Chapter 6: Read It Back

Petra said the Words of Rejection in the voice of a man selling used tractors.

"Aino Laitinen, I break this loaf and I break the bond," she announced from the Alpha's chair in the empty Long Hall.

"You are released. Do I hear a thank-you? Sold!"

"Stop saying sold," I said.

"It felt like a good place for it."

It was Friday evening.

Nils had not come to the run, which I had expected, and he had not sent a reason, which I had expected too.

I had Petra in Nils's second-best flannel, an Alpha's sash from the dress-up bin and a loaf of Wednesday's rye on a board.

"I can't practice my half against that," I said. "I need someone who says it so I believe it."

"I believe it," said Petra.

"You said sold."

"I'm in the moment," said Petra.

"Get out of the moment, please."

The Long Hall door swung open without a sound.

Soren stood in it with a length of pale planed wood in one hand.

He had come to check on a noise.

"Someone shouted," he said.

"It was a rehearsal."

"It sounded like a livestock auction," he said.

"That was the Alpha."

He looked at Petra, who gave him a small wave in a sash.

I should have let him go.

Instead I held out the card from the key ring.

"Read his half."

"I'm not Nils," he said.

"I know exactly who you are. You have a voice, and hands, and you don't put a price on anything. Read it."

He set down the board.

He took the card, read it through once and walked to the Alpha's table.

He did not take the chair.

He stood in front of it with the loaf.

"Do I stand here?"

"Wherever you'd stand if you meant it," I said.

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