Chapter 136 - 137
"Okay," said Woods through a mouthful of food, suppressing a shiver as he pulled at his thick, frayed coat. "I’ll go to the orphanage to see if the girls are back, then I’ll head to the Greyline. Corrie, you go let the flower girls know that we’ll be watching those bums beat each other up again, then meet us down there."
"If you want to get another jacket, then say that."
"Fine! It’s cold as a winter wolf’s teet today, so I’m off to get me another jacket. See you fellas at the river."
Alistar and Corrie made their way toward the outskirts of town, the other boy quiet throughout most of the walk as was usually the case in any setting. He did, however, thank Alistar for gifting him a permit to the collegia’s library for his Name Day the week before, a gesture made possible by his master’s unique position within the institution. In exchange for the permit Alistar had promised to do all of the man’s housework for the duration of the month, an easy deal considering that he had long since taken on those duties.
"This is the first time I’ve seen you since you turned fifteen. I’m glad to know you’re getting so much use out of the collegia’s library."
Corrie put on a subtle smile, a silent admission that he had indeed spent the past week helping himself to the great amount of books that the institution had to offer. Although his hair was about a finger’s length longer than it had been when they’d met, it was still tousled in the same shaggy arrangement that had come to define the young orphan’s appearance.
"About the orphanage. Did they agree to let you stay?"
Corrie nodded. "For another two years, at most. Mother May wants me to teach the kids how to read."
Although Alistar was a year and a half younger than his quiet friend—who was the oldest in the group—he was at least a hand’s length taller and of a much more muscular build. Lately in particular, Corrie had been looking quite thin.