Page 19 of The Duke and the Disciple

“Well, you’ve answered one question,” she quipped, shifting again under the blanket.

He leaned close. “I’m asking because I want to know what you think.”

“About the construction?”

“Yes. I value your perspective.” Rahn straightened his jacket and stood. He extended a hand to her. “Will you accompany me?”

Aesylt narrowed her eyes at the strong hand calling her name and tried very hard not to think about her dream the night before, when she’d ridden the poor scholar into oblivion at the top of that ill-fated tree. At least he couldn’t read minds. “No one put you up to this? Like Tas or Nik?”

He withdrew a little. “Do you really believe I would ask you if I didn’t mean it?”

Aesylt lowered her eyes and sighed. “Opros, Scholar. I’m just not good company tonight.”

“Let me be the judge of that.” His hand waved again.

She curved her mouth to the side in cool regard. “You’ll regret this. Deeply, I suspect.”

Rahn grinned. “I look forward to adding it to my ever-growing list. Come on.”

Chapter4

Starwalker

The ride up the steep, winding path took twice as long as usual. Rahn was typically accompanied by workers on these ventures, who managed the driving and tended the cart and pack mules, and though he’d been learning to manage on his own since arriving in the Cross, it was the first time he’d ever journeyed up the mountain road alone.

Except he wasn’t alone. Aesylt sat beside him on the small bench, huddled near her end with a desolate look into the gradually thinning wilderness.

It had been on his return from the livery earlier that night when he’d spotted her emotional good-bye with Valerian. Aesylt had waited just long enough for the boy to disappear beyond the forest line before collapsing to her knees in soundless, tearless sobs.

Rahn had never wanted so desperately to go to someone and comfort them, but his instinct told him she wouldn’t want him, or anyone, to see her like that. So he’d waited for a better opportunity to offer his friendship. Visiting the observatory wouldn’t cure what was ailing her heart, but it might distract her long enough for her to find her footing again.

Rahn shivered, casting a grin at an unbothered Aesylt. He’d bedecked himself in three layers of outerwear, compared to her one, but he was still ready to throw himself into a fire. “You’re not cold?”

“I’m a wulf,” she said, smirking from the side. “Or so they say.”

“You have the temperament of one at least.” He angled the mules into the last switchback. They moved slower at the higher elevation, giving the chill air more opportunities to wrap around them. “You believe there’s veracity to the tales of your ancestor speaking with and mating with wulves?”

“Therearethose who cancommunicate with animals. It’s called zydolny. The touch. Unique among the Vjestik, but rare.” Aesylt wiggled and sat straight. “Darek Summerton spoke with wulves. It’s an established fact. Whether he...” She snorted. “Who knows?”

“I may only be an aspiring scientist, but I struggle to imagine any real compatibility between the races.”

“No one even understands what biological phenomenon causes children to look like their parents, Scholar. And if you cannot explain something, then you cannot rule out anything, however improbable.”

Rahn’s mouth puckered in amusement. “Did I teach you that?”

Aesylt gave a petulant shrug, but he caught her proud smile buried in her fur collar.

They scaled one last hill, short but sheer, and then they were there. Rahn pulled the cart under a long, covered area where the workers had parked their supplies. The row was empty at the dusky hour, but there were piles of empty crates and scraps, evidence of another long day of construction.

Aesylt slowly climbed out, regarding the half-built observatory in silent awe. Though he’d been visiting weekly since the workers broke ground, he turned to witness the progress through her eyes. Her mouth opened as she approached the half-built dome. The colossal glass panels had been installed along the back half, but only the beams had been built on the front side. A tarp dangled from the middle to keep snow from blowing in. Wood had been laid as temporary flooring, but when construction completed, it would be stone, like most other structures in the Cross.

He marveled at her reactions, a tad jealous he couldn’t experience seeing the behemoth structure in its evolving form for the first time.

“I know you asked for my opinion, but I don’t know where to start.” Aesylt wrapped her arms around herself and stepped closer to the platform, dodging thickly packed hills of snow. “It’s far beyond anything I could have imagined, but that isn’t helpful.”

Rahn chuckled to himself as he unloaded the wagon. “It’s helpful.” He checked his baskets: fire and kindling for the hearth inside one, and a blanket, a cask of ale, and some bread in the other. “Go on in. The floor is solid, though probably damp, so step carefully. Once you’re under the domed section, you’ll be protected.”

He followed several paces behind to let her discover each detail for herself. There were boards and nails everywhere in the unfinished half, but once they stepped under the glass, an eerie calm descended. A glance up revealed the dusting of snow on the panels, but the moon, sky, and stars were on full display. The auroras danced along the peaks and valleys of the mountain, emerald and gold and a hint of violet.

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