[https://i.imgur.com/VGCFMQy.png]

Nia watched Reffy leave the dingy, cramped room before turning to look at Nox.

She was going to arrange something for the boy's birthday, but how to discuss it with Nox when she only knew a half dozen words in Frullian. Hopefully, he would already understand. It seemed like they celebrated birthdays here. It'd only be natural for Nox to also want to do something to celebrate Reffy's birthday.

She suddenly became aware that she'd been staring at Nox for an uncomfortably long time and looked away, embarrassed.

She looked back when she noticed Nox taking out a small, almost empty pouch, his coin pouch, she realised. Nox reached into the pouch and pulled out a couple small coins holding them towards her. She looked from the coins up to Nox.

"Refenial," Nox said with an encouraging smile.

She carefully took the coins from the cool skin of his hand. "Yes." She responded with one of the few words that she now knew in Frullian.

Nox seemed happy with her response and said something excitedly in his language before pausing mid-sentence, his face slowly turning red. He said something and quickly left the room. She desperately wished she knew what he'd said. It was so frustrating not being able to understand anyone other than Reffy.

She sighed wistfully as she headed out of the house, meagre coins in hand, to try to find a present for Reffy in this strange land.

[https://i.imgur.com/oMrGBK6.png]

She stepped out onto the street, the people around her staring at her as she went. It had felt strange when she'd first got here, the constant staring. Sometimes it was even amusing, she thought as she saw a small boy trailing behind his mother, his arm tied to her apron strings. He was staring so intently at her, mouth hanging open in wonder, that he bumped into his mother when she suddenly stopped walking.

The mother's hostile gaze was less amusing.

She'd chosen to come, chosen to come even though she knew it would be difficult, and the stares, while uncomfortable, they were far from the worst things she'd experienced in her life. But they always reminded her she was a stranger in a strange land.

Her dark skin marked her as an outsider, and even if she learned the language and customs of this land, for many people who lived here, that is all they'd ever see her as. She had Reffy and perhaps Nox when they could actually talk to each other without Reffy as an awkward translator. There would be others too. People who she could forget their differences together with.

She supposed that if she'd seen the strange pale faces of the people who lived here when she was living back home, she'd have stared just as hard as they did now. She just hoped her staring would have been more like the innocent boy's and less like his mother's.

As she walked down the street, lost in her thoughts, she heard a woman's voice call out behind her. "Young lady!"

She turned, surprised to hear someone calling out in her native tongue. She looked around, and a woman was standing only a few feet away. She stood out in stark contrast to the grubby white of the snowy streets and the tired, dirty colours of the clothes worn by those moving through them. She was dressed in a dress of the darkest black, a wide-brim hat protecting her from the winter sun, her hair completely tucked away underneath it. A black lace veil hung from the hat, leaving only hints of a beautiful woman's features.

"Might you be from the land of Drokon?" The woman asked, walking slowly towards Nia with steps so graceful she seemed to glide atop the dirty street.

"Yes. " Nia exclaimed, surprised. This was the first time she'd even heard someone name her homeland since arriving here.

"I thought so. Forgive my rudeness. It is so rare to see someone from there here in Frull; my excitement overcame me." The woman said, bobbing her head respectfully.

"How do you know of my country? Do you know someone else from there?" Nia asked.

"Sort of. I actually visited there with my family back in my youth. I'm sure much has changed since then, though."

The woman held her hand to her stomach. "Oh, just thinking about the food there makes me feel quite hungry. There is a restaurant near here that I was just on my way to. I'd quite happily pay for your meal if you were to join me and tell me what has changed there."

While Reffy's cooking wasn't bad, most of the food she'd eaten since arriving had been, at best bland and the food she'd stolen while a stowaway on the ship had been worse. A restaurant-cooked meal sounded heavenly. She glanced at the sun in the sky. It was still early enough in the day that she'd have time to join the woman and find Reffy his birthday present.

"I'd love to," Nia said with feeling.

[https://i.imgur.com/oMrGBK6.png]

The pair walked in a comfortable silence down the streets, quickly moving to a more affluent neighbourhood. The woman then led her towards an expensive-looking restaurant with large glass windows and smooth stone walls.

The lady held the door open for Nia and followed her in.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

The first thing she noticed about the place was the sense of luxury it exuded; fancifully coloured and patterned rugs were laid over the common walkways of the establishment, tables and chairs of beautifully maintained dark wood, arrangements of flowers and candles on fine white lace mats sat at every table.

A man approached his clothes impeccably neat, his body language that of a faithful servant greeting his master.

The woman exchanged a few words with him, and the man bowed before humbly guiding them to a table set for two.

They weren't alone in their patronage. Men and women in fine clothes sat eating, chatting, drinking and, in the case of several men, smoking pipes.

Nia looked down at her own clothes. They were of acceptable quality but lacked the elegance of dress that others here possessed. They were also stained and dirty from the road.

She felt even more out of place here than she had in the street.

Once they'd sat, the woman spoke to the man, who nodded and walked away.

"I hope you don't mind. I took the liberty of ordering for you." The woman said.

Nia smiled; she'd normally have complained, but this was a free meal, and she felt more than a little uncertain in this place.

"I'm Nia, by the way. What's your name?"

"Oh me?" The woman looked around a little uncomfortably. "To tell the truth, I'd rather not say. I'm unfortunate enough to be well-known by some in these parts, and I'd rather not cause a fuss by letting my name slip."

That was certainly an odd response, Nia decided, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at the woman. The woman didn't seem to notice her suspicion as she continued. "I'm actually here in Waterhill to meet with a family friend about my grandson."

