At least the rain had stopped.
But the rogue cloud detaching and drenching onlythem? That was her new normal now. An anomaly that had started a few months ago.
When her emotions spiraled out of control, it affected the weather. Quite fitting, really. With her background in Meteorology and Climate Science, maybe she should analyze herself.
Ugh. She shut off her self-deprecating thoughts, her gaze fixing on the drenched idiots in their mud-streaked clothes.Witch, really?
This awful place should be sanctified with tons of holy water, and those buffoons tied in a vat of the stuff for days!
It was supposed to be a straightforward trip—find the village of Narakhet and locate a woman named Janika, who hopefully could tell her more about her past. Instead, she’d been chased by a bunch of twats wielding clubs, drenched by her own out-of-control abilities, and manhandled by a feral, silver-haired Neanderthal who thought claiming her like property was perfectly normal.
Now she would have to sneak around like a darn thief, just to find out if Janika had returned to the village. Man, this trip truly sucked.
Ash exhaled a frustrated breath, slipped her chilled hands into her wet coat pockets, and kicked a twig out of her way. Damp mist curled around her, and she shivered as she hurried through the woods toward Khetra House.
A half-hour later, the tranquil boarding house came into view. Nestled at the base of rugged cliffs and cedar-clad ridges, it served as a stopover for hikers and climbers. Its mismatched extensions gave the timeworn place a disjointed look, but its thick stone walls kept out most of the bone-deep mountain cold.
Ash sprinted inside, into warmth. Damp clothes clung to her skin, the chill seeping into her bones, and she shivered. Somewhere in the building, prayer bells tinkled softly, and woodsmoke mingled with the savory spice of dinner, drenching the air.
A single bulb flickered in the hallway, revealing once-white walls now yellowed with age. She didn’t trust the power to last the night and hoped the wheezing generator would hold.
In her dimly lit room, she locked the door, hastily pulled off her sodden clothes, and tossed them aside. Teeth clattering, she fumbled on her warm, faded blue gown, switched on the smallheater, and collapsed across her narrow bed with a weary sigh, dragging the faded quilt over her.
Then winced. The extra comforter under her did little to hide the lumpy mattress.
A soft rap on the door, and Ash stifled a groan.
Ash slipped off the bed, flexing her fingers, trying to ease the prickling sensations. She opened the door and smiled at the tiny, bird-like woman with her gray hair pulled into a low bun. Her bright woolen shawl in shades of autumn, draped over a white sari, slipped off one bony shoulder as she carefully balanced a tray in her wrinkled hands.
Next to her, Ash’s lean five-foot-eight frame felt awkwardly tall.
“Good evening, Ama Deni. You shouldn’t have, really.” She relieved her of the tray and carried it to the small wooden table by the window.
“I watch for you. I brought youdal bhat. Tasty.” The woman shuffled a step inside and stopped. Her faded brown eyes, much lighter than her weathered, parchment-thin skin, took in the dim room. Her brow creased. “You warm?”
“Yes, thank you.” Ash lifted the cloth from the tray, and the scents of lentil soup, spiced potato curry, steamed rice, tangy pickles, and crisp crackers rose in a warm, fragrant rush.
Food was the last thing on her mind, but now her mouth watered.
“You find woman?” Ama Deni asked.
“Not yet.” Ash didn’t want to scare her about her near-death by clubbing, so she evaded. “I got a little lost while enjoying my scenic walks.”
“If she’s healer, she won’t stay home. Always gone to help people. Maybe you find her tomorrow.”
Ash set the cloth aside and glanced back. “Yes, maybe.”
“Eat,beti.” She waved at the food. “Leave tray outside when you finish.” She left, closing the door behind her, and Ash locked it.
The old woman was a sweetheart. Most of the people here were—until the men thought you were a witch.
Sighing, she settled down to eat.
An hour later, after a hot shower in one of the two communal bathrooms, Ash hurriedly pulled on underwear, jeans, a long-sleeved thermal undershirt with a Henley over it, and finally her boots.
Her mobile beeped, and a smile started.Right on time, Mum.
She’d been texting nonstop since Ash arrived in the Himalayas over a week ago.
