Unspoken

Chapter 31 Messengers

"I have decided I do not like winter," Daria complained. She blew her hands and rubbed tem to warm them up.

Petsha chuckled soflty while placing an extra blanket over his horse. The snow that had been pending all of yesterday had finally started to fall and now formed a thick blanket on the ground. "Poor Darka, afraid of a little snow."

"I am not afraid," Daria pouted, "I simply do not like the cold."

"Then perhaps you should make yourself useful and gather some wood for the fire," Isabella interjected. She pushed her daughter towards one of the baskets. "Work will keep you warm so you won't have to worry about the cold."

"Mother!" Daria complained.

"Hurry," Isabella pointed, "there is enough for you to do."

Daria sighed and picked up the basket.

"Take Alec with you!" her mother called after her.

Petsha shook his head in amusement. "Isabella," he said, "you shouldn't treat her like a child. She does her chores. Grand her some freedom."

"And you shouldn't indulge her so much," Isabella countered, "she is your wife."

"Aye," Petsha nodded, "and my responsibility. It's not easy for her. She is trying."

"It hasn't been easy for any of us," Isabella spoke, "we all need to carry on. Perhaps a child would be good for her. She would have something to focus on."

Petsha sighed and tied the horse to a pole where it could graze. The horse snorted and started prodding the snow. "We have decided to wait," he answered.

Isabella tutted and sighed. "Waiting. Always waiting. That is the problem these days." She threw her hands in the air and walked back to her own wagon.

Petsha shook his head. As much as he liked his mother-in-law, she was a meddlesome woman.
When he turned around, he caught Dorin's smirk. Petsha glared at him. "Don't laugh."

"I'm not laughing," Dorin commented casually, "only watching you get pushed around by women." Dorin flinched when he received a slap against the back of his head.

His mother narrowed her eyes at him. "At least he has a wife," she commented, "you are going to burden your poor mother until you're old and grey."

Dorin scowled and it was Petsha's turn to smirk as Abhirati walked away.

"Don't laugh," Dorin growled.

Petsha's smirk grew wider. "I'm not laughing," he said, "only watching you get pushed around by women." He chuckled at Dorin's annoyed expression and walked into his wagon.

***

"Emily! Look! It's snowing!" Amelia jumped up from her seat and dashed over to the window. Thick white flakes were falling from the sky.

Emily rolled herself next to her sister and stared at the snow longingly. "It's so pretty, don't you think?"

"And so cold," Amelia said. Involuntarily she rubbed her arms.

"When the snow stops falling, we should build a snowman," Emily said dreamily. She smiled. "Maybe Leah wants to help. Or Harun."

Amelia smiled amused. "You and that stable boy."

Emily crossed her arms. "What about it? He is my friend. Don't make fun of me."

"I wouldn't dream of it, little sister," Amelia ruffled her sister's hair affectionately.

A throat was cleared behind them and both girls turned around.

"Miles," Amelia said surprised, "what is it?"