Chapter II, Reading 7

Dakra invited Leudh and his family over for dinner that night.  Laughter echoed, repeatedly, from the walls of the little cottage for Arek and Alek entertained the adults with their youthful antics.  Alek had always been fond of Flindra's cat, Icy.  Icy kept attacking the string Alek dangled in front of her nose.  Not to be outdone, Arek put his hand beneath the rug by the hearth and pretended he was a tasty mouse.  Icy didn't know which attraction was better to attack, so very cat-like, she sat down between them and started to wash her paw.  Once Icy removed herself from the play, the boys turned to each other for fun and began wrestling on the floor.

While the boys played, Flindra and her mother filled the table to overflowing with their culinary delights.  A lavish dinner consisting of roast venison swimming in a pool of gravy, butter-soaked vegetables, fresh bread which had been baked with herbs and cheese, oat and berry spoon bread smothered with sweetened cream, and a delicious apple spice cordial drew the attention of all.

The family gathered at the table, sat on the benches, and grew quiet as they held hands.  "Dear Spirit," Leudh said reverently as the group lowered their heads.  "Bless this food so that we may use it and all of your blessings in accordance with your will."

"Let it be so," Dakra answered.  With a smile, she passed a knife to Leudh so he could carve the roast.

Flindra knew in her heart that her days with her loved ones were going to end soon, so she tried to relish every moment of the meal.  She noticed the food, the loving conversations and the joyful oneness that came from being family.

* * *

It wasn't until the next day that Flindra and Leudh had a chance to speak with Dakra without the twins listening.  The boys were outside tending to the barn chores.  The task would keep them busy for at least an hour so the adults were reasonably safe from interruption.  Brehwan wasn't needed to watch over the twins so she joined the gathering.

The four adults sat in front of Dakra's hearth and sipped some freshly brewed rosehip tea, which was sweetened with a touch of honey.

Leudh looked out the door to make sure his sons were out of earshot.  He glanced at his mother with a concerned look.  "Were you told anything when Flindra was left here?  Any reasons why she was taken from her family?"