That morning our inn days are put behind us. Arthur, having been persuaded by my mum that he was no threat, decreed that the boy would be put to work if he wanted to stay. It seems already presumed that Guy would continue to live on our floor.
Recognising that the boy is of similar age to myself, the responsibility of setting him about daily tasks, much to my shock and Robyn’s delight, is passed onto me. It is a result of this that I find myself heading towards the edge of the forest ten minutes later with the newest addition to Avlym.
I hold the rough handle of the axe down at my side as we stroll over to the edge of the forest, always with an eye on Guy and definitely reconsidering my choice of job given the company. I’m still not ready to trust him just yet. Thankfully there was only one spare axe, so he will just have to help carry the wood back into the village. Still, to call my position uncomfortable would be an understatement. Robyn on the other hand is perfectly at ease. With her characteristic spring in her step, she’s practically skipping towards our chores after having volunteered to help the pair of us.
“Dale?” Robyn’s call piercing my thoughts and bringing me back to reality. Upon seeing my blank expression, she sighs, “I asked if you think Ida will outlive us all.”
“Well it certainly looks like she’s going that way,” I replied, earning a polite chuckle. “Whatcha think Guy? Any thoughts?” I tease, looking up at the irritatingly chiselled face beside me. Unsurprisingly, I get no response.
“Leave him alone,” Robyn interrupts laughing. “Poor Guy’s still getting over being dressed for a change.”
It had been the morning’s entertainment watching my mother attempt to force a shirt over the boy’s head. Eventually his respect for her had won out, and whilst he continuously scratched and was clearly irritated by the fabric, he nevertheless trudges along beside us with only the usual amount of bare skin showing. He is still barefoot however, having fought against my mother trying to squeeze his feet into one of my father’s old pairs of boots. He had looked immensely relieved when she had been forced to admit that they were too small. No doubt Arthur would be able to get his hands on some more suitable footwear if necessary, but Guy’s reluctance had resulted in resigned acceptance that this was a battle my mother would just have to lose. She may have wanted him out of the house and with me for a change, but I suppose some motherly habits die hard. It would be cruel fate for him to recover as much as he has only to go running around barefoot and land on a snake.
“At least he had shorts on I suppose,” I replied.
“Hmm... I don’t know,” she grins mischievously.
“Oh really,” I chortle, “You into tree boys now?”
“I’m just saying, it’s dull watching you work, and I could’ve used the distraction.”
“You’re terrible,” I sigh giving up.
“You’re just jealous, blotchy,” She retorts with a smirk. I try to hide the brief flash of pain, but her eyes miss nothing. “Aww come on...you know I’m joking. I like it, makes you unique,” she replies taking me by surprise.
I turn to find her smiling again but this time conveying nothing but genuine affection. Marching victoriously back into the village hours later, our arms piled high with firewood and Guy easily carrying the largest portion, I am still struggling to keep the grin off my face.
“More?!”, I reluctantly pass another chicken bone over to Guy’s greasy fingers as we perch on the logs surrounding the fire pit. Already he’s started tearing away at the flesh, the feast we had managed to secure ourselves is already nearly an empty carcass. The valuable chicken had been courtesy of Arthur, a reward for keeping an eye on the ravenous blonde boy between Robyn and Alice whilst also providing a healthy resupply of firewood.
Alice has been left with me also, my mum at yet another meeting with Arthur and some of the others to talk about Guy. The talks have been almost non-stop, with Guy occasionally being brought in for questioning the first few times. Not that that had been any help. At some point Guy and Alice seemed to have formed some unusual bond between the two of them, since arriving he had strived to make her laugh, no mere feat when he can’t speak any jokes.
We had needed to fight for our share before Guy could claim it for himself and Alice. The boy eats like a beast, his hunger apparently insatiable, only pausing occasionally to pass another scrap to my gleeful sister. Each time she receives one of these small extra portions I catch her still slightly chubby face gloating back in my direction. I had thought this tendency to consume all our food had merely been a way for the forest boy to gain his strength back, it would seem however that it was a more permanent state of affairs.
My stomach complains noisily earning a sympathetic look from Robyn and a claim to the last of the meat.
“But I get it next time,” she grins.
“If Guy doesn’t first,”, I splutter through cheeks of slightly charred chicken. “Maybe we can get something extra off Mark?”
Distorted by the flames from fire pit, a gentle glow still emanates from the baker’s window. Whilst very little ever went to waste in the village, it was always worth checking for burnt bits of bread to steal before they get tossed to the animals.
“Nah, he headed into the tavern while
