Page 5 of Court of Winter

Cailis was still watching him. Poised. Ready.

He scoffed. “Another time then.”

Vorl flexed his wings and gave me one last warning look before he shot into the sky.

The energy thrumming from my sister evaporated. “He’s a fucking prick, that one,” she said through clenched teeth.

“That he is.”

Against the impending storm, Vorl’s outline looked like a phantom on the wind. He flew high and fast, already so far away that he was a small figure in the sky. No, not a figure. He was more like a dark demon who had come from the underworld to wreak havoc on my soul.

“Are you okay?” Cailis helped me collect my remaining tools.

“Fine. I’m fine,” I said firmly.

She studied me, her eyes darting down my throat and along my body even though my worn clothing and thick cloak hid my limbs and torso. My neck was exposed, though, but Vorl’s illusion affinity was strong and hid the bruises that were no doubt blooming across my skin as assuredly as my acorlis needed harvesting.

I gave my sister what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “Go back inside and stay warm. I’ll just be a moment. It won’t take long to dig them up.”

“But—”

“It’s fine, Cailis. Truly, it is.” I forced a bright smile. “I don’t always need saving. I’m not hurt. See?” I held out my arms and tilted my neck even though my throat ached. It was such a familiar feeling that I barely noticed it. Choking me was one of Vorl’s favorite pastimes when he got me alone. It had been ever since we were children.

Cailis’s frown remained, but after looking me over a second time, she finally acquiesced.

When she disappeared back inside, and the door had shut firmly behind her, guilt spread through my veins like wildfire. Cailis had tried so many times to save me from Vorl because none of the other villagers knew how the male brute tormented me. I’d tried to tell them. Once. But Vorl’s retaliation had quickly put any further uprising from me to rest. He was our village archon after all, and he held more power than I ever would.

Still, it didn’t stop me from fighting back every time he pinned me, but I was never strong enough to break free, especially since I held no magic, and the bastard knew that. It was no doubt why he’d chosen me as his favorite victim.

Alone in our yard, I tightened my grip on my tools as snow skittered on the wind, flying and blowing as the gale let loose.

When I stepped over my garden’s magical barrier, though, the gale vanished. Warmth flowed across my skin as my small patch of land welcomed me into its fold. I took a moment, reveling in my garden’s energy as it seeped into my soul.

I used it to calm my breathing, because I hated being the weak one. The one who was different. The one who wasless.

A true defective.

But I was good at gardening, and it would keep us from starving.

At the end of the day, that was what mattered most.

CHAPTER2

The storm raged above my garden as my fingers ran through the black dirt that felt as soft as butter. I crooned and sang softly to the acorlis as I plucked one after another of the ripe large root vegetable from its underground vine.

Its bright orange skin shone like the sun as I stuffed each vegetable deep into the pockets of my cloak. As I slashed through the vine’s bounty, I thanked it for its life that would sustain our bellies through the long winter.

Despite the angry storm, I worked until it was so dark that I could barely see the thick vine snaking through the soil. I’d pulled over twenty feet of it and still hadn’t found the end.

“You grew quite deeply into our Mother, didn’t you, my friend?” I murmured to it, then stood and brushed dirt from my pants and cloak. “I shall have to finish tomorrow, though. For now, I think we should both rest. Don’t you?”

I gave the acorlis a gentle pat before hurrying to the shed to grab a large bucket. Snow and ice needled my skin when I stepped over my garden’s barrier. It was so cold that for a moment, my breath caught.

Closing my eyes against the storm’s biting sting, I carefully made my way back to my garden. Once the bucket was overflowing with the succulent vegetable, I struggled to stand under its heavy weight.

Wind raged outside of the field, but despite the gale, my garden shone like an oasis, the colors vibrant and beautiful amidst the winter landscape.

“Goodbye, my friends. I shall see you tomorrow,” I called when I reached my garden’s edge.

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