Read Online Not Magic Enough and Setting Boundaries Boxed Set (The Coming Storm) by Valerie Douglas - Free Book Online Page B

second most-prized possession.
    His jaw tightened in fury but her eyes stayed level with his.
    Dumping the coins on the bed, he swept up half, his expression bitter and angry.
    She made certain to stay out of his way, her sword up and on guard as he left but she followed him warily to be certain he was, indeed, going.
    There was an air of desperation and fear about him.
    Watching, she saw him go into the stables and ride out on the horse he’d ridden in on. Frowning at his haste but in some relief she watched him ride out through the gates as if hellhounds were after him.
    As a precaution, though, she set guards to watch in case he came back for more.
    She didn’t tell anyone he hadn’t gotten even half of her stash of coins, knowing better than to put all her eggs in one basket. Especially where Kort was concerned.
    Delae fell to her knees, the precious coins in her lap and wept with relief.
    This much at least, was safe.
    It was a blow all the same, as it made a significant dent in their funds. Things would be tight, very tight, if the winter was too harsh. As it looked to be. She would have to ration food far earlier than she’d hoped and their solstice celebration would be chary, too.
    Nor did she sleep in her own bed that night either, as a precaution. She wouldn’t have her sleep interrupted so again anytime soon.

Chapter Eight
     
    Daylight couldn’t come soon enough for Delae. With no sign of Kort she had the animals brought back to the stables and sheds.
    “It’s your fault,” Cana shouted, charging down the quadrangle. “It’s your fault Kort left so quickly.”
    “And his fault if we starve through the winter, Cana,” Delae said back, just as sharply, “for lack of the grain to feed us. There will be little meat this winter as we may have to sell one of the cows. No milk, no cream, no cheese, either, if we do.”
    The furious woman came up short at the threat. No milk for her bread and honey each night? She turned and stomped away in a huff.
    Delae closed her eyes, pressed her fingers to her eyelids as she took a deep breath. With a shake of her head, she turned back toward the great room.
    “Pay no attention to her, Delae,” Petra said, stoutly. “And we can do on half rations.”
    With a smile, Delae patted Petra’s comforting hand on her arm. “For all my words to Cana, it’s not so bad as that yet, Petra, we might simply have to butter the bread a little more thinly for a time until I’m sure.”
    A breath of a relief burst out of the aged little woman. She loved her bread soaked in cream and honey as much as the old bitch did.
    With a small chuckle, Delae went on her way.
    Her fingers drifted over the tapestry on the loom, remembering… Her throat tightened as she sat before it and chose her threads. In her thoughts was Dorovan’s lovely deep voice, telling her about life in Talaena, of how beautiful it was. She could only imagine it but some of it she set into the threads of the tapestry she wove, smiling as afternoon light slowly gilded the room in light.
    That smile didn’t last long when she heard the first cry of alarm from the yard.
    The first shout had Delae racing for the doorway, some instinct telling her that this, this, was what Kort had truly feared.
    Morlis had spotted the black-clad riders coming and now ran to try to shut the gates, calling for help.
    Damn you, Kort, what have you done? she wondered as she spun and ran for her sword.
    Petra and Hallis rushed down the hall toward her at the shouts from the yard.
    “Bar all the entrances, Hallis, Petra,” Delae said, snatching up her sword, fighting back her fear. “Go as quickly as you can. Get water heated and bandages ready. Go.”
    Frightened, Petra said, “What is it, Delae?”
    “I don’t know,” Delae said, as they heard another shout of alarm from outside. “But it’s bad. Bar the doors behind me. Your lives on it if you don’t.”
    She ran, her skirts flying.
    It was too late.
    The riders hit the rapidly