Page 14 of A Winter Redemption
“Certain things…” Aryn didn’t move.
Jarne gestured to the seat opposite him. What was wrong with his brother? Aryn sat but did not meet his gaze. Had his brother hurt his head? Perhaps he’d had a fall from a mountain. Perhaps this mountain air did not suit him. Good thing Jarne had come to retrieve him. It seemed like Jarne had come just in time.
“Yes. Certain things,” Jarne said.
Aryn still did not look at Jarne.
“I wanted to discuss Sasha.”
Aryn’s gaze jerked to Jarne’s.
“I wanted to clarify the situation,” Jarne said. “You see, I hadn’t realised you were still with him when Sasha and I began courting.” The termbegan courtingseemed far more appropriate thanwhen he dropped to his knees and sucked my cock. “He’d told me it was over between you, and I had not considered it could be otherwise. I had no reason to think he’d lie about such a thing. If I’d known that you and he were still together, I’d have behaved differently.”
Again, Aryn did not speak or respond in any sort of manner.
Jarne cleared his throat. He really wished this awkward conversation were over. “So you see, it was a misunderstanding.”
Aryn’s eyes widened. “A misunderstanding?”
“Well, yes, and I—”
A door opened, and an attractive man, or perhaps an oread, stepped into the room. He smiled at Jarne. “I thought I heard voices.” Then he took in Aryn’s face. His demeanour shifted. “Who is this?”
“This is my brother Jarne. My oldest brother,” Aryn said. “Jarne, this is Sero.”
Sero came up behind Aryn and laid a hand on his shoulder. “I see.”
Jarne gave a nod in greeting.
“And what are you doing in Ores, Jarne?” Sero asked.
Jarne couldn’t help but notice the stiffness in Sero’s voice. “I was resolving an issue with my brother.”
Sero’s gaze darted between Jarne and Aryn. “And you came all the way to Ores to do that?”
“I wished to do it in person,” Jarne said. “And I wanted to take him back to Bordertown.” He looked into Aryn’s blank face. “It is not right that you should be exiled in these mountains because of what happened. I wish to make things right. We can set off tomorrow.”
Jarne turned to Sero. “I will need to rent a horse for Aryn. Do you know where one is available?”
The two stared at him. Aryn’s face remained blank. Sero’s eyes narrowed.
Did everyone behave so strangely in Ores? Perhaps there really was something in the air. The sooner they left, the better. Jarne had planned to retrieve Aryn to right a wrong. But maybe he was rescuing him from this odd place.
“And I’ve been thinking, perhaps when we return, I could find you a different job in the company,” Jarne said to Aryn. One that didn’t involve him being near Sasha. “Perhaps something other than being a perfume alchemist.” Aryn had been terrible at that.
Jarne had put a great deal of thought into this. He wanted to make things right with his brother. So he’d take him back to Bordertown. Set him up in some apartments. And get him a good, proper, suitable job.
“Aryn lives here. He has a job here,” Sero said, voice tight. His hand squeezed Aryn’s shoulder. “He has a life here.”
Was Sero angry at Jarne? Jarne couldn’t imagine why. Jarne straightened his spine. “And what is his job?”
“He bakes.”
“He bakes?” Jarne glanced at Aryn. “You bake? And you want to remain here so you can bake?” Jarne didn’t know why this Sero answered for Aryn. But he wanted to hear the words from Aryn’s mouth.
Aryn gave a nod, cheeks flushed. It didn’t convince Jarne, but he let it slide. For now.
“He likes to bake. He is very good at it,” Sero said. “And sometimes he works at the village store.”
