“That bit of a barn there has plenty of room for a couple of horses, a ponycart, tack and feed,” Gavin said, pointing. “On that side of the stone fence is common pasture, but this here is part of the land in Nara’s keeping. Those fruit trees and berry bushes, too, along with the hayfield. Now. Over the past few years, Nara had a bargain with a few of us about the hayfield. We’d tend it and harvest it. She received enough hay to see her animals through the seasons and we split the rest between us. Worked well for everyone. If you’re agreeable, we’ll keep doing the same. Since I’ve got the tavern and have use for them, Nara gave me and Kellie her cow and chickens, with the understanding that whoever took the cottage would get the milk and eggs they needed.” When he finally paused, Aiden just nodded, not sure what else to do. Cows? Chickens? Hayfields?

“What happened to Nara?” Lyrra asked.

“She packed up. Said she was needed in the world, what with all the troubles going on in the east. Now that it’s settled, she said witches were needed to touch the land again, wake up the magic in the Old Places. A few of the youngsters went with her, those of an age to have restless feet and a desire to see what’s beyond the home fields. So she said I was to find someone to care for the place while she was gone. She’s got nieces and nephews—I should know, I’m one of them—but we’ve all got our own places and we’re happy where we are.”

“Why us?” Aiden asked.

Gavin gave him a long look. “Well, I’ll tell you, Bard. The day Nara packed up her ponycart, she took me aside and told me she’d had a dream the night before about the right people for this land. She told me she dreamed she walked her land just like she always did, but she heard music in the air around the fruit trees and stories bloomed among her flowers. When I heard you were coming into the village, it just seemed…It was like she knew you were coming. So, what do you think, Bard?”

His head was spinning, and he wasn’t sure what he thought. But now that Gavin had finally stopped talking, he realized the man was fidgety, nervous—and he understood why. Gavin wanted them to stay. Whether it was because of Nara’s dream or for some other reason, he and Lyrra were wanted here, welcome here.