Page 10 of The Gargoyle’s Glade (The Gargoyle Knights #3)

“Would you be amenable to speaking with my brother directly? You would likely have to travel to him, as he rarely leaves his post, but I could go with you.”

“Me too, if need be,” Hailon volunteered.

“Yes, of course.”

He nodded, pleased by that answer. “Alright. Have fun in town, ladies.” Seir kissed Hailon once more and then all but dove into the portal. My stomach heaved.

“Our turn. Shall we?” Hailon held out her arm to me, and I linked it with mine.

“I’d like some seeds, so I suppose we should get on with it.” I shuddered.

Hailon laughed and we stepped through together.

Our trip was very productive though short. We’d only needed to speak with Grace, who seemed thrilled to share the burden of seasonal food preservation with us.

“I have my little helpers, but the youngest are bored quickly, and it would be lovely to make a day of it. I’ll see if the ladies here at d’Arcan would like to join as well.

Ah! How exciting. I’ve not had a proper seasonal preserving party in ages.

My mother and aunts used to do one every year until it got too taxing for them. ”

Grace did indeed have a whole schedule, and she added our needs to the list for d’Arcan while feeding us a whole meal’s worth of finger foods with our tea. I could already tell that living here was going to spoil me in no time.

“Let the headmaster pay,” she’d said with a wink, calculating far more than I would have both in seeds and canning supplies.

I’d learned already how Grace operated and knew it was pointless to argue.

Instead, I asked to look at her brilliant chart and we talked about developing a calendar so that we knew what was coming next.

Between the expansion that Rylan had decided on for the campus and our little beds, there would probably be plenty to go around all year long.

“Who’s going to manage the gardening project?” Hailon asked.

“Bridget said she’d take it on.” Grace grinned. “Took some convincing, though. That girl is terrified her thumbs might be black and she’ll disappoint Rylan.”

“I can help,” I found myself offering. “I’m the one who made the suggestions, after all. Once the seedlings are in and growing well, it won’t take much effort on her part. Just weeding and watering. Watching for bugs.” I shrugged.

“That would be wonderful, Merry, thank you.” Grace smiled at me in a way that had me feeling emotional. It was an expression full of pride, one that I hadn’t realized I’d been longing for.

After we’d finished up with Grace, Hailon went to discuss something with Greta, and I spent a bit of time with Jacks.

I made sure his stall was clean and his needs well met, then I walked him around the paddock and fed him treats.

He was arguably going to be as spoiled as I was, living at the collegium.

The stableman, Clem, was clearly dedicated to his work and cared for the animals as if they were family.

He seemed all too pleased to have another beast to manage, and Jacks had clearly already taken to him.

Jacks’s approval was good enough for me.

The trip back through the portal felt slightly less distressing, which was hopeful. Hailon’s breakfast and Grace’s snacks still flipped around in my stomach, but I only had to pause for a moment to settle.

As we approached my cabin, Hailon stopped mid-stride and laughed. “When did you have time to do all this?”

“This morning, before I came to your place.”

She strode over to the rectangle of turned soil along the front of the house, kicking at one of the lumps of dirt with her toe. “I didn’t realize you’d picked up a hoe or spade.”

“I didn’t. Not exactly.” I laughed at her incredulous expression.

“How did you manage this then?”

“I… borrowed some things.”

“Borrowed? From where?” I gestured vaguely in the direction of the new buildings. Hailon smiled wide. “I’m impressed. But I’m going to tell you what I’ve learned. It’s profound, are you ready?”

“I suppose.”

“This isn’t Ravenglen.”

I choked a laugh. “Obviously?”

“What I mean is, you don’t have to sneak anything around here. Just ask for what you need.”

I blinked at my friend, the words simple but hard to process. My mind supplied a dozen what-if scenarios at such a bold suggestion. “But?—”

“No buts. You saw what happened with Grace, right? She added your things to her list. No questions, no justification, no discussion of payment. Just ask. Me, Seir, one of the stone kin builders. Anyone at d’Arcan.

Ophelia, even Coltor. Anybody you’ve met since you arrived here. Ask. No guilt or explanation required.”

“I don’t have any money , Hailon.” The words were hushed, the familiar shame of them making my cheeks burn.

I’d said those words to her several times in my life, each time hoping she’d be willing to provide healing or medicine for an offering of bruised produce or a few meals.

This somehow felt worse. Right now, I had nothing at all of value to trade, and she’d basically given me a whole new life already.

“Neither did I, remember? What I said still stands. We’ll find a way for you to make some coin if you want.” She reached out and took my hands. “I promise, Merry. Just ask. This place, these people… nothing is like it was back home.”

Her sincerity soothed my ragged nerves. “I’ll do my best.”

“Good. Now. Show me what you have planned. Then we can go borrow that trencher again, and you can come over to mine and help me get started too.”

I nodded, properly rendered speechless by my friend and grateful all over again.