Page 37 of A Winter Crush
Ori stumbled from the cave. His aunties sat cross-legged, watching Liney.
Aunty Lela smiled at Ori. “It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”
“He wanted to go off into the mountains,” Aunty Suroth said.
“But we asked him to stay close by,” Aunty Yelan said.
Ori joined them, and they silently watched Liney. The wind gusted, and snow fell. Not particularly pleasant weather, but Ori’s mood couldn’t be better. The younglings ran through the trees, calling out to one another. There was no indication at all that Liney had been sick. The last of the terror that had wound so tightly inside him fell away.
He is going to live.
“Sinoe said he had to take care of something, but he said to send word immediately if anything changes,” Aunty Yelan said.
“You slept the whole day.” Aunty Suroth patted his knee. “You needed the rest.”
Ori nodded. Then it hit him. “Wareth,” he whispered. Wareth was waiting for him. And had been waiting for him since midday.
“Oh no,” Aunty Lela said. “Is he waiting for you?”
“He is. But I can’t leave. Not now. Maybe I can send a message?”
“No. Go,” Aunty Lela said.
Ori frowned.
“He’s fine, Ori,” Aunty Suroth said gently. “We’ll send word if anything changes.”
“You promise?”
They nodded.
“As soon as anything changes?” Ori stood, still feeling unsettled. “I’ll just go quickly and then come straight back.”
His brother let out a loud shout and laughed. He did look healthy.
“I’ll just go and explain to Wareth, then I’ll come straight back. Liney won’t even know I’m gone.”
“Yes. Now go,” Aunty Yelan said.
Ori bolted off.
It was fine, Ori told himself as he sprinted through the forest. It wasn’t far to the village, and he’d be back in no time. Sinoe had left, and Sinoe wouldn’t have left if Liney were in danger. And Ori would come straight back.
And to be honest, he really wanted to see Wareth after the night he’d had. He’d tell Wareth what happened. Wareth would hold him and make him feel safe again, and then Ori would return home. Everything would be fine.
ChapterTwenty-Three
Wareth woke on Solstice Eve, body buzzing with excitement. Today he would show Ori their Solstice creations. Each year, it was usually just Wareth making and designing the pottery. It was he who opened the kiln and looked everything over. Sariah assisted, but she had never shown much interest in the process or the finished product.
But Ori had. He’d wanted to know each and every step. Wareth couldn’t wait to open the kiln together and see Ori’s beaming smile and bright eyes, widening in amazement. Wareth had made a special glaze for the Solstice wares. The materials cost more than he usually spent, but he’d done it for Ori.
Wareth chuckled. Before the firing, the glaze was an ugly brown. Ori had looked at the items as they’d glazed them together, dipping each mug or plate into the mud-brown liquid. He had grimaced. Ori would be so surprised when they came out a brilliant emerald green.
After eating a quick breakfast, Wareth walked to Sariah’s. White snowflakes fell, and he pulled his coat tightly around him.
Wareth passed the black smithery. Ethel the reindeer stood outside, watching Ulrich, the blacksmith, hammering away at the anvil. Ethel glanced at Wareth as he passed, before going back to watching Ulrich. Wareth still remembered when Ulrich first took her in, when she was a half-starved calf. She’d grown since then. And wherever Ulrich was, Ethel wasn’t far away.
Several villagers were out already. He nodded as he passed Edwin, who studied plants. Or something. Curiously, he held a dried flower in his hand.
