"That's why they're kept for a month." Pinja said.

"Very distasteful."

"It was a nightmare." Pinja said in a small voice.

"I maintain the whole village needs to be razed. And it sounds like most of the men need jailing."

Laden with a tray of food, Fortune arrived at the door. "Hello, I am back!"

Aalyssa hurried to the door. She accepted the tray with a smile. "Thank you very much."

"How is everything going here?" Fortune asked cheerily.

"It is going very well, thank you for inquiring." Aalyssa smiled.

"That's good. Will the patients be well enough to join for dessert?" Fortune asked.

"No, I fear not. It's their ankle, you see. They aren't able to put weight down on it just yet."

"Missing the feast over a hurt ankle?" Fortune was aghast. "Couldn't they use a crutch or someone to help bring them to the feast?"

"The injury just happened, we need to keep it elevated for now due to swelling," Aalyssa explained.

"Such a shame." Fortune said.

Pinja shrank behind Aalyssa's screen. She remembered Widow Calm, she was a frequent customer at Millie's shop. She must have inherited a lot of money from her late husband because she bought a new dress almost every week.

Pinja did not want to think about Millie's shop because she would end up remembering what happend to her the last time she had been there. She shuddered.

"Poor timing, to be certain."

"Is there anything else I can do?" Fortune asked.

"Oh, no thank you. We are good for now. Again, thank you so much for your assistance."

"All right." Fortune said. She turned and left.

Aalyssa carried the tray over to Pinja. "Here you go, Pinja."

The salmon looked good. But there was way too much food on this tray. Even before Pinja had bad things happen to her there was no way she could have eaten half of it.

"You're going to eat some of this too?" Pinja asked hopefully.

"I can, but I will wait until you've eaten your fill," Aalyssa replied.

"I eat so slow it will be cold by then." Pinja said.

"I can reheat it over the fire."

"Please just eat with me." Pinja said.

Aalyssa wasn't particularly hungry, but she relented and sat down next to Pinja. "If you insist."