My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 475

Sera

"Solva's parsnip patch got trampled today," Ilse said with a sigh, passing a steaming wooden bowl to Torvald. "Some boys, playing at wolves."

Torvald chuckled, stirring his stew with a carved wooden spoon. "Probably Wicket's fault. That boy's got energy to burn."

Runa grinned, slurping stew. "He's not a boy. He's my best friend."

Torvald laughed. "Well, your friend Wicket led the pack, then." He winked at her and Runa giggled.

The girl dipped her spoon, lifted it...and hesitated. Her gaze flicked to her apron pocket. A small smile played on her lips. Runa turned to her parents.

"Oh, look what Wicket found today!" She pulled the bleached bone from her pocket and set it on the table with a soft clack. The tallow light glinted off her father's knife as he cut a slice of bread.

Ilse peered at the bone. "It's a rabbit femur. Or maybe a hare."

Torvald picked it up, turning it over in his hand. "Hmm. Too big for a rabbit. I'd say it's a fox femur."

"I don't think so," Ilse said. "Fox femurs are thinner."

The girl watched them, eyes darting back and forth. Torvald grinned. He reached out to ruffle Runa's hair with his free hand.

"Did you know, daughter, that bones tell the story of a life? This one tells me of a swift hunter, one who ran with the pack under the pale moon..." He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

She rolled her eyes and giggled. "Father!"

Ilse chuckled. "And clearly his children had a taste for rabbit stew." She smiled at Runa. "Maybe you'll be a great huntress one day, hm?"

"My daughter, the bone whisperer," Torvald said solemnly. "I'm sure after tonight's stew, you'll be able to read the tales of every femur in the forest."

I felt Runa's cheeks heat up. She ducked her head shyly.

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