Chapter 10: The Hall

The next day was the pack supper, which happened once a week and was the only meal the whole pack ate together.

Nolan had said nothing to me since the yard.

He sat at the head of the hall with his left hand in his lap, under the table, and he ate with his right.

I sat by Mavis, and I did not look at him.

Brida came in late, in a cream sweater and a long white skirt.

The pendant swung at her throat.

She stopped at the end of our bench and looked down at my plate.

"Is that your third helping, Pennick?

"Or are you keeping some for the road?"

A few of her friends laughed, but not as many as before.

I could feel the room watching.

I put my fork down.

"Brida," I said, "it's so nice to see you.

"I've been thinking about you all day."

"Have you?"

"I have, because I've been meaning to ask you something.

"You do a great deal of cruel work for someone who never does it alone."

She tilted her head.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I look around this room," I said, "and I count five people who came here with you tonight.

"And I wonder who's holding your coat when they leave."

It landed.

I watched it land.

Her friends looked at each other, and one of them stepped half a pace away.

Mavis set her ladle down, and it rang on the table.

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