Chapter 10 - Concessions

Their little fire had mostly burned out. Sharnellynn was standing near the fire, long bare legs sticking out of the loaned shirt. Her hair was loose and some of it drifted a slow, lazy drift that contrasted sharply with her frantic, jerking movements looking this way and that.

"Matner, help me! He's gone!" She pointed to an empty patch of ground. "He's not here!"

He looked around, scanning the little campsite for other changes. Ahriender's horse was missing, too. A warm glow was already creeping over the horizon.

"It'll be light soon. Help me get everything onto the horses. We'll set out after him as soon as we can see enough." Matner noticed that Ahriender's quarterstaff was also missing. Everything he could see pointed to Ahriender running away. Fortunately the ground was soft enough that the horse left hoofprints he could find once the sun was up enough.

"Yes, yes...Hurry." Sharnellynn reached down and started gathering blankets up in her arms frantically.

Matner began pulling his boots on and then paused halfway through the second one, to watch as the elven woman began trying to pile one of the wadded up blankets onto the back of her horse. She just got more and more frustrated and panicked as the blanket fell haphazardly to the sides. Matner blinked the sleep out of his eyes, still a little fuzzy, as she turned back to him, giving up on the errant blanket.

"Hurry!" she practically screamed at him. "What if they hurt him? We have to find him quickly!"

"Sharnellynn..." he began, but trailed off, not sure how to get her to understand that it was unlikely anyone had taken Ahriender.

"Please." She came over to him, falling to her knees. "He's all I have in the world. If anything happens to him... Please..."

She covered her face with her hands as she burst into tears. Her body shook from the effort, and Matner put a hand gently on her arm both to try and reassure her as much as to steady her.

"I don't think anyone took him, Sharnellynn," he told her in a gentle voice. "I think he went off on his own."

"Don't say that!" She pulled her hands away and looked at him as if betrayed. "He wouldn't do that! Someone has taken him!"

He nearly said it. 'Yes, someone snuck into camp, woke him up gently, grabbed him up, set him on his horse with his staff, and they rode off together...," he thought. But he did not say it. It was not what she needed to hear.

"The important thing will be to find him. If we miss something in the tracks because we don't have enough light, we could get thrown off the trail. You tried that, and it nearly worked. Neither of us can track as good as Dir Ketten, and he's not here. We're nearly ready," he said, pulling out an apple and tossing it to her. "Eat this first, then we'll go."

He grabbed one as well. They only had a few left, and the ones still left were getting a little softer and a little tarter. They'd only be good for so much longer anyway. They really needed Dir Ketten to show up with new supplies. He hoped that Dir Ketten would not be upset that Matner had let this happen.

They set off following the trail. First it went to the little creek, where Ahriender tried to use the water to not leave a trail. Matner was able to find it again where Ahriender had left the water. Matner supposed it had not been a big enough stream for the trick to have worked. They followed as quickly as he felt they could risk.

Sharnellynn called out Ahriender's name. Matner hushed her. "If someone has taken him, do you want to alert them that we're coming?" She was silent after that, watching the tracks as intently as if she were trying to decipher some strange language.

Matner couldn't be sure how much of a head start Ahriender had gotten on them. As the day grew longer, he started to worry that the boy had left as soon as he and Sharnellynn had fallen asleep. Matner had been hoping he'd catch up with Ahriender quickly and they would all go back to the camp again to work it out.

By mid-afternoon, Matner became more worried by the fact that the tracks seemed to be leading back the way they had already come. While the boy hadn't just turned around and headed directly towards Miln, it seemed as if he was going around the city. Matner was just glad that it seemed that Ahriender was also avoiding the farmhouses and main roads. Without anyone else, Matner wasn't sure what a farmer or traveler might do to the boy.

He followed the tracks as long as he could before it became too dark to see them confidently. Then he stopped them in a small cluster of trees.

"It's getting too dark. We'll continue in the morning," he told Sharnellynn. "Let's eat something and get some sleep for now."

"We can't stop!" she said, her eyes getting wide with panic again. "We haven't found him yet!"

"He has to stop now and then, too. We'll catch up," he said, not sure how capable they were of catching up. Ahriender could move as fast as he wanted, Matner could only follow as fast as he could keep the trail. That left pushing longer and harder, with fewer rests. How fast a pace was Ahriender setting for himself, he wondered.

"But what if something happens?" she demanded.

"If we lose the trail then we fall behind, and it'll take even longer to catch up," he argued. "We'll start up again just as soon as there's enough light."

They made a minimal camp with a small fire. It did not manage to be a comforting one. He shared some more of the dwindling food stock with her, and she ate it absently.

She rocked back a forth for a little bit, staring into the fire. A tear crept down along one side of her nose. It glistened just a little in the fire light.

He scooted a little closer to her, wanting to do something to comfort her, but not knowing what. Her breathing sharpened and she stiffened. She only relaxed again when he moved away. He lay down without either of them saying anything and he fell asleep to to sounds of crickets and some other, throatier sounding insect.

He wasn't sure what woke him in the middle of the night. Maybe it was the silence itself. The crickets had stopped, and the fire had died. There were a few cloudy wisps in the sky, but the moon shone brightly above them through the branches of the trees. He sat up and looked around, allowing his eyes to drink in as much out of the long shadows as they could.

Sharnellynn still sat exacly where she had before he had gone to sleep, staring blankly into the cold fire. He was convinced she'd been that way the entire time, and it looked as if she'd been crying for most of it. She shivered a little, despite the fact that the evening wasn't overly cool. The moonlight made the circles under her eyes look even darker, and for a moment, dressed as she was and with her hair in such disarray, she resembled some strange savage more than an elf.

Looking at her, he almost missed it - a movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned to look, his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword, and saw their eyes first. Then they leapt forward, out from a cluster of low bushes and branches, and were upon him before he could get to his feet.

Wolves! His mind barely had time to make the connection as he twisted away from the one that leapt directly onto him. He tried to yank his blade free of the scabbard lying next to him but it was nearly impossible from the awkward position he was lying in. He couldn't tell for certain how many there were, distracted by the blinding pain in his leg as one sunk its teeth in, tearing through one of the leather buckles holding armor in place and biting deep into the flesh.

He brought the sword up, scabbard and all, and swung it hard at the head of the one that bit him. He was rewarded with a yelp from the wolf and the scabbard finally sliding off the blade, flung across the clearing in the process. He managed to bring it up in time to block another wolf as it came in at him, cutting it across the side as he deflected it away. The weight of the wolf was heavier than he'd imagined it would be, and it took both hands to keep a grip on the sword in the process.

He got the wolf pushed back enough and was able to lurch up to his feet. There were four of them. Sharnellynn had been barely managing to dodge away from the first one, but he saw a second one leap at her. She could not avoid both, and this one knocked her down. Without thinking Matner brought his sword down. He heard the wolf's neck snap. It had not quite had time to bite into her, but collapsed down onto her.

The rest of the wolves circled around them, growling. He knew he needed to do something, but he did not know what. Actions raced through his mind. If he waited, all three would pounce at once--more than he could handle. If he lept forward and attacked he risked leaving Sharnellynn unprotected. She grunted and squirmed under the wolf, apparently having a hard time getting it off of her.

He nudged it with his foot enough to help her, and she slid if off of her. It had pinned one arm in an awkward position, and she had not had the leverage to move it. She was quick, but not strong, he noticed. He decided.

