Isla stabbed the piece of meat on her plate and stuck it in her mouth. The first real food she’d eaten in days tasted better than raspberry brownies from her grandmeese’s bakery. She chewed each piece as if her last. Given Keiron’s sudden bursts of cruelty, he might at any moment rip the plate from her grip and throw it on the floor. She glanced at Tam beside her on the bench. He ate his meat and potatoes as if he’d eaten better, but the ration in front of him sufficed for now. He ate in silence, as usual, not speaking to her or the hauflin, across the table.
Other customers at the Midway Inn enjoyed a meal, but Isla kept her head low and didn’t look at them. Keiron reminded her of his threat as they sat to eat. She had no doubts he’d honour it. To her surprise and relief, the gnome didn’t eat with them. He didn’t like eating near them in the forest, so it made sense he didn’t want to share a table with them. Isla knew he still lingered out of sight. Keiron had told Tam he had paid for two rooms, one for him and the gnome, and one for Tam and her.
“Look what the troglodyte dragged in.”
Startled, Isla looked up to see a female hauflin standing by Keiron’s arm. She wore a dress which hung to her knees and revealed her shoulders. Her dark hair hung loose around her neck. Isla watched as she caressed the man’s shoulders. She obviously didn’t know him well.
“Fran,” said Keiron and continued eating.
“Got room for one more?” She didn’t wait for an answer and pushed him along the bench to make room.
He obliged, moving his ration with him. He now sat directly across from Isla. Her grip tightened on her plate, and she chewed faster.
“Tam.” Fran nodded at the dwarf. “Good to see you well.”
He nodded and took a drink of yellow liquid.
“And who do we have here?” She looked at Isla.
“My son.” Keiron washed his food down with the same yellow, stinky substance.
Fran lifted an eye brow. “You didn’t tell me you had a child.”
“Yew never asked.” He shoved the last piece of meat into his mouth.
“He’s travelling with you?”
“Just ‘til we get to my sister’s. The poor fellow’s meeme died and left him alone.”
It seemed to satisfy the woman. She cuddled up to the hauflin. Isla grimaced. He stunk. Fran’s nose must be broken. She glanced at Tam, but he didn’t seem to care either way.
“Do you have free time before you leave?” asked Fran.
Though she whispered in his ear, Isla heard. Keiron gestured for her to get off the bench. He stood with her.
“Tam, keep an eye on the young fella.”
“He’s your baby-sitter?” Fran half grinned.
Keiron chuckled as he walked away. Fran followed.
Isla relaxed her grip on the plate and ate more slowly. Tam would let her finish the ration. After a few minutes of silence, she watched him scrape his plate clean. The final morsels of her meal also quickly disappeared. A hungry stomach didn’t take long to eat everything in sight.
Tam pushed his plate back and took a long drink. He put the empty mug on the table and looked around. “Who was the dwarf with you in the waggon?”
The sound of his voice startled her. “My granddas.”
He eyed her. “Hauflins don’t come from dwarfs.”
“I know.” Alaura had told her these facts long ago. “But he’s the das of my das.”
“You’re full-blood hauflin, so a dwarf can’t be your das.”
She lowered her head. Bronwyn was the only das she’d known. He took care of her, protected her, loved her. The hauflin, Keiron, only beat her. Tears swelled in her eyes. No one could replace Bronwyn as her das. “He’s coming for me.”
“Who? The dwarf?”
Isla nodded and wiped her eyes. “Nothing will stop him. He’ll rescue me. He has lots of friends. They’ll come, too.”
Tam eyed her. “Lots of friends, eh?”
She nodded again then realised she shouldn’t share information with the enemy. She’d sat in on enough lectures with her das’ new recruits to learn this.
“And who might these friends be? More dwarfs?”
She remained silent.
“Should I be concerned about my health?” He chuckled. “Or are these friends all children?”
“Maybe they are.” She put a piece of potato in her mouth.
His smile faded, and he fingered the fork in front of him. “You know,” he said, looking around at the other tables, “Keiron is your das. He told us so.”
“No, he’s not,” spat Isla.
He glanced at her. “Did your das, this dwarf, tell you what happened to your blood das?”
“He told me he was dead.”
“Is that what he said?”
“He doesn’t lie to me.”
“Maybe he said he thought he was dead. That’s different. He’s telling you what he believes.”
Bronwyn had said it that way. Isla swallowed hard. Keiron couldn’t be her das. He was cruel and dishonourable. Did she have to stay with a das she hated? Could she no longer dwell with Bronwyn?
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s not your das.” Tam tossed the fork on the table. “Keiron doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”
Isla finished her meal. She no longer had an appetite, but Alaura had told her to eat to keep up her strength if faced with difficult times. Alaura had taught her many things at Moon Meadow. Until now, she didn’t think her life might depend on them.