Page 32 of A Blightress of Wrath
“I’min the mood to try something new.”Sheshrugged.
Ipulled her all the way into my arms, lingering at her ear. “Doyou think you’ll feel the same tonight?”
Ifelt her heart begin to race through our bond. “Ifyou’re teasing me again,Revich?—”
“I’mnot.I’vebeen longing to love you under the stars since that night after theBarontrial.”
“Whatdo you have in mind?” she purred, sliding her hands across my chest, my stomach, lingering her fingers through the band at my waist.
“Now, why wouldIgo and spoil the surprise?”Itilted her chin up to face me, watching her black eyes hint at aFelgrengreen.
Shereached for my lips, steadying there and whispering, “Whichone of us caves first,Rev?”
Isnorted. “Nowwho’s teasing who?”
“Hey,Barons!”Anechoing call came from the carriages behind us.Weboth turned to look, thoughIwas sure to let my hand linger across her waist.
Philiushad his hands cupped around his mouth, shouting, “Weneed to move!Lookat those clouds!”Hepointed north at the dull gray billowing ahead.
Iwaved a hand to signal we were headed back whileKaruspinched my backside. “Lookslike a chilly night ahead.”
Ijumped, laughing with her and swinging my arm underneath her legs.Shekicked in mock protest asIran us back to the carriages, replying, “I’llbe sure to keep your bed warm.”
Chapter15
Karus
Wemanagedthe storm fairly well considering how it turned into an outright blizzard.Figuerahtook over the reigns forRevafter he’d taken them from me whenI’dvaried between staying awake and pitching forward in a doze.
Clairanniahad said that my constant exhaustion would wear off in a few more weeks andIlyennaconfirmed this.Sheonly took naps occasionally, having more energy and a beautiful blush that brushed a rosy pink across her freckled cheeks.
Littlemore than a trade route, theCarrowRoadwas devoid of towns, though small cattle farms dotted the hillsides around us every once in a while.Wedebated whether we should stop at one and try to pay the farmer for a warm room to sleep.Taloneventually won that argument, insisting we couldn’t go any further with the horses in such cold.
Wecame across a small sheep farm not far off from the road and steered our horses down its frozen path, just managing to get both carriages to the barn that rose above a small stone cottage.Revichknocked on the door, explaining who we were and our destination to the old companions inside.Butit wasn’t until we showed off our conduit rings that they believed us and agreed to let us stay for the night and ride out the storm.
FiguerahandTalonunhitched the horses and brought them into the barn while the rest of us piled into the small common room of the stone house, which we learned had only one bedroom and washing room.
“We’veplenty of blankets for the lot of you, so don’t you worry about that,” the old woman,Shey, said as she handed us mugs of hot tea.We’dall gathered around the fireplace after hanging our wet cloaks nearby to dry.Wecut our bread, cheese, and apples for a small dinner whileShey’scompanion,Wellyn, spoke of the longest winter ever recorded.
“Wasn’tjust the snow that killed off most of our ewes that year, but the ice.”Hedrew a long breath and nodded towardShey. “Howmany did we loose that winter some years past?”
“T’wasfourteen, dear,” she answered, settling into the rocking chair we’d made sure to leave for her while the lot of us sat on the stone floor. “Yes, that was something.Andso many ewes dead with no explanation.Justoff and frozen one morning.Norhyme or reason ‘bout it.”
Inarrowed my eyes at the fire. “Howmany years ago did you say?”
Wellynleaned back in his own chair, rubbing a dark wrinkled hand over his stubbly chin. “Let’ssee.Musthave been seven winters past.Sinceour favorite ewe was bought that spring and she’s got to be seven now, isn’t that ‘bout right,Shey?”
“Yes, yes.Sevenyears ago was that horrible, horrible winter.Icecoated every tree and the mountains didn’t thaw for some time.”ShecaughtFiguerah’seye and nodded directly to her. “Achill that stuck with you, even as you warmed by the fire!Tooksome time for it to thaw away and many farms couldn’t make it through.Why, just a bit of a ways down the road, the young couple and their family had to pack up and leave forHyrithiato make a living.You’llpass their farm when you leave in the morn’, empty as it tis.”
Rev’spiercing gaze fell on me whileFiguerahstole short glances.
Theyknew whatIknew about the origins of that winter.
Ididn’t look their way asIturned to the old couple asking, “Howlong do these storms typically last for you out here?”
Sheysipped her tea. “Oh, this one’ll last through the night, my dear.Butclear up by morn’.Typicalthis time of year.You’llbe nice and warm in here through the night.ThoughI’msure you’re used to better accommodations in that forest of yours.”
“Whatabout your barn?”Revasked, sliding his arm around me. “KarusandIwouldn’t mind sleeping there and freeing up more space in this room.”
