[VanimaEdhel]

Giedd looked up from her coffee just in time to see a tall, fair man of some forty or so years approaching her table. An alarm rang in the back of her mind – she was about to find herself in a social situation unprepared. If only she had received some warning, then she could have asked one of the girls of the identity and nature of the man. She may have even been able to secure Bêthberry or Ruthven to be present with her. Well, in any event, it was too late now – the situation approached her as an inevitable chore. Best to make the most of it and, as her mother always said, “lift your skirts and make the jump.”

“Hello,” Giedd said quite loudly before she could control herself. People around her gave her an odd look and the man appeared nonplussed for a moment or two. He quickly regained his composure, though, far more adept at meeting people than she, while Giedd flushed, part of her wishing she could now just sink through the floor. The other half of her, however, was intrigued by this man and what interest he took in her.

“M’lady,” he said, “I couldn’t help but notice you’re sitting alone here. I wondered if you would be in want of company?”

“Your company?” Giedd asked, starting off shakily, but consciously changing her tone to a more hospitable one by the time she finished the last word. At least, she hoped it came across in that light.

“Well, my friends’ company – and yes, my company as well; if, of course, it pleases you.”

“All right,” Giedd said automatically, without thinking. She could have kicked herself. What possessed her to accept the invitation? For all she knew, she could be agreeing to dine with criminals. But this man did not look like a criminal. But then again, what did criminals look like? They did not all wear dark cloaks and hide in corners, waiting for unsuspecting parties. But no, this man did not look like a pickpocket – and there was a girl at the table he came from. He would not be with a child if he did not have good intentions.

“I am Eodwine,” the man said, extending his hand as Giedd rose, having made up her mind.

“Giedd,” she said, holding out her right hand, and then realizing she still carried the coffee in that hand. She put the cup down and held out her hand again. Eodwine had begun to laugh lightly. For some reason, this put Giedd better at ease. She smiled too and shook his hand. Once their hands broke apart, she took her cup back and followed Eodwine over to his table.

Giedd’s nerves began to overtake her again as she drew nearer to the table. However, she kept her eyes on the young girl when Eodwine introduced her to the other three members at the table – Garreth and Harreld, twins, and the Gudryn, the girl.

“Pleased to meet you,” Giedd said, keeping her eyes on Gudryn and not noticing the fairly intent gaze of Garreth. Giedd took a seat next to Eodwine, and looked around briefly. She noticed Ruthven at the next table. Giedd tried to wave to the woman, hoping to catch her attention and invite her to join the table, but Ruthven seemed to have either become deaf momentarily or was intent on some defect in her dress that Giedd could not see.

So, Giedd assessed her situation, finding herself among four strangers, and yet not feeling entirely uncomfortable. The twins appeared to have the spirit and talk of four in themselves, supplying for conversation even when Giedd could not. But there was something odd about Eodwine – something Giedd could not put her finger on; and still no one had told her the place of Gudryn amidst the four. So finally, when there was a momentary lull in the antics of the twins, Giedd voiced her question. She asked Gudryn, though any would have done, merely because she found it far easier to speak to the child than any of the men around her.

“Gudryn,” she began, “I am curious: what brings you in the company of three grown men? If it is not impolite for me to ask, that is – it is merely curiosity that sparks the question.” Giedd did not ask where Gudryn’s mother was, for fear she may already know the answer, but hoped that the story would also supply explanation for that query as well.