Page 47 of A Winter Redemption
“I don’t,” Jarne said. “Not really. But Edwin and Sinoe have one. And they seem to care about it.” He paused. “I think it is…kind to care about what others do, even if you aren’t particularly interested in it.” He said the words like he wasn’t sure. Like it was almost a question.
“I suppose it is.” Ketho had never thought about it so explicitly.
“I’m trying to be better,” Jarne said, gaze tracing up along a bare tree.
“Better at what?”
“Being kind. I’m trying to think more of others and their needs.”
“That’s good,” Ketho said.
“I would like to make friends,” Jarne blurted. “I’ve never really had any. Or people I care about. I’d like that to change.” He gave a swift nod, his jaw clenching.
Ketho wanted to hug him. He couldn’t imagine how difficult that was to confess, let alone how difficult that sort of change was to make.
But before he did any of that, he needed to say something.
“I’m sorry for rushing off the other day,” Ketho said. “It was rude, and you deserved better.”
Jarne smiled tightly. “No doubt you had more interesting places to be. Perhaps other interesting people to meet,” Jarne said, voice tight.
Ketho didn’t know what to say. Saying yes would be a lie; saying no meant he had to confess to the panic he’d felt getting so close to Jarne. And he didn’t want to explain that. “It’s complicated. I just… I just needed some time,” he said, keeping it vague.
Jarne nodded, although his eyes told Ketho he didn’t really understand.
“But I have decided to stay in Ores until Winter Solstice,” Ketho said. “We have such a short time together. We can enjoy ourselves until you leave for Bordertown.”
“I’d like that,” Jarne said and smiled, the first genuine smile he’d given Ketho today.
Then Ketho would continue his wandering ways. Jarne would return to the city. They’d both be happy and free. Everything would be fine.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
“That’s enough flour,” Aryn said to Sero’s sisters, Ila and Ethred.
“I think it needs more,” Ethred said and tried to add more flour to the bowl.
Aryn grabbed the container from Ethred’s hands, smiling at her. “No, that’s enough.”
“Maybe it needs more of this,” Ethred said, picking up a jar.
“We’ve already added cinnamon,” Aryn said and took that away too.
Ila dipped her tiny hand into the bowl, grabbed a pinch of the dry mixture, and then shoved it into her mouth. “Yuck!”
Aryn laughed. “It’ll taste different later.”
Jarne smiled. Jarne, Mila, and Rhorton sat on armchairs, watching Aryn and the girls in the kitchen. Flour, sugar, and berries lay scattered across the counter, spilling over onto the floor.
“It’s just a little family Solstice gathering,” Aryn had said to Jarne when he’d invited him and Ketho. “We’ll be teaching the younglings how to bake Solstice cookies.” He’d given a wry grin. “It’s going to be a mess.”
Aryn hadn’t lied.
Sero and Ketho handed out mugs of mulled wine as they spoke to each other.
Jarne sipped from his mug, savouring the taste. He still had trouble believing he’d been invited to this. Normally, Aryn didn’t include him in family gatherings. Jarne just saw the group or heard them together from his room.
But Aryn had invited him today. Warmth filled Jarne’s body as he sipped more of the mulled wine.