Nia was surprised. She'd thought the woman was quite young, even though it was hard to tell with her face hidden behind her veil.

The man who'd served them approached the table, a meal balanced on each hand. He placed a meat dish she didn't recognise in front of each of them.

Once the man left, the woman spoke, "How about you call me Grandmother?"

"Grandmother?" Nia asked, surprised.

The woman nodded. "I don't know my grandson very well. I'm still trying to get used to being his grandmother, so hearing it will help me get in the mindset."

Nia cut into her meal, raised a piece of the meat on her fork, and bit into it. It was delicious. She resisted the urge to ravenously tear into the meal and instead put on a more refined air suitable for the restaurant.

The woman who wished to be called Grandmother raised a small piece of her meal, gently manoeuvering it under her veil to eat.

"Like I said, I'm planning on meeting with a friend of my grandson today." Grandmother sighed, "Unfortunately, my daughter poisoned his mind against me. I'm hoping that the friend will give me an idea of how to convince him he can trust me."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. How old is he?" Nia asked.

"Ten, but he's stubborn. I keep trying to tell him I'm there if he needs anything, but I think he's afraid of actually reaching out to me. I don't want to force my help on him, though, or he'll never trust me."

Nia felt torn between the enjoyment of her meal and the depressing story. "That's so sad. Why'd your daughter turn him against you?"

Grandmother took another delicate bite of her meal before answering. "That's difficult to answer, honestly. She didn't have an easy childhood, and she blames me. She sees me as a monster, even though I gave her everything a child could ever want."

"I think it sounds like you're doing everything you can. All you can do is make it clear to him that you're there for him. I'm sure he'll come around eventually," Nia suggested.

"Thanks for your advice. I'm sure you don't want to hear me complain all day. What were you up to? You looked a little lost when we met?"

Nia smiled. "A friend of mine, Reffy, it's his birthday today. I wanted to get him a present, but I wasn't sure what to get him."

The woman seemed to pause momentarily before speaking, "Reffy? That's an interesting name."

"Well, his real name is Refenial, but I prefer calling him Reffy."

"It sounds like you're good friends. What can you tell me about Reffy? I might be able to think of a good suggestion for a present."

Nia considered how best to describe Reffy. "Well, it's his eleventh birthday, and he doesn't like to talk about his past. I think some bad things might have happened though I only know a bit."

She considered some more. "He's serious, way too serious for a child his age, like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. I think he probably just wants to feel safe, though." She finished awkwardly, realising she'd shared more than she'd meant to.

It was hard to tell with the veil, but she was pretty sure Grandmother was smiling at her words.

"Uhh, he also plays the whistle, badly," she said, trying to move the conversation.

"I see. Perhaps if you work out what makes him feel safe, you can give that to him as a gift."

Nia thought hards about Grandmother's words, well aware that the coins she had wouldn't buy much.

"That's a nice idea, but I can't think of anything like that, that I can afford," Nia confessed sadly.

"People often find safety in their memories. It helps them through their darkest times. A small gift, if it makes him happy enough, might give him more comfort and safety.

How about after we've eaten, we look at the shops? I have some ideas." Grandmother said.

The pair ate, talk turning to Nia's homeland. After a while, the pair finished up and left the shop, Grandmother guiding Nia towards a shop she had in mind.

[https://i.imgur.com/oMrGBK6.png]

As Nia stepped into the warm air of the shop, the smell of fresh warm bread tantalised her nose and made her mouth water despite having only recently eaten. It was a bakery and a high-end one at that. Bread and sweet treats lined the walls. Smart-dressed men and women Nia assumed were servants were coming and going as they bought their master's daily bread.

Grandmother approached the counter and spoke to the skinny woman behind it, who in turn talked back to her.

The words flew too fast for Nia to make out a single one, though it probably wouldn't have mattered if she had since her Frullian vocabulary was still so limited.

Grandmother then turned to her. "Apparently, they have a cake, the person that ordered it cancelled last minute. I bet cake and your company would do wonders for making Refen-Reffy feel safe."

"You think so?" Nia asked uncertainly.

Grandmother nodded, "Look at the meal I bought you. Before we ate, I was just a stranger on the street to you. Now we know much about each other."

The woman behind the counter had disappeared and returned with a large cake.

The cake was white with delicate swirls of white icing laid across in dainty patterns that would rival the artistry of even a master lacemaker. Tiny round fruits that were dark red and glistened slightly formed a complex weave of interlocking rings across the cake's surface.

Nia's eyes bulged as she saw the masterpiece of culinary arts. "I could never afford that!"

Grandmother chuckled, "Pay what you can, and I'll make up the difference."

Nia turned her shocked look on Grandmother. "But it looks so expensive! That probably costs more than a month's worth of food."

"closer to two, with the discount. However, you kept me company, and your words have given me much to think about and helped me more than you know in dealing with my grandson. I like to reward those who help me."

Nia handed over her coins to Grandmother, who added much more of her own to pay the baker.

"I don't know what to say. Thanks." Nia admitted as she held the weighty box that contained the cake in her arms.

"Don't worry about it. That money was nothing for me. Perhaps don't tell Reffy that a stranger helped you buy it. If he is as worried as you mention, he might overthink it and ruin his birthday."

"You think?" Nia asked uncertainly.

"Yes, absolutely. Now I think I'll have to be going now. My son snuck off just before we met, and I'm certain he's up to no good. I get the feeling we will meet again, though, and soon."

Nia said her goodbyes to Grandmother and left, eager to take the cake back for Reffy.

[https://i.imgur.com/3vZaHAB.png]