‘It sounds as though he’s built a temporary family too.’ Her smile was sad. ‘I’m glad for it. I would hate to think of him alone in that place.’ She paused, watching Eda a moment. ‘He mentions you so frequently that we’ve all been bracing for a letter declaring his love and announcing that he won’t be returning to us after all.’
Eda leaned closer and said quietly, ‘The others don’t know of his plans to leave. He’s been very careful with whom he tells. I only learned of the fact recently myself.’
Wilona searched her eyes. ‘He clearly trusts you. My fears might prove true.’
‘You don’t need to worry about that,’ Eda said, her throat closing. ‘Commander Thornton is committed to returning to his family.’
Rising, Wilona walked over to the trunk by the wall and retrieved a piece of parchment, then returned to Eda. ‘This is the last letter we received from him.’ She opened it and held it out.
Eda took it and read the date at the top. It had been written three months earlier.
Wilona pointed to a section of the letter. ‘As you can see, it’s “Eda this” and “Eda that”.’
Eda was so busy admiring the beautiful handwriting that she had not registered the words themselves. Sure enough, there were mentions of her peppered throughout. She read all the way to the signature at the bottom, resisting the urge to run a finger over it. TheRin his name had a swirling tail that tapered off beneath the rest of the letters. It was obvious that he was the son of a cartographer. She handed it back to Wilona, who tucked it into her apron just as Roul entered the house.
He looked to where they were huddled in front of the hearth, eyes narrowing on Eda’s guilty expression. ‘Everything all right?’
She forced a smile. ‘Your mother was just making sure my hair doesn’t catch fire.’
Roul breathed out a laugh. ‘You are rather close to the flames.’ He sank down onto the trunk and leaned his head against the wall. ‘Father insists he must watch the horses while we eat.’
Wilona rose and went to fetch him some soup. ‘It’s necessary, I’m afraid.’
As she was handing him the bowl, Roul’s sisters walked in.
‘The house is ready for you,’ Lana said. Looking sympathetically at Eda, she added, ‘Except there’s no fire.’
‘I’ll be fine,’ Eda assured her.
Wilona spoke up at that. ‘I could set up a cot right there in front of the hearth.’
Roul shook his head. ‘She must sleep where it’ssafest, and the safest place for her outside Chadora’s walls is with me.’ Seeing his mother’s knowing expression, he added, ‘Not me specifically, but with the unit.’
Wilona pressed her lips together to stop from smiling. ‘I shall give you an extra blanket, dear.’
‘Blackmane, you can take first watch,’ Roul said, sitting atop the trunk to eat his soup. ‘I’ll take the second.’
Blackmane nodded, rose from the table, and stepped outside.
Taking advantage of his absence, Eda took his place at the table. ‘Can you teach me how to play?’ She wanted to give Roul time alone with his family.
‘It’s not a game for ladies,’ Tatum said, throwing one of the dice at her.
She caught it and threw it back at him. ‘Good thing there are no ladies at the table, then.’
‘I’ll teach you,’ Alveye said.
Eda listened as he explained the rules, then joined in the game.
As she played, her gaze drifted in Roul’s direction. His father had returned inside, and the family were gathered around the hearth, speaking in low voices. She loved how his sisters hung off Roul’s every word as he told stories and answered their questions. They reciprocated with stories of their own.
Sometimes, Roul would glance at Eda and their eyes would meet. They could say so much with a single glance. Ask a question. Give an answer. Make a joke. Laugh at it.
Around an hour after the sun disappeared, everyone at the table began to yawn. The fatigue had caught up to them. Hadewaye was first to depart, thanking Roul’s parents and bidding everyone goodnight. The others followed soon after, including Eda.
‘Will someone wake me when it’s my turn for watch?’ Eda asked Roul as she prepared to leave.
‘We’ll be arriving at Harlech Castle tomorrow, so we need you nice and rested,’ he replied. ‘No one will be waking you tonight.’
