Page 30 of Trials of Dusk and Dreams
“That is weird,” I muse, then tap my chin as my thoughts return to Finch needing help. Wait a minute. “Peg, didn’t you own a farm or something?”
“Close enough, hun. I bred Corgis. I’m not afraid of good, honest work.”
“Stables.” Cricket nods to herself. “Lord Bodin will need a hand there. He doesn’t like Finch helping out because my love has little experience with animals.”
“I’d love to help.” Peggy flexes her knee. “Since Lord Fox healed us, I feel like I’m twenty-five again.”
I snort at them addressing my mates as Lords. It’s weird. But then again, I’ve been mixing with elite society and royalty all my life.
Peggy mistakes my laugh. “You don’t think I should?”
“Sorry, I was thinking about something else.” I smile sheepishly. “You helping Bodin is an excellent idea. It’s not like anyone portals around here, so animals are an important mode of transport.”
“Sold.” Max smashes his fist in his hand, then points to Peggy. “Stable help to the lady with the new good legs.”
“What about us?” Geraldine asks me hopefully. “Max and I don’t have transferrable skills from our time. He’s a math teacher, and I was in retail.”
“Hmm.” I tap my lip but come up short. “Cricket?”
“Not sure, love. I can always do with extra help dusting and cleaning.”
I hold up my finger. “Also, I’ve wanted to rejuvenate the conservatory. There’s space for sparring, and it’s much warmer there than outside in the snow. Also, Peggy, do you know anything about raising bees?”
“Bees?”
Cricket and Marina both give me a sad look, but I think it’s a good idea. “Varen loves bees. Maybe he’d have something to tinker with if we make a beehive. Plus, we would have more honey.”
All he does is puzzle over his honeycomb problem. It distresses him.
Peggy nods. “My daughter and I tried our hands at raising bees when she was young—pre-corgi days, of course. I could give it a go.”
“Really?” I clasp my hands, hopefully. “There are loads of books in the library upstairs. Maybe they’ve got some information to help you. Also, maybe now that I think of it, Geraldine, you and Max can help me root around for information on the enchanted spectacles Fox made. Or even see if we can find some information about the seals or the Keepers or . . . the Baleful Hunt. There’s a lot about this world we don’t know.”
“It would be our honor.” Max gives me a valiant, sweeping bow. When he raises his head, his eyes widen at something over my shoulder, and he scrambles to stand beside Geraldine and Peggy. “Sir.”
I turn to find Bodin, his arms folded and eyes narrowed. He dismisses them and looks at me.
“Training. Now.”
I bristle at the command, but a part of me—the part starved for connection—thrills at his presence.
“Alright, you heard him,” I say to the others. “No rest for the wicked. Time for training.”
“Just you.” He stops me as I try to slide past him.
I lift my chin and look him in the eye. “If I train, they train.”
Bodin pauses, fists flexing at his sides. But I refuse to lower my gaze.
“Fine,” he says.
The smile stretching his wide lips isn’t as satisfying as I thought. It’s more like a wolf’s smile before he eats his meal.
When he leaves, Max mumbles, “Why did he look happy?”
“Because he’s a sadist,” Peggy returns.
“No,” I groan. “That’s Emrys.”
