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STOLEN BY THE PAST Chapter Three: The man stared at her hard and then his eyes moved down to his daughter. "I shouldn't leave you here if Had'Rian is away." "Oh, Daddy," Fina whined. "Silas is with me. I will be fine." Silas puffed his chest out and nodded his head. "She will be fine with me," he agreed. The elderly man looked uncertain. In one moment he wanted to let his daughter go and enjoy her first holiday without him, in the next he wanted to drag her back into the cart and drive them both home. Layana could hear his thoughts quite clearly. He thought she was untrustworthy, a danger to all that touched her life. It hurt Layana to hear his prejudiced thoughts but she supposed many men thought the same. "I can take them inside," Layana said softly. "Already there is food waiting for them. And Had'Rian really will be back very soon." Royne's eyes turned on Layana and then back to Fina. "Okay," he said with a sigh, addressing Fina and not Layana. "You can stay." "Thank you, Daddy," Fina gushed, hugging him tightly. He hugged her back, stroking his large hand against the back of her head. "I will be back for you in a week," he said. "Two weeks," Fina corrected.
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He laughed softly. "Two weeks," he agreed. "I was only teasing." "Daddy," she sighed, pushing at him gently. He ruffled her hair affectionately. "Behave yourself," he said. "I will." He grabbed roughly at her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "I mean it." "I will," she said again. But he did not immediately move away. His eyes fluttered over Layana again, then roamed up to the cottage behind. His face said what his mouth did not and Layana heard yet more hurtful thoughts in his mind. Eventually, he turned away and climbed back onto the front of the cart. He didn't call goodbye. Clicking the reins against the horse's hide, he drove away. Layana sighed with relief. The meeting could have been a lot worse. Tajar had been right, she thought: Royne was a grumpy old man. She turned to find Fina and Silas staring up at her expectantly. She had forgotten just how much children relied on adults. Smiling down at them, she motioned towards the cottage. Gathering the luggage together, Layana led the two youngster's up into the cottage. The bags were left with the pile Had'Rian and Behan had brought and Layana pointed towards the table where the food waited. But also at the table sat the Elders and Silas and Fina froze at just the sight of them.
Wanting to quickly calm any upset, Layana strode forward and placed her hand against Dhalidya's back. He looked up at her and with his bronze pupil-less eyes and smiled. Then he turned that smile on the children.
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