Chapter 207 Alders Farm (1/2)
”Open up!” Arran knocked on Snowcloud's door, louder than the previous ti,” her muffled voice sounded fro Snowcloud's flustered face From the sweat on her forehead, Arran could tell she had been in thesession ”What is it?” she asked
”We're going into town,” Arran announced
”I can't,” Snowcloud replied without hesitation ”I have to practice ave her a flat stare ”After six , an afternoon off won't htblade told us not to draw attention,” she retorted
”She also told us to enjoy the town,” Arran said ”If she intended that to mean we should stay in our rooms, she would have picked a nicer inn”
”I won't risk it,” Snowcloud said ”You can go if you want, but I' here”
She moved to close the door, but before she could, Arran blocked it with his hand ”You can either co by yourself, or I'll throw you over my shoulder and carry you, the locals' attention be damned”
”You wouldn't!” Her eyes ide at the threat, and she stared at hih ”Fine If it's that i Wait for me in the common room I'll be there in a quarter hour”
Arran shtly, then turned around and headed down the stairs, to the small inn's common roohtblade had given them a few brief instructions, then left for the capital at once After that, Snowcloud had spent all her ti not the least bit diminished now that they had reached their destination
Arran,the town
Alder's Fare, but its location near the Ninth Valley's gate meant that it saw plenty of traffic And that meant the toas filled with numerous inns, restaurants, and little shops
Initially, the change of surroundings was like a breath of fresh air to Arran After six months in the wilderness, he had relished the chance to be as other than the vast
Yet as the days passed, his worries about Snowcloud grew
He had hoped that her spirits would improve once they returned to civilization, but instead, it seeotten worse Where she had previously been quiet, she had noithdrawn herself coetting worse
Finally, he had decided to put an end to it He could not solve her proble her descend further down this path
Perhaps dragging her outside would acco, or perhaps it would only ive up without even having tried
When Snowcloud arrived in the coer looked like she had just stepped out of a battlefield Rather than a worn training outfit, she was noearing a simple black robe, and her hair was coave her a suided her outside
”Where are we going?” she asked ”What was so important that you couldn't handle it alone?”
”To start,” Arran began, ”there's an excellent little restaurant nearby They serve fresh flatbread and so you've had before The roasted chicken is pretty good, too, not to etable stew And you should really try—”
He kept talking as he dragged Snowcloud along, fearful that if he gave her even the slightest chance, she would still change her mind
Yet she didn't, and barely an hour later, they were sat inside a small restaurant, the table in between theht,” Snowcloud said, dabbing up a last bit of sauce frole bite, then continued, ”It's good But why did you insist on , briefly wondering whether he should tell her the truth ”I'm worried about you,” he said ”You haven't been the sarandfather I can'tto watch you wither away, either Whatever is wrong, closing yourself off fro to help”
Snowcloud slowly shook her head ”I know youyou can decide”
”Sure I can,” Arran replied ”Ias an ox If need be, I'll pick you up and carry you withit takes”
At this, a trace of a sth of an ox, and the wits to ht then Where are we going next?”
”No idea,” Arran replied with a grin ”Let's find out”
They left the restaurant not long after, then headed into the town
For nearly two hours, they walked around ai various stores and — at Arran's insistence — several of the small food stalls that lined the streets Mostly, however, they just walked, watching the crowds as they passed
”It's so peaceful,” Snowcloud said, curiously looking at the people around thee, doesn't it?” Arran looked around with soes to deal with It's almost like we're co time since I felt like this”