“Yeah. They’re both fine, fortunately. Little one, what’s your name?”
“Sammy.” The little boy pointed to the dog. “That’s Sam Sam.”
I had a feeling he’d named his dog. No takers on that bet.
Dame Remfrey’s eyes went wide with recognition. “Oh! I just put your names on a list. Your grandmother’s beside herself looking for you. Your Highness, the grandmother and motherare over there, in the white tent, as the grandmother has a broken ankle.”
Ah-ha. “Then I’ll take them over there. How goes it here?”
“We’ve mostly cleared out this section, I think. Edwin stopped by long enough to tell me which hotels are full and where to send people next. I’m down two hotels, partially filled on three more. I think we’ll have enough places to put people.”
Relief at hearing Edwin was fine and still hard at work eased some of my tension. “Excellent. I know we overprepared on housing, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. Tell me if it changes. Oh, did you give a hotel token to Sammy’s family?”
“No, not yet. They refused to take one until we’d found Sammy.”
I must say, in their shoes, I’d have done the same. There was no way in hell I’d leave an area without my children.
“Give it to me, then, and I’ll pass it along. Oh, and tell Sir Alloways the grandmother’s found. He’s looking for her.”
She handed over a small metal key attached to a ribbon, like a tie-around bracelet. It was smart of people to have done that, to make it harder for people to lose. In a situation like this, little things easily went missing.
I gave her a nod of thanks and then went to the tent in question. It was filled to the brim, with people being treated on every possible surface, including the ground. I didn’t have to search for Sammy’s family, however, as I’d barely cleared the tent flaps when a woman’s voice pierced the air.
“Sammy!” A thin woman with frizzing hair escaping a half-done bun vaulted over a patient on the ground and sprinted for me.
I handed her son over, watching as the mother clutched a child she had feared lost to her, tears streaming unabashedly down her cheeks. It left me with a wiggly puppy, who also wanted in on this action.
Her son, in his very young state—he couldn’t have been more than four, in my estimate—only knew his mother was upset, so he started crying too. I decided a puppy would help with this situation and handed Sam Sam over as well. With a tearful laugh, she took the puppy, who of course promptly started licking everyone’s faces.
“Thank you so much,” she managed around tears. “Where did you find them?”
“In the debris in front of the building. If not for the puppy whining, I’d never have known. I truly think he’s all right, but have him checked by the mages.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“Oh! Almost forgot.” I handed over the key as well. “You’re in Sunstreet Hotel.”
She looked at the key, biting her lower lip. “We can’t afford—”
“I’m paying for this,” I reassured her. “I’m paying for everyone assigned to a hotel. I’ll continue to pay for it until you’re back in your home. So don’t fret about that. All meals at the hotel are free for you as well.”
“I—” She visibly cut herself off. “Thank you.”
A call came from behind me. “James!”
Turning, I spotted Helena, who was refreshed in dry clothing—boots, trousers, and shirt, in fact. Two knights hovered behind her, looking visibly agitated she was in such a dangerous area, but she had clearly overridden them. She’d come ready to work.
I waved a hand to acknowledge her before instructing the mother, “If you need help getting there, wave down any of the knights. Or anyone with a clipboard. They can help your family to the hotel.”
“I will. We’ll need the help. My mother’s been ordered to stay off her foot for the next week.”
Ah, right, broken ankle. “Then do so, don’t hesitate. I must go, so ask the knights.”
“Of course. Thank you so, so much.”
“You’re very welcome.” I gave her a last smile before turning, carefully navigating my way around patients.
Behind me, I heard the mother ask someone, “Who is he?”
