Whatever Antona ended with, it had some effect. Krystal laughed beneath a solemn nod, and behind the carriage driver, Weldein rolled his eyes. So did Haithen. Jinsa just grinned.
I watched Krystal as she answered.
“I do have… commissions, but I am certain that he will undertake the commission of your dining set at his earliest haste.”
Antona looked from her to me. “Not too much haste.” She winked. “In anything.” Then she inclined her head to us. “I look… to seeing your workmanship… all your commissions.” Once more, I missed some of what she said, hopefully not anything important.
She turned and reentered the carriage. We watched as she and her small entourage departed.
Krystal was still smiling as she turned to me. “All my commissions?”
I shrugged.
“You will have to expand the house.”
“You have plans.”
“I always have.”
I hugged her again, and Weldein rolled his eyes. So did Tamra, but she reached out and held Weldein’s arm for a moment, as though she were not still blind most of the time. She had plans also.
I stood in the yard as the five rode down the drive toward Kyphrien, watching until I could see them no longer. The goose stretched her neck in a hiss as I walked into the shop, but geese hiss, and at least I couldn’t hear her. Besides, what would I do about it anyway?
Wegel had picked up the broom and was sweeping the floor around his space, somewhat cleaner than the area around my bench.
I picked up the length of cedar from the corner of the workbench, taking comfort in the wood, a soothing that helped reduce the pain of those knives behind my eyes. I studied the cedar, realizing that I now knew the face that the wood held, and that the image I had of my father would hold, and I could only hope that he would have been pleased.
Then I picked up the knife.
The Death of Chaos Page 69
