Grace greeted me in the kitchen with coffee, eggs, and toast. Decker stood out by his absence.
“Still in bed?” I asked.
Her face dropped. “Afraid not. He’s been outside for a couple hours now. Felt him a bit restless last night, then he got out of bed without a word and didn’t come back.”
Grace met my eyes and bit her lip, as though seeking advice or comment on my part, but I had none to give. I cleaned my plate, offered a sincere thank you, and set out to meet him. Whatever I expected to find out there, this wasn’t it. Despite the cool of the morning, Decker was drenched in sweat. Heavy-duty work gloves made from animal hide climbed to his elbows. They didn’t look like they’d stop a sluagh bite, but they beat going in bare-handed.
He’d attached an axle made from yesterday’s metal weap