He charged at the one that came closest, yelling as he attacked. He missed on his first swing, but he had their attention. He had armor, and she did not. If they attacked him it would be better than attacking her. The others came at him at once.

This time he had prepared himself for the weight of them attacking. Or, at least, he thought he had. He managed to slide his blade in underneath the close one as it attacked, cutting across it's belly. That one howled in pain and pushed off of Matner at the end of the leap, moving away. The other two wolves hit as one, however, and the leverage they had gained by leaping at him made them hit hard. His leg buckled underneath him and he threw one arm up to protect his face from their sharp teeth. While his armor helped, it did not stop all of the claws that were finding their way to his skin, between the pieces of plate and chain.

They were smarter, or perhaps just hungrier, than he'd bargained for too, and learned quickly that his armor was in their way. He brought his sword around, stabbing into the side of one wolf, as the other clawed across his face, narrowly missing his eye. The one he stabbed nearly wrenched the sword out of his hand as it pulled back, snarling. Something distracted the other and he was free for a moment. He quickly rolled to his feet, wiping the blood out of his eye. He stabbed the wounded wolf again and it was enough to make it run, leaving only the one who had clawed at Matner.

Sharnellynn had gotten it's attention by throwing things at it. She stood, frozen in terror, as the wolf turned towards her. She held a rock in one hand, half-ready to throw it. The wolf snarled and pulled back, readying itself to leap at her. Matner ran forward, pushing her out of the way. He felt the wolf's teeth sink deep into his left hand as he held it up to protect his face, while he brought the sword up to meet the wolf's body. He fell backwards, the wolf on top of him, still bearing down on Matner's hand. Matner was the one yelling in pain this time, as he stabbed again and again until the wolf released it's grip, slumping over onto the ground next to him. The other two wolves had remained, watching from a distance. Matner yelled at them, sitting up and brandishing his sword, and they turned away, loping quickly off into the trees again. Once they were well out of sight, he let his sword drop so he could clutch his left hand tightly with his right, squinting at it through the blood that dripped down into his eye from the gashes in his face.

He waited a moment, listening, hoping to hear some kind of of confirmation--any kind of confirmation--that they had truly gone. He did not hear anything to indicate one way or the other. He wiped his face awkwardly with his arm.

He used the moment to check Sharnellynn. She was standing, looking around and beginning to calm down. Her shirt was torn--again, he thought to himself, frustrated with her apparent inability to keep clothes--and she had some scratches and bruises. It did not look as though anything had broken skin, however.

His hand was a mess, but he could not tell how bad it was. Blood welled up in the gashes faster than he could determine anything about how severe they might be. He was not losing a lot of blood, but it was not stopping.

Sharnellynn dashed over and grabbed up his sword. She took it in both hands and stabbed the two downed wolves until they stopped making noise when she did. She left the sword in the last one, sticking up out of it like a grave marker. She came over to him, crying, not bothering about her shirt. It had lost two buttons and was mostly torn around her stomach. He supposed there was nothing exposed that really should not be. Her pants had become all but worthless from the knees down.

He waited a moment, listening, hoping to hear some kind of of confirmation--any kind of confirmation--that they had truly gone. He did not hear anything to indicate one way or the other. He wiped his face awkwardly with his arm.

He used the moment to check Sharnellynn. She was standing, looking around and beginning to calm down. Her shirt was torn--again, he thought to himself, frustrated with her apparent inability to keep clothes--and she had some scratches and bruises. It did not look as though anything had broken skin, however.

His hand was a mess, but he could not tell how bad it was. Blood welled up in the gashes faster than he could determine anything about how severe they might be. He was not losing a lot of blood, but it was not stopping.

Sharnellynn dashed over and grabbed up his sword. She took it in both hands and stabbed the two downed wolves until they stopped making noise when she did. She left the sword in the last one, sticking up out of it like a grave marker. She came over to him, crying, not bothering about her shirt. It had lost two buttons and was mostly torn around her stomach. He supposed there was nothing exposed that really should not be. Her pants had become all but worthless from the knees down.

She began pacing back and forth, going between mumbling and nearly yelling and back again in the strange Elven language. She seemed as if she was having a conversation with herself, as tone of her voice went back and forth. Matner watched her for a moment, confused, before trying to break in and get her attention.

"Sharnellynn?" he tried, gently at first.

He tried her name again and again, raising his voice each time until he was nearly yelling himself. She didn't seem to notice him at all anymore. Her eyes were wild, focusing on nothing at all, and she gestured with her hands as she spoke. Tears rolled down her cheeks and now and again she'd wrap her arms around herself and shudder a little. Sometimes she'd wring her hands. Matner tried to grab her by the arm and get her to look at him while he spoke her name, but she said something that sounded decidedly unfriendly and pulled away from him. He sighed, beginning to lose patience. He knew he needed her help to clean and bandage his hand. Not to mention they needed to rebuild the fire if they hoped to keep the wolves from coming back.

He gave it a few more tries, trying to stop her from moving about so much with his good hand. She either dodged away or shook free each time, seeming a combination of afraid and angry. Finally he couldn't stand it any more. He stepped directly into her path and slapped her across the face. While he meant to do it gently, the smacking noise it made seemed to echo amongst the trees and he cringed a bit, expecting an onslaught of anger to erupt from the elf.

Instead, she stopped. She stood, staring at him directly, tears running down her cheeks, her mouth half open and a stunned expression on her face.

"Sharnellynn, I'm sorry," he said quickly and gently while he had her attention. "But I need your help. I'm injured, and I need your help."

He stressed the last three words, emphasizing them as clearly as he could and looking into her eyes to see if she was understanding him. She shuddered again and then looked down at his hand, as if seeing it for the first time.

"Yes, I..." she trailed off, and looked around. "We need water. And bandages."

To his relief, she began looking through bags to find the necessary bandages. Matner grabbed his canteen and attempted to flex the wounded hand, finding it too painful to do much with just then.

She began pacing back and forth, going between mumbling and nearly yelling and back again in the strange Elven language. She seemed as if she was having a conversation with herself, as tone of her voice went back and forth. Matner watched her for a moment, confused, before trying to break in and get her attention.

"Sharnellynn?" he tried, gently at first.

He tried her name again and again, raising his voice each time until he was nearly yelling himself. She didn't seem to notice him at all anymore. Her eyes were wild, focusing on nothing at all, and she gestured with her hands as she spoke. Tears rolled down her cheeks and now and again she'd wrap her arms around herself and shudder a little. Sometimes she'd wring her hands. Matner tried to grab her by the arm and get her to look at him while he spoke her name, but she said something that sounded decidedly unfriendly and pulled away from him. He sighed, beginning to lose patience. He knew he needed her help to clean and bandage his hand. Not to mention they needed to rebuild the fire if they hoped to keep the wolves from coming back.

He gave it a few more tries, trying to stop her from moving about so much with his good hand. She either dodged away or shook free each time, seeming a combination of afraid and angry. Finally he couldn't stand it any more. He stepped directly into her path and slapped her across the face. While he meant to do it gently, the smacking noise it made seemed to echo amongst the trees and he cringed a bit, expecting an onslaught of anger to erupt from the elf.

Instead, she stopped. She stood, staring at him directly, tears running down her cheeks, her mouth half open and a stunned expression on her face.

"Sharnellynn, I'm sorry," he said quickly and gently while he had her attention. "But I need your help. I'm injured, and I need your help."

