Brie took a deep breath and held firm. Tears sprang to her eyes when it struck but she managed to not cry out.

Jack paused. "Or maybe you want another go with Bruce." Jack suggested, referring to his violent cousin. "Would you rather have another roll in the hay with Bruce or want me to keep whipping you?"

"What I want is for all of you to drop dead."

"So both." Jack resumed whipping Brighid. "Hey, Bruce!" Jack called. "She wants another go."

Brie let out a string of expletives, telling Jack exactly what she thought of him and his family, and what should happen to them, in no uncertain terms.

Jack whipped Brighid until Bruce walked over. Bruce smelled of beer but was still sober enough to walk straight. He looked over Brighid lustfully.

"She was begging for you, Bruce." Jack said, patting his cousin on the shoulder. "You know what to do."

Jack left Bruce to do what he wanted with Brighid as he went to see if that horse had calmed down at all.

Sileas picked up the remainder of the canvas. "Questa, while you are nicking things, grab any fabrics you can. I'm sure Difyr could use it for bandages. And any food as well." While Wulfsen held James, Sileas made her way around the cart and unwillingly looked under debris for any sign of his parents. She found a basket that she could carry some food in as well.

"Have I ever not nicked food?! Struth!" Questa said and went to see if the cheese stand had any more cheese.

"No but I was hoping you would gather enough for all the survivors. We're all in the same tight spot right now," Sileas pointed out.

"Evry geezer will cop a cut, right, even if they're bein' lazy, right, sittin' on their arses at the keep." Questa said.

"I don't think anyone is being lazy right now. They're either injured, grieving or exhausted and emotionally drained. But yes, this time you're gathering for everyone." She glanced around. "I don't even know that this is considered nicking."

"Not much of a challenge." Questa said ruefully.

"This is more gathering for survival," Sileas said. "Don't wish for a challenges, we're not really equipped for facing down the raiders. There's too few of us right now."

"I fink the chuffin' raiders are all gone." Questa said. "Shouldn't yer be lookin' for yor... person." Questa still did not know what to call Brighid, she was not really Sileas's mother. "Leave the grabbin' stuff ter me."

"I was looking to see if James' parents were here somewhere and injured. He will be needing them if they are still alive. When we meet back up with you, let us know if you find anyone." Questa was right, finding James' parents was important but she had come for a reason. "Be careful. She left the basket for Questa and returned to Yehudit and Wulfsen. "Questa's going to look for supplies and James' parents."

"Good." Wulfsen nodded. "Let's go to the forge."

Sileas climbed back up behind Yehudit on Star. She wrapped her arm around her cousin and took the reins before setting out for the forge.

Yehudit yawned and leaned back against Sileas.

Soon the forge came in to sight. Sileas wanted to cry again. Her home was destroyed, they would be hard pressed to find anything to salvage there. She told Star to stop and she slid off, moving to tie the reins off on anything that looked sturdy. Sileas turned to help Yehudit dismount before she began to look around.

Yehudit clumsily fell into Sileas's arms. She stared at the destruction in horror.

Sileas held on to Yehudit until she was steadier. That was her excuse should anyone ask. The truth was, Sileas's head was spinning and she feared she might topple over. "I suppose we should go inside and look for her," she said quietly.

Yehudit was afraid to go inside, what if Aunt Brie was laying dead inside? Yehudit gulped.

Sileas studied the house. She wasn't even certain that it was safe to go inside of, but she had to make certain her mother wasn't in there.

"It doesn't look safe." Yehudit said anxiously, then she noticed something in the trees. "Wait- what's that?"

"I know, that worries me. But it's all the more reason to..." Sileas followed where Yehudit was looking. "It looks like a fire for a camp." Her grip tightened on her cousin. "I would have thought the raiders would have been gone by now."