“Sigmore, how about you go and stay with Hetti,” Koradan said, and Lynette looked his way, wondering why he’d chosen Sigmore in particular. She hadn’t got a feel for the rest of the salases, except to know that Rodgard was a sour and stern sort of man. But there must have been something about Hetti’s tearful expression and nervous demeanour that meant Sigmore was the right man for the job.
“That would be wonderful,” Sigmore said. “I’m very grateful.”
Which left just one salas to be accommodated. There was another pause, while a number of people no doubt considered their options.
“I wouldn’t object to someone coming to stay with me and my family,” Vernon said. “Though I’d have to warn you that with my broken arm, I’m not going to be particularly good company. But if you want food and a bed, we can provide that well enough. My children have their father back tonight, and for that, I’m grateful enough to try for a bit of light conversation.”
“I’ll come and have dinner with you,” Rodgard volunteered. Over the course of the afternoon, Lynette had learned to tell the salases apart via the markings on their chests, though she would still have been hard pressed to do so from their faces alone. “Melowin, I’d suggest you go with Mitch, and Rigolard, you go with Peter.”
That had been easier than Lynette had expected. “Okay, then. Thank you everyone, and get plenty of rest tonight. It’s going to be another long day tomorrow. And thank you to the families who are hosting our guests. I’m sure everyone is keen to get home, so goodnight, and I’ll see you all tomorrow morning.”
The crowd of people began to slowly disperse, but Lynette noticed the salases lingering in the village square, despite having been assigned homes to go to. She meandered over, wondering if there was some issue that had been overlooked. But as she arrived beside them, she realised exactly what that problem was.
“I’m sorry, I hadn’t thought about where the vreki would be spending the night,” she said to them. “Is there anything in particular they need?”
“Last night, you mentioned a barn that we could stay in, in case of rain,” Koradan said. “Is that still available?”
“Yes, of course,” Lynette said. “In autumn we fill it with hay and in winter, the goats have access to it when it starts snowing, but in the middle of spring, it’s basically empty. If the vreki want to stay in there, they’re more than welcome.”
“That sounds like a good option,” Koradan said. “Give us about fifteen minutes to get them settled, and then I’ll come by your house. Which one is yours?”
“Oh, right,” Lynette said, realising she hadn’t actually told him. “Down this street,” she said, pointing to the one on her left. “Eighth house on the left, with the blue front door.”
“No problem. I’ll see you soon, then.”
Lynette headed off down the street. After she’d gone a short way, it occurred to her that Paul should be coming with her, and she looked back, concerned that he’d wandered off with the salases… but there he was, meandering along a metre or two behind her. His hands were in his pockets, his eyes on the sky, no doubt reliving his ride on the vreki this morning. She hoped he wasn’t going to take it too badly when the salases left.
“Are you okay?” she asked him. “You must have had quite a scare today.”
“I’mfine,” he said, with a roll of his eyes. “Geez, stop worrying about me.”
“I’m your mother,” she said, inserting a bit more warmth into her voice. “It’s my job to worry about you.” She tried to put her arm around his shoulder, but he shrugged her off.
“How about you just let me grow up for five minutes.”
Lynette sighed. “Paul, I don’t-”
“I’m nearly an adult. But you won’t let me start learning about the mines. You won’t let me travel to the next village without someone going with me. You remind me every time I chop wood to be careful with the axe. I’m surprised you even let me start a fire, in case I burn myself. There are other boys in the village who are already learning a trade and hunting in the forest.” He muttered something else that she couldn’t quite make out, and she decided it was probably the wiser decision to not ask what he’d said.
They arrived at their front door and Lynette pushed it open. She went to move aside and let Paul in first… but then thought better of it. By his own reasoning, he was perfectly capable of holding his own door open. She went in, setting the lantern on the table. “Let’s get a fire going. We can start heating water for a bath, and I’ll reheat some leftover stew.”
“There won’t be enough of it, if Koradan’s coming as well.”
“I can add some extra vegetables. And we’ve got plenty of bread to go with it. Could you fill the boiler?”
With a longsuffering sigh, Paul slouched off to get a bucket and fill it from the barrel out the back of the house.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The boiler was beginning to steam and the stew was simmering nicely when Lynette heard a knock at the door. Despite having invited Koradan to stay, she felt a wave of trepidation at the idea of having him inside her house. Had it been a mistake to invite him? What on earth were they going to say to each other? She should be polite to a guest in her own house, but he was… Well, she wasn’t sure what he was, really. An enemy? A disinterested passer-by? A demon? She winced even as she thought it. The idea sat uncomfortably in her mind, but she was slowly being forced to realise that the salases were far more than generically evil demons.
“Mum? Are you going to let him in?” Paul asked, from his seat at the table. He was sharpening the kitchen knives on a whetstone, and Lynette had to repress the urge to tell him to be careful.
“Of course,” she said, pretending nothing was wrong. When she opened the door, Koradan almost filled the frame. She experienced a small moment of shock, seeing his black body looming out of the darkness. She’d lit two more lamps around the room, but the light didn’t penetrate out the doorway.
“Hello again,” Koradan said, with an expression that was both shrewd and hesitant, as if he expected her to kick him out before he’d even made it through the door.
“Hello. And welcome,” Lynette said, trying hard to sound cheerful. She stood back, holding the door open for him. “Please, come in.”