He stressed the last three words, emphasizing them as clearly as he could and looking into her eyes to see if she was understanding him. She shuddered again and then looked down at his hand, as if seeing it for the first time.

"Yes, I..." she trailed off, and looked around. "We need water. And bandages."

To his relief, she began looking through bags to find the necessary bandages. Matner grabbed his canteen and attempted to flex the wounded hand, finding it too painful to do much with just then.

It seemed like the more water she rinse his hand with the more the bleeding slowed. It took all the water they had with them to get it slowed enough to see how bad it might be.

"It could have been much worse," she decided. Most of the damage was shallow, but a lot of rending had happened. He could not tell if any of it was the kind of thing that should be stitched up or not. She started the bandaging with a folded up piece of cloth.

"This should help hold the flaps of skin in place, I think," she explained. She ended up tearing a strip off of her pants--what more did a little more matter, he supposed--for the final wrap. She also dabbed up his forehead, which had nearly stopped on its own. She did not seem concerned about it, but she did cover and wrap it up. It seemed he was no better about staying bandage-free than she was about keeping shirts intact.

"We passed a little stream not far back," he reminded her. "Let's get the fire built up again and I'll go with you to refill the water. I think we should stick together for a bit." Tired as he was, he did not expect either of them to just fall asleep. He gathered up his sword and scabbard, wiping the blood off the blade before sliding it away.

It seemed like the more water she rinse his hand with the more the bleeding slowed. It took all the water they had with them to get it slowed enough to see how bad it might be.

"It could have been much worse," she decided. Most of the damage was shallow, but a lot of rending had happened. He could not tell if any of it was the kind of thing that should be stitched up or not. She started the bandaging with a folded up piece of cloth.

"This should help hold the flaps of skin in place, I think," she explained. She ended up tearing a strip off of her pants--what more did a little more matter, he supposed--for the final wrap. She also dabbed up his forehead, which had nearly stopped on its own. She did not seem concerned about it, but she did cover and wrap it up. It seemed he was no better about staying bandage-free than she was about keeping shirts intact.

"We passed a little stream not far back," he reminded her. "Let's get the fire built up again and I'll go with you to refill the water. I think we should stick together for a bit." Tired as he was, he did not expect either of them to just fall asleep. He gathered up his sword and scabbard, wiping the blood off the blade before sliding it away.

He grabbed the two wolf bodies, one at a time dragging them away from the center of camp and several paces both downwind and downhill. He began collecting more firewood on the way back each time, picking it up with his good hand and carrying it in the crook of his left arm. Sharnellynn gathered small branches from around the edges of the campsite and added them to the pile. It wasn't long before they had a fresh fire burning. The dancing flames helped raise his spirits back by a little, depite the throbbing pain in his hand and the headache that was slowly making it's way across his skull.

The stream wasn't far at all and they refilled the canteens in silence. Matner kept glancing around, hoping the wolves wouldn't take the opportunity to attack again while they were hunched over the water. Sharnellynn seemed nervous too, and the short walk back to the campsite and the fire went quickly. Matner inspected his armor and cleaned some of the smaller scratches that had gotten around the pieces. He realized that, underneath the armor, his own clothes weren't in the best shape. There were a lot of small tears from the wolves' claws.

He had expected Sharnellynn to want to sleep once they got back, but she resumed sitting in front of the fire, staring into it's flames instead. She hugged her knees to her chest and was again rocking back and forth slightly. Matner found himself once again scooting a little closer and this time she didn't stiffen in response.

"Maybe you should try to get some sleep," he suggested.

He grabbed the two wolf bodies, one at a time dragging them away from the center of camp and several paces both downwind and downhill. He began collecting more firewood on the way back each time, picking it up with his good hand and carrying it in the crook of his left arm. Sharnellynn gathered small branches from around the edges of the campsite and added them to the pile. It wasn't long before they had a fresh fire burning. The dancing flames helped raise his spirits back by a little, depite the throbbing pain in his hand and the headache that was slowly making it's way across his skull.

The stream wasn't far at all and they refilled the canteens in silence. Matner kept glancing around, hoping the wolves wouldn't take the opportunity to attack again while they were hunched over the water. Sharnellynn seemed nervous too, and the short walk back to the campsite and the fire went quickly. Matner inspected his armor and cleaned some of the smaller scratches that had gotten around the pieces. He realized that, underneath the armor, his own clothes weren't in the best shape. There were a lot of small tears from the wolves' claws.

He had expected Sharnellynn to want to sleep once they got back, but she resumed sitting in front of the fire, staring into it's flames instead. She hugged her knees to her chest and was again rocking back and forth slightly. Matner found himself once again scooting a little closer and this time she didn't stiffen in response.

"Maybe you should try to get some sleep," he suggested.

"I can't sleep," she said, huddling a little closer to him. "Ahriender's out in this same night somewhere. I want him to be close, but that would mean he'd be close to those wolves. He's all by himself and probably scared..."

She ended up huddling against him, staring into the fire and shivering at a chill he did not feel. After a while her breathing did settle down into the slow and regular breaths of sleep. She was partly leaning against him and partly in his lap. There was no way he would be able to sleep without moving her.

He spent some time just watching her sleep. He could see her face in profile, lit erratically by the inconsistent reddish light of the fire. She had a pretty face, but then that was supposed to be a characteristic feature of elves. He touched some of her hair, brushing it away from her face. She shifted slightly, but did not wake. Her hair was exceptionally soft, and there was a strange but pleasant smell to it. He could not identify what it smelled like, but he liked it.

Once she had been asleep for about an hour his legs were starting to fall asleep. He started moving her, gently and slowly. Each time she would stir but not wake. Inches at a time he shifted her until he was able to gingerly lower her to the ground. He shifted more and seemed to threaten to wake completely if he moved away, so he ended up laying on the ground alongside her, with her between him and the fire. It was gradually getting lower, but he could not reach more wood for it. He did not think it would be too out before morning.

"I can't sleep," she said, huddling a little closer to him. "Ahriender's out in this same night somewhere. I want him to be close, but that would mean he'd be close to those wolves. He's all by himself and probably scared..."

She ended up huddling against him, staring into the fire and shivering at a chill he did not feel. After a while her breathing did settle down into the slow and regular breaths of sleep. She was partly leaning against him and partly in his lap. There was no way he would be able to sleep without moving her.

He spent some time just watching her sleep. He could see her face in profile, lit erratically by the inconsistent reddish light of the fire. She had a pretty face, but then that was supposed to be a characteristic feature of elves. He touched some of her hair, brushing it away from her face. She shifted slightly, but did not wake. Her hair was exceptionally soft, and there was a strange but pleasant smell to it. He could not identify what it smelled like, but he liked it.

Once she had been asleep for about an hour his legs were starting to fall asleep. He started moving her, gently and slowly. Each time she would stir but not wake. Inches at a time he shifted her until he was able to gingerly lower her to the ground. He shifted more and seemed to threaten to wake completely if he moved away, so he ended up laying on the ground alongside her, with her between him and the fire. It was gradually getting lower, but he could not reach more wood for it. He did not think it would be too out before morning.

