Page 160 of The Sun He Buried

“Several.”

“Why?”

He drags a hand down his face. “Fewer questions.”

Eirik gets one knee beneath him. The coat slides. I catch it and put it around his shoulders before he can object again.

He stands without my help.

Mostly.

One hand catches the fence. The wood complains beneath it.

I pretend not to see.

He notices me pretending.

“Go back to my brother.”

The words are sharp.

They also come out tired.

“He’s fixing a roof.”

“A task suited to him.”

“You need coffee.”

“I need you to stop deciding what I need.”

“You can do that after the coffee.”

I take the red rope and start toward the hall.

Eirik doesn’t follow.

I turn around.

He’s still holding the fence.

“I’ll stand here until you come with me.”

“You’ll freeze.”

“Then Asta will come collect both of us, and she’ll be very upset.”

His purple eye closes.

“There are easier ways to die.”

“Yes. Inside.”

He follows.

The walk back takes longer.

Eirik uses the rope with one hand and keeps the other inside his coat. I slip twice. He catches the back of my cloak the second time, holds me upright, and lets go before I can thank him.