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As he filled a small bowl with porridge, then piled boiled eggs and fruit on his plate, Madam Langley went around the table, introducing him to everyone, and he felt slightly overwhelmed by their warm welcome. All except one of them—Edward—who seemed grouchy. Edward had stood out to him last night as well, with his underlying gloomy mood, and also for presenting bigger in stature than the others. His aura was tinged with red, which normally told Galen he might’ve carried a chip on his shoulder.
They have nowhere else to go, he remembered the madam telling him.
It made Galen curious about him—about all of them.
He remained silent, listening to the chatter around the table, which concerned the goings-on in Lunar’s Reach. A lad called Oscar seemed to especially revel in the town gossip. When he mentioned Enchantment—another shop in town—Madam Langley perked up, looking amused. Galen liked her smile and thought it softened her. But it didn’t last long, as she kept a watchful eye over those under her keep. She was almost motherly in that way—for someone who ran such an establishment.
That may have been the reason why none of the men discussed or bragged about any titillating details from the previous two evenings, but maybe they were only more respectable around Madam Langley. Though he could see this Oscar fellow throwing caution to the wind, and now he recognized him as the man he’d watched from his sickbed, speaking animatedly to Bellamy. Bellamy merely seemed to tolerate him, though, and Azriel was so quiet and unobtrusive, Galen could imagine Oscar having an entire conversation without any of his input.
The last time he was in the company of such a large group was with his cousins at his aunt and uncle’s abode nearly a year ago now. There he’d been mostly invisible, an inconvenient mouth to feed, but here he seemed unable to escape their gazes, which were purely inquisitive, he knew.
Speaking of which, his own gaze continued to travel across the table to Azriel, who was seated beside Bellamy. Azriel’s eyes were spellbinding, and he could barely drag his own away. Why he seemed so mysterious, Galen didn’t know. And it would be best to put the man out of his mind; after all, he would never see him again once he left the premises. Nor the twins, who felt like such a warm swathe of light every morning. But no, he need not bother himself about threadbare connections with anybody. He need only fend for himself before he moved on to the next town. His future looked aimless and bleak if he thought about it too long, and he sometimes considered returning to his family, serving his penance, and then begging them to allow him to help contribute in some way that might matter to them. But the idea made him feel hollow inside.
“Less gossip, more eating, so we can get to our chores,” Madam Langley said before her gaze landed on him. “Galen, I would like you to stay behind so we can talk.”
He nodded, then dug into his food along with everyone else as the table fell silent. Just like his last meal, he tried to chew more slowly, but everything his lips touched tasted too good, too rich and hearty. But no one seemed to pay him any mind except Azriel, whose gaze Galen could feel pressing in on him.
When their eyes met, Azriel’s crinkled at the corners as if he understood why Galen was so eager to clean his plate. Galen’s cheeks heated, but he willingly accepted a roll when Azriel passed him the breadbasket.
One by one, the lads left the table, until he was alone with Madam Langley.
“Had enough to eat?” she asked, pouring herself another cup of tea.
He pushed away his plate, feeling more satisfied than he had in a long while. But also guilty for needing that sustenance and taking what his body required. The leftover shame was not something he thought he could easily shake. “Yes, thank you.”
She eyed him curiously. “As I touched on before, all the young men who stay here have been in your predicament.”
“And what predicament is that?”
Did she expect him to confide in her? To confess he’d stolen food and had to flee his village? He was not under her employ, only under her grace, and he did not need any more trouble, no matter how insistent the urge to unburden himself. He’d come across many others in his travels who’d had ulterior motives, and he’d do well to remember that. No matter how merciful she’d been thus far.
“They have worried about their safety and survival, and I offered them a place to stay and food in their bellies.”
He leaned closer to make his point. “In exchange for their service.”
“It’s honest work…even if not in the eyes of the law.” She arched an eyebrow. “And they are willing participants.”