His sleep was erratic, and he was startled from it frequently, thinking he heard wolves closing in around the camp. Sharnellynn seemed to stir now and again too and shifted position in her sleep. In the few hours until morning he found that he had rolled onto his back, and she had moved with him. By the time the sky was starting to lighten, she was sleeping facing him, her head partly on his chest. He found himself barely breathing, not wanting to wake her even though he knew they needed to get up and get ready to start tracking Ahriender again. Eventually, she stirred. He found himself closing his eyes again, pretending to still be asleep as she grew tense in his arms. He felt her move away before she tried to wake him. He did his best to act as if he was waking for the first time, letting himself yawn and look about before responding.

They ate breakfast in silence and Matner thought again of Dir Ketten. He wondered what the nomad would think when he found the camp abandoned. While he had no doubt that Ketten could follow the tracks they'd been leaving, he wondered how long the man would reach them with whatever supplies he'd been able to purchase in the city. He also wondered how far back they would end up going before they reached Ahriender. He hoped it would not be far. He had no way of knowing how many wolves or other dangers the boy could potentially face. As soon as it was light enough to see the tracks again, they packed up camp and headed out.

There were more farms this close to the city than Matner was comfortable with just then. While he realized that he could potentially scavenge some of the corn as they passed through a field of the tall, golden stalks, he also knew that there was more of a chance of being seen. He kept hoping, at the edge of every field or cluster of trees, that they would catch sight of Ahriender on the horizon, but every time it was a disappointment. When they stopped for the night once again, he was beginning to worry that they weren't tracking him fast enough. Sharnellynn said nothing as they heated the last of their food supplies over the fire. She remained silent until the food had been eaten and the dishes cleaned and put away again.

"I did this," she said, quietly breaking the silence. He looked up at her, both suprised and concerned.

"He wasn't taken, was he?" she asked, not looking at him. "I drove him away."

His sleep was erratic, and he was startled from it frequently, thinking he heard wolves closing in around the camp. Sharnellynn seemed to stir now and again too and shifted position in her sleep. In the few hours until morning he found that he had rolled onto his back, and she had moved with him. By the time the sky was starting to lighten, she was sleeping facing him, her head partly on his chest. He found himself barely breathing, not wanting to wake her even though he knew they needed to get up and get ready to start tracking Ahriender again. Eventually, she stirred. He found himself closing his eyes again, pretending to still be asleep as she grew tense in his arms. He felt her move away before she tried to wake him. He did his best to act as if he was waking for the first time, letting himself yawn and look about before responding.

They ate breakfast in silence and Matner thought again of Dir Ketten. He wondered what the nomad would think when he found the camp abandoned. While he had no doubt that Ketten could follow the tracks they'd been leaving, he wondered how long the man would reach them with whatever supplies he'd been able to purchase in the city. He also wondered how far back they would end up going before they reached Ahriender. He hoped it would not be far. He had no way of knowing how many wolves or other dangers the boy could potentially face. As soon as it was light enough to see the tracks again, they packed up camp and headed out.

There were more farms this close to the city than Matner was comfortable with just then. While he realized that he could potentially scavenge some of the corn as they passed through a field of the tall, golden stalks, he also knew that there was more of a chance of being seen. He kept hoping, at the edge of every field or cluster of trees, that they would catch sight of Ahriender on the horizon, but every time it was a disappointment. When they stopped for the night once again, he was beginning to worry that they weren't tracking him fast enough. Sharnellynn said nothing as they heated the last of their food supplies over the fire. She remained silent until the food had been eaten and the dishes cleaned and put away again.

"I did this," she said, quietly breaking the silence. He looked up at her, both suprised and concerned.

"He wasn't taken, was he?" she asked, not looking at him. "I drove him away."

"No, he wasn't taken, Sharnellynn," he said, hoping his tone of voice came across as commiserating rather than accusing. "When the two of you ran off was it me driving you away, or was it an accumulation of things?"

If she took the first part right, the second he realized was the wrong thing to say. He could see it in the guilty look in her eyes. She had attributed everything she did not like about humanity to him at the time, and now she imagined her own son doing the same thing to her. It was there on her face for him to see.

"No, I drove him off," she said, confirming his suspicions.

He got quiet, not knowing what else to say. At some level, at least, she had already run away from him once. Things had really only gotten worse for her since then. He sank down, looking into the fire because just then it was the only warm thing he could think of. This time he shivered against a chill that was not there.

But he refused to cry. Never again, he told himself, without entirely deciding what it was he would never do again. It just made him feel better to feel in any way resolute.

"I've been pretty mean to you, haven't I?" she asked.

"No, he wasn't taken, Sharnellynn," he said, hoping his tone of voice came across as commiserating rather than accusing. "When the two of you ran off was it me driving you away, or was it an accumulation of things?"

If she took the first part right, the second he realized was the wrong thing to say. He could see it in the guilty look in her eyes. She had attributed everything she did not like about humanity to him at the time, and now she imagined her own son doing the same thing to her. It was there on her face for him to see.

"No, I drove him off," she said, confirming his suspicions.

He got quiet, not knowing what else to say. At some level, at least, she had already run away from him once. Things had really only gotten worse for her since then. He sank down, looking into the fire because just then it was the only warm thing he could think of. This time he shivered against a chill that was not there.

But he refused to cry. Never again, he told himself, without entirely deciding what it was he would never do again. It just made him feel better to feel in any way resolute.

"I've been pretty mean to you, haven't I?" she asked.

He shrugged, noncommittally. He didn't expect that saying yes would make anything better. He frowned at the fire, trying to think of something he could say, but coming up with nothing. Instead, the uncomfortable silence seemed to go on forever.

"I'm sorry," she finally said. "There are so many things I could try and say to explain, but I doubt it would really matter. I suppose they are all just excuses anyway."

"You haven't exactly had the easiest time," he said. "And I'm not always the most diplomatic..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "I'm sorry for that."

"Where do we go from here?" she asked after another moment of silence had passed.

"I don't know," he replied. "I guess we just take it one day at a time. We find Ahriender. Then go back on our own tracks until we meet up with Dir Ketten again. Then we continue on until we find someplace safe for you both."

"That's not really what I meant..."

"It's the best we've got to work with," he told her wearily. "I suppose the rest will fall into place as we go. Or, at least, I hope it will."

He shrugged, noncommittally. He didn't expect that saying yes would make anything better. He frowned at the fire, trying to think of something he could say, but coming up with nothing. Instead, the uncomfortable silence seemed to go on forever.

"I'm sorry," she finally said. "There are so many things I could try and say to explain, but I doubt it would really matter. I suppose they are all just excuses anyway."

"You haven't exactly had the easiest time," he said. "And I'm not always the most diplomatic..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "I'm sorry for that."

"Where do we go from here?" she asked after another moment of silence had passed.

"I don't know," he replied. "I guess we just take it one day at a time. We find Ahriender. Then go back on our own tracks until we meet up with Dir Ketten again. Then we continue on until we find someplace safe for you both."

"That's not really what I meant..."

"It's the best we've got to work with," he told her wearily. "I suppose the rest will fall into place as we go. Or, at least, I hope it will."

"Thank you," she eventually said. "For helping us. For choosing to go out of your way to protect us. You've never hesitated to jump in when we were in trouble."

"I pr--" he stopped himself short, realizing that she did not need to hear that he had promised to. There were a lot of things she did not need to hear just then. He simply said, "You're welcome."

They slept that night better than the night before, and still near to each other, although not nearly so close as the night before. There were no wolves in the night, and they slept through it uninterrupted.

The sky was beginning to lighten when his bladder woke him. They each went in separate directions and releived themselves. Afterwards there was little they needed to pack up, and less still to eat for breakfast. They readied the horses and contrinued following Ahriender's trail just as soon as they could.

