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[color=6E8E67]Location:[/color] Sharon, Shalador[/center][hr][hr]

Fatima, full of relief and joy, walked her way back into the campsite.  She grabbed herself a little breakfast and sat next to Thom.  She offered him one of her fine smiles.  [color=6E8E67]"Have I told you my name?  I can't remember.  Fatima, nice to meet you."[/color] She held out a hand briefly to shake before shoveling some food into her mouth.

Thom looked distinctly nervous and bashful when Fatima sat next to him. Being a young boy next to a powerful woman who held his life in her hand and having been found out by Jandar hadn’t exactly helped his confidence that he could slip away. Not that he would have been able to, Dunny was off playing fetch with another woman and Thom couldn’t leave his friend. Guilt was knawing at him for Dunny’s mistake, but he had told the Sceltie about the danger! It wasn’t like Dunny had risked himself without knowing what he should have done! The stupid mutt just- Thom cut his thoughts off as he nodded to the Queen. It wasn’t fair for him to blame Dunny. He should have gone along with the Sceltie. [color=CadetBlue]”Thom… I’m Thom Moorson.”[/color] Or at least it was the family name his mother had given him in the Red Moon house he had grown up in. Twisting the strand of dried grass in his hands the mix raced boy grimaced slightly. [color=CadetBlue]”I- I warned Dunny to stay away from people, Lady. I really did.”[/color] His tone was that of someone who was grieving for a mistake they thought they could fix while certain they should never have been blamed for it.[color=CadetBlue]”I won’t say I’m sorry. A man’s gotta do what we gots to, but I- I didn’- I wouldn’t tell anyone you were out here. I saw you all at the bookstore…”[/color] He stared at the ground looking utterly bashful as he trailed off uncertain if he was digging a larger hole for his corpse.

She watched him as she chewed, fiddling.  When he was done she said, [color=6E8E67]"It's alright little one.  Fret not.  Our desire is not to harm you.  And even if…"[/color] she trailed off a moment deciding against saying the next thing.  She didn't want to give the poor dear nightmares, even if the thought lived in the back of his mind.

[color=6E8E67]"Since we have now become aquatinted we will be taking you and Dunny somewhere safe.  You cannot stay here.  Have you eaten yet?"[/color] She asked as she took another mouthful of food.

Thom shrugged absently and gave Fatima a startled look. [color=CadetBlue]”Take us where?”[/color] There was worry there, reasonable considering the state of the Realm. [color=CadetBlue]”I don’t need puttin’ anywhere!”[/color] He protested, looking sullen about his defeat.

[color=6E8E67]"To a friend, so you will be safe, and warm, and well-fed."[/color] She said this last part pointedly as she filled the bowl with food and shoved it into his hands.  [color=6E8E67]"I can't and won't leave you to be hurt by anyone.  Especially on our behalf.  So, I'll make sure you're taken care of.  Whether you need it or like it or not."[/color] She pressed a fork into his hand.  [color=6E8E67]"Eat, please.  Don't make me have to feed you."[/color]

[color=CadetBlue]“Yes, Lady.”[/color] The young lad said meekly as he obediently began to eat what he had been given with the gusto of a young Blood male. Which is to say, with a bottomless stomach. Giving a sideways look to Fatima, Thom swallowed the meat that sung of wonderful flavors and gave a slight pessimistic shrug. [color=CadetBlue]”What if where you leave me isn’t safe? Why can’t I stay? People say a lot of things in front of me without thinking. Not the Prince. Dunno what folk have against him, but he aint so bad less you cross him.”[/color] It seemed safe to talk to this Queen, even about the gossip of the back alleys and streets. Plus, if he could prove he was useful perhaps he could stay about. He didn’t know why exactly, but he liked this Queen even if her being a Queen induced a quiet terror in him.

[color=6E8E67]"The Prince?"[/color] She inquired gently.  It felt like the bottom dropped out of her stomach.  She hoped against hope he didn't mean [I]him[/I].

Thom looked hesitant as he nodded slowly. [color=CadetBlue]”Prince Sadiablo. I don’t [i]know[/i] him. I saw him go into the bookshop afore you last night. He was nice enough, gave me a silver mark.”[/color] The boy looked utterly dreamy even admitting it though he shifted uneasily. As if she might take it from him or shake him for answers about the infamous Warlord Prince.

[color=6E8E67]"Ah,"[/color] was her reply.  So it was him after all.  Shit. [color=6E8E67] "Well, I also have a nice Prince.  And he has assured me this person would be very safe.  And if you aren't treated well you can rest assured that my Prince will take this person's head.  I won't let any harm come to you little duck."[/color] She reached out and ruffled his hair gently before pulling her hand back as if she had touched flame.  [color=6E8E67]"Sorry."[/color]

The ‘little duck’ blushed slightly as the older woman ruffled his hair. Shrugging slightly he looked away. [color=CadetBlue]”’S fine.”[/color] He muttered embarrassed by his flushed cheeks. [color=CadetBlue]”The big one wanted to put me in the ground. Anyone could tell that. We’ve had a few Eyriens in the Red Moon-”[/color] The boy pointed out surly about the fact the Warlord Prince was a Eyrien warrior. They tended to want any possible problem dead. Not that he didn’t believe the Queen, Dunny had spoken to her after all. But his mother’s Red Moon house had catered to a few and they had left… a mess behind them. One that was impossible to clean up. For all it seemed this ‘nice’ Prince was trying to be helpful he wanted to toss the lad to the unknown which Thom was not a fan of.  To be fair he had been a tad bit curious about the pointed ear man- Mikhail his name was?- til this tidbit came up.

[color=6E8E67]"Mmmm, it's true, Eyriens can be rough around the edges.  Especially mine.  But he's a good lad.  He wouldn't hurt you.  None of the boys here would hurt you.  Because I ask it.  And because Faeril would probably make them eat their balls if they did."[/color] She chuckled softly.  [color=6E8E67]"Now eat up.  We'll get to leaving soon and we may not stop for food in a long while."[/color]

[color=CadetBlue]”Lady?”[/color] The word was timid as Thom studied the bowl shyly. [color=CadetBlue]”I don’t mean to be prying, but you talked to the Black?”[/color] He gave her a look that was innocent of any malice if perhaps overly curious.

She stiffened as she turned her gaze upon the boy.  Why would he possibly want to know about that?  The look of innocence in his face told her that he meant no malice by it.  The din of the camp died away as all of her concentration was on Thom.  [color=6E8E67]"Yes, I did."[/color]

The fear seemed to seep away from the boy. [color=CadetBlue]”Oh.”[/color] It seemed that satisfied the boy more than anything else could. Enough he gave her a timid smile seemingly unaware of her sudden stiffness.

And it seemed that was it and she was not going to question it.  If he had no more questions for her then she had no more answers.  She relaxed and smiled again.  [color=6E8E67]"I hope we get to know each other well during our journey,"[/color] she said.  And with that she went about her business of packing the camp away.  Erasing all evidence of their existence.