Page 29 of A Winter Redemption

“No. I like seeing you animated,” Ketho said softly.

Still, Jarne shut his book. Since arriving in Ores, he’d felt strangely unsure of himself. Which he’d never felt back in Bordertown. Or he’d never felt before Sasha had cheated on him. The world made less sense to him now. He moved less confidently through it. He doubted himself constantly. It wasn’t pleasant.

And he didn’t want to alienate or bore the only person who wanted to be around him. “What did you do the last three days?”

“I wandered. I followed a stream for a while,” Ketho said, voice relaxed. “Then I collected some mushrooms in a cave. I sold them in another village. Then I wandered a bit more and returned here.”

“Why do you like wandering so much?” Jarne asked.

Ketho paused, and his expression turned blank. Jarne’s chest tightened. Would this be like the time he’d asked about Bordertown? Was Ketho about to leave again?

Jarne didn’t know why Ketho had departed so suddenly the other day, but he didn’t want a repeat. Ketho turned his gaze to the forest. A herd of reindeer wove through the trees, undisturbed by their presence.

“There was a time that I did not have a lot of options,” Ketho said, voice light. “A time when I didn’t have much freedom or choice. When I wander the forests and mountains and gaze up at the great, big sky above me, it reminds me I can go wherever I want. That I am free and nothing binds me.”

Jarne wanted to ask more, but he sensed this was a sensitive topic. So he nodded like he understood.

“Should we head back to the village?” Ketho asked.

They walked along the snowy trail that meandered through the trees.

“I see you added lace to my breeches,” Jarne said.

Ketho glanced down. “Just a little trim down the side. Nothing too extravagant.”

Strangely, Jarne found he didn’t mind. Perhaps because it really wasn’t extravagant. Perhaps because it reminded him of Ketho. He cleared his throat and straightened. “Tell me about this other village you visited.”

They talked the rest of the way back to the village. Jarne tried to avoid any topics Ketho might dislike. Which was difficult, as he wasn’t certain what those topics were.

Despite the limitations of the conversation, Jarne didn’t think he’d ever talked so much with anyone. Unless it was about perfume. Sasha and he had talked, but it had always been about work. Same with his family. Same with everyone. And he didn’t talk to anyone outside of work. He’d never really had friends.

And he’d never noticed before now.

But he enjoyed talking to Ketho. Even when it wasn’t about perfume.

They reached the village store, and Ketho pushed open the door. Aryn and Sero stood at the counter.

Evergreen branches and ribbons decorated the store. Earlier in the day, the whole family—Sero, Aryn, Rhorton, Mila, and the two young daughters, Ila and Ethred—had decorated the house together. Jarne had heard their joyous laughter from his room.

Ketho strode to the counter, smiling and greeting Sero and Aryn. Jarne wished he could retire to his room, but instead he trailed behind Ketho.

“What did you get up to whilst you were away?” Sero asked Ketho.

As they talked, Jarne drifted away and stared at a shelf that contained dried berries.

“Did you enjoy your walk in the forest?” Aryn asked.

Jarne startled and turned, facing his brother.

ChapterNineteen

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Aryn said.

“That’s fine,” Jarne said. Aryn never initiated speaking with him.

“Did you enjoy your walk?” Aryn asked.

Jarne didn’t understand why his brother was approaching him now after avoiding him since he’d arrived, but he would not waste the opportunity to talk.