Once again they skirted closer to farms than they would have liked. They followed the tracks into a field where Ahriender had stopped to dig up some potatoes. It looked recent, and while they were both anxious to press on, they each dug up one potato to munch on as they rode. By now, of course, it had become certain that Ahriender was traveling alone.

"Thank you," she eventually said. "For helping us. For choosing to go out of your way to protect us. You've never hesitated to jump in when we were in trouble."

"I pr--" he stopped himself short, realizing that she did not need to hear that he had promised to. There were a lot of things she did not need to hear just then. He simply said, "You're welcome."

They slept that night better than the night before, and still near to each other, although not nearly so close as the night before. There were no wolves in the night, and they slept through it uninterrupted.

The sky was beginning to lighten when his bladder woke him. They each went in separate directions and releived themselves. Afterwards there was little they needed to pack up, and less still to eat for breakfast. They readied the horses and contrinued following Ahriender's trail just as soon as they could.

Once again they skirted closer to farms than they would have liked. They followed the tracks into a field where Ahriender had stopped to dig up some potatoes. It looked recent, and while they were both anxious to press on, they each dug up one potato to munch on as they rode. By now, of course, it had become certain that Ahriender was traveling alone.

So it was a surprise to Matner when he saw a new pair of footprints join up with Ahriender's. It seemed evident that he was stopped by someone on foot. He'd gotten off the horse and then followed the person back down one of the stretches of grass that ran between the fields. Matner followed the tracks, feeling both worried and confused. While it hadn't seemed like there had been any sign of a struggle, Ahriender seemed to be going with someone towards the house itself. He stopped short some distance away, knowing that if they went much closer, people at the house would see the horses.

His mind raced as he wondered why Ahriender would risk going with someone to their farmhouse. The footprints were small, possibly a woman or child's.

Is he injured? Matner worried to himself, not wanting to voice that concern and alarm Sharnellynn. He had potatoes not long ago, so it probably isn't hunger...

He turned to Sharnellynn, unsure of what to do. He couldn't leave her behind with the horses, but the horses would give them away before they got near enough to the farmhouse to see anything. He wasn't about to leave the horses just standing around unattended, for fear they would be found by someone. However, that seemed to be the only viable option.

He was about to explain the plan to her when a voice behind him cleared his throat. Matner whipped around, grabbing his sword hilt with his hand. A young man, probably a couple of years younger than Matner was, stood in the edge of the field, one eyebrow raised and his hands on his hips.

So it was a surprise to Matner when he saw a new pair of footprints join up with Ahriender's. It seemed evident that he was stopped by someone on foot. He'd gotten off the horse and then followed the person back down one of the stretches of grass that ran between the fields. Matner followed the tracks, feeling both worried and confused. While it hadn't seemed like there had been any sign of a struggle, Ahriender seemed to be going with someone towards the house itself. He stopped short some distance away, knowing that if they went much closer, people at the house would see the horses.

His mind raced as he wondered why Ahriender would risk going with someone to their farmhouse. The footprints were small, possibly a woman or child's.

Is he injured? Matner worried to himself, not wanting to voice that concern and alarm Sharnellynn. He had potatoes not long ago, so it probably isn't hunger...

He turned to Sharnellynn, unsure of what to do. He couldn't leave her behind with the horses, but the horses would give them away before they got near enough to the farmhouse to see anything. He wasn't about to leave the horses just standing around unattended, for fear they would be found by someone. However, that seemed to be the only viable option.

He was about to explain the plan to her when a voice behind him cleared his throat. Matner whipped around, grabbing his sword hilt with his hand. A young man, probably a couple of years younger than Matner was, stood in the edge of the field, one eyebrow raised and his hands on his hips.

"Well, if'n you aint a sorry lookin' lot," the boy said. "This can't be a coincidence. Y'all oughta foller me." And the boy trotted off towards the farm.

"Now we run, Matner," Sharnellynn suggested, sounding fearful

"No, Sharnellynn. Either they've seen Ahriender, or he's with them right now. Whichever it is we need to find out more."

"You're right, sorry," she said, and started following the boy. Matner joined with right away. They had no trouble keeping up with the boy. He was wearing a farmer's drab work clothes, sturdy roughspun cloth in browns and tans. Not a thread of white that Matner could see.

"If Ahriender is here," Matner whispered, "don't be mad at him. We'll be guests, and guests shouldn't yell at each other, don't you think?"

"No, you're right," she agreed.

"Hey, we don't even know your name," Matner said to the boy.

"Oh, I'm Karl. Karl Kevendish. This'ere's Kevendish Farm, nat'rally." The boy bounced in his quick stride as he spoke.

"Well, if'n you aint a sorry lookin' lot," the boy said. "This can't be a coincidence. Y'all oughta foller me." And the boy trotted off towards the farm.

"Now we run, Matner," Sharnellynn suggested, sounding fearful

"No, Sharnellynn. Either they've seen Ahriender, or he's with them right now. Whichever it is we need to find out more."

"You're right, sorry," she said, and started following the boy. Matner joined with right away. They had no trouble keeping up with the boy. He was wearing a farmer's drab work clothes, sturdy roughspun cloth in browns and tans. Not a thread of white that Matner could see.

"If Ahriender is here," Matner whispered, "don't be mad at him. We'll be guests, and guests shouldn't yell at each other, don't you think?"

"No, you're right," she agreed.

"Hey, we don't even know your name," Matner said to the boy.

"Oh, I'm Karl. Karl Kevendish. This'ere's Kevendish Farm, nat'rally." The boy bounced in his quick stride as he spoke.

As they got closer to the farmhouse, Matner could see smoke coming from a small house off to one side, and the smell of cooking meat made his mouth water. A large barn stood at the other end of the house, and connected to a fenced-off area where animals could come and go in and out of the barn as they pleased. Matner saw Ahriender's horse amongst the other, larger horses grazing near the fence. Cows looked up as they passed, chewing lazily, and pigs snorted as they lay half-asleep in some muddy straw. Chickens ran to and fro in a smaller fenced area that had a henhouse alongside the barn.

Karl led them right up to the back stoop of the farmhouse, which was a large raised area of stones that had been arranged to fit together with dirt packed tightly between them. The windows and door to the house were all open to the breeze, and Matner could see the edges of yellow and white curtains blowing in and out around the sills. He could smell something else, like a sweetbread baking, as they came close to the door.

"MA!" Karl yelled. "Hazel kin stop 'er braggin' now. I found two!"

He laughed, and turned back to grin at them.

"I'll take yer horses," he told them. "They could use a good washin' down I 'magine. An' some proper grain." He held his hand out for the reins, and Matner found himself handing over the leather straps.

"Thank you," he told Karl. He heard Sharnellynn say the same as he took her horse as well and headed off towards the barn.

"Go on in then," he called back over his shoulder. "An' don't worry yerself about the bags. Sam an' I'll bring 'em when we're done."

Karl smiled as if this was an everyday occurance before disappearing into the barn with the horses, calling out for 'Sam' as he did. A moment later, a dirty-looking boy passed them, running across the dirt to get to the barn. He nearly tripped over his own feet when he saw Matner and Sharnellynn, but caught himself, grinning in the same way Karl had. Then he disappeared into the barn as well. Matner looked at the open door to the farmhouse, wondering if it was really alright to just walk inside. He was debating knocking on the doorjam when a woman came to the door and looked them both over. She put her hands on her hips and made a clucking noise at them, shaking her head.

