The dim, golden warmth of the bath house was almost painful after their trek. Sarah shooed them towards the mid-heat tubs. “Strip and in.” Evan was tending the fire. He made a point of turning his back to them and focusing on feeding wood to the flames. Eleanor was grateful for the courtesy but still …
Matthew bumbled in before Cadan could speak. “Now lass, I don’t know what that’s about, but we’d miss you sorely if you didn’t come home.” Sarah added. “And Martha needs practice and guidance before we’ll be sending her to trade on behalf of the village.” “And yet you’ll send me.” Matthew looked confused. “Aye?” “I’ve …
She circled the room, peering and tweaking at the machines she passed, trying to make sense of them, trying to see what they did, and why, and how, and failing at every turn. “It’s not fair. There has to be a way of making use of these and making the village better.” Cadan watched her …
They both woke late the next morning, stiff and sore, and hobbled out to take a fresh day’s view of the damage. Cadan was whisked off by the group setting off to assess the Castle bridge, despite the sling easing pressure on his shoulder. Samuel collared Eleanor as an assistant scribe, making lists of missing …
Ingrid broke the spell between them. “While I’m glad these two are more-or-less whole, we still have damage to deal with. We’re going to need supplies, and soon. Who do we send to town? And how do we pay for the goods we’re going to need?” Sarah stood. “Questions for tomorrow, not tonight, and for …
For those who've read Sackcloth and Sky, a scene from Zain's point of view... The boy put the bowl on Zain's desk, yet another time-wasting exercise from the kitchen. He had more important business than eating unappetising little snacks. He breathed in, a memory rose. One of the gruel Lyra would bring him during those …
The dim, golden warmth of the bath house was almost painful after their trek. Sarah shooed them towards the mid-heat tubs. “Strip and in.” Evan was tending the fire. He made a point of turning his back to them and focusing on feeding wood to the flames. Eleanor was grateful for the courtesy but still …
The dim, golden warmth of the bath house was almost painful after their trek. Sarah shooed them towards the mid-heat tubs. “Strip and in.” Evan was tending the fire. He made a point of turning his back to them and focusing on feeding wood to the flames. Eleanor was grateful for the courtesy but still …
Cadan’s chair went flying as he bolted upright, pushing her behind him, tense and ready, as he focused on the shadows in the doorway. Shadows who resolved into Matthew and Evan as they moved inside, eyeing Cadan with a mixture of surprise and caution. Matthew spoke first. “You’re alright then? We were fearing the worst.” …
She found a low-backed wooden chair and set it by the hearth. “Take off your tunic and sit down. I want to see how bad your cuts are and get them clean.” He unbelted his tunic, then pulled it, and his undershirt, off draping them over the edge of a table to help them dry. …
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