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Ruari stood on the stool, gazing at the pot of honey with a pleased, self-congratulatory smile on her little face. Then carefully, she bent down to put it on a lower shelf and climbed down from the stool. She reached up and took the honey down and, holding it tightly against her chest, she moved towards the outer door. She opened it a crack and looked out. There were still several people in the courtyard outside, but they were moving towards the great hall. Eoghan was there, with Thornden and Leof and Elfthain, and though she would not have minded sharing the honey with Elfthain, she did not want her brother to have any. She waited until they disappeared into the hall, and then she slipped out.
Just as she closed the door behind her, she saw someone exiting the great hall. Ruari turned her back hastily and began to hurry down the edge of the kitchen, hunched over her treasure. It was too late! Rowenna already had seen. Ruari grimaced a little, thinking bitterly that Rowenna always saw everything.
“Hi, Little Ruari. What secret treasure have you there?”
Ruari froze in her tracks. Her head lowered a little and a guilty smile pulled at her lips. She turned to face Rowenna and slightly proffered the pot of honey.
“What do you have there?” Rowenna asked again, finally drawing near.
Ruari answered evasively. “Elfthain brought it for us,” she said, quietly and sounding as innocently sweet as she possibly could.
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