"Well then, just look at you two!" she said. "You're a frightful mess, aren't you? Alright, get inside then, let's have a look."

She dusted her hands off on her apron and then gestured that they should come inside.

She was older, and her hair was about halfway gray. It was tied up in a farmer's bun at the back of her head, but quite a bit of it was coming loose.

"I've got a trunk'a some old clothes that I think'd fit you," she said, pointing almost accusingly at Sharnellynn. "Ya can't run 'round like that, can ya?"

"It's been a rough few weeks," Matner admitted.

"An' we'll get you looked over, too," she added. She led them inside to a busy kitchen. There was baking clearly in progress, and two small children half covered in flour. There were quite a few children of all ages running around. And there was Ahriender, sitting at a table across the kitchen. His expression suddenly turned to one of near panic.

"Ah, there you are," Matner said quickly before either Ahriender or Sharnellynn could say or do anything. "We were worried something might have happened to you when we got separated." He decided it was close enough to the truth, and sounded a lot better. He hoped it also prevented Sharnellynn from immediately yelling at him.

It seemed to. She ran forward and hugged him. "We ran into wolves," she said, "I was terrified that they might have found you, too!"

"Yeah, there's some'a'them 'round here," the lady said. "The kids all stay inside after dark."

Sharnellynn seemed to be oblivious to the rest of the world for a moment while she went back and forth between hugging Ahriender and inspecting him for any injury. There was a moment of quiet while everyone in the room seemed to stand still, watching them. Then Sharnellynn looked up, realizing all eyes were on her and began to look frightened again.

"So I suppose some introductions are in order then," the woman said, stepping forward. "I'm Ella Kevendish, though most folks tend ta call me Ma Kevendish. Ya'll can take yer pick, don't matter much ta me."

She smiled and shrugged before pointing to one of the children nearest her, one of the ones half-covered in flour.

"This here's Adeline, an' her twin sister Mirabelle. That one's Timothy, then Lisa, Nicca, and Ned. You've met my oldest son Karl already, an' prob'ly saw Sam runnin' across the yard when he called for him. There's also my daughter Hazel, who's upstairs tendin' ta her chores. And then little Rick an' Peter who're off somewhere's shirkin' their chores, an' Jenniper, who's likely up in a tree with a book 'til the light gets bad. I reckon they'll all be back an' accounted for by the time the supper bell is done ringin' though, so you'll be able to meet 'em all then."

She looked at Matner, clearly expecting him to go next. Matner had to close his mouth, realizing it was half-open. He'd never met anyone with so many children before.

"You have a lot of children," he blurted out in astonishment instead. To his relief Ella laughed instead of being offended.

"Well, I didn't bear 'em all myself, young man. Only Karl, Hazel, an' Sam are blood kin. The rest are just as good as mine own though. Ever since my husband passed on I took in them what had no parents left to look after them. I needed a few extra hands ta help out around the farm here as it were, so it all works out in the end."

She only had to look at him expectantly for a moment before he remembered his manners. "Oh, I'm Matner. This is Sharnellynn. You've apparently already met Ahriender."

"Well," Ella said, "yer welcome to stay here as long as ya like as long as ya pitch in an' carry yer own weight 'round here. There's always plenty o' work an' chores ta be done."

"Now, y'all go sit with Ahriender," she said. "Ahriender, get your friends something ta eat while I finish this batch o' bread. Then maybe you could go start up a bath. Both 'o them need it as bad as you did."

"Oh," Matner thought to add, "we have another friend following up. His name is Dir Ketten. He was delayed, but he'll catch up, probably soon."

Ahriender hopped up from the table and moved over to a counter behind Ella. There were rolls, and a big pot of something. He scooped out two bowls of something porridge like and brought them to the table. He was clean and was wearing fresh clothes. They were by no means a perfect fit, but a far cry better than before.

"I've got a big table," Ella said. "There's room fer another, as long as he ain't scared o' a little work."

"No, I don't think he's scared of much at all," Matner said, moving over to the table and sitting in front of a bowl. Sharnellynn followed, looking a bit in shock still.

To Matner's surprise, Ella didn't ask more questions of them, but told them to eat instead, while Ahriender went to fill the tub. The porridge seemed to be made mostly of oats that had been cooked until they were soft and thick. Something sweet had been added to them as well, and Matner couldn't tell if it was some kind of honey or sugar. There was another spice in it too, but he stopped bothering to try and figure out the ingredients, happy to have the warm, tasty food making it's way down into his mostly-empty stomach.

Meanwhile, Ella bustled about the kitchen, quietly giving each of the children tasks as she pounded and rolled a section of dough on a flour-covered area of countertop. The two girls, Adeline and Mirabelle, seemed to be the youngest of the children Matner saw, and they mainly seemed in charge of making sure Ella had enough flour on the counter. They erupted in giggles every time Ella turned the dough on the counter and a small cloud of flour dust resulted. The took turns stepping up onto a stool next to Ella that allowed them to get high enough to reach the counter and add small handfuls of flour to the dough when Ella asked them to. Matner didn't imagine they were much past two years old.

Timothy was sweeping the floor, slowly and methodically, although Ella kept reminding him to go slow and not kick up dust. He looked to be about ten or so years old, but something was odd about his face, making him seem younger somehow. Ned and Lisa both looked closer to twelve or so, and were busy at a large washbasin, scrubbing pots and pans. Nicca looked to be about six and seemed to have a large pile of socks that she was absentmindedly mending while she went between gazing out the window and sneaking peaks at Matner and Sharnellynn. Ella reminded her to keep on task every so often and the girl would look fleetingly guilty before focusing on the socks again for a few moments.

The room was mostly quiet of conversation while Matner and Sharnellynn ate, but still the house seemed to be bustling with activity around them. Ahriender came back and informed Ella that the tub was ready, and Matner thought he saw a hint of both sadness and jealousy in Sharnellynn's eyes as she watched him. She masked it quickly, however, as Hazel was called in to help clean Sharnellynn up and find her some clothes. Hazel looked to be about fourteen years old, and Matner easily saw the resemblence between her and her mother. The girl wisked Sharnellynn off in a manner that suggested it wasn't the first time Ella had asked her to do such a task.

"Well, until yer friend gets here you'll just have to let us help you out with stuff," Ella said. "Mind you, aint none of us any good at mending armor, so yer on yer own there."

"We're used to strangers stopping in needing help. The locals help us out a little, but mostly we're on our own here. So we're gonna help you out with the things you need--shelter, food, some clothes, and a good sendoff when yer ready. Like I said, stay as long as you want, but while yer here you'll abide by some rules and help out when yer told. Fair enough?"

"More than, I'd say," Matner said. "And far better than we've been offered elsewhere."

"Now," she went on, "as fer those rules I mentioned. One is you don't take without asking, which I don't 'spect you'll have problem with. But another is no lyin'. Can't stomach it, and it'll only cause you troubles down the road. Now, Ahriender explained what's going on. While his perspective might be a little...uneven, he spoke the truth as he knows it. You three have nothing to worry about with us, so you have nothing to hide. Bein' an elf isn't contagious, so it has no effect on me whatsoever."

"Technically, helping us is against the law," Matner pointed out. "Doesn't that concern you?"

