Page 2 of Court of Winter
“What about meat? Do we have enough for a cut?”
Cailis pulled out the coins from her pocket and counted them carefully. “At today’s market value, we can afford half a cut. Should we indulge?”
I nodded. “We could have it with the radishes I pulled last week, and I’m guessing the potatoes will be just as plump. If we boil them and add a few of the greens, it’ll be a filling meal.”
“Thank the Mother your garden is doing so well. If that continues, we should be able to survive winter as long as we’re frugal.”
“It’ll continue.” I nodded toward the meat hanging from the vendor’s canopy. “Are we buying it then?”
Cailis grinned, then pointed to one of the thick roasts and asked the vendor to cut off half a portion.
The vendor shook his head. “’Tis already sold. I have nothing available to sell to you.”
My sister scowled. “That’s a lie.”
The vendor’s lips parted as annoyance flashed across his face.
“My sister’s affinity is truth,” I explained quickly. “Perhaps you misunderstood her question. We would like to buy a cut of meat.”
But the vendor’s bushy eyebrows pulled together even more, and he crossed his arms. He studied my wingless frame next, then turned away. “We don’t serve defectives here.”
Oh. My jaw dropped as a flush worked up my neck.
Cailis’s cheeks reddened. “Is there a good reason you don’t? We have rulibs.” She held out a palm of coins.
The vendor’s disdainful expression grew. “On your way. I’m not selling to the likes ofher.”
Warmth bloomed across my chest as I struggled to keep my chin up.
Cailis dropped our full basket on his table, and the contents spilled everywhere. “Fine. We don’t want to give the likes ofyoubusiness anyway.”
She grabbed my arm and hurried us away, but he was the third vendor in the market to deny us this season. Even though Firlim was vastly bigger than our village, I’d grown careless. I needed to ensure my cloak always stayed up so the locals here didn’t begin to recognize our faces.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly to my sister as she marched us out of the market.
“Don’t be. He’s an ignorant dung-head. You’ve done nothing wrong, and not everyone’s like him. Some are more sympathetic about your state.”
But despite her reassurances, the sound of her growling stomach rang through my ears.
I picked at my fingers as we reached the edge of the market, and our pace slowed. Dirt was perpetually encrusted under my nails, not just from gardening hobby, but also from our laboring job in the fields. It was humble work, but it kept a roof over our heads and provided enough pay that we didn’t completely starve, although last winter it’d been close.
Nerves buzzing slightly, I lifted my chin and tried not to dwell on our shopping failure or what I’d heard those old females gossiping about. Surely, the gods wouldn’t allow us to starve, not when it was their doing that had allowed our race to colonize the most northern continent in our realm. Our land’s magic hadalwayskept us fed despite our frozen climate.
But my brother’s warning from last summer brushed against my mind like fluttering wings.Maybe I should go to the council. They’re saying the king won’t listen.
I locked down the ache that spread through my chest every time I thought of Tormesh, then brushed off the older females’ comments once and for all.
Nothing good had come from talk like that. Cailis and I knew that all too well.
When we reached the edge of the city, I looped my arm through Cailis’s. We were of similar height, so it was comfortable walking side by side.
“Thanks for having my back at the market.”
She patted my hand. “Always. You know how I feel about bullies.”
I glanced down and picked at my fingers once more.
“Has Vorl been bothering you again?”