Faith smiled up at him as he grinned at the thought of victory curls and heels, her thoughts turning to the same trial as his although she did not know it. There had been a lot of firsts for her, that trial; things that she now might well either expect or take for granted. The way that she had felt when he had refused to hand her over to the bandits had been a revelation to her. Come to that, as she had slept with his arms around her, she had felt safe and secure. He had barely slept at all, she knew, but for her it had been a time when she felt safe and warm. It was also the first time that she had admitted that she wished for freedom.
Of course, it had been to him she admitted it. Who else would it ever be?
His face, his expression when she spoke about another child surprised her. He did not seem surprised or even negative about the idea. Had he thought of it already? She thought that maybe he had, judging by his reaction, but equally, now was not the time or the place to discuss it. So, she watched his face without realising she was doing so and her slight smile was one of acceptance, acknowledgement. Maybe.
However, first there was a particular and different kind of demanding individual and Faith grinned up at the enormowl as she stroked his face. "Oh, alright, here. Shush though, your keepers don't like it, you know." She held out her hand with a treat in it and caught the hat with the other hand, passing it to Padraig. His suggestion was a good one ~ tell the keepers first and see what they thought.
It was as far as the young couple needed to go, it turned out. One of the keepers, a woman in her forties, looked at the hat, listened to the story and swore that she was going to kill her son. Turned out, it was his hat and yes, his mother had a key. They were asked if they could come back the next trial and, if they did then the situation was explained. A group of young folks had made a gang, the boy had wanted to join and he had stolen his mother's keys for work as his means of doing it. A prank gone wrong, no doubt, but a prank nonetheless.
The mother involved the authorities, but only so far as needed to give the lad a good scare. Faith had no wish to do more than be glad that they had been able to help and the only other thing that she wanted? Well, visiting rights to her favourite Enormowl, of course. A request which was granted.
Of course, it had been to him she admitted it. Who else would it ever be?
His face, his expression when she spoke about another child surprised her. He did not seem surprised or even negative about the idea. Had he thought of it already? She thought that maybe he had, judging by his reaction, but equally, now was not the time or the place to discuss it. So, she watched his face without realising she was doing so and her slight smile was one of acceptance, acknowledgement. Maybe.
However, first there was a particular and different kind of demanding individual and Faith grinned up at the enormowl as she stroked his face. "Oh, alright, here. Shush though, your keepers don't like it, you know." She held out her hand with a treat in it and caught the hat with the other hand, passing it to Padraig. His suggestion was a good one ~ tell the keepers first and see what they thought.
It was as far as the young couple needed to go, it turned out. One of the keepers, a woman in her forties, looked at the hat, listened to the story and swore that she was going to kill her son. Turned out, it was his hat and yes, his mother had a key. They were asked if they could come back the next trial and, if they did then the situation was explained. A group of young folks had made a gang, the boy had wanted to join and he had stolen his mother's keys for work as his means of doing it. A prank gone wrong, no doubt, but a prank nonetheless.
The mother involved the authorities, but only so far as needed to give the lad a good scare. Faith had no wish to do more than be glad that they had been able to help and the only other thing that she wanted? Well, visiting rights to her favourite Enormowl, of course. A request which was granted.
