Page 11 of A Winter Awakening

“Yes.” As long as Orteo was by Gael’s side, Gael felt like everything would be fine.

After they had ridden for a short while, the trees thinned.

“Is this Ores?” Gael asked. “It’s lovely.”

Ores lay nestled amongst snow, dense forest, and towering peaks. Grey clouds blanketed the sky overhead. Snowflakes drifted down, landing on the people and cabins.

“It’s so much nicer than Castle Evermore. So picturesque.” And unlike at Castle Evermore, no one here knew him or what he’d done. And no one would find him here. Just what Gael needed.

“Maybe we’ll ask Mila and Rhorton if they know a place where you might be able to stay,” Edwin said.

“Who are Mila and Rhorton?” Gael asked.

“They own the village store,” Sinoe said.

“And they know everything going on in Ores,” Edwin said.

Gael glanced at Orteo. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s a good idea,” Orteo said. “Edwin and Sinoe know this village more than me, since I don’t live here.”

“Then let’s go to the store,” Gael said.

Everyone in the village stared at Gael as he rode past. He was a stranger, after all. He waved and greeted those he passed. He’d need to get along with the people of Ores if he was to stay here for several weeks.

“Uncle Orteo!” a voice called. “What are you doing here?”

ChapterSeven

“Uncle Orteo! What are you doing here?”

Orteo froze. Stomach twisting into knots, he turned towards the owner of the voice.

“Ori,” Orteo said, throat dry.

Ori wore only a loincloth. Leaves and dried vines had been woven through his long silver hair. Bright silver eyes gazed at Orteo from a heart-shaped face.

His nephew, Ori. A spitting image of Letira, Orteo’s sister, who had died years ago.

It hurt to even look at Ori.

Orteo had been seventeen the last time he had seen his sister.

“Any idea where you’ll be travelling?” Letira asked.

Letira and Orteo walked through the valley, Liney, her younger son, carried on her hip. Ori was off in the distance, scampering up some boulders with his friends.

“Not really.” He gave a shrug and a grin. “I just want to see more of the Norend Mountains and meet other oreads.” It was common with oreads his age to travel a bit.

“Well, I’ll miss you,” she said, squeezing his shoulder. “The younglings too. They’re always asking after their uncle Orteo when you’re off.” She smiled. “Apparently their father and I are less fun than you.”

“Well, you are much older than me. Much, much older,” he teased.

She laughed. Letira was almost ten years older than Orteo. In fact, he was closer in age to Ori than his own sister.

His sister had always looked out for him, and he loved her more than anyone in the world.

“I’ll be back soon.” He kissed her on the cheek. “And I’ll have stories. And gifts for you and the boys.”