Page 2 of Shadows of Winter

“All this can be yours for two thousand liviti a month.” The land agent winked at her, ignoring her brother.

“How much was it before my sister said it’s magnificent?” Frayvar asked.

Kaylina grimaced. He was right. She shouldn’t have been so transparent when they had to negotiate.

“It’s perfect for your needs. Very spacious.” The agent smiled, not answering Frayvar’s question. “Assuming you do indeed have funds? You’re young for this endeavor, aren’t you?”

He eyed Kaylina, her raven hair swept back in a ponytail, and considered her trousers, tunic, parka, and low boots. The clothes were practical for travel, if not the most feminine garments she might have chosen. At least she’d cleaned off the grime of the sea voyage in a washbasin that morning. She’d anticipated having to prove that she was serious, capable, and not without coin.

Her brother… She hadn’t been able to talk him out of wearing his rumpled hemp shirt with missing buttons and a fluffy prancing taybarri embroidered on the front. The noble creatures, ridden into battle by the elite royal rangers, were fierce, not fluffy. Admittedly, taybarri were rare in the south, and she’d only seen them from a distance, but the history books promised ferocity.

“I’m twenty-one,” Kaylina said, “and my brother is a very old and crotchety seventeen.” Despite the furry blue creatures prancing across his chest.

“Young for starting a business,” the agent said.

“Rangers are recruited to risk their lives and protect the kingdom as early as sixteen,” she pointed out.

“Rangers are chosen, not recruited.” The agent glanced up and down the street, then asked again, “Do you have funds?”

“Yes,” Frayvar said.

He was the one who’d brought a purse. Kaylina, who’d left in more of a hurry—or, as Mom would call it, a huff—than she wanted to admit, had planned to work for someone else to save up funds for the first few months. As much as she hated having her younger brother watch over her, his coin would be helpful.

“We also have Grandpa’s special yeast and honeycomb.” Kaylina patted one of the trunks.

A squawk came from a tower, and three pigeons flew out, complaining about something. Unlike the other, these birds weren’t inclined to visit her shoulder. One pooped on the walkway three feet from them before flapping away.

“You’ll want to clean that up before the queen arrives,” Frayvar told her.

“As my assistant, you can handle that.”

“Hilarious. Grandma sent me along to keep the books, prevent you from being swindled, and ensure her recipes are accurately represented.”

“Also so you wouldn’t be beaten up again by the Bustinor brothers.” Kaylina waved at his shirt, though it was more his spindly arms, gangly height, and tendency to wheeze and pass out that made him a target for bullies.

Frayvar lifted a finger, as if he might protest, but he only sighed and added, “Or the Bustinor sisters.”

“Craters of the moon, they’re worse than the brothers.”

“Tell me about it.”

After another glance down the street, the agent gestured at the castle. “Why don’t you look around the property while you think about it? I’ll wait here and find my paperwork in case you decide you’re interested.” He patted a brown satchel.

It wouldn’t hurt to check the place out.

Smiling as her vision wafted through her mind again, Kaylina leaped the cracks of the courtyard and jogged to the double doors leading into the keep. The stout wood creaked as she pushed one side open. She almost ran through a grand vestibule and into a great hall with wrought-iron chandeliers hanging from high ceiling beams. This would be a wonderful place to seat diners.

Dust tickled her nose as she stumbled into cobwebs hanging from those beams, but she didn’t care. Already, she could see the hall cleaned up and full of tables, every patron sipping her mead and proclaiming its brilliance.

An archway led to a smaller room with cabinets and counters. They could put the mead-making equipment there, and she could give talks about the process. Demonstrations. And was that a kitchen beyond? A huge kitchen.

“Look, Fray.” Kaylina spun a pirouette before pointing. “There’s room for all your pots and pans, and I bet there’s a huge pantry. Once we’re successful, you can buy every spice in the world. And you can spend your days gleefully organizing and reorganizing the jars, an activity I’m positive you love as much as cooking.”

“I don’t love cooking.” Sneezes came from behind her, announcing her brother following, though his watering eyes might be keeping him from seeing her vision. “I got into it because I’m allergic to everything, and I have trust issues about taking food from strangers.”

“And family.”

“Family who aren’t meticulous in the kitchen, yes. Silana has tried to poison me three times.”

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