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“Get one of the dolls for the girl. Make sure it has a head and grab some clothes for it.”
He leapt over the wall, and I strode forward.
“What’s going on?” I asked, interrupting Matt’s conversation with the woman. “Why was everyone yelling?”
“A few misaligned viewpoints. Nothing to worry about.” He looked down at the little girl. “Did you like your soup?”
The little girl sidestepped behind her mother’s leg, partially hiding instead of answering.
“She did. Thank you,” the mom said, answering for her. “I’m worried people are going to act out against those of us who chose to eat here.”
“You and Greyly have nothing to worry about, Abi. You did the right thing coming here. But, if you have any trouble, come find me.”
There was a whisper of noise behind me. When everyone’s attention shifted, I had no choice but to look too.
Noru knelt on the ground a few steps away. He was trying to put a dress on a naked doll and failing spectacularly. He looked up at the little girl.
“Something is wrong with her. I don’t know how to fix it.” He held out his hand with the Barbie and the dress in his palm.
The little girl stared at him. He stared back.
After a moment, she unlatched from her mom’s leg and went to Noru. She took the doll from his hand, used her tiny fingers to straighten its backward head, and slipped on the dress. Holding Noru’s gaze, she set it back in his hand.
He studied the doll closely.
“You fixed her,” he said, looking up at the girl. “Now, how do I care for her?”
The girl started explaining about being gentle with the head in a childish voice. I glanced up at Abi. She was watching the pair, her expression slightly sad but not worried or filled with revulsion. None of the other women looked concerned, either. Proof that not all the humans here hated the fey and more motivation to finish what I’d started. Especially after the recent display of contention.
“Were you serious about sending away the supplies?” I asked Matt.
He lifted his gaze from the fey and child, meeting mine steadily.
“Absolutely.”
Bram overheard Matt.
“If you’re going to start pulling that shit, I’m done. I’m not going to risk my ass for food so you can get rid of it to pacify a few assholes.”
“You would have kept your share. It’s the community share I would have sent away. I won’t ever bite the hand that feeds us. That includes the brave few like you,” he said, looking at Bram and me, “and the fey.”
“Good,” Bram said, pacified.
“What set the crowd off?” I asked, needing Matt to spell it out.
“The fey recognized that some people aren’t eating enough. To help, they offered to set up a soup kitchen of sorts. Anyone who wants to eat is welcome.”
“That doesn’t explain why some of the people were angry.”
“The fey cook and serve the food,” Abi said softly. “Some people don’t like that. They would rather have the fey leave the food for Matt to split between the houses.”
“This isn’t my show. It’s Emily’s,” Matt said. “Her terms were clear. Only the fey work in the kitchen. No takeout. No food left behind.”
“So Emily found a new way to push her fey agenda,” Bram said without malice. “Only this time she’s dangling a carrot people can’t ignore.” The man shook his head and looked at Matt. “Good luck with that.”
He walked away to help unload the supplies and grab his share.
“Thank you for agreeing to this, Matt,” one of the other women said. “We know it’s not going to be easy on you, but it’s making more of a difference than you know.”
