Page 30 of A Winter Courtship
Ulrich watched him, brows furrowed.
“Sorry,” Lutoth said. “Did you say something?”
“I said your name.” Ulrich smiled tightly. “Twice.”
“Sorry.” Lutoth swallowed. “I didn’t hear you.”
Ulrich nodded, but his brows remained furrowed.
Lutoth stroked his hair back into place, pushing away the remaining urge to take off with the wind. He rolled his shoulders, which suddenly ached. “The path is this way.” He strode off.
No one spoke as Lutoth led the way down into the valley. Ulrich and Ethel followed.
He had ignored the wind’s voice. He had ever since the Solstice season started. No matter how much he wanted to answer its call, he’d remained in Ores and the valley.
Still, he wished Ulrich hadn’t seen that. Was Ulrich worried now that Lutoth would leave? He glanced at the still-frowning man. What could Lutoth say to reassure him? His mind jerked around, trying to seek the right words to say.
“It’s been nice living in the valley the past year,” Lutoth said. “It’s the longest I’ve ever spent in one place. And I’ve really liked it!” He could hear the edge in his own voice, the desperation to prove to Ulrich that he could be trusted to remain still. “It’s been nice spending more time with my father and getting to know him.”
“When was the last time you saw your mother?”
“Over a year ago.” Lutoth didn’t know why Ulrich wanted to know that, and he didn’t know what Ulrich wanted to hear.
“Do you miss her?” Ulrich asked.
“Sometimes,” Lutoth said. “She never thought I could stay still. But I did.” He turned and faced Ulrich. “And I’m not planning to leave anytime soon!”
“I’m glad,” Ulrich said, giving him a half-smile. “You said growing up, you travelled from place to place. What does that mean exactly?”
“Well,” Lutoth began. “My mother would travel all over the Norend Mountains. And I went with her. I had no choice,” he added.
“And did you enjoy it?”
Lutoth hesitated. “I enjoyed climbing the mountains and running through the valleys. I liked travelling and meeting new nymphs. And humans too.” He shrugged. “But I like it here. I like the mountains and the rocks and staying with my feet firmly in one place.”
Everything between Ulrich and Lutoth was perfect. Lutoth could see a future with him. But he needed Ulrich to trust him and believe Lutoth wouldn’t just take off and leave him.
They continued downwards. Still, no one spoke. Lutoth wished he knew what Ulrich was thinking. He didn’t know what else he could say to put him at ease. He needed to change the subject.
“Should we collect branches and rope them together to create a shelter?” Lutoth asked.
Lutoth watched Ulrich and Ethel make their way slowly down the uneven, rocky path.
“Like we used to?” Ulrich kept his gaze on the path in front of him, making it impossible for Lutoth to read his expression.
Ethel moved particularly slowly, but she didn’t seem perturbed by the decline. Then again, many reindeer used these paths to travel into the valley.
“Or we could explore some caves if you’d prefer,” Lutoth said.
Ulrich burst out laughing. The tension in Lutoth’s body dissipated at the sound.
“I was so scared,” Ulrich said. “I tried to tell you that I couldn’t see in a dark cave like an oread, but you didn’t understand!”
“I worked it out pretty quickly when you kept stumbling over rocks and walking into walls.”
“I thought I was going to get lost or fall in a hole or die in there.” Ulrich shook his head.
“But you still followed me anyway.” Lutoth took Ulrich’s hand, giving him something to hold on to as he descended.
