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Luka
Bron is at the bottom of the stairs, waiting, and I feel the abused flesh on my knuckles pull as my fists clench.
“Before you say anything,” he says, making a quick survey of our surroundings. “I’ve got the ring.”
That stops me in my tracks. “Really? Where was it?”
“A boy lingering around the burn pit had it. It took a bit of convincing to get him to give it up.”
I shake my head and mutter, “Really, Bron?”
“Never underestimate the value of diplomacy, Deve.”
“What did the kid extract from you?”
“So cynical you are. I hauled some wood for his pregnant mother.”
“What?” My head jerks back in surprise. “Where is the husband?”
“Dead of a fever going on two full moons now.”
I blow out a resigned breath.
“And now the boy will grow up with a sense of loyalty to you since I threw a chicken into the bargain at your insistence.”
“My insistence?”
“Oh, yes,” he says, repressing a grin. “You can be quite generous. I’m hoping the boy returns to me if he hears anything of interest around the village.”
Bron may not be able to match his brothers’ brute strength, but he easily runs circles of intelligence around them. “Are you forming a band of spies, Bron?”
“What can I say? Nobody overlooks a child of six or seven years like a fully-grown man.”
I grunt with agreement. “Keep an eye on the family.”
“Of course.”
“Well, let’s see it.”
He pulls the silver ring from his tunic pocket and hands it to me. It’s unremarkable in every way; plain, scratched, and small.This is what Rina is so desperate to have returned?It can’t have much value, silver or not. Nothing about this woman makes any sense.
I never wanted you.
I almost wince at my earlier words as I stare at the ring. Her expression had gone disturbingly vacant, as if my comment had erased her presence, leaving behind a hollowed-out shell. I’d taken her to see the horse in the hopes of re-filling that shell with what makes herher.My plan worked too, up until I blurted out the bit about the letter, not realizing how the horse would be perceived as a bribe until too late. But by then, I was well on my way to planting my foot in every pile of manure imaginable. If Elsy hadn’t run me off, I’d probably still be up there, ankle deep in horse shit, exchanging barbs with the infuriating woman.
Which reminds me . . . “Go over to the kitchens and find out what Rina’s being fed.” If she’s on prisoner’s rations, I’m going to be pissed. I didn’t even notice what was on the tray the other night.
“Fed?” Bron repeats like he has no idea what I’m talking about.
“Yes, fed.” I move to peer into the Great Hall and spot Eldon across the room. He’s sitting at a table with his wife, Daysa, while his youngest son tries to bounce on his lap with his pudgy legs. When I turn back, Bron is still there. “Go. Make sure she’s getting enough to eat,” I tell him before heading for my cousin.
“Daysa,” I say, sitting next to her and planting a kiss on her plump cheek. “Are you still putting up with Eldon?”
“I am.” She gives me one of her shy smiles. “You know he makes me unbearably happy.”
“Well, I wouldn’t argue your word choice. He is definitely unbearable.”
She laughs, tucking a piece of her blonde hair that’s come loose from her braids behind her ear. “Twisting my meaning? Soon you’ll be a politician to be reckoned with.” At my sour reaction, she changes the subject. “Will you be gracing us with your presence at dinner this week, my deve?” Almost every week, I go out to their home for a few hours where I’m able to shed my title and simply be Luka.
