“Right, because I’m such a disappointment.”
He nodded before noticing that he had already questioned that conclusion. The furrow in his brow was deep enough I feared he’d never completely smooth it out. He glared at me like he thought I was responsible for his addled thoughts. “Why, in Ward’s name, do I think you are a disappointment? You are such a talented smith. I’ve seen that over and over again.”
“You and everyone else in the village.”
“What is going on, Alan?” This time there was no belligerence, just honest confusion.
“Powell. He used a magical charm to make the entire village turn against me for years. Mina helped me find and break it.”
“When was this?”
“The night before last. But according to Mina, the opinions that have been reinforced by the charm so many times over the years won’t just fade away overnight. That’s why she wanted me to come to the festival. People have to start questioning their own actions, and seeing me here helps.”
“That’s why she wants you to participate in the weight-throw this afternoon. It is hard to keep thinking that you are incompetent when you are winning a competition. Well, one reason, at least.”
“What other reason do you think she has?”
Cole laughed. “Do I really need to spell it out for you?”
I had no idea what he found so amusing. “Cole.”
“She wants to watch you show off.”
“Oh.” I smiled. “Maybe I should enter more than the one competition.”
Cole rolled his eyes. “Come on, let’s find some food before the ladies start worrying what happened to us.” He paused, then pulled me into a back-slapping embrace. “It’s good to have you back, even if you never really left.”
Twenty-Two
Mina
???
The weight-throwwas like nothing I had seen back in Haiwella. I imagined several of the other villages I had visited over the years included similar competitions in their Midsummer Festivals, but such a thing wouldn’t be safe in the streets of the city.
Each contestant took turns picking up a heavy iron ball by the attached handle, spinning around, and then releasing it. To my amazement, everyone sent the weight flying down the length of the green that had been cleared for the event, and not sideways into the crowd. Cole and Phillip had already taken their turns—in fact, Phillip had the longest throw so far. When Alan stepped up for his turn, I understood the temporary insanity that had overcome Gemma and Hannah earlier. The crowd cheered—even the ripples of surprise when people realized who was up next didn’t dim the sound—but I cheered louder. Alan picked up the weight, and his eyes met mine across the distance.
I put my fingers in my mouth and whistled just like a wagon-driver had taught me when I was fourteen. The shrill sound cut through the din clearly, and Alan grinned. Then he began to spin.
Oh my.
I had been aware of his strength from the beginning. I had seen him with a hammer in hand. I knew the feeling of his arms aroundme. But none of that prepared me for this. He handled the weight as if it were nothing more than a pebble, his movements smooth and practiced.
He released the weight, but I didn’t watch it soar over the field. I couldn’t take my eyes off Alan.
The noise surged as the crowd reacted to Alan’s throw, reminding me that I stood in the open, a village’s worth of people around. This was neither the time nor the place for the thoughts I was entertaining. But I could at least cross over to where he stood and throw my arms around him. Plenty of contestants had received similar congratulations.
Alan laughed against my hair while I hugged him, completely at ease for the first time all day. “Looks like a lack of practice wasn’t an issue.”
“Did you win?”
“There are still a few more competitors to go. We should clear out so the next can take his turn.”
I took that to mean that Alan was in the lead currently. After watching him, I wasn’t surprised. I moved to his side, keeping one arm around his waist.
He curled his arm over my shoulders, and we walked toward the crowd. Halfway there, Alan’s pace faltered. “Damn it.”
He was looking out into the crush of people, but I couldn’t tell what had caught his attention. “What’s wrong?”
