Kingdom of Sea and Stone (Crown of Coral and Pearl #2) - Mara Rutherford Page 0,35

were lovers was none of Roan’s business. “No. I mean yes. You’re wrong.”

He arched an eyebrow and laughed before clucking lightly to Duster. “Come on. We have a lot of ground to cover before nightfall.”

* * *

We reached a large rustic cabin just before dark. I had spent the rest of the ride next to Zadie, avoiding Roan’s amused glance. I had the feeling that whatever he meant by lovers was not the same thing I did. Or at least, it was not considered taboo or forbidden before marriage the way it was in Varenia and Ilara. Yes, Talin and I had kissed and slept side by side, but we hadn’t done anything beyond that. He had made it clear he wouldn’t until we were wed, and considering we hadn’t been alone together in days, romance was the last thing on my mind. Or had been, until now.

After leaving the horses in a stable stocked with hay and grain, we entered the log cabin. It was enormous inside, with a massive fireplace and a dozen small beds lined up against one wall. There were cupboards full of supplies and even a large metal tub for bathing, though I noticed it lacked any kind of privacy.

“These cabins are all over Galeth,” Roan explained as we unpacked our bags. “Travelers can stay here whenever they wish. The idea is to replace the supplies you use the next time you pass through.”

“And it’s safe?” Grig peered around the open space, as if someone might be lurking in the shadows.

Roan puffed out a sardonic laugh. “Of course.”

“Everyone in Galeth is good and honest?” I asked skeptically. “There are no bandits or robbers in the entire country?”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Roan pulled off his boots and sat down on one of the beds. I noted the location so I could pick one as far away as possible. “But there isn’t much worth stealing. And if they need something that badly, none of us would deny them anyway.”

I remembered what the kite seller and Talin had said about women traveling alone in Ilara. But in Galeth, where the women seemed just as capable as the men, I wondered if that was still a concern. If I had been trained to ride and fight from birth, things at New Castle might have gone very differently. “That’s nice,” I said, eliciting a strange look from Talin. “I only mean it’s nice that you help each other.” In Varenia, we had always looked after family, but everyone else was competition for dwindling resources.

Roan nodded and rose to his feet. “Right. I’ll get the supper started. Zadie, Nor, do you want to get us some firewood? It looks like the stock is a little low. You boys can help me.”

Talin, Osius, and Grig blinked at Roan as if he’d just spoken a foreign language. Grig, who had helped Zadie cook during our journey, moved toward the kitchen, but Osius shook his head.

“It’s dark out, and we’re in a foreign land. The ladies should stay inside while we get the firewood.”

“The ladies look perfectly capable to me,” Roan said. Talin’s cheeks turned a shade I’d never seen before, and I grabbed Zadie’s hand and hurried out before he exploded.

“What was that all about?” Zadie asked when we reached the side of the house where the firewood was stacked.

“I have no idea. Roan asked if Talin and I were...” I trailed off, embarrassed. Zadie and I hadn’t ever talked about this before.

“If you were what?” she asked.

“Lovers,” I muttered.

“Lovers? As in, if you aren’t, then he’d like you to be his?” Her eyebrows had risen to her hairline. “That was brazen of him.”

I twisted my lips to the side. “Maybe? Although I suspect that’s perfectly normal here. I suppose we shouldn’t assume that customs are the same as what we’re used to everywhere.”

“I suppose not,” Zadie said, clearly lost in thought.

I nodded for her to step farther from the house with me. “What about you and Sami?” I asked. “Are you...you know?” It felt like something I should know about my own twin, but things had changed since I’d left, as Zadie often reminded me.

She smiled, blushing. “We’re not ready for a child, if that’s what you’re asking. But we’ve done other things.”

“Where? How?”

She shrugged. “The boat.”

“Zadie!” I nearly dropped the wood I was gathering. “Weren’t you afraid that Mother would find out?” Mother had always made it clear that our “virtue” was one of the considerations for being the chosen girl,