Page 96 of Salt Between the Wolves

The blood took the longest to vanish.

When the last stain finally disappeared from her skin, she found herself staring down at her hands.

For a moment she thought of Riven, then of Ironfang, and finally of Soren.

The familiar ache stirred immediately, less sharp than before but no less real.

Eira closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, she forced herself to look elsewhere.

Tonight she was too tired for ghosts.

The food arrived while she was dressing.

There was bread, stew, cheese, and honey, nothing extravagant or ceremonial, just the sort of meal people ate because they were hungry rather than because tradition demanded it.

Eira finished nearly all of it.

Only afterward did she realize how long it had been since she had eaten without watching a door, listening for danger, or preparing to leave again before dawn.

The thought lingered as she crossed toward the window.

Outside, snow drifted softly through the darkness while lanterns glowed across the estate grounds. Somewhere below, a door opened and closed, a distant laugh followed, and then the house settled into silence.

It was a peaceful silence, not the silence of empty mountains or the silence of grief, but the silence of people sleeping safely beneath the same roof.

When a knock finally sounded, Maelin entered carrying a candle.

For a moment neither spoke.

Then Maelin looked around the room and nodded.

"You look considerably less like someone who has survived a blizzard."

"I did survive a blizzard."

"Fair."

The corner of her mouth lifted.

For several moments they simply stood there while the day's exhaustion seemed to have settled heavily upon them both.

Eventually Maelin moved toward the door.

"You should sleep."

Eira nodded.

The bed looked more tempting than any argument she might have made.

At the threshold, however, Maelin paused.

"I am glad you sent the letter."

The words were quiet and simple, yet they seemed to settle somewhere deep inside Eira.

Before she could think of a response, Maelin offered a small smile and disappeared into the corridor.