Oscar's eyes brightened. "They'll let me eat?"

"They will indeed. All that you want, unless you're getting to the point of making you sick. I promise, you will not go hungry."

The boy nodded.

"Good, then it's all settled. Now, let's go find some food and some things for you to wear, and we can be off." Sileas stood and reached for his hand.

Oscar did not give her his hand, but he headed towards the closest food vendor.

Since they were now out of sight of the guards, Sileas looked to Oscar. "While I get the food, I think you have something to return to Lord Thornblade and an apology to make."

Oscar's eyes widened. "I can't. The guard took it! Honest guv!"

"Then you need to tell Lord Thornblade and apologize."

"He'll beat me!" Oscar squeaked. Mike needed less provocation to box his ears.

"I promise you, he won't." She glanced at Wulfsen and said just loud enough for him to hear, "If he does, he'll have to answer to me."

"If I what?" Wulfsen asked.

"Box Oscar's ears or harm in any way. For any reason," Sileas stated firmly.

Wulfsen looked appalled. "I'd never hit a kid."

"I didn't believe you would, but I needed to reassure Oscar. He has something to tell you." She nudged the boy toward Wulfsen.

"The guards took yor coins and yor royal seal." Oscar said quickly.

"Tell him all of it," Sileas prodded. She'd had to have these talks with her father for quite a while after being adopted. The shopkeepers stopped chasing or reporting her, instead they presented him with demands for payment.

Oscar gulped. "The chuffin' guards took them from me."

Sileas supposed Wulfsen would be able to piece it together, since Oscar was deftly avoiding any admittance of picking his pocket.

"Oh. So that's where they all went." Wulfsen shrugged. "I'll get the seal back easily enough." The coins, Wulfsen suspected, were deep in the guard's pockets if not already spent.

Sileas smiled and moved up to order the food.

Oscar moved to keep Sileas between himself and Wulfsen. He was certain that the man was going to belt him when he least expected it.

"Wulfsen's not going to harm you, little one."

Oscar was too scared to argue that he was big.

Sileas paid for three meat pies and turned, her hands full.

Wulfsen relieved Sileas of one of the meat pies. He lightly kissed her cheek.