“It’s Jonn and Evie’s,” Thom said. “But I do live with them. At least, for now.”
Vayden pursed his lips. “It’s nice,” he said, then looked at Deckard. “I didn’t realize you were so well off.”
Unlocking the door, Deckard chuckled. “I’m not. Though officers are given reasonable compensation and a housing stipend, I wouldn’t be considered wealthy.” Deckard stepped back, leaving the door open for their guests.
“In Wauld,” Vayden said, following his wife into the house, “this would cost at least three years of the average living wage.”
“Another reason to thank Allore we don’t live in Wauld,” Thom commented. He slapped Deckard’s shoulder. “Though I don’t think they’ll be so impressed with what we’ve got inside.”
While Thom hurried in to give their guests a rough tour of the downstairs, explaining that they’d lived in the house as two bachelors traveling too often to furnish the place appropriately, Deckard turned to Evylin.
He held out his hand. “Welcome home, my love.”
He could feel Evylin’s smile thrumming through the air around them as her fingers slipped between his. “I’m so happy to be home,” she replied, voice a gentle rasp.
Two months of dust and cobwebs greeted them in the sparse townhome. A sofa and a wingback chair with a tea table were all that awaited them in the parlor. The hearth was cold, with only a smattering of coals in it. Though the house boasted four rooms,only two of them were outfitted for residents, while a third held a meager bed. Most of their troop would have to sleep on their bedrolls on the floor.
“Where should we put our things?” Vayden asked, glancing toward the staircase.
While Deckard scanned the group, Thom didn’t hesitate. “You and Isla can have my room,” he said. “It’s at the top of the stairs, the door on the left. I should probably clean up, though. Can’t promise it’s in any state for company.”
“We won’t put you out like that,” Isla said.
“Nonsense,” Thom said with a wave of his hand. “There’s another room across the hall with a bed, but it’s only big enough for one.”
“We’ll take that,” Ilain said with a grin. “We’ve made a single-person bed work just fine before.”
Rafferty immediately began to chortle while Ethenn’s neck turned pink.
Thom smirked. “Right,” he said, then moved on. “Well, then there’s just one more room on the top floor, but it’s completely empty. Brea, you can have it. Us three,” he motioned to Rafferty, Auden, and himself, “can share the living room.”
“I’ll take the sofa,” Rafferty volunteered magnanimously.
“You’re a saint,” Evylin noted. Then she tugged on Deckard’s arm. “Well, I hope you all settle in nicely. In the meantime, I’m going to take a nap.”
“And what’s the colonel gonna do?” Rafferty asked wryly as they reached the base of the stairs.
“Jonn,” Evylin said teasingly, “will unpack.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
As soon as they entered their bedroom, Evylin glided across the floor and threw herself onto the bed. “Oh, the comforts of home,” she exclaimed, sprawling on the blankets. “Why do we ever leave?”
Deckard laughed, shutting the door behind him. He crossed to set their saddlebags on the end of the bed. “I’m afraid my wife only married me on the promise of adventure,” he teased. “And lounging about in bed all day doesn’t make it into the great epics.”
Evylin let out a grunt of discontentment. “Your wife is a fool.”
“I wholeheartedly disagree.”
She rolled onto her side, propping a hand under her head to watch him as he began to unpack. Still dressed in his travel clothes, he looked far less like a soldier and more like a mercenary with his scruffy beard. She smiled at the image. “Even if it’s only for a day,” she said softly, “I’m glad we’re here.”
Pausing, Deckard leaned forward, pressing a hand to the bed in order to kiss Evylin on the forehead. “I’m glad too,” he whispered.
“I know,” she replied teasingly. “I can feel it.”
Deckard chuckled, then straightened to return to his work. Though they’d be leaving in the morning, he emptied theirsaddlebags entirely, one object at a time. She presumed he’d wash the clothes, repack their other goods, replenish some of the papers, and remove other extraneous items from his stores.
After kicking off her boots, Evylin sat cross-legged on the bed. She grabbed her remaining saddlebag before he could and unceremoniously dumped her belongings in a pile. She rummaged through the disorganized stack, separating the dirty and used up goods from the rest.
