To Kill a Kettle Witch (Novel of the Mist-Torn Witches) by Barb Hendee Read Free Book Online

beratehim.But Amelie openly fought with him, and he’d never learned to alter his behavior to stave that off.
    “So because he’s a cat, you think he’s too stupid to look out for himself and stay near the camp?” she challenged.
    He turned to face her. “Just make sure he’s in the wagon after breakfast.”
    Amelie’s mouth opened again, but Céline cut her off. “We will, Lieutenant. I promise he won’t cause any delays.”
    He nodded tightly with another glance at Amelie.
    Helga handed him the bucket. “Make yourself useful and get me some water. I’ll start the tea.”
    With a frown, Jaromir took the bucket and headed toward the slope.
    Céline, Amelie, and Helga walked over to where Marcus had started a small fire. The twigs he used were dry, so he must have had them stored somewhere. Crouched there, he focused on the flames and didn’t look up.
    “All right, girls,” Helga said. “You both need to start learning how to be Móndyalítko. All meals are cooked outside over an open fire.” She held up the iron hook with a solid and wide base, and then she set it on the ground with the hook positioned over the fire. The base would support even a heavy pot. “We start with tea first, and then bring out that big pot and move on to making dinner. I’ll show you what to do.”
    Somewhat nonplussed, Céline glanced to Amelie, who shrugged. On journeys with Helga, the sisters had played at being ladies of Anton’s court who needed to be fed and laced into gowns, but that was all a show.
    “Helga . . . ,” Céline began. “Amelie and I have beencooking over a hearth or an open fire all our lives. We would gladly make dinner for you.”
    The aging woman looked up at her in some puzzlement. Could she be growing senile?
    “I’ll show you how to cook like a Móndyalítko,” Helga insisted.
    Marcus lifted his head, and Helga studied him a moment before asking, “You think you could scare us up a rabbit for the pot while I get the potatoes and onions chopped?”
    Nodding, he answered, “Of course. I’ll be quick.” Dropping back on his haunches, he pulled off his boots. Céline knew he preferred to get out of sight before shifting. Then he’d leave his clothes in the forest and get dressed on the way back.
    After jumping to his feet, he jogged barefoot into the trees.
    “You could be nicer to him,” Amelie said.
    Helga just grunted. “Where’s that water? His Lord Majesty lieutenant is taking his time.”
    This gave Céline an idea, and she started for the tree line. “I’ll go and check on him.”
    Before either of the other women could call her back, she hurried onward, vanishing into the trees and down the slope. At the bottom of a small ravine, she found Jaromir crouched over a rushing a stream, washing his face.
    The bucket was already full.
    Realizing she was thirsty, she knelt beside him and made a cup with her hands, drinking a few mouthfuls of water.
    “Is Helga yelling for water?” Jaromir asked.
    Céline smiled. “I fear so.”
    He started up.
    “Wait,” she said nervously, wondering how to word her next sentence. How would he react? “I wanted to tell you . . . There’s something about Marcus that you don’t know.”
    Jaromir stood and grasped the handle of the bucket. “You mean that he’s a shifter?”
    Céline’s mouth fell half-open. “You know?”
    “Of course I know. Corporal Rurik told me before we left Ryazan.”
    “He promised to keep silent.”
    “That was before we’d decided to bring the family home.” Jaromir raised one eyebrow. “You don’t really think Rurik would have let me bring a shifter back to Sèone without telling me first? And risk having me find out later? He’s not that foolhardy.”
    “Oh.” As she thought on this, it made sense. There was no telling what Jaromir would have done to Rurik under those circumstances. “So you don’t mind?”
    “That Marcus is a shifter? Why should I? He fought on our side. He protected you and Amelie.