“How about we start small?”he asked.She tipped her head, eyes falling to his lips.“Back at the inn, the way you communicated with Bart–is that something you taught him?”
Ulla’s brows pinched.Her gaze roved over his face, as if she couldn’t quite make up her mind about what she saw.
Then she held out one hand, palm up.
Bastion looked at it, perplexed.Ulla closed and opened her fingers several times, and he blanched, leaning away.They assessed each other for a long moment.Finn shifted and wickered.
Swallowing, Bastion reached into his tunic for the book and passed it to her.Ulla arched an eyebrow.
With a sigh, he rummaged through the saddlebags until he came up with a piece of charcoal and dropped it into her waiting hand.She turned to the last page and began writing under their first exchange.
Bart taughtme, Bastion read.
That surprised him.“How did Bart learn?”
He has a deaf sister, she scribbled.I could only communicate the Yvri way when I met him, and I–She paused and looked at him, her face guarded, as she rolled the charcoal between her fingers.Then she continued.He taught me to sign.
“You seem close.”
Ulla looked away, her gaze distant with memories.She nodded.
“Well, how do you say ‘thank you?’”Bastion asked.
Ulla glanced down at his lips, as if she’d misread.When he didn’t repeat his question, she closed the charcoal in the book and set it down with her forgotten apple.It rolled away, landing near Finn.She touched her fingertips to her lips, then let her arm fall forwards at the elbow.
Bastion smiled and put his knife and the cheese down.He repeated the gesture, emphasizing his next words.
“Thank you for helping that village.Thank you for the information about the pirates.Thank you for coming with me and caring for Finn.”
Ulla swallowed and turned towards Finn, who now munched on her apple.Her brow flattened, and she glanced down at where she’d set it.
When she looked back, Bastion asked, “How about ‘sorry?’”
Slowly, she made a fist, placed it over her heart, and moved it in a circle.
Bastion mirrored her.
“I’m sorry for asking such a personal question earlier.”
Shock softened her jaw, and she blinked at him.They stared at each other until the wind kicked up.Ulla leaned towards him, hunching her shoulders.
Bastion couldn’t contain a rolling shiver.Ulla’s eyes widened, and she smacked his bicep.
“I’m fine!”he laughed.
Ulla shook her head and opened his cloak, inviting him in.When he didn’t move, she rolled her eyes and threw it over him, too.Then she touched her thumb to her shoulder and swept her cupped hand in a half circle in front of her until her little finger touched the other shoulder.
“What does that mean?”
Ulla picked up the book and wrote one word.
Ours.
Chapter 7
Bastion woke as the sky began to lighten.
Selfishly, he put off rising.
