Page 55 of A Winter Redemption
“Shouldn’t you be busy with your children?” Ketho asked.
“They’re resting. We thought it best that we’re not always hovering over them.” Sero smiled. “And I thought you might need someone to talk to.”
Ketho didn’t want to talk. Sero crossed his legs, sitting opposite from him. The cave didn’t belong to an oread in the valley, hence why he’d taken it. It had no mats, supplies of food, or any basic comforts that oreads usually had.
“You should keep an eye out for nymph sickness with the younglings,” Ketho said. “They might have it from living in Bordertown.”
“Is that what it’s called?” Sero asked.
“It’s what they called it in Bordertown,” Ketho said.
“They have been sick, and we do think it is nymph sickness, but they are improving quickly, so hopefully it will disappear soon.” Sero picked up a stick and poked the fire.
“How did you know I’d be here?” Ketho asked.
“Oread gossip. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Ketho’s hands tightened. “How’s Jarne?”
Sero leaned back onto his hands. “I’m sorry to say that he looks as miserable as you. He mopes, barely eats, and barely leaves his room. Mother is worried and blames herself. Something about giving him bad advice.” Sero stared at Ketho.
Ketho looked away.
“So what happened?” Sero asked.
“You should know more than anyone.”
“Should I?” Sero asked.
“It’s the same thing that happened with you. He developed feelings, and I don’t do feelings. I don’t make attachments. I wander and am fickle. I’m—”
“Happy and free,” Sero interrupted. “Yes, I know. But if you don’t mind me saying so, you do not look happy. And I don’t think what happened between you and me is what is happening between you and Jarne now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“When we ended, you left,” Sero said. “You just left. You apologised, looked guilty, and then you left to wander the mountains. But you never looked miserable or heartbroken.” Sero leaned towards him. “And you didn’t sit in a poorly ventilated, smoke-filled cave only a short distance from Ores.”
“I don’t know why you’re getting involved in this,” Ketho said. “It’s not like you like Jarne.”
“Don’t change the topic. And Jarne isn’t so bad,” Sero said. “Anymore. He and Aryn are getting along. And he helped us. I think his time in Ores has done him good. He’s made changes.” Sero stared intensely into Ketho’s eyes. “I know you’ve seen it. I know you’re a part of that.”
Sero leaned towards Ketho, gazing at him across the fire. “And I think you’re behaving differently from when we ended. I think you feel something different for Jarne.”
“Maybe I’m just upset from breaking someone’s heart. Again.” Ketho stared at the dirt floor.
“I might believe you if I didn’t see the way you looked at him.”
Ketho huffed.
“I know how you looked at me. And it isn’t anything how you look at him. So don’t tell me you don’t care for him or I’ll call you a liar.”
“It doesn’t matter how I feel,” Ketho said. “I’m not doing that again.”
“What are you talking about? Not doing what again?”
Ketho didn’t want to go into it. But for the second time in only a few days, he found himself telling his story. This time, the words came more freely. He talked of how he’d loved, trusted, and relied on his brother. And how that had been used against him.
How his brother had used his love to make Ketho steal and keep him in Bordertown, even whilst he’d been horribly sick.
