Page 83 of Jeweler to the Blessed
“That’s what we call our settlement. Let me show you around.”
The Storm was small, but I was surprised by how many people it contained—at least fifty, by my count. There were men, women, and even children. Alysa kneweveryone. I couldn’t explain it, but it was clear she held some position of power with them.
She waved to a family amid morning chores. “The Trellis family joined us a few months ago. They feared their daughter would be Selected and didn’t want to be separated. Most families here had some reason to leave. They felt they had no options.”
At the tent next to the Trellis family, a man slowly pushed back his tent flap, also starting his day. He moved like he was eighty—he looked it too.
“A Blessed over-took from Patrick,” Alysa said. “I wasn’t sure he’d survive. They just left him there, in the alley.” She gestured at Hart. “Lucky that one found him, got him some of your uncle’s tonic, and got him to us.”
Is this what Hart wanted me to see? A community outside the walls of Kavios, not subject to Rodric’s influence? That thought gave me pause.
“The Storm,” I said aloud. “As in the opposite of King Rodric’s calm?”
Alysa nodded. “We’re not rebels like the Feared. We’ve chosen to live outside the system, but we’d rather face the storms of life outside Kavios than exist within it in such a state.”
It was almost fantastical to think about. Immediately, I knew it could solve so many of my problems. Mother and Father could live here. The community knew Alaric’s remedy and had access to the necessary herb.
As much as it had the potential to help, it also hurt. I shouldn’t be surprised by now, but this was another secret Alaric had kept. He hadn’t told me about a community outside the city walls. He hadn’t shared that he helped get those who wanted to leave out of Kavios.
I couldn’t believe I’d thought I was thefirst one planning to leave. Alysa was already moving on, talking about another family or resident.
Hart met and held my gaze before I followed. His face was impassive, and I had no idea what he read from mine. This place seemed unreal. As disappointed as I was that Alaric didn’t tell me about it, I was just as astounded that Hart had.
Did he know I contemplated leaving? Did he think I should? I guessed he knew my mother’s condition, meaning it wasn’t a big leap to recognize that she would need a place like this.
Although he’d brought me here and must see it as a solution to some of my problems, he was still on edge. His fingers twitched near his sword, though he didn’t draw it. How many times must he have been through this encampment, yet he was still on guard?
Maybe that was just his way. Not trusting anyone seemed lonely, but I couldn’t exactly cast stones. I was much the same. Perhaps Hart and I were more alike than I had considered.
“Come on, you two. Keep up!” Alysa called.
I hurried to catch her, falling into step at her side. “So, the bird is your … pet?”
She laughed. “I guess that’s the best way to explain it.”
“And Reid …” I was prying now.
“Not my pet. He’s my husband.”
I looked at the gem hanging from her neck. “Are you Blessed?”
She gestured to the tent before us, pulling back the flap. “You should come in. We can talk.” Hart moved to follow. She held up a hand to stop him. “Ladies only.”
“Abso—” Hart started.
“That’s it. We do this privately or not at all. I don’t know what you’re up to, but I know it’s part of why you brought herhere.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Take it or leave it.”
A string of curses left Hart’s mouth. He glanced at me. “I’ll be right outside.”
Alysa giggled, another contradiction to the fierce woman who had just put Hart in his place. I wondered what I’d gotten myself into.
The tent felt more at home than anywhere I could remember—except maybe Alaric’s workshop. Although, that hadn’t felt the same without him in it.
Alysa fit here. The inside of the tent had the same contrasts as her person. Two bedrolls were pushed together, with a large heaping of heavy blankets atop. The scene looked like a cozy cottage. A makeshift bedside table was erected, holding a book and a mug with something that smelled like mint. The other side of the tent looked like a blacksmith’s workshop. Blades, bows, and axes were laid out on a trunk acting as a display table.
I didn’t know Alysa, but I thought I liked her.
Alysa turned. She leaned against the trunk and gestured for me to sit on the bed. “So … am I Blessed?” She tapped her chin. “The short answer is no.”
