

“Did you hear about the dragon-hunter?”

“I did. Scarlette was just telling me more about him.”

Ranulf looked at me, a question in his eyes. I carried the soup to the table and gave him the tiniest shake of my head.

His lips pressed together for a moment, then he looked at his grandmother and one shoulder lifted in a minuscule shrug. “I planned to lead him off toward the mountains today, but encountered a few complications.”

Grandmother Molle looked at me. It was a considering look, not mad or accusatory. My cheeks flamed under the attention, remembering exactly what form one complication had taken.

I darted a glance at Ranulf and saw that his cheeks had taken on a rosy hue as well.

“Complications,” Grandmother Molle said dryly.

Ranulf nodded. “The hunter wasn’t watching the sky. The idiot stayed under the trees most of the day. It took me hours to catch his attention. I planned to lead him up the river, then veer off to the mountains, but he never made it. I’ve given up for the day. Scarlette’s charm still needs work.”

Grandmother Molle set her spoon down. Her bowl was empty. “You seem to have everything in hand here. If you don’t need me, then I think I’m going to take a nap. The trip from Ortfel is harder on my old bones these days.”

Ranulf rose and kissed his grandmother’s cheek once more. “Rest, Nana. We’ll survive without your help for a few more hours.”

His grandmother got to her feet and moved down the short hall to the bedrooms. She went into hers and closed the door.

Ranulf watched her. Then a few seconds after the door closed, he cursed.

“What is it?”

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