Page 11 of When the Merchant Met the Orc
“Well, I wasn’t interested in having a family,” I say.
His eyebrow lifts. “Why not?”
I pick at the hem of my skirts and try not to think too much about Osric and all of that. Suddenly, Halvard’s hand is on mine. I pull away and worry for a moment that I offended him, but he smiles kindly, one side of his lips lifting.
“You don’t have to talk about your reasons. Sorry to pry.”
“You aren’t. It’s fine. My parents were deeply in love when I was little, but they grew to hate one another. They fought bitterly. It was awful. So much yelling and breaking things. I couldn’t wait to come of age and leave.”
Halvard’s lips thin, and his nostrils flare. “Rychell, I’m so sorry you went through that.”
I continue on. “I will make certain Nate never experiences that.”
“I understand,” he says.
I cough to clear my throat and blink away unshed tears. It still hurts. Even after all these years. “Love isn’t for me. Nate deserves a steady, peaceful home, as all younglings do.”
“So you’ve never dated?” Halvard asks.
“I dated two human men, a male wolf shifter, and two female fairies. But I never fell for any of them. I just don’t think love like that is meant for me. And when I was apprenticing at a spice merchant’s shop in Kingstown, I heard about Nate. The orphanage was right beside the workshop, and I had befriended another woman there. I had supper with her now and again, and she told me about a pregnant pixie who was too young to care for a baby. At the time, I wasn’t permitted to speak with Anya, the pixie mother. She had Nate, and the orphanage offered to try to find him a permanent home. I tested for Master status and moved to Leafshire Cove, but I couldn’t get little Nate out of my mind, even though I’d never even seen him. When he showed up at our orphanage in town, I knew it was fate. I adopted him that very same day.”
“That’s a lovely story, Rychell.”
The way he pronounces my name is beautiful. “So once I had Nate, I knew I wouldn’t risk love again. I was responsible for his heart as well as mine. It wasn’t worth the potential tragedy. We are happy with just us at our home.”
“I’m sure you are.” He pours the last of the cider into my cup. “Would you like me to ready Tamar while you finish up?”
“Okay.”
Smiling, I watch Halvard chat quietly with Tamar. He handles the harness with care. I finish my cider and washthe cups in the creek. Once I have our picnic packed up into Halvard’s bag, we climb onto the wagon and journey onward.
I feel lighter. Halvard is such a great listener, and he didn’t express any judgment over my actions. I haven’t told anyone that story in ages, and perhaps it was healthy to release that pain again. I wonder if I’ll ever really get over it.
My gaze slides to Halvard over and over as we leave the forest and head into the ravine that marks halfway between Honey Sands and Leafshire Cove. He is whistling now, some quiet, jaunty tune, while he knits. I bite my lip to keep from giggling at the sight.
“The bench is shaking, Rychell. Try to keep your amusement under control,” he says, a teasing tone threading through his deep voice.
“I’m sorry. It’s just…” I laugh openly.
He raises an eyebrow and purses his lips. “That I’m a large, scary monster who likes sweet little grandmotherly crafts?”
Then I can’t stop; laughter takes me fully. I can’t remember the last time I was this lighthearted. I need to go on more trips.
“Laini taught me.”
The town weaver is a gentle soul with a spine of steel. “I’ve always liked her.”
“You two should have coffee at her place sometime. She wouldn’t mind Nate running about. I know her dragonfox and his mate would love his energy.”
“I’ll do that. Now, what are you making?”
Chapter 6
Halvard
“I’m making a hat.” I hold up my project, and sheooosandahhsappropriately. “My granny did in fact teach me the first way to do this. Nalbinding, we called it. In nalbinding, the end of the yarn is passed through every stitch instead of using a loop, like Laini later taught me. Laini’s process is much easier and faster for me.”
“Fascinating. I can imagine Cyrus gives you hells about your hobby.”