"Son, the law never comes lookin' here. These kids are mostly orphans. This farm's pretty much always been that way. I said the locals help out a little. They stay out of the way. They don't care what we do out here, so long as we stay put and outa their way."

"I just wouldn't want to cause you any trouble for helping us," Matner said. "Seems like there's been nothing but trouble since we started."

"You know, it seems to me that some people tend to call trouble onto themselves. Leastways 'til they stop thinking like that." She waggled a flour-coated finger at him, causing one of the twins to giggle.

"I suppose," Matner shrugged, not sure he really understood.

"Hmmm," she said. "Well, once Hazel's got the girl cleaned up, Karl, you'll see to it that this one gets a bath and put him into some o' your clothes. At least 'til his own are cleaned up and mended. An' Sam! What have you been rolling in boy?!"

Matner turned towards the door, having not heard Karl come in with his younger brother. Karl had nearly all of the bags from Matner and Sharnellynn's horses, surprising Matner with how much the young man could carry all at once. Sam carried one bag and dropped it unceremoniously onto the ground by the door before turning and bolting back out the way he'd come. Karl was more careful as he set the remaining bags down against the wall before coming over to sit at the table across from Matner.

"I swear!" Ella exclaimed, heading to the doorway and looking outside. "That boy manages to get downright filthy every day!"

"Well ya did give 'im the pigs ta look after, ma," Karl said, chuckling. "I think he's startin' ta think he's one o' them!"

"Well he'd better learn differently. I don't let the pigs sleep in the house!" She waggled a finger again and this time both the twins erupted into giggles until a quick look from Ella silenced them again. Ella moved back to the counter and finished cleaning up the leftover flour.

"Well," she proclaimed once she had finished a little more cleaning, "let's see what we can find you to wear." She moved towards the same doorway Sharnellynn had been taken through. There was one doorway that led to a large open room, and this one. This one led to an overly narrow stairway up.

There was a railing mounted a little too low on the wall to be comfortable for adults, and one little window near the top to let in what was left of the daylight. The upper level of the house was a collection of rooms around a thin hallway. There was a bench under a little window at the end. She led him to one of the rooms at the far end.

The room looked little used. There was an old dust cover over the bed. Much of the room was claimed by boxes and crates and trunks. She hunted around in the trunks for a while. Most of them seemed filled with clothes.

"Here," she finally said, pulling one trunk out away from the rest a bit, sliding it across the wooden floor with a bit of a scrape. She pulled out a gray cotton shirt, holding it up and judging it to be a good enough fit. She held several pairs of pants against him, checking for length, before handing him the brown roughspun pair that seemed the best fit.

"You won't need the armor 'round the house here," she insisted, "and there'll be none of you wearing what you've got under it until it's been washed. Twice, maybe."

"Thank you," he said, taking the clothes.

"Now you be gentle on whatever you've done to your hand there," she added, nodding at the bandages. "But wash up what you can. No sense puttin' clean bandages on before the rest 'o ya's clean. After you've had yer turn at the tub, then we'll take a look and see what the damage is."

"Wolves," Matner told her. "One of them bit my hand."

"Well let's just hope they weren't rabid," Ella replied, shaking her head. "Elsewise there ain't much left to do but take an axe to yer head."

Matner gave her a startled look and took a step backwards reflexively. Ella chuckled at his reaction.

"Relax son, you're eyes ain't wild an' yer not foamin' at the mouth, so I think yer alright. But you could do to let down yer guard a little. If you get any more tense I think you're gonna snap something."

"Oh," he said, a little confused and relieved at the same time.

"Unlike wolves, we don't bite, Matner." She gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder and a warm smile. "The Gods have seen fit to give you a moment of rest. Be thankful and enjoy it while it lasts. Somehow I don't think you lot are the type who'll be content to stay here long, but you're welcome while you do."

He nodded, and then silently followed her back downstairs again. Back in the kitchen, he found Sharnellynn was sitting at the table. He almost wouldn't have realized it was her but for the fact that she was the only Elf in the room.

Her hair was partly done up in a bun similarly to the farm girls, except that only half or so of it was up, while the other half still spilled out down to her shoulders. She wore a similar farm dress to the other girls, although hers was cream and green where the younger girls mostly wore tans and browns and grays. There was even a little embroidery pattern on the miniature collar.

She was sitting across the table from Ahriender, and the farm girls were sitting all around her at the table asking her questions. Sharnellynn was smiling and laughing. None of them had seen an elf before, so they had all manner of questions that Ahriender had not been able to answer the evening before.

She's really pretty when she's not a grouch, Matner decided.

"Karl," Ella said, "I remembered we have a trunk of clothes that'll fit Matner here just fine. Take him upstairs and help him get that armor off so he can get cleaned proper. And make sure he gets cleaned up right."

"A'ight, come on," Karl said. Karl trotted back up the stairs. Matner followed, trying to keep the new clothes away from his body as much as he could in the crampt hallway. He wanted to keep them clean to make a better impression for Sharnellynn when he came back down.

He followed Karl into a different room upstairs, almost right next to the landing where the stairs ended. Inside, a large metal tub sat atop some large bricks over a bed of hot coals. At the far end of the room there was both a small, cheerily burning fireplace and a hole going straight down into the floor, with a wheeled rope and pulley hanging over it. Karl stopped and pointed to a small bench that sat under a high window against one wall.

"Ye kin have a seat there whilst I throw some more heat on. Girls always manage ta use up all the good hot in tha water."

There was a small shovel sitting next to the fireplace, and Matner took a seat as Karl grabbed it up and scooped some of the coals out of the fire, feeding them in underneath the tub. Matner noticed that there was a large metal base under the tub to hold the coals, while there was also a ceramic lining between the metal tub itself and the water. He noticed a tube that came out at one end and looked as if it would empty out a hole in the wall.

"That's how we drain it when it gets bad," Karl said, noticing Matner looking at the tube. "Empties out onta Ma's garden. When it got real hot last summer we couldn't bathe fer weeks 'cause of the water bein' needed ta keep her carrots alive. Ma's perticular about that garden. Careful ya don't go trompin' in it."

He grinned at Matner as he came back over.

"Let's see about helpin' ye git that armor offa ya then," he said, reaching out and starting to undo one of the buckles.

Matner was grateful for the help, as he realized quickly that undoing the armor with his hand bandaged was difficult, at best. He also realized that he hadn't even bothered to take the armor off to sleep in days. A small cloud of dust and dirt ended up at his feet by the time they were done.

"Well, blazes!" Karl exclaimed as he saw the mess. "Ya'll git yerself inta the tub whilst I run an' git a broom an pan. Ma's gonna ask what you've been rollin' in next!"

Matner felt lighter. As his clothes came off he looked at the pale skin. He was actually starting to get rashes and chafing in a few areas. Every crease or little fold of skin was marked by a gray line of dirt and grime. He did not want to think about it, aware mainly of the horrified expression his mother would give him were she here.

But bathing had been put into a secondary status as something that did not directly relate to survival. He found himself sniffing his armpit and immediately regretting it. No wonder Sharnellynn's been keeping her distance, he supposed.

By the time he lowered himself into the water it had warmed up more. He sank into it at deeply as the little tub allowed. He thought back to the last inn he had stayed at. He gave up trying to count out how long ago it had been. Too many nights and days blurred together in his memory.

"Norm'ly I'd be givin' ya a cloth 'bout now, but I think ya'd better scrape what ya can with this a'first," Karl said, offering over a grooved stick.

