Page 13 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

Time to offer her the truth. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m actually planning on trying to find my birth father.”

“Oh.” Disappointment washes over her face. “Do you know where he is?”

“Not yet.”

“The nearest human settlement is at least a week away. Maybe more.”

I don’t tell her that isn’t where I’m actually headed. I’m not sure what to say without giving away my secret.

For now, nobody can know I’m heading to an unknown fae colony. That I’m a halfling whose palm just started glowing orange.

She stirs the stew again. “Unless you’re headed somewhere else?”

My heart skips a beat. “What?”

No response. Does she know something she isn’t telling me? Or is she trying to find out if I know more than I’m saying? She and my mother have always been close. Could she know about my father? No. Mother wouldn’t have told anyone.

“Where are you headed, dear?” She turns from the stew and looks at me. I can’t read her expression.

“To find my father.”

She doesn’t so much as flinch. “Do you have a weapon?”

“Not yet. There are some on the farm that I can grab before leaving, if I can get back there without being seen. Maybe I’ll go tonight after everyone goes to sleep.”

Her eyes widen. “You can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Gunnar.”

I study her, confused. “What about him?”

“He’s dangerous, and if he kicked you out I’m certain he’ll harm you if you return. People will be watching while he sleeps. I saw a caravan headed toward the farm on my way here.”

My stomach churns acid as the gravity of her words hit me. She’s right. I have to accept the fact I can’t ever return home.

Clearly I should’ve brought a weapon with me before leaving the farmhouse, but I wasn’t thinking straight after my mother died right in front of me. Too late now.

“We have extra crossbows,” she offers.

“I never learned to use those.”

“You’ve spent hours watching Harek.”

Heat creeps into my cheeks, and I can’t deny that fact. “It isn’t that I haven’t tried. Crossbows and I don’t get along. Everyone is better off if I’m not using one.”

“You’ve still picked up on things watching him use them. If you had to, you could figure out how to wield it.”

“Perhaps.”

“You could. I’m going to see what we have in the shed. There should be some swords and maybe even a mace. I’ll find my son and husband while I’m out there. How long ago did they step out?”

“Not long. I think they’re looking for someone. There was some noise outside.”

“Don’t tell me the bandits are back.”

“I hope not.”

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