I Am No Orphan!
"Maybe our friend could use something warm?" offers the other man. He looks younger than the first, and also friendlier. He stirs the stuff in his pot hanging over the fire, ladles some of it into a small bowl. "Here, kid, this will help," bringing it over along with a hunk of dark bread and a spoon. The first man sighs but seems to approve. "Can you sit up?"
"I think so," as you reach for what's been your first real food in days. Your hands tremble but you manage to start eating. It's some sort of beet/barley stew, thick but good, you nibble on the hard bread as well.
The first man begins to speak. "Good, good, you're in better shape than I thought. Now, are you ready to answer my questions?"
slurp, slurp, "I think so."
"What were you doing out here in the Barrens?"
"Running away from Mizz Lizz, sir."
"And what were you doing with her? You don't look like you're from around here."
"I'm not. I... was sent away."
"Where from?"
This is what you feared.
"I think so," as you reach for what's been your first real food in days. Your hands tremble but you manage to start eating. It's some sort of beet/barley stew, thick but good, you nibble on the hard bread as well.
The first man begins to speak. "Good, good, you're in better shape than I thought. Now, are you ready to answer my questions?"
slurp, slurp, "I think so."
"What were you doing out here in the Barrens?"
"Running away from Mizz Lizz, sir."
"And what were you doing with her? You don't look like you're from around here."
"I'm not. I... was sent away."
"Where from?"
This is what you feared.