What Matters Most by Sasha L. Miller Read Free Book Online Page B

moment, then headed for his jacket. "I'm going to get some fresh air."
    "All right," Ailynn said, giving him a concerned look.
    Kyros smiled in reassurance. He wasn't sure how successful he was, since Ailynn still looked worried. Pulling on his jacket, Kyros picked up his gloves and tugged those into place as well.
    "Wait a moment," Ailynn said, bustling around the kitchen table over towards the screens that sheltered the bed downstairs from view. Ailynn disappeared behind them, reappearing a moment later with a long blue scarf in hand. It had been his father's, though it was much more faded than Kyros remembered. Ailynn wrapped it around his neck, tying it in place in the front and patting it gently. "There. Don't stay out too long, you'll catch cold."
    "Yes, ma," Kyros said, cracking a smile at the old admonition. "I'll be back shortly."
    "Enjoy your walk, dear," Ailynn said, heading back towards the kitchen.
    Kyros left the house, stepping outside. He immediately frowned at the snow falling all around him. It was coming down lightly, and the ground was only covered with a bare coating of it, but the clouds were dark and heavy. Unless they blew over, Ourenville was due for a storm, which meant a lot of snow and, if he was unlucky, Jallen and Ambry being significantly delayed.
    He couldn't worry about the weather now, though. He had too much else to worry about. He couldn't control the weather.
    Jallen and Ambry should show up in five or six days, and Kyros could sort out then whether it was safe to stay the additional week. Hopefully, if it was safe enough—relatively, anyway—to stay, the weather would hold off for the extra week until the solstice festival.
    Worst case, Kyros would give Raslin the puzzle box and give himself up to the council. Raslin would take care of Ailynn and himself, and the council would have no need to harm either of them if they had Kyros.

    *~*~*

    Kyros stepped into the house, pausing a moment to brush as much snow as he could from his jacket before shutting the door behind him. Raslin raised a hand in greeting, settled at the kitchen table with a plate of food. Kyros shucked his jacket, hanging it by the door before crossing the house to join him.
    "Ailynn's off at Theri's with the wash," Raslin said before Kyros could ask. "She mentioned you wanted to help with gathering firewood?"
    Kyros nodded, sitting down heavily in the chair next to Raslin. "Might as well work while I'm here."
    "All right," Raslin said. "Do you mind if we use your horse?
    MacRaflin's old mare died last spring, so we've been stuck using just the one cart."
    "Sure. I think she's done cart-work before," Kyros said, shrugging. One day of work wouldn't tire her out if he and Ailynn needed to make a swift departure.
    "Great," Raslin said, flashing a smile. "That will make dragging everything back to the village much simpler. Did you talk to Ailynn about when you're leaving?"
    "Yes," Kyros said, surprised Ailynn hadn't told Raslin that, since they'd obviously spoken while Kyros was out for his walk.
    He still wasn't completely sure about waiting until after the solstice festival to leave, but at least he had a few contingency plans in mind if the council's men showed up before Jallen and Ambry. "She wants to stay for the solstice festival."
    "And you're all right with that?" Raslin asked, his eyes widening in surprise. "I thought it was imperative you leave in a week."
    "I'd prefer that," Kyros said, shrugging tiredly. "But she's adamant about staying for the festival. If it turns out it's not safe, we'll leave sooner."
    "How will you know it's not safe?" Raslin asked, ignoring his food to completely focus on Kyros. "Do you want me to talk to her?"
    "No, it's fine," Kyros said, shaking his head. Ailynn wouldn't take well to that. She was set on attending the festival, and nothing he or Raslin said would make her any less stubborn.
    "Jallen and Ambry will be here by the week's end; they'll be able to tell me whether it's safe