close again before her happy tears could make him start crying as hard as his mother and Selene currently were. “You ever think of moving to Cerria, Sammy?” he asked suddenly.
She answered over his shoulder. “And leave Papa, and your mom? What would they do?”
Neither his mother nor his uncle were getting any younger. “I mean everyone. I’ve come into a lot of money. I could take care of everyone—you, Mom, your dad, even Eric. They could do whatever they wanted, work or take it easy.”
Sammy squeezed him once more, then let go. After she wiped her face, her features took on a more serious look. “Obviously, I’m not the one to ask, but I suspect it wouldn’t be as simple or as easy as that. Dad’s proud and he likes his work. He could probably work anywhere, but this is his home. Your mom, I have no idea, and Eric’s married to the army now. He won’t settle down until he can retire and take a wife.” She paused, then grinned. “Besides, you’ve forgotten that you promised to start taking me along on your adventures. I’m almost grown now. You weren’t thinking about leaving me behind again, were you?”
He’d actually been thinking about her off and on for over a year. “Would you like to learn magic? It won’t be easy.”
The light in her eyes was answer enough, but she responded, “Now you’re talking!”
“Do you have any attention left for your mother?” asked Erisa, who had finally finished her tearful moment with Selene.
Will smiled, hugged his mother, and then they all went inside. They shared a bottle of wine that Eric had brought back with him for his visit, and after a quick round of questioning Will found out that his uncle had been responsible for the new addition and the repairs to Arrogan’s old house. It mainly consisted of a sewing room, and an extra bedroom, but he’d also renovated the kitchen.
The bedroom was used by Johnathan on the weekend when he closed up shop and returned to stay with his sister and daughter, but for the next few days Will and Selene would be using it while Johnathan and Eric had to make do with cots in the kitchen. Sammy still shared Arrogan’s old bedroom with her aunt.
Will cooked, not only because his cousin wanted him to, but because he missed doing it, and Selene attempted to help, though assisting him turned into more of a group activity because she was pretty bad at the tasks he gave her. They laughed and ate, and it was only after the food was all gone that the conversation returned to more practical matters.
“Do you think it’s safe to stay here?” asked Will’s uncle.
He nodded. “This time the war should be on their side of the mountains, but there’s no perfect assurances in this world. I mentioned this to Sammy earlier, but if you’re interested, I’d love to move everyone closer to Cerria, or in Cerria if you prefer.”
Johnathan frowned. “I don’t know anyone in the capital.”
“We’ve lived here most of our lives. I don’t think the city would suit us,” put in Will’s mother. “Besides, I’m just starting to work again, helping people in the area. I wouldn’t have anything to do if we moved.”
“You wouldn’t have to do anything,” suggested Selene, before realizing how the remark sounded. “I mean, you could take your time. Will’s got more than he even knows. You could live quietly on one of his estates. There’s villages near them as well, so you could continue tending to people if that’s your wish.” She glanced at Johnathan, then added, “And wainwrights are welcome anywhere. There’s never enough carts and wagons to be had.”
Will winced internally, and then he caught a knowing glance from Eric. They both knew how the conversation would end. Johnathan Cartwright proved them right with his next statement. “Not to be rude, Selene, but I haven’t worked all my life to live like a tick, leeching my daily bread from someone else’s goodwill.”
“I want to see the city,” said Sammy suddenly.
Her father immediately stepped in. “I don’t want you any farther away than—”
“I want to study magic, like Will,” Sammy finished, ignoring his opinion. “It wouldn’t have been possible before, but it is now, and I could stay with Will and Selene, so I wouldn’t be alone or with strangers.”
Will gaped at her. He’d only just made the suggestion a few hours before, but as with everything else, Sammy had taken