“So far, so yes.” Lot wasn’t sure why the steward was so interested in Komi. The steward tested Komi’s hair and then his eyes looked her up and down.

  He opened the door then, The warm inside drifting out to greet them along with the smells of all the things that were cooking. “You can stay the night.”

  Lot didn’t question it as she immediately went inside. The steward grabbed her arm then and led her into one of the side rooms where there was a small bed set with curtains. Lot waited on the bed while things were brought to her. There was a small table in the room already and it was a short amount of time until it was filled with a feast. Komi clapped his hands as he saw the roast chicken. Lot didn’t have time to restrain him as he started to eat heartily.

  She herself, ate slowly, trying to use the utensils that she knew how to use. Lot covered her mouth as she ate slowly. She knew that she was being observed before she dared to look. There was a shadow leaning on the edge of the doorframe. Lean, tall and with a shock of dark hair that stood out with his black clothing.

  She wanted to look. What kind of person, did such a build belong to? Who was their mysterious benefactor? But, she could only pretend to be grateful as she knew that there was going to be the whip followed by such a transgression.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Lot had been told since she was little that she was no lady.

  To that man, she knew it. She was just a nothing that he had come to enjoy the pity of.

  “Mama, why are you crying? It’s so soft and warm in here. We have good food. We have better food than we ever had at home. There is even a papa standing at the door.”

  Reflexively Lot looked at the doorframe and as she expected it was empty as if no one had been there. Lot tried to smile. “Sometimes people cry when they are happy too. Look at my eyes Komi. These are happy tears. I’m happy that you are happy and that there is more than enough to eat after so long of us being hungry. Are you sure that you saw someone at the door?”

  “Yeah, he’s tall.”

  “Probably just a ghost or someone who made sure to see if you were eating well or not.”

  “Mama, I am sure he was someone important.”

  Lot wiped her tears with her clothes. She got up slowly and unbuckled Komi from the sling that she had used to bind him to her. The bed behind her felt inviting and strange as she swayed towards it. Before she fell, she felt someone catch her. She looked up and before she could remember, she passed out.

  =//=

  “See, I told you that my mama is going to wake up with her hair looking like she’s angry.”

  Lot wiped her eyes as she felt along her chest for where she knew Komi should be. “Komi? KOMI?”