Kassie suggested.
Good idea, thought Loi as she banished the hysterical voice in her own mind.
Food. She headed to her pile of clothes and pulled them on. The boots she left loose, bunched around her knees.
The others fussed around getting ready and Cat gave Audi a good dunk and clean in a tub. The dog looked pretty miserable until she got to the drying. Then she had great fun, pushing through the towel as Cat worked on drying her and even sat back on her haunches to "yell" at them all about it.
That was their term for one of the dog’s barks. Audrey had a rather decent vocabulary and it varied from whining, grumbling, talking and yelling when she was excited, like at the moment. The angry bark she’d had when they ran from the elgrids was the first time Loi had ever heard her make that noise. It’d been impressive.
We made our way to the kitchen as instructed and then Henja led the way to our rooms.
'Did you girls see the dragon? Such a big one too. What a good example for your first time.'
She beamed at us as we made appropriate remarks.
All I could think about was food. Henja opened the door with a key from a laden iron ring and ushered us in.
'I have given you two rooms that have an adjoining door, so you don’t have to go out into the corridor. As you can see you will have to share two to a bed and please,' she pointed at Audi beside me then to Lucky in Kassie’s arms. 'No animals on the beds.'
I nodded in agreement along with Kassie and Henja smiled, satisfied.
'Well, I will go get your supper.'
She disappeared back down the corridor.
Sian and Laura took the other room and Kassie and I the first. I wandered around the small room. Nothing extravagant, that was for sure, but it had a couple of windows and a little stove. It was nice and cozy.
Much better than a smoky open fire I thought, pleased.
I dressed, not bothering with my boots and rubbed a towel over my damp hair.
There was a sharp knock on the door, then Henja’s voice, 'Here is your supper girls’.'
Kassie and I moved quickly to the door and I took the large tray from Henja’s hands.
She thanked us then questioned, 'Now what would be best for your animals?'
While Kassie placed our orders, I carefully maneuvered my way to the small table in Sian and Loi’s room and placed the tray on it.
Best food ever.
The meat stew was delicious and I wiped the bowl clean with a slice of bread. Sipping at a second cup of water, I banished the thoughts still swirling and slumped back in the seat, leaning against Sian and Loi’s bed.
We didn’t talk, just relaxed. Feeling myself start to doze off, I stood, making Kass jolt.
'Sorry, Kass,' I yawned. 'I’m off to bed now. Night all, sleep well.'
Wandering back to the bed in the adjoining room, I crawled under the covers and fell promptly into a deep and dreamless sleep.
*****
The sunlight woke me, my eyes fluttering open as the rays of light began to descend down the bed. I yawned, then stretched and groaned as all my muscles objected. Carefully, so as not to disturb Kassie, I sat up and looked around the room.
Waking in a strange place for a second time was almost as disturbing as the first, but at least we were safe. Climbing out of bed, I sat on a stool to pull my socks and boots on and winced when I turned my thigh out to lace the back of the boot. It seemed every single muscle hurt, even my eyes. They watered when I let out a mouth splitting yawn.
Audi shook herself awake, staggering off my cloak where she’d been sleeping and bumbled over to give me a big lick. Giggling, I grabbed the dog's head and ruffled the fur round her neck and ears. She grumbled and thrust a paw in my face, so I obliged with the request and scratched the front of her chest. Lucky meowed softly at us and sauntered over.
'Are you guys' hungry?' I whispered to them. 'Come on, let’s go see if we can get some breakfast.'
Picking Lucky up, I draped the cat around my shoulders and eased the door open, ushering Audi
Good idea, thought Loi as she banished the hysterical voice in her own mind.
Food. She headed to her pile of clothes and pulled them on. The boots she left loose, bunched around her knees.
The others fussed around getting ready and Cat gave Audi a good dunk and clean in a tub. The dog looked pretty miserable until she got to the drying. Then she had great fun, pushing through the towel as Cat worked on drying her and even sat back on her haunches to "yell" at them all about it.
That was their term for one of the dog’s barks. Audrey had a rather decent vocabulary and it varied from whining, grumbling, talking and yelling when she was excited, like at the moment. The angry bark she’d had when they ran from the elgrids was the first time Loi had ever heard her make that noise. It’d been impressive.
We made our way to the kitchen as instructed and then Henja led the way to our rooms.
'Did you girls see the dragon? Such a big one too. What a good example for your first time.'
She beamed at us as we made appropriate remarks.
All I could think about was food. Henja opened the door with a key from a laden iron ring and ushered us in.
'I have given you two rooms that have an adjoining door, so you don’t have to go out into the corridor. As you can see you will have to share two to a bed and please,' she pointed at Audi beside me then to Lucky in Kassie’s arms. 'No animals on the beds.'
I nodded in agreement along with Kassie and Henja smiled, satisfied.
'Well, I will go get your supper.'
She disappeared back down the corridor.
Sian and Laura took the other room and Kassie and I the first. I wandered around the small room. Nothing extravagant, that was for sure, but it had a couple of windows and a little stove. It was nice and cozy.
Much better than a smoky open fire I thought, pleased.
I dressed, not bothering with my boots and rubbed a towel over my damp hair.
There was a sharp knock on the door, then Henja’s voice, 'Here is your supper girls’.'
Kassie and I moved quickly to the door and I took the large tray from Henja’s hands.
She thanked us then questioned, 'Now what would be best for your animals?'
While Kassie placed our orders, I carefully maneuvered my way to the small table in Sian and Loi’s room and placed the tray on it.
Best food ever.
The meat stew was delicious and I wiped the bowl clean with a slice of bread. Sipping at a second cup of water, I banished the thoughts still swirling and slumped back in the seat, leaning against Sian and Loi’s bed.
We didn’t talk, just relaxed. Feeling myself start to doze off, I stood, making Kass jolt.
'Sorry, Kass,' I yawned. 'I’m off to bed now. Night all, sleep well.'
Wandering back to the bed in the adjoining room, I crawled under the covers and fell promptly into a deep and dreamless sleep.
*****
The sunlight woke me, my eyes fluttering open as the rays of light began to descend down the bed. I yawned, then stretched and groaned as all my muscles objected. Carefully, so as not to disturb Kassie, I sat up and looked around the room.
Waking in a strange place for a second time was almost as disturbing as the first, but at least we were safe. Climbing out of bed, I sat on a stool to pull my socks and boots on and winced when I turned my thigh out to lace the back of the boot. It seemed every single muscle hurt, even my eyes. They watered when I let out a mouth splitting yawn.
Audi shook herself awake, staggering off my cloak where she’d been sleeping and bumbled over to give me a big lick. Giggling, I grabbed the dog's head and ruffled the fur round her neck and ears. She grumbled and thrust a paw in my face, so I obliged with the request and scratched the front of her chest. Lucky meowed softly at us and sauntered over.
'Are you guys' hungry?' I whispered to them. 'Come on, let’s go see if we can get some breakfast.'
Picking Lucky up, I draped the cat around my shoulders and eased the door open, ushering Audi
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