Page 64 of Shadows of Winter

“Good evening,” the woman said, lifting a hand. “You needn’t get up on my account. I’m Jana Bloomlong. I’ve heard about what you’re doing and wanted to introduce myself.”

“What we’re doing?” Kaylina tamped down panic that threatened to bubble up. Had this woman seen her with Vlerion and recognized him? Was she a spy for the Virts?

“Starting a meadery, right?” Jana hung the lantern on a broken post, part of a railing that needed to be repaired, and alternated gazing at Kaylina and Frayvar and up at the castle.

“Yes. I hadn’t realized word was getting out.” Kaylina looked at Frayvar, but he only shrugged.

“Someone moving into the old ranger inn is big news. You know it’s cursed, right?” Jana’s gaze shifted toward the tower, but the red glow wasn’t visible from their position.

“We’ve heard that,” Frayvar said dryly.

“Mead isn’t as popular as ale in Port Jirador, but it does decently well, especially in the summer if you can serve it chilled.”

“I can’t imagine serving chilled drinks is hard here at any time of year.” Kaylina already regretted that she’d left the blanket’s warmth.

“Ice men come down from the mountains in the summer with wagons filled with blocks carved from the glaciers. You can have them deliver directly to your place for a fee, or there are ice houses in town where you can buy it by the pound. It can get warm here in the summer. Quite pleasant, really. You’ll want to put in an outdoor dining area.” Jana pursed her lips as she considered the castle and the courtyard. “You might want to have customers dine outdoors year around. With a few fire pits to warm the patios, people will do it. We don’t mind bundling up to eat and drink around here.”

“I’d had that thought,” Kaylina said.

To keep inimical vines from strangling customers inside the castle.

“You’re doing food too?” Jana asked.

“That’s the plan,” Kaylina said. “Are you in the business?”

“I’m your competition.” Jana winked and offered a friendly smile, but a hint of calculation in her eyes reminded Kaylina of Captain Targon, and she had a feeling this wasn’t a social visit. “My husband and I run Nakeron Inn about a mile that way.” She pointed south toward the Factory Quarter. “We get a lot of laborers on their way home from work. You might not think it from this run-down castle, but you’re in a nice part of town. You’re more likely to get merchants or maybe even aristocrats.” Jana’s eyebrows rose.

Wondering if that was the audience they wanted to serve? If Jana was friendly to workers, she probably stood on the side of the Virts and was inclined to dislike the nobles.

Kaylina thought of her dream to have the king and queen visit and enjoy her award-winning mead. “Well, we certainly won’t try to entice rangers to visit. From what we’ve gathered about the curse, the castle doesn’t like them much.”

Jana snorted. “That castle doesn’t like anyone much. My husband and I were debating if you’re terribly brave for choosing it or young and naive.”

It made Kaylina uneasy to think of others talking about them.

“The latter, I suspect?” She looked at her brother.

“Oh, absolutely,” he agreed.

That earned another snort. “At least you’re not in denial. I’ll wish you luck, and maybe we’ll stop by on your opening night.” Jana grabbed her lantern. “Where did you say you source your honey from?”

Wariness stampeded into Kaylina. “We didn’t say.”

“No? I can give you the name of my supplier if you like. There aren’t many meaderies in this part of the kingdom. We’ll have to look out for each other.” Jana smiled, but, again, Kaylina didn’t think it was sincere.

“Of course,” she said politely.

“Will you be using your grandmother’s recipes?”

More than the icy air chilled Kaylina. “You know about our family?”

“Everyone in the industry has heard about, if not tasted, the award-winning meads from the Spitting Gull. It’s hard to get them way up here, as I’m sure you know, so I look forward to trying them for myself.”

“We’ll be happy to share samples. Free of charge, of course.”

“Wonderful. I’ll bring by some of ours, and we can compare.” Jana lifted a hand and headed for the gate.

“How many people have you told about Grandma and who we are?” Kaylina whispered to her brother.

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