Page 8 of Wolf's Bane
“It’s that letter. You’ve not been yourself.”
Alek laughed bitterly. “I haven’t been myself in years.”
“You’ve got more than a little of your grandfather Maksim in you,” she said in a knowing tone. “Keep blotting, not scrubbing, and I’ll bring in your dinner.”
He continued his ministrations until he was certain the rug could not be saved. What did he care about a rug, anyway? It kept the chill from the floor and would continue to do so admirably with a great gray stain. And why did he need to send a letter? That spring had been rainy and travel would be slow. If he took a coach as far as he could and then hired a horse, he’d arrive at Boxon as quickly as a letter.
Yes. He’d do that.
After his meal—long cold—he informed Mrs. Suchet of his travel plans and left instructions for the estate manager. The two had handled his affairs well enough without his input and would continue to do so.
He packed a trunk, taking care to don leather gloves before stowing his weapons away carefully, and tossed in whatever garments seemed decent enough for society. He’d leave in the morning, so there was no time to worry about wardrobes. If Godwin Marechal took offense, then he could fight off the beast on his own with his one working eye.
The beast inside him took notice, hungry and wanting.
Solenne
Boxon Village
The Blacksmith
They foundMiles by the forge, with the collar opened on his shirt and his sleeves rolled up. Damp blonde hair stuck to his brow. The furnace was cold, but a stove in the corner heated the workshop to a balmy temperature.
Miles smiled when he spotted them, and Luis gulped audibly. He inspected the damaged armor, accepted the item for trade, and Solenne helpfully suggested that Luis would be interested in observing the repair process.
“Really?” Miles blinked, as if surprised, but then gave Luis an assessing gaze. “An extra pair of hands is always helpful, but you’ll ruin your coat.”
Solenne leaned in, whispering, “He’s interested in your hands.”
“I don’t mind,” Luis said in a hurry, blushing and stumbling over his words. “About the coat.”
Miles took Luis’ coat and hung it from a peg on the wall.
Solenne enjoyed watching her brother, the monster hunter, stumble awkwardly around his crush. It was too precious for words, yet she dug deep down and found a cheery, “I’ll stop by after my visit with Charlotte.”
She didn’t wait for Luis to answer. Miles had turned his attention to the damaged armor, and Luis watched the blacksmith work.
The mill dominated Boxon. The nearest river lay several hours’ journey to the west, which meant the village relied on overland transport for the delivery of raw wool and linen and the shipping of finished goods downriver to the capital. Overland travel left a lot to be desired. Pavement wasn’t always a guarantee, and the further away from Founding a person traveled, the more likely the road would be mud. Still, while industry didn’t thrive in Boxon, it brought in steady income and a steady supply of fresh goods.
Solenne ambled through the open-air market, enjoying the crowd and the noise. She took a fair amount of pride in knowing that Boxon’s stability was thanks to her family. Other settlements as close to a nexus point rarely fared as well. Such proximity created uncertainty. Farmers lost livestock and crops. People feared going out after dark. Industry shuttered at sunset.
An uncontrolled nexus point was a death sentence to a settlement. It was more than a passing curiosity that most abandoned settlements were always found near a nexus point. They were abandoned for a reason.
Boxon had a modest industry, and its citizens felt safe.
Sometimes the provincial government would send in forces to secure the area. Sometimes they considered the settlement a strategic loss. With no easy access to transportation or valuable resources, she had doubted the province would be motivated to send aid to Boxon if her family failed.
The threats came from all sides. If they could just make it through the next full moon, if Luis could defeat the wolf and not get himself killed in the process…
She needed a lifeline.
“Miss Marechal.”
Chapter 3
Solenne
Boxon Village
