In reply to Difyr Bateman (msg # 76):

"Prior to the attack she was eating well. When I found her she was crying, so she's probably hungry. Brie had her hidden under a wooden basket. Olivia calmed for a while on the ride back but she started again." Shawn leaned his head against the wall. "I know she's dry. Unless she made a mess while Sileas had her.

"Is that girl over there stark bloody naked, Sileas?" Questa asked Sileas in a loud whisper. "Why is there a stark bloody naked girl?"

In reply to Shawn Spenser (msg # 78):

Difyr pretended to not hear Questa. Hopefully Millie would be along with the mended clothes soon. She handed Olivia to Sileas.

"Add a milk goat to the lost of things I hope came here from the village." Difyr said as she began examining Shawn. She gently worked off his shirt.

Sileas's attention was on her father and sister, so she had not noticed anyone else in the room. Taking Olivia back from Difyr, Sileas shrugged. "Her clothing was probably destroyed during the attack."

Shawn winced as Difyr began removing his shirt. He could feel the fabric was stuck and he realized he had probably been bleeding. He gritted his teeth, managing to not make any pained sounds and upset anyone.

"Cor, blimey." Questa breathed. "That were a bad lot of blokes." She looked around nad spotted the innkeeper, he looked passed out. "That's yor uncle, right, the one married ter that battle axe! 'e looks pissed!" Questa snickered. "Where's yor Aunt Liadan- bet she'd 'it 'te roof ter see 'im like this, and 'im in a room wiv a stark bloody naked girl."

Sileas blinked. "Aunt Lia brought us back here, Questa." She gave her friend some slack, after all it had been a hard day. I bet she already knows Uncle Aron's back here."

In reply to Shawn Spenser (msg # 82):

Difyr could tell that Shawn was in pain and trying to hide it from Sileas. She felt his forehead for a fever and turned to Sileas. "Why don't you go find something for Olivia?"

In reply to Sileas (msg # 84):

Sure enough, Liadan was there and looking very angry. "No wonder she's so cranky." Questa said.

Sileas was very worried about her father, but she had to find a way to be strong for him. "All right, Difyr. Papa, I will be back as soon as Olivia is fed." She held the still squalling baby close and walked toward Lia. "Any idea where they are fixing food?"

"Possibly the kitchen." Liadan thought about how Aron got drunk in the kitchen when she needed him, and she glared at her inebriated husband. "It's downstairs, do you need to be shown it?"

"It would be quicker, but if you don't wish to show us, I'm sure Questa and I can find it."

"I'm bloody well good at findin' food! Right!" Questa boasted. "Let's go!"

Sileas followed Questa in their search for food for the babe. If they couldn't find anything, no one would get any sleep considering the sheer volume of Olivia's squalls.

"Wait for me!" Yehudit cried, limping after her cousin.

"Are you up to making your way down the stairs? I doubt there are any handrails."

Yehudit gave Sileas a stubborn look. "I want to go with you."

"I know you do and I want you to, but I can't help you on the stairs while carrying Olivia." Sileas took a deep breath. "I'm finding it worrisome for myself under the circumstances."

Yehudit's eyes began to tear. "I can help myself!"

Sileas gave Questa a pleading look, hoping she would help Yehudit.

"Eh up, don't look at me. The spoiled innkeeper's girl is yor millstone." Questa held up her hands.

Yehudit glared at Questa and would like nothing more than to bash her face in. But she knew Questa was a better fighter than she was, and had street mean-ness.

"Don't worry about me, I can make it down the stairs all right." Yehudit said angrily.

Sileas glared at Questa. "We all need to be helping one another right now. And she's not a millstone." And if anything happens to Yehudit because you refuse to help her, there will be hell to pay.

"She's yor mucker but 'as never been part of us gang." Questa argued. "She can't fight, can't pick locks, can't nick, probably can't even pick pockets. Wot use is she?"

Yehudit began stomping away towards where she guessed the stairs were. Stomping was a bad idea when one has a bad ankle.