The tavern was quite big because it had two floors with loge to see the entrance from the first floor. The table on the upper floor was so tempting. Luckily one table by the handrail was free. I didn’t have to wait long for a waitress to come with a mug of beer. I also ordered some food and wine. I know it’s not good to mix alcohol but I have resistance so who cares!

The pork was well done and even seasoned. Didn’t have that rich taste in my mouth for two months! Sweet wine to wash the taste of a chicken and then taste it again is so a satisfying feeling! It would be so cool to have things like that in Dallir Village but it’s too small a place. Hakon should expand the village. It would be really nice.

I even picked a perfect spot to listen to some interesting conversations. I heard some workers talking about their progress in building a watch tower. Guards talking about their recent situation with a thief. Traders exchange information about interest in products on certain islands. Even a rumor about this boy with changing tattoos. I wanted to talk with them after finishing my meal but I noticed that the last two slices of pork disappeared.

[ Eric ]

“Skyge… Did you touch my food? Wasn’t your stake enough?” I looked at Skyge who was on the table eating his stake. He looked at me with confusion.

[ Skyge ]

“I only touched the stake you gave me.”

[ Eric ]

“Is that so? Then who ate my pork?”

[ Skyge ]

“She did.” Said Skyge as he pointed to something beside me with his paw.

[ Eric ]

“What are you talking about…”

When I looked to my right there was a girl sitting right beside me eating my pork. By the looks of it, she was no older than six or seven years old. She had short messy black hair and green eyes. By her long dirty and a little bit torn dress, it was obvious that she is poor. She noticed that I was looking at her so she began looking at me with her face stuffed with pork.

[ Eric ]

“You know it’s my pork…”

The girl blinked a few times and then continued chewing the food she had stolen from me. I know that it’s hard for her parents to get food but she could at least ask. It’s not like I would let someone starve in front of me. Looks like I’ll need to teach her a bit. I kneeled by her to get on her level.

[ Eric ]

“Hi, little girl. I’m Eric. What’s your name?” I asked as politely as I could.

[ Girl ]

“Stella…” She whispered.

[ Eric ]

“Stella. What a lovely name. Little girls like you shouldn’t steal. That’s a bad thing to do you know?”

We looked at each other for a few seconds but there was no response from her. She probably didn’t understand me…

[ Eric ]

“Ok… Next time don’t just grab what you want. First, you need to ask. Do you understand?” The girl didn’t react to my words again. “Do you even understand my words?”

[ Stella ]

“Yes…”

[ Eric ]

“Okey… At least your parents taught you that much…”

[ Stella ]

“What are parents?”

Don’t tell me… Not only she is poor but probably homeless and orphan. I said something about parents to an orphan… Now I feel bad.

[ Eric ]

“Well… I’ll order some more food and I’ll explain.”

We waited for the food in silence. I was figuring out what to say to her and she isn’t so talkative. Skyge was very curious about her. Before he even tried to approach her he was closely watching her for minutes. The waitress came with food. A fish for me and more pork for Stella.

[ Waitress ]

“Here is a fish for you and pork for your daughter.”

[ Eric ]

“But she is not…” Before I could finish she walked away. It’s a very busy tavern after all but once again people have the wrong impression about me… At least it’s better than that situation with sharing a room with Tae… “Okey… so parents are…” Before I could say anything I jugged my beer and took a deep breath. “Parents are people who take care of you. Like teach you about the world, feed you, help in need…”

[ Stella ]

“Are you my parent?” She asked while looking at me with that big eyes of hers.

[ Eric ]

“Why would you think like that?!” I shouted taken by surprise by her answer.

[ Stella ]

“Well… You taught me that I should ask first before taking anything and… you gave me food.” Said Stella as she took a bite of the pork.

[ Eric ]

“Yeah… But… Eh… Also if someone says no to your question do not steal the thing you asked for… As for me being a parent. I’m not.”

[ Stella ]

“Why?”

[ Eric ]

“Because I don’t have kids…”

[ Stella ]

“What about the doggy?” She asked as she pointed at Skyge who was sniffing her hands.

[ Eric ]

“That’s an entirely different relationship.”

[ Stella ]

“Then doggy is papa and you are mama?”

[ Eric ]

“Why did you suggest that I would be the mother?”

[ Stella ]

“Because you have long hair.” She said as she grabbed my braid.

I’m between being angry and calm. I’m angry because of what she’s saying but she is just an orphan kid. If I rage even a little bit she’ll probably cry and I don’t want to see that, especially at the tavern where I’ll immediately catch everyone’s attention. I probably didn’t have much more time left and I didn’t want to leave the poor kid just like that.

[ Eric ]

“You see that? That’s a silver coin. You can buy things with it. I have a few more of them for you.” I showed six silver coins to her. I placed them in her tiny hand. “Buy yourself food with them or anything you’ll need to survive. Hide it so no one would steal it from you. Okay?”

[ Stella ]

“Okey.”

Before I left I ordered a bread and few apples for her. Before the waitress came with my order the girl fell asleep. What am I gonna do now… If I leave her here like that they’ll think that I abandoned my child even though I don’t know her. I took her on a piggyback and searched for a safe place to leave her. I left her by the stable with my cape made of fur so she wouldn’t catch a cold. Especially when the winter is coming.

Now all I had to do is wait for the ship. I didn’t have to wait for too long. It arrived earlier than scheduled. Since I arrived here later than most of the people I was almost last in line. The captain of the ship said that the ride will cost me seven silver coins. Galmar told me that it would cost me five… Well, the prices changed a little bit.

While I was getting on the ship I felt something grabbing my cape. When I looked behind there was no one. I still felt that someone was grabbing my cape but there was no one behind me. When I looked down I saw a kid with a familiar cape. It was that girl, Stella. I picked her up and placed her on the dock but she walked with me again. I left her there again.

[ Eric ]

“Stay…” I said like I commanded a dog.

I slowly walked away as I watched her. Once I turned around toward the ship I felt something hitting me. It was her. She ran to me once I looked away.

[ Eric ]

“Why are you following me?”

[ Stella ]

“Well… The lady said I should…”

Probably some woman thought that I’m her father and said something like “Your father went to the dock. You should catch him before you’ll get lost.” Or something like that. Leaving her just like that would make me feel bad now…

[ Eric ]

“Okay. You can come with me.” It’s not like I’m going somewhere dangerous now.

All I had to do now was to pay the captain for transporting her. When I asked him he said that I already paid for her. So the captain thought that she is my kid so he already said the price for both of us… I hope I won’t regret that decision in the future.