Restart Again: Volume 2 by Adam Scott (hardest books to read txt) 📕

Home? I took a bite of bread and grinned in an attempt to hide my awkwardness. Where is home now? It wasn’t a thought I had spent the time to consider since my arrival in Yoria. As I helped myself to a bowl of stew, I was grateful to find Hana’s focus had shifted away from me and back to Lia.

Our meal carried on well into the evening. Lia and Marten went back and forth trading stories of what had transpired while we were gone, while Hana and I listened contentedly. I was thankful that Lia avoided any mention of our arrest in Atsal and the subsequent events with the king; she focused instead on places we had seen and things she had learned in her training. By the time she and her mother began to clear the table, the sun had completely set outside.

“Marten,” I called out across the table, “do you need any help putting away the wagon? It seems we’ve kept you away from your work a while longer than intended.”

There was a mischievous twinkle in Marten’s eye as he responded. “So it would seem. I’d certainly appreciate the help.” He stood from the table, planted a quick kiss on his wife and daughter’s foreheads, and followed behind me as we headed out into the yard. The cool night air felt refreshing through the thin dress clothes I wore, and the moon provided more than enough light for me to make my way across the yard.

We made our way to the barn in silence. When we approached, I confirmed my suspicion that the lock was already on the door with the wagon and horse nowhere to be seen. Marten started the conversation before we reached the structure. “So. How has my daughter been since you left?”

“Things have been going well,” I replied as I removed the satchel from my back. “She trains hard every day, even when she’s tired and sore. I’ve never met someone more determined than her.”

Marten leaned against the barn door with a smirk. “I think of it more as bullheadedness,” he chuckled. “Don’t know where she gets it.”

I laughed. “Truly a mystery.” Placing the satchel on a stack of crates beside me, I withdrew the box from inside, keeping my body between it and Marten. “I can’t speak for Lia, but I’d like to think the trip was enjoyable for her. It was for me, certainly. I believe I’ve kept my promise to the best of my abilities.” While I spoke, I removed one of the five coin purses and the imperial writ from the box and slid them into my pocket. “Although, there is that business about a dowry we should discuss…”

“Oh, nonsense,” Marten huffed. “That silver was a gift. The whole dowry bit was just a joke.” Though I was facing away from him, I could hear a raised eyebrow in his tone. “Mostly.”

“Even so,” I countered, “I’d like to pay you back.” I crossed to where he stood and presented him with the ornate box. “Think of it as...insurance.”

“Insurance?” He popped the lid open and observed the contents. “I’m not sure I follow you.” Carefully, he withdrew one of the pouches from inside and set the box down on the ground. With a last suspicious glance up at me he pulled open the purse, and froze at the sight of golden coins winking up at him in the moonlight.

“The others are the same; one hundred Imperials in each,” I said softly. Slouching back against the door beside him, I let out a heavy sigh. The jovial slant to my voice was missing when I continued. “There’s trouble brewing down in Attetsia, Marten. It might just be the pessimist in me, but I think it won’t be long until that trouble makes its way up here to Yoria.” I paused to let the information sink in. “You and Hana should leave before that happens.”

We stood together in the darkness for quite some time before Marten responded in a thin, wavering voice. “I’ve heard stories lately about Attetsia. Just tall tales; the usual stories the traders tell.” I gave a small nod in acknowledgement. After another reprieve, he tapped the wooden box with his foot. “I take it you’ve resolved your issues with the guards?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes.” I grimaced as I saw the sneering face of King Virram in my mind. “Once I do some work for them, I’ll be a free man.”

“You’ll be headed to Attetsia soon, then.”

“Three days from now.” I braced myself for the question I knew would come next.

“And Lia?” Marten’s voice sounded airy and far away. It was a strange juxtaposition to his usual fatherly bravado.

“She has no obligations. They don’t even know her name; I made sure of it.” I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “But she’s still coming with me. Unless you think you can talk her out of it.”

“We both know how that would end.”

I forced a small laugh. “We do.” Looking down at him, I saw a completely different man than the one I had left the house with. This one was small, uncertain and nervous; nothing like the Marten Corell I had come to know. “I know we weren’t gone for long, but...Lia is stronger now. She can take care of herself, should things get dangerous.”

“I believe you. I could see it at dinner,” Marten said, nodding. “Something is changed about her, for sure.” He rubbed his hands together in front of him absentmindedly. “I’m going to be honest with you, Lux. I haven’t decided yet if I should shake your hand or punch your teeth in.”

The statement brought an honest laugh out of me. “I know which one I deserve, although it isn’t the one I’d prefer.”

Marten laughed in return. “Aye.” With a quick clap, he pushed off from the barn door and picked up the wooden box. “We can postpone that decision for now. I’m sure Lia