“That would be lovely.” I cleared my throat. “Thank you for being so welcoming.”
She frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be? It is our way to be kind and courteous to those in need.”
“Yes, I know. I was told of the oath of the beast fae.”
“I am happy to have your assistance. I get so very little, other than Gweeda.”
Gweeda made some sort of grunt but didn’t look up from where she shaped her dough into loaves.
“I appreciate that. But not everyone is glad I’m here, I fear.”
And I worried that there would be many more protests when Redvyr decided to announce that we were mates. My thighs clenched, my heart speeding at the memory of last night.
“Are you alright?” Shearah asked as she plucked an onion from the basket to chop. “You seem flushed and your pulse is racing.
Those damn beast fae senses! They knew everything.
“I’m fine. Excited to cook my stew. Are those jars the stores for cooking?”
The shelves seemed old and well-used, but the jars did not. They’d likely carried them from Vanglosa. They’d made this space perfect for food storage and cooking the meals for the clan, having added plenty of seating for all to join in the chamber.
“Yes, you will find everything you need there. There’s another cauldron as well, and the water is in the jugs on the ground.”
“Perfect. Where do you get the fresh water? I didn’t see a stream or water source as we came in yesterday.”
“There’s a ground spring in a small cave set on a cliff on the other Sister.”
“The other Sister?”
“That is what these two mountains are called on either side of Ghasta Vale. The Sisters protect us from the harsher winter winds. And they provide.” She gestured around us. “The water well, as we call it, is set in a much smaller cave, too small to be used for shelter really. Plus you can sense magick there, and we beast fae don’t much like magick.”
She gasped and stopped chopping, looking up at me. “I apologize. I didn’t mean you, of course.”
“No need for an apology. I understand what you mean.”
There could be some magickal creatures living there—cave sprites or naiads.
I walked over to the shelves and peeked into one of the jars, surprised at the aromatic scent that wafted out.
“This is dill weed, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” She smiled at my obviously shocked look. “We dry all of the herbs during summer, enough to last the winter. One thing you’ll learn is that beast fae love food.”
“Oh, my,” I exclaimed excitedly, opening jar after jar. “Fennel seed, pepper leaves and sea salt rocks. You have so many amazing herbs and seasonings. You even have Esher Wood mushrooms?”
It was Gweeda who piped up this time. “We may be beast fae but we aren’t barbarians.”
“Indeed, you are not,” I added. “These mushrooms are a delicacy in the Borderlands. I could only rarely get them.”
“Gweeda has a special relationship with a wraith fae at the market in Belladum.” Shearah added her purple vegetable and diced onions to the cauldron hanging over the fire.
“This makes me so happy. Now I can make a delicious stew. With Gweeda’s wonderful bread, it will be the perfect meal.”
Gweeda grunted and kept pounding at her dough. Shearah and I shared a smile before I got to work, feeling grateful to finally be of some use.
Chapter 21
REDVYR
