A Thieving Curse by Gonzalez Selina R

Author:Gonzalez, Selina R.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wyvern Wing Press
Published: 2021-04-07T00:00:00+00:00

22

RAELYN FELL INTO a routine over the next few weeks. Somehow, even in the dark cave, her body learned when to wake her up. She alternated her mornings. Every other day she helped Meredith after breakfast—washing dishes, repairing clothing, bringing in firewood, or assisting with food. It was exhausting at first, but she grew accustomed to it.

On the mornings that Raelyn assisted Meredith, the men worked on fashioning another small side cave into a room for Lucas. She learned that several of the caves had natural vents, and they used those for chimneys with varying degrees of success. The men worked diligently, carving out rock, cutting wood beams and planks and hammering them together. Jasper was as eager to get the talkative youth out of his room as Lucas was to escape Jasper’s snores.

On the other mornings, Raelyn either helped Peter with the goats or checked traps with Alexander. She didn’t like when something was caught because then he killed it and hauled it back to the cave where Peter and Lucas skinned it. It wasn’t that the concept was foreign, she just hated the fear in the animals’ eyes as they approached. She despised the sound as Alexander carefully and quickly used his knife to kill the creatures. But she accompanied him all the same because she enjoyed walking with him through the woods.

She liked telling him stories about the trouble she and Gareth used to get into, and the ways Gareth would get back at Nathaniel for ratting them out. She loved hearing Alexander laugh. And sometimes he reciprocated with stories about being raised by Jasper, Meredith, and Peter, and growing up with Lucas.

She’d laughed so hard her sides hurt when he told her about the time when he was thirteen, and six-year-old Lucas dared him to try hanging upside down like a bat. He’d then shown her the tiny dent and almost invisible hairline crack on his left horn from falling.

They would usually all eat dinner together, although sometimes Raelyn prepared a basket of food, and she and Alexander would eat in the woods. The days grew warmer and longer, the mountains more alive. She saw more animals, and once even caught a glimpse of a white stag bounding away through the forest.

Afternoons Raelyn occasionally spent alone, reading one of Alexander’s books or wandering near the cave. No predators came close to the entrance. “Smells like dragon,” Alexander explained. Other times she would help prepare supper. She got better and was in the way less. Peter taught her how to repair the rope net traps. Lucas talked her ear off at every opportunity, but she liked him. He was rambunctious and sweet and reminded her of Gareth—if Gareth had the mouth of a persistent songbird.

Nights were harder. She missed her family most when she was alone with the dark and the crackle of the fire. Questions plagued her weary mind. Did they miss her as much as she missed them? Did Frederick and Nathaniel know yet? What

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