“You know, if you showed more of that to your trainees, they might not dislike you so much,” Valenna said, setting the bowls on a round table by the stove.
“More of what?” Evander asked, shutting the door behind him and shaking out his wet hair.
“Don’t tell me the man who spent a week’s wages so one little girl didn’t have to work for Haldir couldn’t give an encouraging word to a young trainee.”
Evander sat on the bed and pulled off his muddy boots. “I’m training them for war. There won’t be any second chances or kind words on the battlefield.”
“I thought you were teaching them how to train dragons for war. Cobblepine is neutral.”
“When the dragons are gone, Cobblepine won’t serve any purpose. Cadmus and Marwenna will consume it. They would have already, if they knew where it was.”
Valenna was too tired to argue with him. She opened the little cast-iron stove and prodded the fire, wondering again what her life would look like if Evander hadn’t left, or if she had followedhim. She could think of a few ways to put this room to better use than a quiet refuge to eat dinner in.
Evander lay on his back and let out a long sigh.
“Come and eat,” Valenna urged.
“Later,” he grunted.
“Is your head bothering you?” Valenna crossed the room, sat beside him, and studied his face. His hair had fallen over his closed eyes. Tentatively, she brushed it aside.
He opened his eyes and looked at her, his brow creased. Suddenly uncomfortable, Valenna cleared her throat and stood, smoothing her blouse.Outside the casement windows, thunder rumbled.
Here she was, getting sidetracked again. This man left her. Broke her heart. She needed to keep that in the forefront of her mind, or she would fall for him all over again and be heartbroken a second time.
“Is your head hurting?” she asked again.
“No,” he replied.
“I’ll fix you some tea with your medicine. It’ll help.”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
“I know you, Vander. You’re lying.”
He let out a short laugh and draped one arm over his face. “Alright. There are tiny miners chipping away at the inside of my skull.”
“There’s a vivid picture,” she said, poking at the fire again and setting the kettle on the stove. “Do we need to talk more about my magic?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Well, then,” she said, lighting a match and touching it to a lantern on the wall, “you can explain how you know about Raska.”
“You mean the giant bird who brings dead bodies to Marwenna, Queen of Ashkendor, in return for her own elongated life becauseshe was cut off from her homeland and must subsist on the queen’s life-giving magic?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve never heard of her.”
“Vander,” Valenna groaned, slumping into a chair by the stove. She sipped her soup. It was thick and tasted of beef and beer, but her appetite had soured.
“I’m being sullen, aren’t I?”Evander asked.
“A little.”
“And you think it’s because I’m angry at you, don’t you?”
“A little.”
