looked at Charming, who said, “No. We can find a chair.”
“For him, too.” She nodded toward Crave.
Everyone looked surprised. “We’d have to open the door to get a chair inside,” Charming said.
She looked at Crave. “Will you agree to stay inside for the duration of my interview if I can get you a chair and make you comfortable?”
Crave didn’t answer immediately. He stared at Dr. Reising for a full thirty seconds, perhaps trying to judge her trustworthiness as she judged his. Reaching some conclusion or other, he said, “Yes.”
Free nodded at Charming, who made it clear by facial expression and body language that he didn’t think that was a great idea. That was the extent to which he would lodge an objection. His father was still the Extant. And there was a reason why he’d been respected and unchallenged as leader of the Exiled all of Charming’s life.
Cage left with Charming.
Dr. Reising turned to Free, Serene, and Dandelion. “You can stay until they return with chairs, but then you’ll need to leave while I talk privately with Crave.”
Free cleared his throat. “All right. I’ll build up the fire so it will be warm in here. Getting colder by the minute.”
He proceeded to bank three new logs on the coals, one that was hard wood, one that was soft wood but green, and one dry enough to catch fairly quickly.
While he was doing that, Serene asked Dr. Reising if she’d like a tea. Dr. Reising looked at Crave. “No. Nothing for me. Thank you.”
Cage and Charming returned with two chairs from the Commons, one with worn upholstery that could barely fit through the door of the building and one of the table chairs that could barely fit through the cell door.
Carnal’s crew had been waiting outside. Since they’d taken on responsibility for Crave’s care, they had the keys to the cell. Having been apprised of the doctor’s decision, the entire crew stepped in and stood inside the door to insure that Crave abided by the agreement he’d made to voluntarily remain incarcerated for the duration of the interview. The little hallway was suddenly crowded with family and friends of the family.
Dandy watched Crave looking at each and every face as if searching for someone recognizable and it fired her empathy anew when she realized what a nightmare it would be to wake up and know no one.
Yellow eased past the spectators, pulling the keys from his pocket. “Hey there, big guy,” he said to Crave. “Glad to see you looking more like yourself. How about you take three steps back and let your little brother furnish your house?”
When Yellow said ‘little brother’, Crave’s eyes jerked to Charming. He quickly gave Charming a once-over, then took three steps back as requested and stood motionless as the cell door was opened. He watched as Charming entered, set the chair down, and backed out. When the iron door clanked closed, the onlookers breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Dr. Reising raised a hand toward the exit. “If you don’t mind?”
It was a polite way of asking everyone to get out and let her do her job. They filed out, but didn’t leave. Even though the wind had become biting with cold and stung their skin, each one was prepared to stand in place until the doc rendered the verdict about where Crave would be sleeping that night.
No one spoke. They didn’t even glance at each other. They simply waited. Stoically.
Inside Dr. Reising pushed the upholstered chair to the exact angle and position she wanted and then sat.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Put your chair wherever you want, Crave. But there’s no point in having to yell at each other to be heard. Come closer.”
He hadn’t moved from the position he’d taken up when Yellow had asked him to step back. On hearing the doctor’s suggestion, he glanced at the chair. He picked it up and moved it closer to where she was sitting so that it would be easy to imagine having a normal conversation. If it wasn’t for the fact that
“For him, too.” She nodded toward Crave.
Everyone looked surprised. “We’d have to open the door to get a chair inside,” Charming said.
She looked at Crave. “Will you agree to stay inside for the duration of my interview if I can get you a chair and make you comfortable?”
Crave didn’t answer immediately. He stared at Dr. Reising for a full thirty seconds, perhaps trying to judge her trustworthiness as she judged his. Reaching some conclusion or other, he said, “Yes.”
Free nodded at Charming, who made it clear by facial expression and body language that he didn’t think that was a great idea. That was the extent to which he would lodge an objection. His father was still the Extant. And there was a reason why he’d been respected and unchallenged as leader of the Exiled all of Charming’s life.
Cage left with Charming.
Dr. Reising turned to Free, Serene, and Dandelion. “You can stay until they return with chairs, but then you’ll need to leave while I talk privately with Crave.”
Free cleared his throat. “All right. I’ll build up the fire so it will be warm in here. Getting colder by the minute.”
He proceeded to bank three new logs on the coals, one that was hard wood, one that was soft wood but green, and one dry enough to catch fairly quickly.
While he was doing that, Serene asked Dr. Reising if she’d like a tea. Dr. Reising looked at Crave. “No. Nothing for me. Thank you.”
Cage and Charming returned with two chairs from the Commons, one with worn upholstery that could barely fit through the door of the building and one of the table chairs that could barely fit through the cell door.
Carnal’s crew had been waiting outside. Since they’d taken on responsibility for Crave’s care, they had the keys to the cell. Having been apprised of the doctor’s decision, the entire crew stepped in and stood inside the door to insure that Crave abided by the agreement he’d made to voluntarily remain incarcerated for the duration of the interview. The little hallway was suddenly crowded with family and friends of the family.
Dandy watched Crave looking at each and every face as if searching for someone recognizable and it fired her empathy anew when she realized what a nightmare it would be to wake up and know no one.
Yellow eased past the spectators, pulling the keys from his pocket. “Hey there, big guy,” he said to Crave. “Glad to see you looking more like yourself. How about you take three steps back and let your little brother furnish your house?”
When Yellow said ‘little brother’, Crave’s eyes jerked to Charming. He quickly gave Charming a once-over, then took three steps back as requested and stood motionless as the cell door was opened. He watched as Charming entered, set the chair down, and backed out. When the iron door clanked closed, the onlookers breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Dr. Reising raised a hand toward the exit. “If you don’t mind?”
It was a polite way of asking everyone to get out and let her do her job. They filed out, but didn’t leave. Even though the wind had become biting with cold and stung their skin, each one was prepared to stand in place until the doc rendered the verdict about where Crave would be sleeping that night.
No one spoke. They didn’t even glance at each other. They simply waited. Stoically.
Inside Dr. Reising pushed the upholstered chair to the exact angle and position she wanted and then sat.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Put your chair wherever you want, Crave. But there’s no point in having to yell at each other to be heard. Come closer.”
He hadn’t moved from the position he’d taken up when Yellow had asked him to step back. On hearing the doctor’s suggestion, he glanced at the chair. He picked it up and moved it closer to where she was sitting so that it would be easy to imagine having a normal conversation. If it wasn’t for the fact that
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