Page 15 of A Winter Redemption
Jarne surveyed the room and stared at the giant oven. “This is a bakery. And you live here too?”
“Yes. We live here together,” Sero said.
“It is a little cramped, but I suppose it is all a baker needs.” In fact, Jarne felt slightly envious.
He had to travel to work. It took a good thirty minutes by foot. A carriage would be quicker but only if the roads were clear. How much time could he save if he made perfumes right in his home? He could even get up in the night when inspiration hit and start working rather than jotting down notes and having to wait until he was back at work.
Perhaps when he returned to Bordertown, he could find apartments where he could turn most of the rooms into workspaces. What a brilliant idea!
His gaze returned to Aryn, whose cheeks glowed an even brighter red than before. He looked horribly ill.
“Are you sure you want to stay, Aryn?” Jarne asked.
“Yes. I do,” Aryn said, voice strained. His hands clutched at his bright-green breeches. “I would never leave Sero.” He placed his hand on top of Sero’s, which still held Aryn’s shoulder. Aryn looked like he might vomit.
“Surely he can bake on his own,” Jarne said. Perhaps Aryn stayed out of a sense of loyalty to Sero. But if this place made him so ill… “A village this small does not need two bakers.”
Aryn made a choked noise.
“Aryn, you look very unwell,” Jarne said. “Perhaps the mountain air does not suit you or it is too hot living in a bakery. I think it is best you come back to Bordertown, for your health.”
“I am very happy here,” Aryn bit out.
Aryn did not look happy. Or sound it. But then again, Jarne didn’t remember Aryn being happy. Always moody and sulking. Perhaps this was what Aryn looked like happy.
“Perhaps give it a few days to think over,” Jarne said.
“I don’t need to think it over!” Aryn snapped.
“He and I are together,” Sero said. “We are in love and have been for a year.”
“Oh.” That explained why Aryn might want to stay.
Silence followed.
Sero cleared his throat. “Did you have trouble finding Ores?”
“No trouble. The directions I was given were simple.”
Somehow Aryn’s face burned redder.
Jarne didn’t want to push his brother in such an obviously poor state.
But he didn’t want to just leave his brother here. Jarne had planned to leave tomorrow, but he could stay a few more days in order to give Aryn some time to think. He could try to persuade him again when Aryn didn’t look like he was on the verge of collapse. Then maybe Aryn could string more than a few words together.
Although, Jarne had never really spoken to Aryn before. He couldn’t remember a single conversation they’d ever had. Maybe Aryn just didn’t speak much. Still, Jarne would stay a few days to give Aryn time to reconsider.
This meant Jarne could stay away from Bordertown, from his parents, and from Sasha for a few days more.
He might also see Ketho again.
“Could you point me to the nearest inn?” Jarne rose.
Sero’s mouth tightened. “You left it this morning. I can make you a makeshift bed. Out of leaves and a sack. You can sleep in here somewhere.” He gestured to the room.
“Leaves and a sack?” Jarne had never slept on such things. “I suppose in this sort of small village, one cannot expect accommodation like in Bordertown,” he mused.
Sero smiled at him, a smile that looked kind of like a grimace. “You know, perhaps it would be better if you stayed with my parents. You can take my old room. It is mainly used for storage these days, but I think it still has my old bed.”
