Read Online Starwalker (Starborn 1) (Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance) by P. Jameson - Free Book Online

feeling.
    In fact, it was so good that when she’d finished, she decided to carve another word. After all, she had a lot of different feelings to choose from. She could probably do twenty and still not purge herself of it all.
    Finished with her second carving, she sat back and examined her work. It was sort of beautiful, the whole bench. They were just words but… she’d put a lot of time into them. The bench was a record of her life, she guessed. At least the emotional parts, the secret parts.
    A drop of water hit the frozen slab. Then another.
    She was crying again. How disappointing.
    It seemed to come on without warning. No strangled feeling afore hand. No tell-tale stinging behind her eyes. It was just there, liquid seeping from her lids.
    She dried the unwanted tears with the sleeve of her robe. Just in time too.
    “Canna? Are you well?”
    She jumped at the sound of Emmalyn’s gentle voice.
    “Oh. Yes. I’m… perfectly well.” Canna stood, stepping away from the bench and tucking the file in the folds of her robe so Emma wouldn’t see it. She stared past Canna to the bench, her eyes touching on the haunting record of words.
    Canna turned her gaze to the fountain to avoid facing Emma. Moments later, the maiden stepped up beside the bubbling water.
    “I was just on my way to the café. I figured you’d be heading in that direction soon. Would you care to walk with me?”
    Clearly she didn’t know Canna was no longer allowed at Ula’s.
    “Ula asked me to cease my visits,” she said simply, as if it was nothing to her.
    “She did?”
    Canna nodded.
    “Why ever would she do that? I’m sure you’re mistaken.” Emma’s voice was all no-nonsense. And now Canna would have to explain.
    Keeping her face clear of emotion she said, “I am bad for business. The kafé is losing customers because of my visits.”
    Emma’s face scrunched in confusion. “I wasn’t aware of that.”
    Canna added nothing, and waited for her to leave. But Emma continued to stare at the gurgling spring of water.
    “So will you return home then?”
    Home was the last place Canna wanted to be but she had nothing to do and nowhere else to go.
    “Yes.”
    “Very well. I’ll walk with you.” Canna stared, not sure she’d heard her right. But Emma smiled warmly. “Come now.”
    Okay.
    Cannalise followed her across the slick stones and over the bridge.
    When they were on the path leading to Canna’s castle Emma spoke up. “Do you know of a wren named Gilleth?”
    “I have heard of his carving work.”
    Emma nodded and smiled. Said nothing more.
    Curiosity made Canna push. “Why do you inquire?”
    Emmalyn shrugged, eyes steady on the ground. “He comes to Ula’s a lot.”
    That didn’t explain anything.
    They walked further, passing several wrens hurrying home.
    “I like him,” Emma murmured.
    Ahh. But why was she telling Cannalise this?
    “I like him a lot.”
    “Have you formally met?”
    She nodded sadly. “Many years ago. I am not his.”
    Canna had no words for the maiden. Should she dare attempt to… comfort her? She didn’t know how to go about such a task.
    “When he comes to the kafé, he refuses to look at me. Or speak to me. His friend always orders for him.”
    “Is he mute perhaps?”
    “Oh, no. We spoke when we first met. And he talks to others. So, that’s not the issue.”
    “What do you think is the cause then?”
    “I don’t know. But the strangest thing happened today. After he finished his meal, he lingered for some time. He just sat in the far corner of the kafé looking around. He hadn’t yet left when I went for break.” She shrugged. “He usually just eats and leaves.”
    Canna said nothing as they walked. She knew not the workings of a wren’s mind. So she had no advice to offer. Plus, she didn’t offer advice. If she wanted to she would just give it.
    Too soon, they reached the front gate of her castle.
    “Well, here you are,” Emma said. “Thanks for talking with