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Morgan hesitated, but then said, “I have messages to send to the stewards and patrols to set up. I’ll check in with you as soon as I’ve assembled everything.”
“Very good.”
The general turned to go, but gave a glance over his shoulder.
“Yes, Morgan?”
He shook his head and a hint of consternation flashed in his eyes. “Nothing.” He left the room.
Davian placed the Star of Nathea back in the cabinet. He had guards who ensured no one but Morgan, Sheena and Jocelyn entered his wing of the palace, so he wasn’t particularly worried about anyone stealing the necklace. Nor had anyone known he possessed it, until now. But, of course, Morgan would never tell a soul.
He considered his friend’s warning about entering the village and presenting Jade with the piece of jewelry and decided it best to rethink both ideas.
Chapter Thirteen
Jade was out of wood. The fire wraith had charred several trees alongside her cottage when it had terrorized her and had also set her wood pile ablaze. The slayers had told her they’d put out the fire with Morgan’s help. She’d hoped the logs and kindling she kept inside the house would hold up a while longer, but it was damn cold. Jinx had been right. It was already proving to be a harsh winter.
She strapped Toran’s sword belt to her waist and donned Sheena’s cape along with her own gloves. Taking her empty tinderbox outside, she set it on the bench. She’d left the shovel leaning against the wall, having used it to remove the snow from the short walkway and the stone patio, the blizzard defying the overhang meant to protect it.
Jade took the shovel to the side yard and dug a hole to the hard soil beneath the knee-deep drifts. The effort was slow going, but she didn’t have anything else to do during the day. Plus, it was Sunday, so the tavern was closed.
The physical exertion and the thick clothing she wore kept her warm, though she’d had to pull her scarf around her face, just below her eyes, and use the hood on the cape as a light snowfall started again.
She made a good-size dent in the bank and sighed with relief when she discovered a bounty of fallen branches. She knelt and began collecting them, but stilled when she heard a rider approach from behind. Her heart already beat heavily from moving the snow and now leapt into her throat.
Slowly, Jade returned her armful of tree limbs to the ground and stealthily reached for the hilt of the sword. She let the horse draw near. Then, in a fluid movement, she whisked the blade from its sheath and whirled around to confront whoever snuck up on her, sword raised.
“I thought you were told to stay inside.”
“Jesus.” She returned the weapon to its casing and pulled the scarf from her mouth to scowl at Davian. “You scared the hell out of me. Try not to do that again, please.”
He slipped from the back of his dark-as-night Arabian in a graceful manner she admired. “I’m glad you’re so alert.”
“Yes, heart pounding vigorously and blood pressure skyrocketing. Unfortunately, I’m about to be frozen to the core. The fire wraith burned my wood supply.”
Davian frowned. His gaze slid to the two chimneys. “Not much smoke coming from those. Do you actually have a blaze going or just smoldering embers?”
“Embers in the living room, a little more than that in the bedroom. I was about to take my hatchet to the legs of a chair, but I knew there’d be plenty of debris out here.”
“Just had to dig your way to it, I see.” He came closer to her and handed over the reins. “This is Thunder. Why don’t you walk him over to the house? I’ll meet you inside.”
The horse neighed softly in greeting. Jade smiled. “Aren’t you handsome?” She rubbed his nose and he seemed to enjoy it.
“He likes you,” the king said. “From the moment he saw you, years ago.”
“I’m flattered,” she told Thunder. “How about a snack?”
She led him to the cottage. Over her shoulder, she asked Davian, “Do I need to tie him up?”
“No. He won’t go anywhere without me.”
“Loyalty,” she said to the Arabian. “I like that in a horse.” He blew a snort of air, as though insulted she’d expect less of him. She laughed. “No offense.”
Leaving the horse by the patio, she went inside and chopped a few carrots, then fed him. Afterward, she returned to her living room. She draped the wet cape, her scarf and gloves over a clothes rack in the corner by the fireplace. Not that it currently emitted enough heat to dry the outerwear, but eventually it would.
Davian joined her with the tinderbox nearly overflowing and an armful of logs. “This’ll get you started. I’ll shovel out more snow and bring in additional loads.”
He left her tending to the fire as he went back outside. She had both hearths blazing bright and the house was less frigid as he stacked a third heap next to her front door.
