Free Whisper and Rise by Jamie Day Page A

seen her in weeks.
    “Hello, Rhiannon.” Nia pried away her sister and gave me a warm embrace.
    “It’s good to see you,” I told her. “Congratulations.”
    Nia was shaking. “I can’t believe you’re here,” she said. “In DarMattey.” She smiled at me and stared with those emerald green eyes I knew. “Madeline said that you had come already, but somehow—”
    Something smacked the store and tried to break the glass window.
    I ducked, startled, and turned to see a broken tree branch flop to the promenade. The wind must have carried it; there was no one left outside.
    Nia grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the counter where the rest of her family huddled from the sudden storm. “Now the day feels disrupted.” Her words faded into the swirling noise outside.
    We stayed away from the windows, for good reason; the winds pummeled them with gravel, leaves, and small pieces of wood as the afternoon lengthened to a dreary evening. Jake lit a pair of oil lanterns, which gave the store a warm glow that wavered whenever a gust of air slipped under the crease in the front door. Madeline and Sianna wandered upstairs to prepare a meal, Jake and Colin laughed and joked loudly, while Owen cradled little Sadi and did his best to keep up with Connor. That left Nia and I to talk again. Between rackety interruptions, we occupied the afternoon with news and enlightenment.
    “I haven’t heard what the Elders will do with the bandit,” Nia told me, in a low whispered tone. She glanced up nervously when her father’s laughing voice filled the store, and then spoke again. “Once they get the scrolls back, I hope they’ll send him away.”
    As I leaned close to answer her, a firm hand on my shoulder made me jump. “I knew you two would talk about mischief once you were together.” Owen lowered his face and glared at us. “You ladies should chat about the wedding, or your favorite dresses. Not the trouble with strangers.”
    “I’m sorry, Owen,” I said, saving Nia from his scolding. “I feel like I’m responsible—causing you danger every time there’s an escape attempt.”
    Owen released Sadi to the open arms of her father and knelt close. “Don’t worry about us,” he said to me. “I’ll accept the risk while keeping the bandit captive. Cael and the men do a good job of catching him when he gets away.”
    Owen’s mention of Cael reminded me of my visit to the Bauer well. I wanted to tell Nia about the land I had purchased, but needed a private moment. The land north of the mountain was a sore subject with her father. I thanked him for his efforts to find the scrolls and quietly waited for the subject to end.
    “Ladies, will you help us bring sandwiches down?” Madeline leaned over the stair railing. “The food is ready.”
    Dinner wasn’t a feast, but was more than I had eaten the previous night. For that, I was grateful. We gathered on the floor of the store, stretching between the aisles, and talked through the evening. One of my favorite treats of the evening was the small jar of green and white, circle-shaped candies that our hosts shared. Covered in sugar, they tasted like green apples, with only a hint of tart and plenty of sweetness to make my mouth want more. Whenever Sianna offered, I eagerly accepted a handful.
    The last traces of daylight disappeared, leaving us to the sanctuary of Sianna’s store. That’s when the rain started. At first, tiny pellets spattered against the glass like a million little footsteps marching down the panes. Then the downpour came. The force of the blowing water and mud made the windows rattle in their frames. Then a flash of lightning scorched the glass. Thunder shook the store.
    The children screamed and ran toward the corner. The tiny flames of our lanterns danced their fear of extinguishing, and we all held our breath. I winced as another bright flash sent Sianna rushing toward her daughter.
    “Momma, I’m scared,” Sadi cried, reaching up to her