Page 8 of A Winter Courtship
“He did. Thank you all for the lessons,” Lutoth said to Aryn, Sero, and Auntie Mila.
Last year, his skill at speaking the human tongue hadn’t been great. He hadn’t grown up in the valley near Ores, where nymph younglings often learned the human tongue from playing with humans.
Or they had years ago. No human children played in the valley anymore.
But over the years, he’d learned a little of the human tongue. He’d picked up some from that summer with Ulrich. Then he’d travelled. He’d met humans and visited villages. Sometimes he even stayed a while near human settlements.
But even last year, he’d had to think carefully, putting together the words to make a sentence in his head before speaking. But he had wanted to converse and speak fluently with Ulrich. So he’d practised constantly for the past eleven months.
“You did very well learning,” his father said. “Shows resolve and dedication.”
Pride bloomed in Lutoth’s chest.
For the first few months, his father had seemed to expect Lutoth to leave at any moment, no matter what Lutoth said. He’d seemed surprised every day when he saw his son. That had stung. Now his father seemed to believe Lutoth was here to stay.
It had been the longest Lutoth had ever stayed in one place. Although, over the last eleven months, sometimes he’d heard the call of the wind. Then he would take off, climbing mountains and running along the flats, the wind guiding and lifting his feet. But only for a few days. He’d always returned to the valley.
But that was behind him now. He’d weaned himself off it. Three days ago he’d flown with the wind one last time. Now he needed to focus on Ulrich and remain in the valley and Ores. He needed to prove to everyone that even though he was part-sylph, he could be constant and true. And he would do it. For Ulrich.
ChapterSix
“Good morning.”
Once again, Ulrich startled when the oread appeared beside him and Ethel during their morning walk.
This time, he recovered quicker. “Morning.” Ulrich hadn’t been certain he’d ever see the oread again. The day before had been such a strange and otherworldly experience.
Ulrich wondered if he’d somehow imagined it all. That seemed more probable than a nymph appearing and giving him a Solstice gift. He just couldn’t wrap his head around the idea that this beautiful oread had sought him out, spoken to him, and given him a Solstice gift.
Yet here the nymph was again.
Unlike the previous day, the oread wore his hair in a plait, with dried reeds and berries woven elaborately throughout. Snowflakes drifted down, catching in the nymph’s white hair. Others landed on his pale skin, melting into drops of water that glistened. But if they troubled the oread, he didn’t show it.
Stunning. Absolutely stunning. And he is here for me. He sought me out. He wants to talk to me.
Ulrich’s chest lightened.
“Here is your Solstice gift.” The nymph held out three large, dried fish dangling from a rope. “These fish can only be caught in the summer months in certain lakes in the mountains. I caught them and smoked them especially for you.”
“For me?” Ulrich asked, needing to confirm it. Because why would he catch these fish for Ulrich?
“Food as a Solstice gift shows a desire to provide and nurture the other.” He paused, voice dropping low. “I want to nurture and provide for you, Ulrich.”
Provide and nurture? Ulrich stopped in his tracks.“Who are you?” Ulrich asked. “How do you know my name? And what is going on?”
“My name is Lutoth.” He smiled. “And I’m courting you, Ulrich.”
“Courting?”
Lutoth nodded. “Every day between now and Winter Solstice, I will give you a Solstice gift. To court you. Someone as pretty as you deserves to be properly courted,” Lutoth said.
Ulrich’s mouth dropped open. “But I’m not pretty!” he said. “I’m twice your size. I’m gruff and hulking and uncouth. I’m tough and… And…odd…and awkward and…”
“Pretty.”
“Have you seen me?” Ulrich gestured to his body.
Lutoth froze. A slow smile spread across his face. His gaze travelled up and down Ulrich. “I see you, Ulrich,” Lutoth said, voice husky.
