Arrow on the String: Solomon Sorrows Book 1 Dan Fish (best book club books .TXT) 📖

chairs were empty. The others held Jace and Sorrows, Zvilna Gorsham, her parents, Bo and Trellia, and her grandmother, also named Zvilna.

Dwarf sons are often named after their ancestors. This is not abnormal or unexpected. But with so few born, the practice is less common with daughters. Daughters are, after all, a gift from the gods. Unique, treasured. Set apart. If a daughter is given the name of an ancestor, it is one who has already returned to the Stone Mother. It is done to draw attention to a long lineage of daughters within a house. It is done to acknowledge the gods and their blessings upon a family. It is not done to honor a grandmother who still draws breath. This made Zvilna the Younger an anomaly. And it meant Zvilna the Elder ruled House Gorsham.

“We’ve heard of you, Gray Walker,” Bo said, eyeing Sorrows. “They warned us of your coming.”

“We’re only here to help protect Zvilna.” Jace said.

She and Sorrows had developed a routine over the previous sixteen families. Jace did the talking. Sorrows did the yelling, swearing, punching, and throwing.

Bo ignored her, made a face. Difficult to read beneath his beard, but his eyebrows fell and his nostrils flared. He kept his eyes on Sorrows. “I know how to protect my family.”

“My son belongs to the City guard,” Zvilna the Elder said, staring at Sorrows.

White hair dusted her jowls, softening deep lines caused by a chronic frown. She was old. Long past the age where she should have returned to her gods. Elf-old. And it wasn’t a good look on a dwarf. She was thin, hunched, and her skin was mottled, like water-stained parchment left too long in the sun.

Sorrows nodded. “Then he knows to keep Zvilna surrounded by people. Don’t let her out of your sight. Don’t leave her alone.”

Zvilna the Younger’s chin began to quiver. She glanced at her mother, eyes wide. Green eyes that shone like polished jade.

“Gods, Sorrows,” Zvilna the Elder said. “You’re worse than I imagined. Talking like that with my granddaughter listening. Take your pretty elf and be gone.”

“You’re afraid,” Jace said, looking at Zvilna the Younger. “But you don’t need to be. Sleep in the sitting room with your family.”

Jace reached across the table, squeezed Zvilna the Younger’s hand, smiled.

“Let them tell you how pretty you look in your dress and paint, with your hair done up in ribbons.”

The Younger nodded, sniffed, offered a small smile.

“Preposterous,” the Elder said. “We will follow tradition. My son can protect his family.”

The Younger glanced at her mother, then at Jace, then at Sorrows.

“I think you should leave now,” Bo said.

His chair scraped against the floor as he stood. Sorrows felt his stare on the side of his head. He kept his eyes on the Elder for a moment before turning to Jace.

“We’re done here,” he said.

He stood, stepped back, gently pushed his chair into the table. Started slipping into his cloak.

“Done?” Jace asked.

She stood and looked at him, confused. He nodded, turned to the Younger.

“I will see you again on your birthday,” he said. “I’ll make sure you are safe.”

The Younger smiled, nodded. The Elder scowled, slapped the table.

“Like hells you will,” she said. “I won’t have my granddaughter’s Maiden Dance ruined by the Mage Guard. You tell him, Bo.”

“Stay away, Gray Walker,” Bo said, leaning on the table. “After the masters finish with Zvilna’s paint, I only want pure-blooded dwarves in my home. If I see you, I’ll have your head for it. Mage Guard be shunned.”

Sorrows ignored him, looked at the Younger.

“I’ll be here,” he said.

He turned and left.

✽✽✽

SORROWS AND JACEtrudged through the snow, working their way to the main road. The moon was waning, but bright. The stars shone clear and steady. Wood smoke wafted in the air. Sorrows worked his fingers. Need to talk. My room, tonight. He didn’t expect Mig to show, but he had to try. Without her, he’d need to ask Ga’Shel for help, which he really didn’t want to do. He and Jace returned to the tower. She showed him to the dining hall and sipped on wine while he shoved forkfuls of meat pie into his mouth.

“You going to eat?” he asked.

Jace nodded. “Later.”

“I’ve never seen you eat.”

“That’s because I don’t want you to see me eat,” she said.

He stopped mid-chew.

“Are you serious?”

She nodded. He shrugged. After he was finished, she took him back to his room. When she lingered at the door, he waved her out and shut it. He turned to the room.

You there? Please. Need to see you.

✽✽✽

MIG DIDN’T SHOW. She hadn’t shown all week. Sorrows lay in bed the next morning, staring into darkness and thinking. He figured either she’d seen Jace kiss him and left, or she was in trouble. Mig was smart. Mig was a Walker. She could take care of herself. She wouldn’t be in trouble. Which meant he’d fired the arrow one too many times. The shaft had snapped. He’d taken splinters. Maybe some deep splinters. Yes, he loved her, though he didn’t say it. And yes, he enjoyed being with her, though he found reasons to stay away. But the truth was, he needed her. Needed as many Walkers in his life as possible. They made his job easier. And if Mig was through with him, it might mean Fen was through with him, too. And that left Bex and Ga’Shel as the only Walkers he knew. And when it came to Walkers, he made a point to know all of them. Forestwalking was a rare gift. A Walker might come along once every hundred years. He’d traveled with Bex long before Fen and Mig appeared. She wouldn’t be around much longer. He’d have to make amends with Mig, eventually. But he could let her hate him for a while.

He was still in bed, still in the dark, when the door opened and Jace walked in. She crossed the room, lit the lamp, studied him. Really studied him. Her eyes ran up and