Page 8 of Midwinter Wiles & Valerian Dreams
Johannes grins at his twin brother, his laugh thwarted by a sudden sneeze from the smoke tickling his nose. His red-rimmed eyes gleam with amusement above the scarf he uses to stifle more sneezing.
Mikael, the eldest, brings up the rear, silently guiding young Aili in front of his hulking form. Seeing five-year-old Aili actually smiling for a change is a glorious reminder of why I do this. Well, that and the coin we just earned. I hadn't planned to take her, but who can resist those big teal eyes that match her hair? So I compromised by keeping her with me where I could be sure she stayed safe.
“I threw fireballs,” Aili tells Katja, her voice bright with glee. “I scared all the big men.”
The fireballs may have been small, but with my illusion magic to enhance them, the tiny childling on my shoulders absolutely terrified full-grown Point Fae today. I’m beaming with pride.
Helkki looks up to me. “Lark, did you see me with the carriage door?”
I nod, proud of her fleet-footed maneuvers. Her masking magic has really come along. I was only able to follow her today thanks to my ability to see through illusions.
“You were fantastic, Hellion.” I lean back against a tree just outside the ring of firelight. I rarely get moments just to relax and enjoy life with them all. It’s a lot of work caring for seven orphans. Shocking, I know. “Be careful you don't earn a reputation as a thief.”
Helkki and the twins are the middle three of my seven little beasties. Juani and Johannes look out for each other, so I try to remember to single Helkki out for one-on-one chats sometimes so she doesn’t feel forgotten. Although the little spitfire does plenty on her own to gain attention, and not always the good kind. Today, though, she was amazing.
“Thieves get rich,” Helkki quips with a devilish grin. “I could have robbed that Pointy princess. She almost ran me over!”
“Princess?”
“Yeah, the one from the sleigh.”
“She ran past you? Into the woods?” I was so focused on my illusions on the road, I suppose I could have missed someone fleeing.
“Yeah,” Helkki confirms. “Like a scared rabbit!”
My head swivels automatically, like a princess is about to appear in our midst from the frozen forest. Ridiculous. There’s only a snow fox, come to sniff at our food. I’m not sure why a princess would run from her guards, but that’s her problem. She’s Point Fae royalty. I’m sure she’s already back in a warm palace, getting lavished with attention for her close call with so-called bandits. It’s above my pay grade.
“Our job was to put on a show, nothing else. Speaking of riches,”—I pull the purse from my belt—“we have some of our own after that. Fairly earned, I might add.” I toss a pointed lookat Helkki. We do what we need to in order to survive, but I’m not raising criminals.
The sound of the coins jingling is like a spell. Every pair of eyes snaps to me. “You know what this means…”
The camp erupts in cheers and shouts, everyone talking over each other.
“An inn,” Katja declares, “for at least a sennight!”
“Real beds!” Juani exclaims, rolling onto his back and flailing his arms in the snow.
“Indoors!” adds Johannes with another sneeze.
“Hot food that isn’t burned on the bottom!” cries Helkki.
“Hey!” I object with a laugh
“An actual shower.” Katja gives a longing groan.
Aili pipes up from where she’s sitting at my feet, “Can I have my own room?”
When I give her a look of“What do you think?”she crosses her little arms and pouts, glaring daggers at the snow as if it’s responsible for her misfortunes. “It’s not fair. Why can’t I ever have my own anything?”
“Because we’re a family, and families share, even with grumpy little girls,” I tease, ruffling her hair. She swats my hand away with a huff but doesn’t argue further.
“Can we buy a castle?” Helkki’s excitement is loud enough to wake the slumbering trees and scare off the fox.
“Sure,” I say, tossing the purse up and catching it again. “As long as it’s made of snow, has only one room, and comes with no charms or plumbing.”
The kids laugh, and even Mikael chuckles. I’d be lost without Mika and Katja’s help with the younglings. Mika’s coming of age is creeping up all too soon, but I push the wriggling worry over his leaving us aside. One thing at a time, and right now, we’re celebrating.
Eevi, perched on Mika’s knee, claps her tiny hands and giggles, not understanding, but enjoying the excitement all the same. When she sees me looking, her little hands reach out, her dark curls bouncing around that angelic face full of trust. I scoop her up, spinning her in a quick circle that makes her squeal in delight. She’s warm in my arms, even with her tiny nose red from the cold. My smile broadens when she tugs at a lock of pale-ash hair that escaped my hat.
