Page 21 of Once Upon a Woven Wish
The door chime sounded followed by the stomping of boots on the doormat.“Ah, Fullhide.It’s a grand afternoon out there, eh?”The man belly-laughed at that.
Walter Ironroot stomped up to the counter, giving her nothing more than a head nod in greeting.That was all Serena needed to scurry out of the merchant’s shop, her heart in her throat.
If the king was coming here, because he’d heard of the things she’d done…thewishesshe’d made…well, she wasn’t sure what was going to happen to her and her family.
Dread pooled in her stomach as she climbed into the saddle and headed for home.
Chapter 8
Serenawasonedgethe moment she returned home and throughout the rest of the evening.She was grateful, though, she had chores to keep her busy while she thought about everything Mr.Fullhide said to her in his shop.He practically accused her of running up to the mountain to the Well of Wishes.
Which she had, but it was still unnerving.She didn’t want him to know.
She didn’t wantanyoneto know.
Maris chattered away about nothing while they ate their rabbit stew and fresh bread.Papa was quiet through the meal as he listened to her sister make useless conversation.
It grated on Serena’s nerves.
But she remained silent.Commenting appropriately when necessary.When at last the meal was over—their only one of the day—she picked up the wooden bowls and busied herself in the kitchen cleaning up.Papa wandered in.
“Do you need help?”he asked.
“I’m good here.”She managed a smile, her hands in the warm soapy water.She’d boiled a pot of water to warm it and wash the dishes.
He lingered, hesitation pouring off him as though he had something else to say.
“Did you finish your book?”she asked, trying to make small talk and perhaps find out why he continued to stand there looking at her with an unreadable expression.
“No, no yet.”
“Oh, which one is it?”She rinsed a bowl and set it aside to dry, then started washing another one.
“One of the old lore books.You know the one about wishes?”
Her heart climbed its way to her throat.“I can’t recall.”
“The one about the three wishes and the price the wisher pays for them being granted,” he said.
She paused her washing to look at him over her shoulder.He gave her a weak smile.“Merely an old folktale, that’s all.”
But she wondered why he brought it up.Seemed like he was trying to tell her something.Or perhaps get her to reveal some bit of information.
Yes, Papa.I found the Well of Wishes because I needed to pay the taxman.Because without the gold, we would be homeless, starving, and cast out into the cold and you would have died.
The words flickered through her mind, but she didn’t say them.
“What news from the village square?”
Ah, so there it was.He was interested in the town gossip.“The usual.Mr.Fullhide was his normal crusty self.”She forced a laugh at that.
She dare not tell him about the king’s visit.There was no need to add more stress to their already tension-filled cabin.
“I traded the pelts for flour, a pound of sugar, tea, and some dried meat.That should help us get through the winter,” she added.
“Very good, Serena.”He left the kitchen, sounding a bit forlorn.As though he wanted to say more, but was unsure what.
Serena heaved a sigh as she finished the dishes.
