But the galvanized, all of them except Foster First and the missing Robert Orange, were lounging around the room, playing cards, relaxing.
“Bram!” Loy called out. “Found her, I see.”
“Everything all right?” Buck asked.
“Oh, the poor little thing,” January cooed, “I can’t imagine how frightened she must have been, all alone in all that fancy light and noise.”
Well, wasn’t she a peach?
“She’s fine,” Abraham said, answering Loy and Buck and throwing January a look.
“I’m glad you made it.” Dotty wiped her hands on a towel and strolled out of the kitchen. “It’s been a long day for us all. Welcome to my home. Let me show you to your room.”
“Home?” I asked.
“Abraham’s told you why we’re here, hasn’t he?”
“To train for the gathering?”
Bede and Vance chuckled.
“Abraham,” Dotty scolded. “You had this poor girl thinking she was going to be fighting for her life?”
“No,” he said. “I just said there’d be training, and there will be. She’s never been to a gathering before. I thought we could talk her through it.”
Wilatsked through her teeth. “I suppose all the Houses want to stake claim to you.”
“I’m happy with House Gray,” I said.
Dotty poked a finger at Abraham. “Shame on you for worrying the girl. Take her luggage to her room. Main floor with the south view.”
“Is that an order?”
“Do I need to remind you to mind your elders, young man?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Go on, then.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And Matilda?” she said. “Don’t worry yourself. There is no training, just a few guidelines for what is expected at the gathering. We’re all friends here.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Room’s this way,” Abraham said.
I followed him down a wide hall and past several rooms and through an open door. He dropped the suitcases at the foot of the bed. The room smelled of lavender and mint.
“No training, eh?” I asked.
“Not so much, no.”
I grinned. “Jerk.”
He chuckled.
“I might need it anyway. Being polite isn’t as easy as I’d thought. I’ll be lucky to get through the night without January wanting to stab me.”
