Page 71 of Shadows of Winter

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Sure it does. I can’t go near a hive without a smoker, whereas they let you amble up, stick your head in, and take out whatever honey you want.”

“I use a smoker. You’re being silly.”

“Because Grandpa insists, but do you really think you need to?”

Kaylina wanted to continue to protest, but his words and frank expression made her pause. She did always get along with animals, unless one counted the fur shark that had tried to eat her. But it had been shot at. That might have made it inordinately cranky. It would have made her cranky.

“What am I going to do?” Groaning, she bent over and gripped her knees. “I came to make mead, not war. Do you think I can… not show up?”

“If you don’t, one of them will be here five minutes after dawn to haul you off. They know where we live.”

The blackness of despair crept into Kaylina. Since they’d arrived, nothing had gone right, but she’d still had a shot at her dream. Now… now…

She rubbed her face. She didn’t know.

“If I were you, I would feign ineptitude,” Frayvar said. “When Targon asks to see your sling capabilities, hurl every round over the wall.”

“I hit Vlerion on the head with a shot the day we met. He knows my aim is good.”

“Well, maybe you’ll be lousy with swords. You’ve never picked one up before, right? You could cut off your own toe with your first swing.”

“Thanks so much.”

“You could pretend to be lousy, even if you’re not.”

Kaylina slumped down on the bench at the table.

“Or we could stow away on a ship and go home,” Frayvar added softly.

“After we’ve done so much? We’re almost ready to open.”

“I know. I miss everyone back home, but after all this, I’d like to see it through.”

“You still can.” Kaylina couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice.

The clip-clop of horse hooves on the river trail made Kaylina lift a wary head. Jana, their competition, rode slowly past, smiling and lifting a hand, as if she was out for a ride and had happened to come this way.

“You can, and you have to,” Kaylina caught herself saying as the woman continued down the trail. “I don’t want her feeling smug, like we left because we couldn’t handle some competition. I don’t want her winning.”

“I didn’t know you were entering a contest.”

“Looks like we both are.”

18

You can’t strike at another without making yourself vulnerable.

~ Ranger Lord Vlerion of Havartaft

Kaylina arrived at ranger headquarters precisely at dawn and set her crutch against the courtyard wall inside the gate. Maybe it was foolish, and she should have pretended more feebleness than she felt, but her pride wouldn’t let her hobble around in front of Vlerion and Targon.

To her surprise, the doctor was the first to greet her.

“Heard you’re getting trained today,” he said.

“Yes. Unless you want to examine my leg and declare me too injured to learn sword fighting or whatever happens on Day One.”

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