clear. Gerry rose with the first light, drawing water to set to boil outside the wash-house. He took a smaller kettle inside the house, stoking the hearth fire, letting that water heat for tea and porridge. He was lightheaded with excitement, knowing full well that he was going to make a formal offer when he got to the Witch’s house. He had spent the night dreaming only of Ghost, remembering those beautiful, pale eyes looking up at him with trust and desire.
Even Gerry’s annoyance at Conn’s behavior had faded. Gerry reminded himself to apologize to Conn later. It was understandable that Conn would be on edge, worried about what would happen when Gerry moved on. Gerry resolved to try and work with the younger man, to teach Conn some of the skills the kid had so diligently avoided learning. Gerry had not missed the hurt in Conn’s eyes when Mother referred to Ghost’s skills, even if it had been Mother who had always let Conn slide.
Back in his room, Gerry opened the wooden chest where he kept his things, taking out a fine pair of breeches, creamy runner hide that was almost white. He had a woven tunic to wear with them, in a shade of green that was only a little darker than the peridot spiral that graced Ghost’s forehead. Gerry grinned as he looked at it, wondering if Ghost would notice. It was coincidence, of course, but Gerry thought it was a good sign.
Washed and dressed, Gerry went into the kitchen to find Mother already there, getting out the cups for tea while porridge cooked on the hearth.
“You look properly formal,” Mother said, examining Gerry. “You’ve decided, then.”
Gerry nodded. “It feels right. I’ve been thinking about the alpha thing for a while, but until Ghost, I didn’t really have any urge to act on it. Now, I just want to be with him, and look after him. It’s not a passing fancy, either. I want to know all about him, what he was like as a child, the things that make him smile or laugh, the things that make him sad.”
The young hunter stopped abruptly, seeing Mother’s smile. It was a rare thing, that particular smile, wide open and enough to make Mother look years younger. It was also enough to raise the heat in Gerry’s cheeks.
“I sound like an idiot, don’t I?” Gerry asked, reaching for the bowls for the porridge.
“You sound like me when I was younger.” Mother poured hot water into the teapot, releasing the fragrant aroma of the tea leaves. “I asked my first dependent all those same questions. Most of us strike out on our own because we’ve found someone. Lone alphas like the Witch are rare. We alphas need dependents to give us purpose, I suppose.”
Gerry dished out porridge for himself and for Mother. “She has Ghost.”
“He’s not truly a dependent, or so she insists.” Mother shrugged. “Then again, in all the years I’ve known her, she’s never had a dependent or a formal apprentice although Ghost isn’t her first companion. I think she simply dislikes the word, to be very honest with you.”
“Or she thinks he does,” Gerry said, his expression thoughtful. “Either way, I intend to offer her compensation. Do you think a hand of sind is too much?”
Mother poured the tea for them both, hesitating over the third cup before putting the teapot down firmly without pouring. “I think if he’s worth that much to you, then it’s not too much, since you’ll hunt them on your own as is proper. If I were offered that for a dependent, I’d think the alpha was likely to care a great deal, and I’d feel better letting them go.” Mother looked at the door to his bedroom with a sigh. “And then there are some that you can’t let go of, no matter what. I failed to teach Conn what an alpha should, and sometimes I wonder if I did that just so I’d never have to let him go. I don’t think I’ll take any new dependents, so he’s likely my last.”
Gerry paused with the cup of tea at his lips. He felt a wave of shame for how he had spoken to
Even Gerry’s annoyance at Conn’s behavior had faded. Gerry reminded himself to apologize to Conn later. It was understandable that Conn would be on edge, worried about what would happen when Gerry moved on. Gerry resolved to try and work with the younger man, to teach Conn some of the skills the kid had so diligently avoided learning. Gerry had not missed the hurt in Conn’s eyes when Mother referred to Ghost’s skills, even if it had been Mother who had always let Conn slide.
Back in his room, Gerry opened the wooden chest where he kept his things, taking out a fine pair of breeches, creamy runner hide that was almost white. He had a woven tunic to wear with them, in a shade of green that was only a little darker than the peridot spiral that graced Ghost’s forehead. Gerry grinned as he looked at it, wondering if Ghost would notice. It was coincidence, of course, but Gerry thought it was a good sign.
Washed and dressed, Gerry went into the kitchen to find Mother already there, getting out the cups for tea while porridge cooked on the hearth.
“You look properly formal,” Mother said, examining Gerry. “You’ve decided, then.”
Gerry nodded. “It feels right. I’ve been thinking about the alpha thing for a while, but until Ghost, I didn’t really have any urge to act on it. Now, I just want to be with him, and look after him. It’s not a passing fancy, either. I want to know all about him, what he was like as a child, the things that make him smile or laugh, the things that make him sad.”
The young hunter stopped abruptly, seeing Mother’s smile. It was a rare thing, that particular smile, wide open and enough to make Mother look years younger. It was also enough to raise the heat in Gerry’s cheeks.
“I sound like an idiot, don’t I?” Gerry asked, reaching for the bowls for the porridge.
“You sound like me when I was younger.” Mother poured hot water into the teapot, releasing the fragrant aroma of the tea leaves. “I asked my first dependent all those same questions. Most of us strike out on our own because we’ve found someone. Lone alphas like the Witch are rare. We alphas need dependents to give us purpose, I suppose.”
Gerry dished out porridge for himself and for Mother. “She has Ghost.”
“He’s not truly a dependent, or so she insists.” Mother shrugged. “Then again, in all the years I’ve known her, she’s never had a dependent or a formal apprentice although Ghost isn’t her first companion. I think she simply dislikes the word, to be very honest with you.”
“Or she thinks he does,” Gerry said, his expression thoughtful. “Either way, I intend to offer her compensation. Do you think a hand of sind is too much?”
Mother poured the tea for them both, hesitating over the third cup before putting the teapot down firmly without pouring. “I think if he’s worth that much to you, then it’s not too much, since you’ll hunt them on your own as is proper. If I were offered that for a dependent, I’d think the alpha was likely to care a great deal, and I’d feel better letting them go.” Mother looked at the door to his bedroom with a sigh. “And then there are some that you can’t let go of, no matter what. I failed to teach Conn what an alpha should, and sometimes I wonder if I did that just so I’d never have to let him go. I don’t think I’ll take any new dependents, so he’s likely my last.”
Gerry paused with the cup of tea at his lips. He felt a wave of shame for how he had spoken to
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