Page 11 of A Winter Courtship
It had been Aryn who had told Lutoth about prized horses when helping Lutoth come up with gift ideas for Ulrich. Aryn had said some people in Bordertown spent lots of money on feed, stabling, equipment, and decorations for their horses.
“I know how much you care about Ethel. I wanted to show you that I care for what you care for,” Lutoth said.
Ulrich’s eyes softened as he glanced at Ethel.
“Maybe you could feed her some now,” Lutoth suggested.
“All right.” The paper crinkled as Ulrich reached into the bag. He took out a handful and held it out to Ethel. Her eyes perked up, and she honked as she moved towards the outstretched hand, gobbling up the food.
Ulrich smiled.
Lutoth’s heart melted. “That’s the smile I remember.”
“Remember?” Ulrich asked.
“It’s how I knew it was you after all these years,” Lutoth said. “Your smile.”
“When did we meet?” Ulrich asked.
“We met as younglings. About twenty years ago. We played together for one summer. Or a little longer than one summer. I was the only oread who didn’t speak the human tongue, since I hadn’t grown up in the valley.” Lutoth stepped towards him. “Do you remember?” he asked, heart in his throat.
“That was you? Of course I remember. You talked constantly, and I never understood a word,” Ulrich said, awe in his voice. “But I followed you. You’d point somewhere and lead the way, and I’d follow.”
“Yes.” Lutoth laughed. “I’ve always been a bit bossy.” He’d worried that whilst the memory of Ulrich had burned itself into Lutoth’s mind, Ulrich may have simply forgotten him in the flow of time.
But Ulrich remembered him.
“You kept calling out ‘hello’ to me,” Ulrich said.
“It was the only human word I knew.” Lutoth burst out laughing. “I’d forgotten about that.”
“I usually got left out when the other kids played. But then one day you were there. You sought me out.” Ulrich studied Lutoth’s face. “I didn’t recognise you at all.”
“Many years have gone by,” Lutoth said.
“And you’ve grown.”
“I think we both have. Although, not everything has changed. You still care for wounded animals.” Lutoth gestured to Ethel. “I remember the day you found that bird with a broken wing. You stared at her with tears in your eyes. We built a nest, using leaves, in a small nook in a tree. We placed her inside and came back every day to feed her worms whilst she healed.”
“Until she was well enough to fly away,” Ulrich said.
Lutoth nodded.
They gazed at each other silently for several moments, Ulrich’s warm brown eyes studying him.
Ulrich frowned. “What happened?”
“What do you mean?” Lutoth asked.
“For months, we played together.” Ulrich fiddled with one of the buttons on his coat. “Every day. I looked forward to it.”
“Me too.”
“Then one day, you just weren’t there. I looked for you for days and days, but you didn’t come back. I kept looking.” Ulrich raised his gaze to Lutoth’s. “You just left.”
“I had to leave.” Lutoth’s skin prickled, his heartbeat rising swiftly. “My mother said it was time to move on. I didn’t have any say.”
Shame and worry rushed through Lutoth. He and his mother had hurt so many by just leaving without explaining. He’d hurt his father. He’d hurt Ulrich.
