Page 21 of Song of the Dawn
I giggled; I couldn’t help it. His presence surrounded me with lightness and ease. “I’m sorry, it’s just sometimes the words you say sound outlandish and it amuses me.”
“Does it?” He gave me his dimpled smile, and my heart melted.
As we arrived at the inn, a gray cloud passed over the sky, blocking out the light just for a moment. Ezra looked up, and alarm crossed his face, forgotten when he returned his gaze to me. “What are you doing tonight?”
“Giselle invited me to dinner, but—”
“Don’t change your plans on account of me. Giselle and Dusty are excellent company. You’ll enjoy your time. Come find me tomorrow afternoon, in the gardens.”
“I will. If I can get away,” I corrected, not wanting to appear too eager.
“If,” he repeated.
Moving closer, he touched my hair and trailed one finger down my bare skin.
I shuddered under his touch, stepping closer, wanting more.
But just like that, he was gone, and I knew I’d go to the gardens tomorrow afternoon.
Mila
The sky was still bright with the afterglow of a storm. It had rained all day, a gentle mist coating everything in gray. A sensation twisted through me, that in the drizzle, without the sunlight, there was no knowing what moved out there. Fog descended, and I feared it would be impossible to find my way to Dusty and Giselle’s hut. Right at the last moment possible, the sun came out, slicing through the mist like a blade and burning away the fog.
I stepped outside and took a breath of fresh air. It was damp, musty, smelling mostly of wet sheep with faint hints of floral and citrus. But the water shone like crystals on the grass, twinkling like gems. Tiny creatures whizzed back and forth, almost too fast for my eyes to see. Still, a fanciful thought came to mind, that they were miniature people who came to harvest the raindrops.
Shaking that thought away, I made my way to the hut.
Before I could knock, the door swung open, and Giselle waved me inside. “You came!”
“The rain stopped just in time,” I said, eyes darting across the hut.
It was one wide room, the stone fireplace at one end, with a black pot simmering over it. The rich scents of food and spices made my mouth water. A square table set for three sat in front of the fire, and a bright-yellow rug covered the floor. A multicolored quilt blanketed the bed, which was tucked into the opposite corner. Two rocking chairs sat under a window along with a shelf of books and several projects—knitting, woodworking, quilting—stacked neatly in baskets. It was simple, a melody of love, and my heart stilled.
In Solynn the poor coveted the estates for the expansive rooms full of luxuries, but the one-room hut was simple and yet fuller than any estate. I sensed the aura, peace and joy.
Giselle beamed. “It’s not much, but we need little, since we’re outside most of the time. This keeps us warm during the winter and gives us a cozy place to sleep away from the elements.”
“Oh, I think it’s perfect,” I told her truthfully. “In the city people believe they need so many things, but here, I can feel the happiness in this place.”
“Can you? See, I knew I liked you.” Giselle grinned. She’d changed into a light-blue dress, and her red curls were loose, dancing about her shoulders. “Dusty will be in shortly, just went to check that the animals are secure. It gets quite dark out once the sun goes down, so we both agreed we’ll walk you back after supper. Besides, I enjoy a moonlit stroll.”
“That’s kind of you. I accept,” I said, feeling even more at ease.
“Have a seat. Supper’s almost ready. Ezra went fishing today and brought us a large one. I’ve been letting it simmer all day long with vegetables and spices.”
“You cook too?”
“I do a bit of everything, but Dusty and I share the cooking. He has his family recipes, and I have mine. Somehow it just doesn’t turn out right unless we personally make them.”
I took a seat at the table, watching the embers around the fire. A loaf of round bread sat in the middle. It looked like the ones Moses had made. “Can’t you get food from the inn?”
Giselle laughed as if I’d said something funny. “Moses is too generous, but we like to have our own food here too. No one can make bread like he does, though, when he has a mind to do it. Sometimes we go to town. Have you been yet?”
“Not yet. Rachelle is going to take me to the dressmaker. I want some nice clothes that aren’t for work.”
“Oh, Namen is excellent. She’ll treat you well, and she’s fast. She always gets it in her head you’ll need something fancier than you think you do, but she’s right. She has the sight, you know.” Giselle tapped her head.
“As in she can see the future?”
