such labors.” Jax took the knife from the open-mouthed girl’s palm.
“I-I-hi, hi, how are you?” she stuttered dumbly. The girl clearly had limited experience with men, and encountering Jax was akin to being thrown into the deep end. “What’s your, name? Yes, that’s, something, forgot, what’s your name?” She smiled widely at the charming look Jax was giving her.
“My name.” His hand cupped her cheek boldly. “Fair lady is—”
“Jax!” Fritz snapped, carrying in a load of lumber from the yard. “Away from my sister!”
“I do not think your brother approves.” Jax grinned, passing the knife back to Nia.
“Let her be, Fritz.” Cass rolled her eyes. “It’s not like you’re around to protect her normally; she’s gotta learn.”
“And oh, the things I could teach her.” Jax snickered at Fritz.
“Jax!” Fritz practically jumped at the man.
“Fritter,” his father boomed with a laugh, scooping up the scrawny sorcerer with just his arm. “Leave the girls be.”
“I’m trying to help protect them!” Fritz frantically tried to keep the stack of cut wood in his hands as his father carried him, heavy load and all, over toward the hearth.
“Oh right, we need protecting?” Reona rolled her eyes as she helped with the lumber. They did not need wood to burn with sorcerers about, but Orel seemed to move out of habit. “Just like that time we got you out of the tree when you climbed too high up and wouldn’t stop crying?”
“I was five!” Fritz whined, his father putting him down.
“Or the time when you got stuck in the smokehouse playing hide and seek and wouldn’t stop wailing until Cass got you out?” Nia motioned with her knife at her brother.
Elecia sniggered, shooting Fritz a sideways glance.
“Let’s not forget, girls, the time he was so scared by a nightmare he wet—”
“Enough!” Fritz cut off his big sister with a red flush. “There’s a reason I don’t come home!”
“You love us.” Cass hooked her arm around Fritz’s neck and ruffled his hair.
“So you’re really the Windwalker?” Nia asked from her place by the hearth.
“Nia, that’s not—” Fritz was quick with an apologetic look directed at Vhalla.
“I was.” Vhalla attempted a brave smile. She had to brace herself to endure the wave of emotion that came with those words.
“Was?” Nia tilted her head. Cass began listening, too.
“There was an accident.” Vhalla raised a hand to her shoulder.
“The one that made you all come here a day ago?” Cass asked.
Vhalla nodded.
“Sorcerers can lose their powers?” Reona asked sincerely.
As Vhalla opened her mouth to explain, there was a commotion from up in the loft above. The patter of feet started from the middle and rushed toward the edge. A girl, who could not be older than six, holding a blanket like a cape about her shoulders, jumped off in clear disregard of the ladder nearby. Aldrik, Jax, and Elecia were all on their toes. Vhalla stuck out her hand instinctively to stop the girl’s descent but no magic came to her palm, and she was forced to feel ashamed and awkward. Fritz just rolled his eyes.
“Papa!” the girl squealed, kicking her feet in the air.
“Good morning, my little Gwen!” Orel boomed. He crossed the room in five large strides and caught the bundle that was his daughter.
“Good morning, papa!” Gwen kissed his nose lightly. “How are you?”
“I am well, and how is my little princess?” The giant man poked her nose lightly, drawing a giggle from the small girl.
“Good!” she announced. “I would like my breakfast now!”
“It is not ready yet!” Nia remarked.
“It would be if you had helped!” Reona begrudged, putting the top on the pot before carrying it over to the fire.
“Let me assist.” Jax was up on his feet.
“It’s really fine.” Reona glanced skeptically at the Westerner.
“Fair lass,” Jax chuckled, taking the pot from the girl’s hands. “I am a Firebearer, the flames are my brothers and sisters, so they cannot hurt me.” He reached into the fire dramatically and placed the pot on one of the farthest hooks bolted into the inner mantle.
“Oh, I see.” Reona stared dumbly.
Nia giggled next to her, twirling a lock of hair around her fingers. Bringing Jax into a house of young maids was an awful idea.
Vhalla pointedly ignored the Northerners sitting across from her throughout breakfast. She would only have a short time to pretend at normalcy with the Charem family, and Vhalla would savor each fleeting moment she could. Their banter was a momentary escape from the truths that stared Vhalla down.