A Plague of Giants (Seven Kennings #1) - Kevin Hearne Page 0,43

immediately.

Master Dervan:

I didn’t get a chance to tell you before you left, but during my job search this morning I ran into an old friend from Festwyf. I thought he had perished with most everyone else, but he is in a stable situation here and has room for us to visit. We’ll spend the night there and try to return tomorrow before you leave for the afternoon.

—E.

So perhaps that was what had put her in the mood to smile yesterday. And perhaps she hadn’t been involved with the robbery after all but merely made it possible by leaving the house unoccupied—and unlocked—in the afternoon.

I heard the creak of my front door, followed by a gasp and Pyrella’s voice: “What happened?”

Tamöd, with a note of outrage, cried out, “Where’s all his stuff?”

“Lord of the Deep,” Elynea said, and I entered the living area to find them frozen in the doorway with wide eyes.

“Welcome back. I’m glad you’re well. I was worried,” I said, waving her words that were still clutched in my hand, “and I just found your note.”

“Are you moving?”

“No, quite the opposite. I’m staying no matter what, it seems. But I’ve been robbed. Everything’s gone except my desk and clothes.”

“Oh, that’s terrible.”

“You mean there aren’t any beds?” Pyrella asked. “Where will we sleep?”

“The longshoremen walking up behind you have the answer to that, I believe.”

Four longshoremen, obviously sent from Rölly as they were wearing palace corals, arrived with a total of four cots, four chairs, and a basic square wooden table. One of them remained behind to install a new lock on my door, one of the expensive ones forged from Hathrim steel. Elynea and her children stood mute the entire time, trying to stay out of their way.

“I’d understand if you wished to find lodging elsewhere,” I said after the longshoremen had all departed.

“No, no. The kids have been happy here.”

I noticed that she didn’t include herself in that happiness.

“But you had good news? You found a friend?”

A smile. “Yes, a neighbor of sorts who lived three farms away from ours, Garst du Wöllyr. He lost his farm and land, of course, but he was always good with tools and has started over here as a carpenter. Making furniture, actually. He might be able to help you get some bed frames if you would like.”

“That would be lovely. I’m sure the comfort of these cots will leave much to be desired. Perhaps you could inquire what that might cost when you see him next.” I did not have inexhaustible funds and could not count on my friend to refurnish my home for me beyond what he already had provided. What he had delivered had no doubt been intended for someone on Survivor Field, and I would have felt guilty accepting it save for the fact that Elynea was one of those survivors.

“I will. Actually…” She stopped and looked down.

“What?”

“He might have a job for me. Mostly painting or staining assembled pieces. Some sanding, perhaps some other finishing work.”

“I didn’t know you were a woodworker.”

“I’m not. But I might as well learn a new skill since I cannot tend goats I do not own or land I do not possess.”

“And he’ll pay you for this? It’s not an unpaid apprenticeship?” I would have an objection to make if this Garst was looking to take advantage of Elynea’s desperation.

“No, it’s paid. I can’t formally apprentice with him since he’s not a master anyway. But there’s so much demand for pieces right now and people are so strapped for cash that they can’t afford master-made items anyway, so Garst has all the work he can handle. Most people are willing to take them raw, but if I finish them, we can charge a bit more, and with increased production he can take on more work.”

“I see. Well, that certainly sounds good if you’ve planned what to do with Tamöd and Pyrella.”

“I was hoping we might continue our arrangement where you looked after them in the mornings. I would go to his shop before dawn and return before noon when you have to leave.”

I nodded. “That would be fine most days except for the few I have to have breakfast meetings. Perhaps we could ask Dame du Marröd to help on those occasions or someone else you might know.”

“Dame du Marröd would be perfect if we can convince her.” She looked down at her kids, stroking Pyrella’s hair. “You two liked her, didn’t you? You wouldn’t mind spending just a few hours