Page 83 of The Seeker

I sighed. The answer had made itself obvious to me during the conversation, even though I didn’t want it to be the solution. I had no other choice now. No other excuse.

“To a cottage outside of town. To see Signa, the Seid coven leader.”

CHAPTER 27

The following two days on the road passed without incident. Luckily, many in the group Milo traveled with had extra provisions and were pleased to part with them in exchange for my last three coins. It was a struggle to hand them over, but I knew I’d be selling the horse the moment I arrived in Ralheim.

Sullie and Milo had talked about merchant work, but not with me, so I had no idea what the outcome of the discussion was. When we arrived at the border to Heimland, marked only with a fence post and a faded sign that had seen better days, the group dispersed, and Sullie bid us goodbye.

“I’d best head back home. To my parents . . . and Anna,” he added, a smile gracing his lips.

Milo frowned from where he rode on his horse at my side. “Don’t you need to come into town for supplies? Let me at least show you Ralheim, you came all this way.”

The emotions that filtered from Sullie were difficult to name. Something akin to disappointment and wistfulness. “No, that’s alright. I was able to trade with some in the group, and”—he inclined his chin to another group in the distance—“the merchants will pass me during the journey.”

My lips twisted, not knowing how to say goodbye to a man who had swiftly become my friend that I would likely never see again. I settled on a simple one. “Thanks, Sullie, for ensuring I found my brother safely.”

He dipped his chin. “No problem. And it was nice to meet you, Milo. If you’re ever in Frieran, ask for Sullie or Anna, and they’ll find me.”

Milo and I sat in silence on our horses, watching him ride away in the direction we’d come from. Then, my brother turned to rest his dark brown eyes on me. “Will you come by and say hello to Helene at least?”

I still didn’t feel comfortable around my twin’s wife, but I knew I would need his help to sell my horse. “Yes, then I need to see if the mill or blacksmith will buy my horse.”

His eyes flickered to the horse, whom I’d started calling Nala during the journey. “It’s a good horse; wouldn’t you rather keep her?”

A sigh escaped me before I could stop it. “Yes, but I have no coin otherwise.”

He shrugged. “Maybe you could head where you’re going first? Maybe you don’t need coin, and it’ll be too late to not sell her. Helene and I aren’t going anywhere.”

For once, my brother was taking sense. “You’re right. I should do that.” We nudged our horses in a trot, following the single sign for Ralheim. We rode in silence at first, but eventually my desire to be kind and polite won against my desire to ruminate over the sorry state of my life. “You’ll have to let Helene know I’m sorry I couldn’t be there.”

“I will,” he replied, his gaze fixed straight ahead. “Will you see Collum?”

“Eventually.” My chest tightened at the mention of her name. “I need to find out what happened in Malheim . . . after I left.”

“I understand.” He glanced over at me then and I could tell he wished he could pull me into a hug, but it was impossible while we were both on horseback. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask about her sooner.”

“It’s okay. I also have pushed her aside from time to time,” I admitted. “It’s just, she’s the only family we have left. Other than each other.”

“I know. And it’s time I start to keep that in mind, especially if you won’t be coming around your niece or nephew very often.”

The truth was, I didn’t want to promise Milo something I couldn’t deliver. I had no idea what awaited me at Signa’s and after that. “I’ll try my best to visit around the birth at least. When is Helene expected to give birth?”

“The dead season. Shortly after the night with no moons.”

I nodded in acknowledgement. “I’ll try to visit around that time.”

Silence settled between us, broken only by the repeated beat of the horses’ hooves on the ground.

“Things are different now. Whether we have a son or daughter, we get to keep them,” Milo said, his face turned toward the sky, wistfulness rolling off of him.

“I hadn’t thought of that, but it’s true,” I replied. “I don’t even know what Otho has planned for Ralheim.”

“Me either.” Milo nudged his horse to the right, and I knew it was time to nudge mine to the left, bypassing the bulk of the town to head directly to Signa’s place on the outskirts. “But whatever it is, it can’t be as bad as mandatory child submission, mandatory conscription, and a purge.”

“When you say it like that . . .” I breathed, my heart twisting. “I guess Otho doesn’t sound so bad.”

“I promise you, Runa, though he deceived you, I don’t think he’s the real enemy here.” My brother pulled back on the reins. “I love you, Runa, and I hope to see you soon. If things don’t work out with your coven leader, please, come stay with Helene and me. We will make room.”