Ties of Blood Read Online Free Page A

young lady stand around in wet clothes. What if she catches a chill?” She said scolding her husband.
    The woman turned toward Eloen giving smiling brightly. “Come with me dear, we need to get you out those clothes. You can have one of my old dresses, I have plenty that just don’t suit my tastes anymore.” She said grabbing Eloen securely by the arm and dragging her up the stairs.
    Once in the room alone the woman turned to her and gave her another one of her brilliant smiles. “I am Rene. What can I call you dear?”
    “Eloen.”
    “Nice to meet you dear, now get out of those wet things so we can hand them over their fireplace before they sour.” Rene said holding out her hand. Eloen obeyed and quickly shimmied out of her wet dress and short clothes.
    The woman wanted her to wear some of the more feminine dresses but Eloen wanted something that wouldn’t draw attention. After trying on a few they both finally agreed on a plain gray dress. The young woman’s dresses were a bit tight and slightly shorter than she felt comfortable wearing but it was better than prancing around in the nude.
    Back in the common room of the house they found only the small boy hanging up his soaked cloak to dry above the fire pit. Rene followed suit handing her clothes up on one of the small pegs to dry. Eloen pulled one of the wicker chairs up to the fire and took a seat and started to thaw her numb fingers.
    “May I ask what has you out this way?” Rene said pulling up a chair to sit beside her.
    “Were we on our way to the capital, and lost our way during the storm.” Eloen said repeating what Ballard had told the woman’s husband.
    “Well you’re lucky, it doesn’t seem like the storm will let up before the morning.”
    The three men returned with Ballard and Darryl having changed clothes. Unlike her they could wear their other changes of cloths. She was used to wearing dresses when she was at home but she felt more comfortable in a pair of leather pants than a dress. She knew that she was going to have to make sacrifices but it was slightly annoying not to have her weapons with her.
    “Your brother tells me you are headed to the capital to meet up with your betrothed, who has got himself stationed at the prison. Don’t know whose bad side he got on to get that posting, but I’m sure that with such a lovely lady such as yourself on his arm he’s bound to be the envy of everyone.” The large farmer said giving her a sly wink.
    “Glenn you behave yourself or I’ll cook nothing but greens for your supper for the next fortnight.” Rene said slapping her husband playfully on the arm, then turned to Eloen her face brightening in the space of a heartbeat. “You’re getting married? You have to tell me all about it. I was just about to start dinner, if you don’t mind helping we can chat while the men see who can tell the most outrageous stories.”
    Eloen laughed and followed Rene into the small kitchen. While they prepared the meal Eloen told her everything about Thad without trying to blow their cover story. The woman seemed to be genuinely interested in her stories and asked countless questions. She wanted to know everything from how the two had met, to their first kiss. It was going well until Rene asked about her father’s thoughts about the marriage.
    “I don’t know. I never knew which of my mother’s lovers my father was. He could have been any number of her slaves.” Eloen blurted out before she knew what she was saying.
    Rene and Eloen stared at each other for a long moment then the woman turned to the young boy who was tending the fire of the stove. “Timothy, would you please go clean that pigsty you call a room.” The boy huffed but obeyed shuffling off mumbling out of the kitchen. As soon as he was well out of sight Rene turned to Eloen and gave her a scrutinizing look. “Now a few things you said didn’t seem to match up. I don’t enjoy being jerked around, so why don’t you start telling the