Of Ice and Storms: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (Selah Book 3) by Ella Walker Henderson

Author:Ella Walker Henderson [Henderson, Ella Walker]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-12-05T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

In the early morning, they gathered once more at the long table.

When William had woken in the night, he had been certain that the land swayed. His head hadn’t adjusted to the steadiness of ground. It no longer happened when he walked, but lying down, he had felt the bed rock.

He drank deeply of the hot tea, this time without the burn of Riskon’s fire. It felt as if it would steady him.

Their seats filled around the table. Shawn hadn’t stayed in the same house, but at Kylina’s invitation, joined them again for breakfast.

Merrit was the last to take his place. He greeted them all cheerily. “Now Kylina, don’t you have another delegation to babysit? Or do you enjoy us that much more?”

Kylina arched a high brow. “It helps that you’ve made the acquaintance of a friend already, as arrogant as your captain may be.”

Merrit grinned. “I bet you’re over there flattering them as well, telling them they’re the fun ones when we all know it isn’t true.”

“No, that wouldn’t be how I’d flatter them,” Kylina said. “Maybe I’m telling them that they’re the interesting ones.”

Merrit gave mock offense. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Kylina winked. “I would. But don’t worry. I’d rather be with the fun and interesting ones.”

From out of the kitchen, Minsa carried a plate of hot cakes with sausage and sweet syrup.

William downed his first mouthful. “How do you keep pigs to make sausages? I expected more fish.”

“We have barns dug into the earth,” Minsa said.

Shawn held up a forkful. “You would have seen similar things around Briska.”

“Is the ground ever defrosted enough to dig?” William asked.

“It’s a long process,” Kylina said. “An expensive amount of coal is used to dig one. But we wait for high summer. It’s the warmest month, and there’s usually one day when the ice weakens. Some years we see the ground. Most we don’t. But there’s a bit of a thaw that helps with digging.”

Selah was quieter during the meal. She watched Kylina more than anyone, as if still trying to take the other woman’s measure. William wasn’t sure whether to be encouraged that they had spoken alone the night before or wary.

Once the meal ended, they gathered their things and donned layers of warm clothes. Selah spoke to Shawn before she joined them. William tamped down the spark of jealousy. Neither one seemed interested in the other. William felt ridiculous, as if he wanted to stake a claim where he had none.

He followed Kylina outside. Teams of white and gray dogs led two sleds. A driver stood beside one.

“Where’s the second driver?” William asked.

Kylina raised her hand. “Right here. Load your bag up in the back of mine if you’d like.”

William hefted his bag onto the shelf in the rear of the sled. Merrit did the same on the other. Selah followed into the snow soon enough, and she joined William and Kylina.

Kylina stood in the front of the sled with her hands on the thick railing. William joined her, and Selah moved behind them.

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