Page 23 of A Winter Courtship
Ulrich dashed around, flinging open windows before rushing to the stove. Lutoth stood over a pot, waving at the smoke but not actually doing anything to fix the problem.
The remains of…something had turned into a black charred mess in the pot. Pulling the sleeve of his jacket over his hand, Ulrich grabbed the pot by its handle and sprinted outside, dumping it in the snow. The snow sizzled and melted as the pot sank amongst it.
Lutoth stepped up beside him. “Happy Solstice, Ulrich. Here is today’s gift.” He gestured to the burnt pot before coughing.
“Are you all right?” Ulrich asked.
“I’m fine. Just a little shaken. It all happened so fast,” Lutoth said. “I’m glad you turned up when you did. Burning your cabin down would have been a pretty terrible Solstice gift.”
“And you are sure you’re all right?”
Lutoth nodded.
Ulrich stared at Lutoth for a few more moments until he became convinced Lutoth was indeed fine. “What was it meant to be?”
“Dinner. A stew specifically,” Lutoth said. “Mila said it wasn’t difficult, and she told me what to do. But I suppose I need supervision until I get a proper handle on cooking.”
“That might be a good idea,” Ulrich said.
The past few days, Lutoth had been spending his evenings and nights with Ulrich. And each day, he felt more comfortable with Lutoth in his life. They re-entered the cabin. A brisk breeze blew through the windows, taking the smoke with it.
“I’m so sorry, Ulrich,” Lutoth said. “I almost burnt your house down! And now we don’t have any dinner.”
“I’m just glad you’re not hurt.” Ulrich checked over the wood-fired stove. But other than the pot outside, there was no damage. “We could go to the store and get some bread and fixings for dinner.”
“Or we could eat at the store.”
“Eat there?” Ulrich asked, straightening.
“Yes. Why not? Auntie Mila and Uncle Rhorton keep telling me to come around, since they always serve dinner at the store,” Lutoth said. “So now is the perfect opportunity to check it out.”
“I suppose we could do that,” Ulrich said.
They kept the windows open, letting the cabin properly air out. Ethel, deciding the cabin was smoke-free enough, entered and took her place on the floor, apparently tired after all the commotion. It didn’t look like she’d be keen to move anytime soon.
Lutoth and Ulrich set off through the snow towards the village store. They walked past wooden cabins. Warm light from fires and candles glowed through the windows.
“You don’t eat at the store often?” Lutoth asked.
“Not really,” Ulrich said.
“Why not?”
Ulrich stared at the store ahead of them. “Well… Honestly there’s… There’s often people there, asking me questions and looking at me. Sometimes they make jokes about Ethel like I’m odd for keeping her.” His cheeks flushed. A human might not notice it in the dark, but Ulrich knew Lutoth would see with his superior nymph’s vision.
“I’m sure they’re just jokes. Everyone’s friendly, and they don’t mean any harm.” Ulrich shrugged and tried to laugh. “But I’m just not so good at that whole thing. Talking and joking. It’s easier to be in my cabin with Ethel. I can relax and be at ease there. I can be myself.”
“Do you feel at ease with me?” Lutoth stopped walking, facing Ulrich.
Ulrich stopped too. “Well… The first couple of times, you intimidated me. But…”
“But?” Lutoth reached out and touched Ulrich’s chin, lifting it until their gazes met. A snowflake caught on Lutoth’s nose, then his cheek, then his eyelash.
“I like talking to you. More than I do anyone else. You put me at ease,” Ulrich said. “And the past few days, I feel that I can be more myself around you and… And… I don’t think you see me as some big, dirty brute.” He gave a pained laugh. “You don’t make me feel ashamed of myself.”
Lutoth cupped Ulrich’s face, expression earnest. “Did someone make you feel like that?”
Ulrich shrugged. “Just some men I bedded. In Bordertown.”
