Chapter 7: Of Raffertys and Rats 2
The Raffertys welcomed the new refugees like husbands who’d not been expecting a dinner party when they’d set the table. There was a lot of smiling, and of setting up their own people to direct the newcomers, because Aaron knew who to pick for those jobs if they didn’t. He was helpful, like that.
It took less time to get everyone in than usual, even with the late start to things. Even with the extra family members brought along. The Raffertys did indeed have a shard of kirin’s bone to question folks on, a little thumbnail-sized fleck, polished on one side like it really had been pried up from the council chamber’s floor.
“Who got it for you?” Aaron asked, leaning over Pieran’s shoulder between refugees. “And did you get it before or after you knew you’d be living down here?”
Pieran declined to answer both questions. Declined to shove him away, too, which had been the real test.
*
Rose was rubbing at her bandage. Not the one on her hand; the one on her arm, hiding the iron shavings tucked underneath. Her allergy test.
“Do you need to get back to the healer?” Aaron asked her.
“No.”
Aaron would want to be taken at his word, so he took her at hers. But it was time to send for the blacksmith and the raccoon, anyway.