[Folwren]

Thornden felt sorry for Ginna. At first he had nearly laughed, again, for Fliede amused him greatly, but her embarrassment was so obvious that he really felt a great deal of pity for her. He was kind enough not to look at her and allowed her to slip away unnoticed while the attention turned to Eodwine and Norjm’s entrance.

He was pleased to see Lys. The boy had been getting on wonderfully and Thornden saw him comparatively little now that he had begun to work for the weaver.

Whilst the lad told about his morning, Ginna entered with a new platter of fresh bread and exited again at once, with nary a glance towards Harreld. Scarcely had the young woman left the room again than the smith rose abruptly, cutting Lys’ talk short.

“I must be back to my smithy,” he said in excuse before turning and stumping out. Lys, Falco, and Eodwine, all of whom knew nothing of what had passed before, stared after him, wondering what the trouble was. But Thornden knew well enough. He was the first to turn his eyes away from the door and addressed Lys, trying to pull the attention back to him instead of it remaining fixed on Harreld’s clipped words and sudden departure.

“Sounds like you had a successful morning, Lys,” he said. “But I don’t want you wearying yourself out.”

Taralphiel's Post

Lys began recounting his days spent with the weaver and his success. He felt glad that he could tell Thornden he was being useful and was not seen with his obvious weakness when he tended to his agreement.

"I think I have worked to earn it. I am glad I can do something useful. I now know how to sort money and I can tell when someone offers a price too low. Gant has said I could do this for proper work one day, had I wares to sell. He said I have an open face and that is what draws people!"

Lys continued to bubble over with his tales of people he had met and what he had sell between great bites of bread. He stopped when the man sitting across from him, Harreld, quickly excused himself. He blushed a little. "I am sorry, I am talking too fast. I'm too excited!"

"Sounds like you had a successful morning, Lys," Thornden said, reassuring Lys he had not done wrong, "But I don’t want you wearying yourself out."

Lys shook his head and said quickly "Oh no! I am doing well! I am not in pain as much as before. I can almost run but it looks silly. I feel it is making me much stronger!" Lys stood from the bench and carefully put his weight on his poorer ankle. He winced, but was able to almost stand on one foot. He looked up at Thornden and smiled.

"See, it is much better..." He paused, before adding quietly "Would you like to see what my work will earn me? I would like to show you."