“I’m here!” Rish called, hefting a pot in her hands. Bern rushed over to her, but she jutted her chin to his chair in a silent command for him to sit back down. She placed the pot in the center of the table, pulling a ladle and spoons from the front pocket of her apron. Unceremoniously dropping them on the table, she turned to Lina. “My Princess!” she exclaimed, giving Lina a kiss on each cheek. “Your beauty grows with every day. It has been far too long, mea raga.”

Lina held Rish’s hands, beaming up at her. Rish seemed special to them all. How few of them received motherly warmth from anyone else? None of their own parents fussed over them like Rish did.

“Sit this course with us at least,” Lina said, gesturing to the last empty chair. Rish looked like she was going to refuse, but Lina gave her a look and the witch laughed.

Cupping Lina’s cheek, she said, “Okay, okay, the second course can wait a moment.” She took the tea towel from her shoulder and dropped it onto the table, leaning in to Lina. “Now, how are you? Tell me everything.”

Lina chuckled, the breathy sound making the hairs on Bri’s arms stand on end. At least her attention was fully on Rish now.

The second the food was placed on the table, one of the dogs appeared and rested its head on Bri’s lap. He had lighter fur around his nose and eyebrows, giving him a permanently surprised expression.

She chortled at those pleading eyes then picked out a piece of meat from the stew. The moment she did, his ears perked up as his tail thrashed wildly.

“Not too many pieces,” Bern said with a laugh. “Or he’ll be sick.”

“Are the dogs yours?”

“Family dogs,” he said. “They’ve come over with me from the manor. Not much of guard dogs, they’ll sooner lick a burglar to death, but they’ll warn they’re coming at least.”

Lina reached down, patting the side of one of the other dogs that lay beside her chair. “Better than nothing,” she said, scratching the dog behind the ear in just the right way that made him lean into it and close his eyes. “You can sleep outside my door,” Lina added with a whisper, and Bri smiled at the way she spoke to the dog directly.

Bri swigged back her glass of wine, bouncing her leg under the table. She watched Lina’s hand, perfectly endearing, as it scratched under the dog’s chin. She didn’t realize she was scowling until she glanced at Carys and found her friend biting her lip, trying not to smile. She let out a long sigh through her nose and grabbed another piece of flatbread. Why were the most beautiful and thrilling things also the most torturous?

*   *   *