Oathbreaker by J. Kathleen Cheney

Author:J. Kathleen Cheney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dream Palace Press

12

The morning brought the news that Juliane had been delivered of a daughter, and both she and the baby were fine. Amal made her regular trek down to her office in the Fortress but stopped at the infirmary to see the baby. She wasn’t too surprised to see Freja coming in her direction as soon as she entered the area. Figuring it would be best to get any confrontation over with, Amal intercepted her.

“Have fun?” Freja asked, her tone betraying a hint of irritation.

Amal suspected that Freja hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. “Nothing happened.”

“Jan told me you were in his room last he saw you.”

Amal sighed. “Yes, I was. He was showing me his sketch for how he thought the ice screw might work.”

She’d just handed Freja fodder for several possible sharp comments, but Freja chose to abstain. “Speaking of him, you should unlock that file for me.”

“I won’t be on Ten Down today,” Amal said. “I’ll try to remember next time I do get down there.” She didn’t have to be on Ten Down to talk to the Fortress, but she wasn’t sure if Freja knew that.

“Fine,” Freja said. “Come see the baby before you go.”

Since that was her intention, Amal didn’t argue. She followed Freja to the room that Juliane currently occupied. Her husband Philip sat on the edge of the bed as Juliane nursed the baby. She smiled up at Amal when she entered. “Have fun last night?”

Amal sighed. That was a good indicator of the way the rest of the day would go. If she’d actually slept with Dalyan, they wouldn’t tease her so much. It was because she’d shown interest in a man that she would be mocked all day. She had to wonder how much of that Dalyan was going to hear, but she didn’t let that worry sidetrack her. She duly admired the baby, endured the questions about whether she was looking for another one for herself, and managed to evade Freja’s continued questions.

It wasn’t until later that morning, when Eldana showed up in her office, that Amal knew something had gone amiss. Eldana stood in the office doorway, worry clear about her. “I think you need to talk to Dalyan.”

The tone of her voice warned Amal she was serious. Had he done something wrong? “What’s happening?”

Eldana sighed heavily. “Ponyo littered this morning, but the runt came with only three legs. Mother said to separate it out, let it die.”

Amal rose. This wasn’t usually within her purview. Other than traveling, she didn’t have much to do with the animals. “What are you talking about?”

“Dalyan’s arguing with Mother about saving it,” Eldana clarified. “He’s very upset. I thought since . . . well, that you could talk to him.”

Livestock management. She was being asked to take on livestock management. What had gotten into Dalyan’s head? “Can a dog with three legs survive?”

“Not as a sled dog,” Eldana said.

Sighing, Amal stepped out of the office to join Eldana. “I’ll talk to him.”

She made her way in Eldana’s company to the sheds, where she found Dalyan crouched protectively next to Ponyo.

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