Page 48 of A Winter Redemption
Ketho laughed at something Sero said, his face illuminated. Jarne’s chest squeezed.
Only seven days until Winter Solstice.
Only seven days.
Jarne counted each and every one. He’d cling to every moment he had with Ketho. The past couple of days had slipped by so fast. He hadn’t worked at all. He just wanted to spend time with Ketho whilst he could.
They’d gone for walks. Ketho had taken him to the valley and introduced Jarne to his extended family. They’d visited Edwin and Sinoe in their home. Then, at night, Ketho had sewn buttons and lace onto pieces of Jarne’s clothing. Jarne hadn’t minded.
He might not wear them out in Bordertown, but he’d treasure them. Because after Solstice, after they parted, they would be a memento of Ketho.
Only seven more days.
Jarne stared at the red liquid in his mug. He didn’t want it to end. But what could he do? He could think of no way for their relationship to extend beyond the Solstice. Ketho would never return to Bordertown, and Jarne’s whole life was there. He could stay longer, but he’d need to go back at some point.
He could visit Ores sometimes and source new materials. But it would be only snippets of time. Even so, it was better than never seeing Ketho again.
“That’s right, Ila. Knead the dough like that.” Sero stood beside Aryn as he instructed his sister.
A loud knock sounded at the door.
“I’ll get it.” Rhorton rose.
A moment later, Jarne heard a woman’s voice.
“Jarne,” Rhorton called out. “Someone for you.”
Jarne frowned. Who’d be in Ores for him? And from the look on Rhorton’s face, he seemed puzzled as well.
Feeling some slight trepidation, Jarne set down his mulled wine and approached the door. A woman stood there. It took Jarne a moment to place her.
“You’re the innkeeper,” Jarne said, straightening his jacket.
“Elise.” She smiled her toothy grin.
But Jarne’s gaze skipped behind her to the two children staring at him with wide, terrified eyes. Their arms wrapped around each other. The wind whipped snowflakes around them.
“What’s going on?” Jarne asked.
“How about you invite us in and I’ll explain?” Elise said.
Jarne stepped aside, and Elise ushered the children in and towards the fire.
Mila gasped and sprang up at the sight of the children but then seemed to recover. “Are they hungry? I’ll go find some food.” And she was off, going through Aryn and Sero’s cupboards.
“What’s going on, Elise?” Ketho asked.
She put her hands on her hips. “Two days ago, a man came by. From Bordertown. He said he’d been paid to escort the children to the inn and that the children were to go from there to Ores. But whoever sent him didn’t realise the inn and Ores were not the same place.” She huffed. “When I told him, he said he’d only been paid to take the children to the inn. So either I pay him or they’d have to go the rest of the way on their own.”
“Walk to Ores?” Sero blurted. “Alone?”
“I know.” Elise raised a hand, trying to placate Sero. “That’s why I escorted them.”
“But what are they doing in Ores?” Rhorton asked.
Mila placed cookies, bread, and butter before the wide-eyed children. Then she stood, staring down at them. The two girls sat on the counter, staring at the children, unusually quiet.
“This is all the information they had with them.” Elise held out a letter to Jarne.
