that area. There were certainly enough bodies.”
“There are concerning rumors – I assume you have heard them – about the reasons behind the attack. Was the ihal sheltering more than the Laen?”
"Forgive me, I don't understand your meaning. He hosted six Laen. That is all. He said they had come to him before, but I was too young to remember their first visit.” She wondered what she would have said had there been more to tell. Perhaps she would have lied.
Gluan finally sat back. “Very well. Thank you for your candid answers. Do tell us of your skills.”
“I can do maid's work as well, and know a bit about cooking, though perhaps only enough for scullery work.” She was confidant that Gluan would find a place for her, though she did not look forward to meeting another family.
“Do any speak for this woman?”
“I do. My mother owns the Ruby Cockerel.” Arman did not look her way, but his hand behind his back fluttered a greeting at her. “She often needs help, though she does what she can. Miss ir Suna has stayed with us throughout her recovery and has helped much in the past two weeks. I ask that she stays on to help my mother. We would offer her room and board in exchange for her work.”
“And you are willing to take responsibility for her in Vielrona until she finds her own way?”
“I am. Vielrona is her home now, and I gladly welcome her.”
Φ
Alea's steps on the inn's stairs were light. She stopped, horrified, however, when she opened the door to her room. The bed was stripped and all the effects she had come to consider her own, even if they were borrowed, were gone.
Kepra emerged from a room by the base of the third-floor's stairs. “Miss, I've moved your things. If you're to be living and working here, you deserve your own space.” Her expression softened at the concern in Alea's eyes. “Arman spoke to me last night after you went to sleep. He wanted it to be a surprise. I know it isn't much, perhaps, compared to what you are used to, but this can be home for as long as you need.”
Alea could not trust her voice, but crossed the hall with hurried strides to embrace the older woman. It occurred to her, as Kepra held her gently, that she had not touched another person in weeks. She pulled away before her composure truly broke, and gave Kepra a smile.
“You could never know how much this means.” The usual simmer of bitterness dimmed with momentary excitement. She was grateful, surely, but behind her icy walls there was only exhausted relief.
Kepra's eyes crinkled with a smile very much like Arman's “I'm glad you're happy. There's a purse on your nightstand with your wages for your work. I'll pay you each week.” She made a shooing motion. “Go explore your room, but be in the kitchen before third bell – I'll need your help tonight.”
Alea was rolling dough for dumplings again when Arman peered through the kitchen door. “Did you see your room?”
“I did, luckily, or else you would have spoiled the surprise.” She met his eyes. “Thank you. For the room and for today at the hearing.” She turned back to the dough with a frown. “I feel as if far more was said, however, than the words we spoke.”
Arman sighed and slumped onto a stool. “You must understand we have survived this long by being direct, shrewd, and firm. He was not antagonizing you, simply wanting the truth.”
Alea pursed her lips. “I don't understand why he is fixated on rumors. Surely a few Laen cannot make a large difference.”
Arman stared at her, as if at a loss for words. “You are what, seventeen?”
She drew herself up. “I turned nineteen on the 20th of Lumord.” A frown flickered across her features. “I was unconscious at the time, I suppose.”
Arman bowed his head, just kindly enough that it did not seem mocking. Nevertheless a grin tugged at his mouth. “Forgive me, milady.” He sobered quickly. “What do you know of the war?”
Alea looked down. “I learned a little
“There are concerning rumors – I assume you have heard them – about the reasons behind the attack. Was the ihal sheltering more than the Laen?”
"Forgive me, I don't understand your meaning. He hosted six Laen. That is all. He said they had come to him before, but I was too young to remember their first visit.” She wondered what she would have said had there been more to tell. Perhaps she would have lied.
Gluan finally sat back. “Very well. Thank you for your candid answers. Do tell us of your skills.”
“I can do maid's work as well, and know a bit about cooking, though perhaps only enough for scullery work.” She was confidant that Gluan would find a place for her, though she did not look forward to meeting another family.
“Do any speak for this woman?”
“I do. My mother owns the Ruby Cockerel.” Arman did not look her way, but his hand behind his back fluttered a greeting at her. “She often needs help, though she does what she can. Miss ir Suna has stayed with us throughout her recovery and has helped much in the past two weeks. I ask that she stays on to help my mother. We would offer her room and board in exchange for her work.”
“And you are willing to take responsibility for her in Vielrona until she finds her own way?”
“I am. Vielrona is her home now, and I gladly welcome her.”
Φ
Alea's steps on the inn's stairs were light. She stopped, horrified, however, when she opened the door to her room. The bed was stripped and all the effects she had come to consider her own, even if they were borrowed, were gone.
Kepra emerged from a room by the base of the third-floor's stairs. “Miss, I've moved your things. If you're to be living and working here, you deserve your own space.” Her expression softened at the concern in Alea's eyes. “Arman spoke to me last night after you went to sleep. He wanted it to be a surprise. I know it isn't much, perhaps, compared to what you are used to, but this can be home for as long as you need.”
Alea could not trust her voice, but crossed the hall with hurried strides to embrace the older woman. It occurred to her, as Kepra held her gently, that she had not touched another person in weeks. She pulled away before her composure truly broke, and gave Kepra a smile.
“You could never know how much this means.” The usual simmer of bitterness dimmed with momentary excitement. She was grateful, surely, but behind her icy walls there was only exhausted relief.
Kepra's eyes crinkled with a smile very much like Arman's “I'm glad you're happy. There's a purse on your nightstand with your wages for your work. I'll pay you each week.” She made a shooing motion. “Go explore your room, but be in the kitchen before third bell – I'll need your help tonight.”
Alea was rolling dough for dumplings again when Arman peered through the kitchen door. “Did you see your room?”
“I did, luckily, or else you would have spoiled the surprise.” She met his eyes. “Thank you. For the room and for today at the hearing.” She turned back to the dough with a frown. “I feel as if far more was said, however, than the words we spoke.”
Arman sighed and slumped onto a stool. “You must understand we have survived this long by being direct, shrewd, and firm. He was not antagonizing you, simply wanting the truth.”
Alea pursed her lips. “I don't understand why he is fixated on rumors. Surely a few Laen cannot make a large difference.”
Arman stared at her, as if at a loss for words. “You are what, seventeen?”
She drew herself up. “I turned nineteen on the 20th of Lumord.” A frown flickered across her features. “I was unconscious at the time, I suppose.”
Arman bowed his head, just kindly enough that it did not seem mocking. Nevertheless a grin tugged at his mouth. “Forgive me, milady.” He sobered quickly. “What do you know of the war?”
Alea looked down. “I learned a little
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