Rye raised an eyebrow.
“And we need to dress you in something besides black robes,” Rosalind said.“You can’t stalk about looking like death incarnate.”
Rye danced his eyebrows at her.Rosalind rolled her eyes.
The twins started to fuss, and Aari turned her attention to them.
“We also need to make sure you can defend yourselves,” Roth added.
Rye glared at him.
“Not you,” Roth snorted.“Them,” he said, nodding at Aramal and Halithe.
Aramal folded his arms over his chest.“I can take care of myself,” he offered.
“Oh?”Roth asked.
Aramal shrugged.“Sickles and staves.”
“Ah,” Roth said, with respect in his tone.“Fair enough.”
Orval sighed.“Ifyouwouldn’t mind translating, please?”
Roth chuckled.“Many a warrior with a fine blade has underestimated a farm hand with a staff or sharp tool in their hands.”It was his turn to fold his arms over his chest.“But her, now,” he said, cocking his head to indicate Halithe.
Halithe blinked at the sudden attention.
“That is a bad idea,” Rye said.
“I insist,” Roth said.“This place is barely defensible.Even if all she learns are a few basics, and how to run and scream.To not freeze up.”
“We’ve all endured lessons,” Orval said.“She must too.”
Rye grunted, then shrugged.“So long as I can supervise.”
Aramal leaned forward, his elbows on the table.“There’s plenty needs fixing around here.Hearth Mother and I have a list.”
Amari smiled.“We do indeed.”
“Give me a few more days to sort out the workshop and then we can see what tools and supplies we need.”Aramal said.
Sounds came from the courtyard, loud, eager voices greeting Yfin.“To work, then,” Amari scooped up Lara and Rosalind did the same with Dalan.“Honestly, Orval, you need a proper office,” she said as she swooped out of the room.
The others filed out, scraping the benches on the stone floor and shifting the table.Halithe was last; she paused in the doorway, suddenly curious.“Hearth Father, why here?There are empty rooms aplenty.”
Orval looked up and a slow smile crossed his face.He held one fingers up, asking for silence.
Halithe waited.In the quiet, she heard sounds from the kitchen.Babies cooing, Lady Amari humming softly as she rattled pans.
“Hearth sounds,” Orval murmured.“Soft bits of peace in a turbulent world.”
“Leeda!”Rye barked from outside.
Halithe jumped and hurried to the courtyard.
Roth and Yfin were out in the yard with the others, handing out wooden swords and shields and starting drills.They were all grins and it looked like fun.She’d never been allowed to even hold a sword.
Rye gave them a wide berth as he started around the courtyard.“I see what Roth means.No walls, no real security.”Rye shrugged.“Work with what we have.”
