Page 10 of The Iron Dagger
“Thirty years. How old are you?”
“Six and twenty.”
She smiled. “I’m your elder.”
“So this cat is thirty years old? What happens if either of you dies, does the other follow?”
“She will expire when I do, yes. Her life is longer to match mine. I told you I was selective about how I use my power.” Hara smiled up at Seraphine, who blinked slowly down at her, purring.
His mistrust and disbelief began to transform into awe. What were the limits of her power?
“Where did you learn all this?”
“Some abilities are natural and some must be taught. I am a natural Seer, but I had to learn how to heal. My aunt taught me her skills before she died. She could have healed you in half the time.” Hara’s voice became softer as she scrubbed. “My mother was a great Seer.”
From her tone, he guessed her mother was no longer a part of her life, but she did not seem willing to elaborate. “And your father?”
“I do not know him. Witches seldom do.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re largely solitary, and many of us do not find marriage agreeable.”
“But then . . . ”
“That does not mean we are celibate,” Hara laughed. “We take lovers, when it pleases us.”
That explained the blonde oaf. Curiosity burned in him despite himself; how many others were there?
“You are shocked,” said Hara.
“The man from earlier . . . ” he said, his thoughts scolding all the while to shut up and not reveal his festering need to hear her deny it. Not that he was interested, of course, but because he found it hard to believe the burly brute was to her taste.
“Samwell Thorn,” she said with a smile. “He’s a good man. Widowed some years past, and we’ve been good friends.”
“He seems . . . provincial,” said Gideon lightly.Shut up, you colossal fool.
She cut her eyes to him with disdain.
“He suits me well. I’ve never liked worldly men,” She said. “Too fond of euphemisms.”
He ignored her barbed comment. “No children?”
“No, and he won’t get any from me. Penny royal and stoneseed root do the trick. It’s very popular with the women in the village. I may want a child someday, but for now, all I need is Seraphine.”
The cat leaped from its perch and went to curl before the fire. She glanced at him as though she knew she was being watched, then she blinked slowly and went to sleep.
Other than blunt exchanges focused on his injuries, this was their first real conversation. It had been so long since he’d properly spoken to another person, and despite himself, he was curious about the witch. Thankfully Hara seemed to share his curiosity.
“And what of you, my lord? No wife?” she said.
He was brought back from his musings about Hara being tangled up with Samwell Thorn in the very bed he had been occupying for weeks.
“No.”
“Why? Doesn’t your sort usually go for marriage as soon as possible?”
“‘My sort’?”
