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ChapterThree
Sebald
Iwished I hadn’t eaten so much for breakfast. The momentary happiness I’d felt at being reunited with Peter and Neil again—and Lefric, and Jace and Gennadi, even though they’d been sitting at other tables at first—had given me an appetite.
But the moment Sai had focused everyone’s attention on me, the weight of that responsibility made it feel as though I’d eaten rocks for breakfast instead of pastries.
I hurried to the end of the table, Avenel’s hand grasped in mine—for my comfort as much as his—then waited as Magnus and the others caught up with me.
“Lead on, Sebald,” Magnus said with a proud smile and a slight tilt of his head, gesturing toward the door to the hallway. “I cannot wait to see what you’ve come up with for us.”
It didn’t take a wise man to hear the deeper intent of Magnus’s words. He wanted to see more than the cottages. I was eager to show the cottage to him and to my friends—and honestly, I was glad Jorgen had decided to camp outside the city, because everyone had brought more people with them than I’d expected, and between the two cottages, there would just barely be enough room for Magnus, Peter, and Neil, Jace and Gennadi, Lefric and Olympus, Ox, Katrina, and the various attendants they’d brought with them.
I was also eager to have a word with Magnus. Alone, if I could manage it.
“I think Peter, Neil, and Jace are going to be amused by the cottage Avenel and I have been living in,” I said as we headed into the hall, trying to keep things light.
I noticed that Jorgen and Hati and their men hadn’t followed us, and neither had Sai or any of his family. Except for Jace. The fact that Jace and Gennadi came with us instead of having some sort of heartfelt reunion day with Lady Rozynov, Taisiya, and Vera felt significant. I hoped it didn’t mean trouble, but I wasn’t that naïve.
“Is there something significant about the cottage that they will understand?” Magnus asked, striding along at my side, Peter and Neil half a step behind him on the other side.
Magnus, King Magnus, was walking at my side and letting me lead.
Peter and Neil exchanged a confused look.
“The cottage is right up against the wall,” I said, giving them a clue, then looking over my shoulder on the other side at Jace and Gennadi. “There’s a large tree in the yard.”
Peter nearly tripped over his feet. “No!” he exclaimed, bursting into a smile. “That cottage?”
I smiled and nodded. “The very one. It looks different now, I would assume,” I added.
We chatted all the way out of the palace and through the grounds on our way into the streets of Hedeon. Peter, Neil, and Jace launched into yet another retelling of the story of their escape last winter, mostly for the benefit of people like Olympus Hakobyan, who hadn’t heard the story yet.
I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief and send Avenel a smile, squeezing his hand as I did, as we led the group on. Somehow, I’d managed to do what none of the other leaders had done in the tense moments at the end of breakfast. I’d dispelled the tension and made everyone relax again.
Or perhaps that was because we had separated ourselves from the people who had caused the conflict in the first place.
Whatever it was, I’d take it.
It didn’t take long to make our way to the cottage, but we drew all sorts of attention as we walked. Everyone in Hedeon knew why Sai had guests, who they were, and what was about to take place. They were nervous, there was no denying it. But I felt encouraged at the curious glances and surprised looks we all got as we passed through the city.
It was as if the citizens of Hedeon had expected wild men dressed in furs to slink their way through the streets, weapons drawn and cocks out. Instead, they were treated to the sight of handsome men—and women, it wouldn’t have been right to forget Ox and Katrina—walking with straight backs and bright smiles, all of whom were dressed impeccably.
Maybe there was some hope in that. Everything that had caused tempers to rise at breakfast was true. City-dwellers were still prejudiced against wolves. But most of them had never seen a wolf in their life outside of the faires. And faires were now a distant memory. Though maybe the revels part weren’t, which was why suspicions were still high. Whatever the case, maybe the key to changing attitudes was to make certain Magnus, Peter, and Neil were seen as much as possible.
That was just one more thing I needed to discuss with Magnus. But first, as we arrived on the street with the cottages, I wanted to show them the home I’d made with Avenel.
“Here we are,” I said, smiling at Avenel, then gesturing to our home. “This is where Avenel and I live. We’ve worked hard on the cottages on either side in the last week, so as soon as you decide which of them you’d like to claim, I can have people fetch your traveling bags from your boat.”
“I’m impressed,” Magnus said, and I felt as though he genuinely meant it.
“Is that really the same tree?” Neil asked, staring up at the expansive, leafy branches that could be seen above the cottage roof.
“Come on through and see for yourself,” I said, leading the way.
We could have walked around the side yard to the garden, but I took everyone through the house. I wanted them to see all the work Avenel had done to make our home. I was immensely gratified by the impressed looks and kind compliments as well. They made Avenel grin bashfully and blush in that way that made his cheeks look like they’d been splashed with wine.
I started to notice that just as many looks were directed at Avenel himself as we continued through to the back garden. Everyone was just as impressed by the work Avenel had done there and the way he’d managed to coax flowers to bloom so late in the season.
