Page 20 of A Winter Romance
The other child, Ethred, appearing bored with the conversation, wriggled out of Sero’s arms and dropped to the ground. She pulled on Sero’s knee. “Come, Sero, we’ve been collecting berries to make the Solstice loaf.”
“Well, I hope you picked only Solstice berries. You must be careful with other berries because some of them are poisonous.”
“We know, Sero,” Ethred groaned. “Everyone tells us that.”
Sero laughed and walked towards the cabin the girls had just come from. “My parents own the village store,” Sero said to Aryn. “We’ll stop in and see them. I know they’ll want to meet you.” Sero pushed the door open, and a bell rang.
Taking a deep breath, Aryn followed him in, hoping Sero’s parents wouldn’t hate him.
ChapterFifteen
Along one wall hung dried meats, sausages, and fish. The shelves displayed bottles and jars containing different coloured liquids, fruits, and vegetables. Varying cloths had been piled on top of one another on a bench. Several barrels held weapons, cooking utensils, tools, and fishing gear.
He could barely step in any direction without fear of knocking over something, let alone see all the foods and wares the shop held. It was nothing like the clean, neat stores in Bordertown. The two girls took off, disappearing into the chaos of the room. A second later a door banged shut.
“Hello,” Sero said.
“Sero! Is that you, dear one?” A voice called from somewhere amongst the clutter. “You’re back sooner than expected. Has your heart recovered already? That’s so much quicker than the last time!”
An oread with long white hair and dark-grey skin appeared between the rows of shelves, her bright silver eyes sparkling. She raced towards Sero and hugged him, kissing him on each cheek. Aryn didn’t think his mother had ever hugged him like that. Or been that happy to see him.
“You’ve been missed so dearly, my son.”
“And who is this?” A man, who must be Sero’s father, appeared around one of the shelves. The man looked nothing like Sero, with his broad shoulders, dark hair, and wide nose. Sero definitely didn’t take after his father.
“This is Aryn. Aryn, these are my parents, Mila and Rhorton.”
“You go into the forest to forget someone, and you come back with someone new?” Mila laughed, a light, tinkling sound. “Very quick, my darling. You’ve been gone all of three days.”
Who had Sero been trying to forget? And what was this about Sero’s heart recovering?
“Mother,” Sero groaned.
But she ignored him. “And you’ve put him in your clothes! Is this a way of marking him as your own? So everyone in the village knows who he belongs to?”
“It is a bit excessive, son,” Rhorton said.
“He didn’t have proper clothes!” Sero said.
Rhorton clapped Sero on the shoulder and pulled him in for a hug. “Well, it’s good to have you back.” Then he smiled at Aryn. “And what brings you to our corner of the world, Aryn?”
“Yes! Come and take a seat by the stove; it’s warm there. And then you can tell us your story.” Mila ushered him past the shelves towards the wood stove. Quite a few mismatched chairs were gathered around it, their fabric worn and faded. Blankets draped across the chairs. There were several tables as well. She pushed him towards one of the chairs, and he sat, sinking into it. Rhorton and Sero took a seat.
Mila clapped her hands. “I have cakes that Sero made before he left,” she said as she dashed off. Cupboards banged open and shut. “Oh no! All gone! Guess the younglings must have gotten into them.”
“So, Aryn, what are you doing in Ores?” Rhorton asked.
“Well, I was travelling to Castle Evermore, but I got lost in the mountains…. And it was snowing. Sero found me and brought me to his cave.” His cheeks flushed at how pathetic he sounded.
“How romantic,” Mila said, reappearing. She perched on the arm of the chair, next to Rhorton, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. “And you followed Sero back here?”
“Well… I…” Following made him sound like a lost dog.
Rhorton chuckled. “Where were you travelling from?”
“From Bordertown.”
“You live there?” Rhorton asked.
