***
Aneira sank into the wooden chair, not sure if the creaking noise was the wood as she sat down or her knees, from standing so long. It had taken her several hours to battle through the mountain of washing up, especially as every little thing that Heulwen thought might need cleaning had been put into the sink at some point. Her fingers were wrinkled and her nails had never looked so clean, but she had finally finished and the couple had seemed impressed with her work.
While she waited for the food she'd been promised she had a proper look around the inn. Now that it was later many of the villagers had gone to their homes, but a few remained and continued to chatter. Most of them were considerably less sober than they had been when she'd arrived, but a couple were still steady on their feet.
The landlord made her jump as he put a plate down in front of her.
“'Ere you go, lass, tuck into that.”
She needed no second encouragement and bit straight into the hot pork pie, following it with several shovellings of creamy mashed potato and gravy. Within minutes the slice of pie and mash had gone, and before the owner could return with a drink for her she'd started on the bread and butter beside.
“Thank you, Merrion,” she said around a mouth full of bread dipped in the gravy. She picked up the tankard and almost downed the sweet liquid. It wasn't something she'd ever drunk before, but it didn't have the bitter after-taste alcohol did, so she figured it was safe to guzzle.
“Well, that didn't take long. Will you be wantin' some more?” Merrion said as she wiped the plate clean with the last hunk of bread. Her eyes went wide and she stared at him for a moment. The plate had been a feast to her, and here he was asking if she wanted more. She nodded her head vigorously in case he changed his mind. The man just chuckled and she found herself grinning at how much of his body wobbled up and down, even after he'd stopped laughing.
Once he'd returned with a second plate, filled with an equal portion as before, he left her to eat and went back to his bar and customers. She took her time with the seconds, noticing an unfamiliar feeling of fullness in her stomach. It didn't stop her demolishing the food again, however.
The tavern soon closed and Merrion came and sat down with her, bringing her another drink at the same time.
“We've got a spare bed, up in the loft. You can kip in it when you're ready, then you'd best be on your way tomorrow and get as far from 'ere as you can.” The tone of his voice peaked her curiosity. It had been a while since she'd heard fear in a grown man's voice. Especially one who didn't seem to have anything to fear.
“What if I want to stay a bit longer?”
“You'd be a fool. You've got sense, I can see it behind those eyes of yours. Get yourself up and gone first thing in the mornin' and make sure you're as far away as you can get by the followin' day.”
“Why, what's going to happen?”
Whatever it was, the inn keeper wouldn't say any more about it, and before she could think of another way of asking to get him talking again, Heulwen came out of the kitchen and ushered them both upstairs to sleep.
Wandering to Belong Page 2
