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Jace looked up at him after he finished wrapping my foot. “I’d recommend she stay here for a day or two. She tore up her feet pretty bad, and I’m scared they may get infected.”
Barrett looked at the pile on the floor. “You pulled all of that out of her feet?”
I leaned forward and nearly toppled out of the seat, but fortunately Enzo caught me.
“And she’s had a bit of Gage’s ale, too. So…” He shrugged, bobbling his head from side to side.
“I see.” He looked around at everyone watching him, like they were waiting for his decision, so I looked at him too, although I was having a hard time focusing. “She can stay through the weekend and we will reassess.”
“We don’t even know what she was running from. Must have been bad if she did that.” Gage said, pointing at the ground. Even though his tone was filled with malice, there was an underlying note of something else in his gaze.
“That’s a good point.” Barrett looked at me. “What were you running from?”
I looked around the room and knew if I told them the truth, they would surely send me on my way, so I settled for a half truth. “My stepmother tried to kill me… so I shot her with an arrow and then ran away.”
“Shit.” Gage said.
“Shit.” Enzo said.
Same word, but completely different meanings. Gage understood the potential severity and Enzo seemed impressed, while everyone else just looked around in silence.
Enzo looked at Barrett. “Please, can we keep her? We need to protect her. Please?”
“She’s not a fucking pet Enzo.”
“I know that, Gage. I’m just saying. She’s obviously scared for her life and,” he paused, looking at me, “it’s her birthday.” He clasped his hands together and held them under his chin.
Gage rolled his eyes.
Barrett nodded. “What kind of hosts would we be if we kicked a woman out on her birthday after enduring such an agonizing journey?”
“Yes!” Enzo cheered.
“Here, drink this.” Jace offered. “It will help with any infection.”
“Thank you. Thank you all so much.” I let out a sigh of relief. “You won’t even know I’m here.”
“That’s impossible.” Gage muttered under his breath.
I looked at him, but continued. “I can cook and clean… and I can hunt.”
“We don’t need a cook. We have Calix.” Gage clapped back.
“Ignore him. He’s always like this. It isn’t you.” Enzo defended.
“Would you care for some food?” Calix offered.
I didn’t feel like I should tell them I already ate some, especially since I used the bowl sitting in front of Gage. “Yes please. I’m starving.”
“There’s only seven bowls.” Gage reminded.
“I have one in my shop,” the man with the red hair said, jumping up from the table.
“That’s Dresden. He’s our wood worker. He’s created most of what you see here.” Jace said.
“Wow. He’s amazing.”
“Thank you,” he said, walking back in and setting a chair and a bowl at the opposite end of the table across from Gage.
