Page 32 of Shadows of Winter
“I don’t think nobles date beneath them.” Kaylina hoped her brother wouldn’t have his feelings hurt. Even if they’d been societal equals, he wouldn’t have had a chance with her.
“I’ll offer to cook for her.” Frayvar winked and ran to the doors, opening one wide with a smile. “My lady, come in to the Deep Sea Honeybee.”
“We haven’t decided on a name yet,” Kaylina whispered.
“I like that one. You’ll make mead, and I’ll specialize in seafood dishes. It might be different fish up in these cold oceans, but I can adapt my recipes.”
“Good morning. I’m Ghara Saybrook.” She had a melodious voice, and Frayvar's eyes grew even more appreciative. “I brought a lease for you to look over and sign, if it’s agreeable to you.” She drew a few papers from her satchel. “You are the Korbians, correct?”
“Yes, I’m in charge.” Kaylina tapped her chest, grimacing at a cobweb that draped one of the buttons of her blouse. She turned the tap into a brushing motion and noticed she’d buttoned the blouse lopsidedly in the dark that morning, leaving a gap of skin visible. Wonderful. “I’m Kaylina. That’s my brother, Frayvar.”
“I’m so pleased to meet you, ma’am. Lady. Uhm.” Frayvar looked at Kaylina, as if she might be more versed in how to address the stuffy northern nobility, despite all the books he’d read.
Kaylina had a feeling most of Frayvar’s knowledge had dumped out of his brain when Ghara walked in.
“The divine beauty that enraptures your soul?” Kaylina suggested.
Frayvar's cheeks flushed impressively red considering his dark skin.
Ghara blinked. “Lady Saybrook would be fine.”
She peered around the vestibule and into the great hall, her gaze lingering on the broken chandelier on the floor. It was heavy, so Kaylina hadn’t tried to move the frame yet. She had swept up the glass.
“Has the establishment given you any trouble? I understand from Vee that you spent the night here?” Her eyebrows climbed, as if she couldn’t imagine it. She even shuddered.
“Vee?” Kaylina mouthed, though she knew who Ghara meant. Kaylina struggled to imagine Vlerion with a nickname, unless it was something like Killer or The Beheader. Not that those rolled off the tongue.
Ghara smiled and touched her chest. “Lord Vlerion.”
“We spent the night here, yes. It was fine.” Belatedly, Kaylina realized she shouldn’t say that, lest Ghara think to increase the rent. “I mean, it wasn’t fine. There’s a creepy light in the tower, there were groans and other weird noises all night, we both had distressing nightmares, and someone was murdered out back yesterday.” She hadn’t checked to see if the body had been removed but assumed the rangers had handled it.
“That sounds about right. I’m impressed by your chutzpah.” Ghara nodded, appearing sincere, and looked again at the chandelier. “Nothing hurt you?”
“No. Does that happen?”
“There are a lot of stories from the past, and, in my lifetime, a body was found. The cause of death was unknown. The curse is real.”
“So we gathered.” Had Kaylina been less fatigued, she might have reacted more strongly to it all. Or, if she’d been less determined to see her dream become a reality.
“I’ve never been in here before. My grandfather forbade it.” Ghara handed the lease to Kaylina, eyebrows raised, as if asking if she truly wanted it.
Kaylina took the papers without hesitation.
A cloaked figure much larger than the one who’d gazed through the window came in, not via the front door but from the kitchen.
Kaylina jumped and reached for her sling before the person pushed back his hood. Vlerion.
The quickest hint of amusement entered his eyes when their gazes met. Because she’d drawn the sling on him again? Or because—
His gaze shifted upward toward the top of her head.
“You have cobwebs in your hair,” Frayvar whispered.
Scowling, Kaylina scraped them out.
“Vee,” Ghara exclaimed with delight. “There you are.”
She dropped her satchel, glided across the great hall while avoiding the chandelier, and approached him with the grace of a dancer. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him, rose on tiptoes, and kissed him on the cheek, though something about the way she paused and checked his eyes said she wanted that kiss to go on his lips.