Pio reached out her arms for the small boy. ‘Oh please, let me hold him for a moment.’ She snuggled the small body against her, while Viv fished through her purse for the room price. ‘Please . . . Viv. Don’t worry about the money. Let me just show you three to a room, and we can solve that problem later.’
The boy was so thin, and so quiet. His large eyes regarded Pio solemnly. She motioned for Viv and Emma to follow her as she showed them upstairs to a room with two beds. ‘Make yourselves comfortable. Then come downstairs and we’ll see about some food.’
Pio sat Tom on the bed, giving him a kiss on the cheek before she left the room. She went back downstairs, then, to see to the needs of the Inn’s guests.
__________________
Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.
|