Page 19 of A Winter Awakening

Orteo’s gaze didn’t change. He didn’t blink. He just stared at Gael.

Gael didn’t know what the oread looked for in his face. Finally, Orteo looked away, grabbed some bread, and placed the pickled fish on it.

“How’s the ankle?” Orteo asked before taking a bite.

“It’s improving,” Gael said. “I’ve been careful. Sinoe seems to think it is healing well. And he’s been giving me tea to help with the pain. So I just need to keep off it as much as possible and it should heal completely.”

“That’s good.”

Gael sliced some bread and smothered it in jam.

“I’m reading a book about nymphs,” Gael said. “I read how nymphs can hold their breath underwater for ages. I didn’t know you could do that.”

Orteo gave him a gentle smile. “That’s water nymphs.”

“What?”

“Water nymphs, or naiads, can hold their breath underwater. They swim. I don’t.”

“Oh.” Gael’s face heated. “I hadn’t realised. I only just started the book.” He’d picked it up purely because he wanted to learn more about nymphs and Orteo. But instead, he’d said something foolish.

“Naiads are good at swimming because they live in oceans, rivers, and lakes. There are some river naiads in the Norend Mountains but not many,” Orteo explained patiently. “Mostly it’s oreads around here. And that’s because we are in the Norend Mountains.”

“Oreads only live near mountains?” Gael asked.

Orteo nodded. He reached for some berries, popping them into his mouth.

“What did you do in Castle Evermore to pass the time?” Orteo asked.

“I liked to read. And I liked riding,” Gael said.

Gael had spent most of his time with Gracie and Alisa. But he didn’t feel like talking about that. He tried to think as little as possible about the life he’d left behind and of the people he’d hurt.

“And I liked to paint,” Gael said. “Recently I’ve been painting these wooden candle carousels.”

“What are those?”

“Well…” Gael had never had to explain them before. They were all the rage in Castle Evermore. “Candle carousels are made of wood. There is a propeller at the top. And then there are platforms with different figures.” He mimed the platform levels. “I like to paint the figures, which are like animals, or trees, or people. Then at the bottom, there are lit candles. The heat from the candles rises and makes the propeller spin. So the platforms and figures spin. It’s very pretty.”

“I’d like to see it,” Orteo said. “I think maybe I’ll have to see it to understand it properly.”

“And what do you like to do?” Gael asked.

“I like to whittle.”

“Like carving?” Gael asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you have anything you could show me?” Gael asked.

Orteo hesitated for a second. Then he reached for his bag. He pulled out a small wooden figure. “It’s not quite finished.”

Gael took it. “Is that… Is that Daisy and me?” A thrill shot up his spine that Orteo might think him a worthy subject to carve.

Orteo nodded.

“You made us!” Gael ran his finger along the grooves and ridges of the wood. “You’re so talented.”