But she didn’t want to linger. She pulled the door closed, then paused to step into her boots. Then she hurried to Master Harwin’s home, her heart in her throat as she made her way across the village.
She sensed the presence before she saw him. The hooded figure came out of the shadows, stepping in her path. The scream rose into her throat but she stifled it, pressing a hand against her pounding heart. The man shoved off his hood.
“Ardan!” She said his name on a gasp. “You scared me.”
A sheepish look came over his face as he dropped his head and looked down at his feet.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“Yirrie asked me to watch for you to make sure you didn’t leave the village.”
First shock then anger pounded through her. She clenched her fists into a tight ball.
“I’m not leaving the village,” she said. “I’m going to see Master Harwin.”
His head snapped up. “Master Harwin? Why?”
She huffed out a breath and shoved passed him. “I have to talk to him about something.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Spinning around, she placed both her hands on his chest and gave him a shove. “No, you will not.”
“But—”
“I can take care of myself.”
“But Yirrie said—”
“I don’t care what Yirrie said.”
Turning on her heel, she stalked off once again toward Master Harwin’s house.
“If you let me come with you, I won’t tell her,” he called.
Snow halted. So, it was to be blackmail then. Disappointment flooded through her that Ardan was willing to stoop to that level. She cut him a glance over her shoulder.
“Fine, then. Come on. But say nothing.”
At Master Harwin’s door, she pushed it open and paused in the little foyer with the desk. Ardan stood next to her. Knowing Harwin rarely slept, she marched to the door on the right and knocked. Moments later, a squinting, sleepy-eyed Master Harwin opened the door and poked his head out.
“Snow?” His gaze landed on Ardan. “And who’s this?”
“This is Ardan,” she replied. And then something occurred to her. “He has the enchanted blade.”
Harwin’s brows flew upward. “The enchanted blade?”
“And…” Pausing, she cut Ardan a glance. “I have answers.”
Excitement lit his eyes as he waved them inside his home and to the table where they had shared tea once before. She perched on the edge of the stool, Ardan on the one next to her, and waited while Harwin started to brew a pot of tea.
Ardan leaned toward her, his voice low. “You told him about the enchanted blade?”
She nodded, remaining silent. When the kettle whistled, he brought it and cups over to the table, placing it in the middle. He poured two cups and slid one to Snow and one to Ardan, then poured one for himself.
“Well?” he prompted. “Let me see this enchanted blade.”
Ardan remained statue still in his seat. Snow nudged him with her elbow.
