Page 136 of Swordheart
“Dishes,” said Halla. That was the one thing that had been neglected. The scullery looked dismal. “I know it’s a lot…”
“Have I mentioned that I fought dragons?”
“Not recently, no.”
“Well, I have. The dishes hold no terror for me.”
It took several hours of work, but Halla scrubbed the tables, swept the floor, appeased the chickens, and put fresh sheets on the beds. She was just strewing fresh herbs on the rush mats when she heard the front door open.
“I have brought wine,” said Zale. “In celebration. I also had wine that would work for consolation, but fortunately it wasn’t needed.”
Sarkis emerged from the scullery, looking soggy. “I have defeated the dishes.”
“Were there any survivors?”
“The only casualty was some kind of monstrous serving plate with pears on it.”
“Oh, that,” said Halla with relief. “Dare I hope it’s broken past any possible mending?”
Sarkis considered this for a moment, then went back into the scullery. Sounds of breaking crockery drifted through the open door.
“Yes,” he said, returning.
“Thank the gods. It was a gift from Malva’s mother.”
“I see the lack of taste is hereditary.”
“I fear I don’t have a full triumphal dinner,” said Halla apologetically. “Bread and cheese and jam, mostly.”
“I have brought a dinner,” said Zale, brandishing a covered dish. “I don’t know what it is. The widow who lives across from the church pressed it on me and told me to tell you that she’d give you the recipe.”
“Good enough.”
She found winecups for the three of them and they all satdown at the table. Halla kept looking around the house and thinking,This is mine,but the thought seemed so absurd that she had to drown it in sips of wine.
“What will you do now?” asked Zale.
“Oh! Goodness, I… you know, I don’t know?” Halla set down the winecup, startled. “I mean, I’ve been so focused on getting to this point that I barely thought about what comes after this.”
“Understandable. You don’t need to decide right away,” said Zale.
Halla nodded, glancing at Sarkis. “I suppose it will take a few days to sort the house out here. Bartholomew of course will get first pick of the artifacts, and I’ll clean out some rooms. After that, I thought maybe I’d go see my nieces, if Sarkis doesn’t mind.”
Sarkis looked up, startled. “What? Mind?”
“Well, I mean… I assume you’ll insist on going with me…”
“I am certainly not letting you go traipsing about the countryside by yourself.” His skin crawled at the thought. Halla would probably trip and fall on a bear. She would undoubtedly then ask the bear questions until it forgot to eat her, but he didn’t think his nerves could take it.
“Right. So would you mind visiting them?”
“I go where you go. Wherever that may be.”
“Which is why I’m making sure you don’t mind where we go!”
Zale hid a smile behind their wine.
“It is not my place to mind or not mind,” Sarkis said.
