Barren by Peter V. Brett

Author:Peter V. Brett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2018-09-24T16:00:00+00:00

4

Far as We Need

284 ar

The Watches stopped bringing their children to Town Square on market day, but it didn’t make Selia’s job any easier. Without supplies and labor from Southwatch, work slowed to a crawl rebuilding the schoolhouse, and without Anjy, Raddock, and Deardra to help teach, the bulk of the extra work fell on Selia.

She took it in her stride, refusing to let problems of her making deny the children of Tibbet’s Brook a proper education. She didn’t know what rumors spread in Southwatch, but the rest of town acted as if nothing was amiss. The Watches had always been queer folk, prone to righteous fits, and the Fishers hadn’t expected their Speaker’s children to teach reading and arithmetic forever.

Selia rang the great bell, signaling the end of classes for the day. As the children filed out, Lory handed Selia a covered basket. “Jahn Messenger leaves this afternoon with his caravan. Made them butter cookies for the ride. Make sure to deliver them before you tend the shopping.”

Selia took the basket, finding Jahn and her father talking amiably as the last of the Duke’s rice, lumber, produce, and fish was loaded onto the carts. Jahn cut an impressive figure in his armor, polished to shine in the midday sun. Isak Fisher was with them, Raddock at his heel.

She slowed her approach, wondering if she might delay until they left, but the Messenger caught sight of her. “Selia! Come give Uncle Jahn a hug before I tread into the naked night!”

He swept Selia off her feet, and even the glares of Raddock and Isak could not keep a smile from her face. Jahn had been Edwar’s apprentice long ago and was treated like family when he came to town. He crushed her to his breastplate, the smell of oil and metal and leather so like her father’s that his embrace felt like home.

Jahn set her down. “Getting hard to lift you from your feet, girl. Grown tall as your father. Give good strong children to the Brook.”

Isak coughed.

“Wouldn’t be sure of that,” Raddock grumbled.

Jahn cast an irritated glance his way. Raddock was wise enough to drop his eyes, and Jahn let it go. “Do I smell your mother’s butter cookies?”

Selia excused herself quickly, wanting to be far from the Fishers. It was late afternoon, but there were still a handful of Watches in the market making last-minute purchases. A group of them noticed her and turned their backs. Creator only knew what Jeorje had told them. She drifted to another row of stalls before anyone took note.

The sight greeting her there was no better. Peat Orchard offering a shiny apple to Deardra Fisher with an exaggerated bow. “. . . almost as sweet as you.”

Single young men courting Deardra, so pretty and well monied, was nothing new. But no one ever caught her attention, despite her claims of wanting a husband. Even Peat got little more than an eye roll and a patient smile—until Deardra spotted Selia.

“Always the charmer.” She

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