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Well, she was the opposite of her cousin Ana, wasn’t she?
Demure. Sweet. Uncomplicated.
Tyr slipped into the seat across from her. The frazzled look she’d worn earlier was gone, and she was smiling. Smiling athim.
“I meant to come sooner,” she said sweetly. One of her hands played mindlessly with her soft, dark curls. They were almost preternatural, shiny and luscious and perfect.
“I didn’t know you were coming at all,” Tyr said. When her face fell, he quickly added, “but I’m glad you’re here.”
Nessa’s gentle smile returned. She focused her eyes on the table, on her folded hands, wrung tight enough to turn her knuckles white. She pulled her dark-blue sleeves down over the top of them. She seemed nervous, out of sorts. “The weather appears to be turning, at least for a spell.”
“Everything all right?”
“Oh, yes, of course!” Her shrill giggle was laced with a nervous edge. She darted her gaze around the room. “Not very busy tonight, huh?”
Tyr frowned, watching her closely. “No, not really. When the weather turns, the place thins out for a week or so. Then they come back in droves, like they’ve just seen snow for the first time.”
“Are you going to the Cider Festival?”
“Definitely not,” he blurted. The started look she wore had him scrambling for a respectable answer. “I’ve been before, and it’s not for me.”
“Ahh.” Nessa tilted her head in a slow nod, watching him closely. “And—”
The double doors squeaked, followed by grunts. Before Adeline had both kegs out, Nessa was out of her seat, gathering one in her arms. Adeline flashed a quick smile, and together they placed the kegs on the back shelf of the bar. When Adeline signed,Thank you,Nessa signed,I’m happy to help you,without missing a beat. Adeline hugged her, and Nessa hugged her back.
Tyr observed the exchange in bewilderment.
He made his way to the bar and sat on one of the stools, watching Adeline show Nessa how to attach the spouts and prime the kegs. Nessa got hers right on the first try, earning her a nod of respect from an impressed Adeline. When they were done, Adeline ducked into the back to finish cleaning the mugs.
Nessa smiled after her and turned toward Tyr. Something in his face made hers grow serious. “Something wrong?”
“No, it’s just...” He shook his head, reframing the words so they didn’t sound quite so much like an accusation. “Where did you learn to sign?”
Nessa blanched. “I don’t... I don’t know much. I’ve learned a few things over the years, here and there.”
“You know more than patrons who have been drinking here for years.”
Nessa glanced toward the doors to the backroom. She stammered before saying, “There was this girl. I cared for her very much. I learned what I could, but then I had to leave her behind.”
“Why?”
She blinked hard and forced a smile. “Doesn’t matter. I know you’re not very busy tonight, but I’d love for you to put me to work, if there’re things to be done.”
Tyr nearly laughed. “You’re serious?”
Nessa nodded earnestly.
“You want to... work?”
“I’m not allergic to it, if that’s what you think. I suppose some highborns are.”
“No, I—” But he had thought it. He’d thought it for years, ever since he had been a boy serving the rich as they passed through Parth on their way to do whatever it was they did. All highborns had been the same. Spoiled. Entitled. Demanding what wasn’t theirs. Rhiain and Ana had both been surprises, but they were exceptions, and in the end, they’d still taken a part of him with them. “If you want to help Addy dry and carry the mugs out...”
Nessa brightened. She clapped her hands on Tyr’s shoulders in excitement, then seemed to remember herself and eased off. “I’d love to help. Really.”
It was only after he watched her disappear into the back that he remembered he still hadn’t solved the matter of the mysterious translation.
Chapter8