Matner washed thoroughly. Before he was done Karl had to drain some of the water out and add more. The fresh water was cold, but it was clean. By the end, a final rinsing with cold water was refreshing and reinvigorating.

"Well, ye oughta be clean enough ta meet Ma's approval," Karl nodded, handing him a towel. "Mine too, consid'ren you'll prob'ly be bunkin' in my room fer now. It's just me an' Peter in there otherwise. Used ta be me an' Timothy, but Ma saw fit ta split up Little Rick an' Peter, else they would sneak outa the house at night an go scare Mister Murdock's cows up the hill. Ahriender's been put in with Rick an Ned fer now. I 'spect the elf'll be in with Hazel an' Lisa. They're oldest an' got the most room ta spare."

Matner tried to keep all the names straight in his head, putting them in order of age as best he could, while he got dressed. The fabric of the pants felt rough on his freshly-clean skin, but the gray shirt was worn and soft. Karl took him down the hall to his room and showed him the cot Matner could sleep on. Matner's bags had already been brought up and sat by the foot of the bed, along with a basket which Karl promptly dumped Matner's clothes, armor, and boots into.

"You'll want to add anything else what needs cleanin' ta this basket then," he said, gesturing at Matner's bags. "I 'spect you an' the elf'll be boilin' everything in the morn."

Matner rummaged through his bags and pulled out what clothes he had, as they all needed washing. He noticed it was mostly just a couple pairs of pants and a bunch of socks, and was reminded of the shirts he'd been losing along the way.

His spare shoes were still in good enough shape, and he pulled them on after Karl loaned him some socks. Then he ran a comb through his wet hair before grabbing up the basket and following Karl downstairs, back to the kitchen.

"That's better," Ella said when she saw him, "ya look like a right real person now."

Ahriender and Sharnellynn sat together quietly. Sharnellynn looked as tired as he felt. Ahriender looked more rested. Matner suspected Ahriender had arrived yesterday, and was already one bed night ahead of them.

"So," Ella said, "after dinner and a few evening chores it'll be time to relax. Older children take a little bit of time to teach the youngers something, then a little play time for everyone before bed. The day starts pretty early around here, so don't 'spect ta stay up late."

"Oh, I don't think you need worry about us staying up late and making a lot of noise," Matner joked. "Unless I snore."

"No, you don't snore, Matner," Ahriender piped up.

"Now," Ella continued, "you've only just arrived here, so today y'all two are guests. No work fer you, so you set down at the table an' relax." There was a pitcher of water on the table. Matner moved to it and sat across from Sharnellynn.

"Ahriender," Ella finished, "you are going to help me finish dinner an' then you're gonna set the table." Ahriender hopped up off the chair and trotted, almost eaglerly seeming, to Ella's side.

Matner and Sharnellynn sat quietly at the table, watching, while Ella and Ahriender cooked. He noticed Sharnellynn was watching Ahriender closely, as if afraid to miss anything. He poured a glass of water from the pitcher and offered it to her before pouring himself one. She thanked him as she took it, but was clearly distracted. Matner found himself wondering what she was thinking.

It didn't take long before dinner was ready, and Ella rang a large bell that hung outside one of the windows. Children seemed to pile in from everywhere, and Ella seemed to catch each of them and made sure hands were clean and sometimes faces too, before they could sit down at the table. There were faces Matner hadn't seen yet, and one girl looked skeptically at him through a pair of glasses, a book carefully tucked under one arm. Matner put names to them as best he could from what he'd heard Ella tell him before, and then listened while the other children called each other by name, confirming which was which. The girl with the glasses was Jenniper. He also was able to figure out which was Little Rick, who wasn't very little at all, and which was Peter.

Once Ella had inspected them all for cleanliness, they sat down at the table. There were a flurry of questions thrown at him, along with speculations on where he might be from. Ella interrupted before he'd even started to try and answer any of the questions.

"Enough!" She held up her hands and all the children were instantly quiet. "They don't need you lot pestering them with questions over dinner. Now settle down and let's give thanks afore we eat."

She had everyone join hands in a circle around the table. They all sat quietly, heads bowed for a customary moment of silence and stillness before any kind of prayer.

"Thank you Saith for the dreams we have at night. Thank you Salith for the warmth of the day, and for the sun that grows our food. That food gives us your strength to bring forth our dreams."

Everyone around the table nodded in agreement, although Matner noticed that for Sharnellynn it appeared a practice response. He knew the elves had their own gods. He supposed that in her former life as a slave in a human household she had been forced to play along with whatever her owner had prayed. But if Sharnellynn was at all offended by the prayer, she gave no outward signs that Matner could recognize.

Dinner was a spicy stew with some kind of sausage in it. The sausage was sweet, and made an enjoyable contrast to whatever it was in the stew that made it spicy. There were also potatoes, which absorbed some of the spicy, and carrots, which did not. He recognized onions, but there were a few different things he could not idenify, including slices of something with a bit of a star-shaped cross-section.

There was also fresh bread and a few of the rolls left from earlier, along with green beens in some kind of cheese sauce. The stew threatened to get gradually spicier with each bite, but spacing it out even a bit with the bread and beens took care of that.

Ella had to tell a couple of the children to slow down and stop eating like it was there last meal, and Matner noticed that Peter seemed to be slipping bits of bread into his pocket when Ella wasn't looking. Based on how many times he noticed Ella watching Peter during the meal, Matner suspected this wasn't the first time either.

Conversation around the table went with a brief report from the younger children, where they listed off the chores they had done that day. The older children gave a more detailed report, listing not only the chores, but things they'd noticed while doing them.

"The fence on the south side o' the barn needs repairin' again," Karl said, when it was his turn. I think Bailey's been kickin' at it at night again. Another night or two 'o that an' she'll break out."

"High time we put that cow down too, I reckon," Ella nodded. "She's too old to bear another calf an' her milk's all but dried up at this point. Cow's more trouble than it's worth."

"You can't put down Bailey!" Sam protested, with wide eyes. "She's the last one what's still alive from when Pa was!"

"Hush now Sam," Ella gently scolded the boy. "It ain't practical to keep that cow alive. Your Pa wouldn't want us to keep that old cow around if it was a burden on us, now would he?"

"I suppose not," Sam said, not looking entirely sure.

"Then it's settled," Ella said. "Karl, tomorrow you'll put Bailey down and then repair that fence, in addition to your usual chores. Matner, you'll be helpin' Karl with his chores tomorrow too. Sharnellynn, you'll help Hazel with hers. Ahriender, you're going to work with Timothy tomorrow. I've got a list of his chores and you're to help see that he does them."

"Yes, ma'am," Ahriender bobbed his head in agreement.

"Alright then, anything else anyone wants to add?"

There was a short silence while Ella looked around the table at all the children in turn. Some seemed to shrink under her gaze a bit, while others just shook their head or shrugged.

"Can we ask questions of the new people now?" Nicca piped up, causing the twins to giggle. Matner had begun to notice that the twins didn't seem to talk much yet, but found everything around them funny.

"Well, that depends on if Matner and Sharnellynn are willing to answer them, now doesn't it?" Ella replied, turning to look at them.

"Um...," Sharnellynn said almost immediately. She looked around nervously at them, looking like she felt very cornered and outnumbered.

"Maybe a few would be alright," Matner suggested towards Ella.

The children, of course, exploded into questions all at once. Matner held up his hand