She looked down at the leather in front of her, trying to remember how she had added the measurements to arrive at the distance between the markings.
She needed to focus, but her ears kept listening for the clapping sound of the doors in the great hall. Had he left yet? Should she go down to the kitchen just to see?
A knock sounded on the door.
Grateful for the distraction, she hurried to open it. The beast stood before her, holding three roses.
Isa was genuinely relieved to see him. She was not sure she should invite him to stay, but at least her conscience could stop bugging her.
“Lady Bielsa,” he said, “I have never been particularly good at making apologies.” His brown eyes looked down at her as he stumbled over his words. “To be honest, I have not had many opportunities in my life to do so. I am sorry for, uh, pouncing on you this morning and yelling at you. Again.”
She tentatively accepted the proffered flowers. “Are you actually sorry about what happened this morning?” she asked, recalling his earlier words.
He raised his eyebrows.
Isa noticed how, despite the fur that covered his entire face, he had two distinct streaks of darker, longer fur above his eyes.
Blinking his eyes shut, he shook his head.
“At least you’re honest about it.” She stepped back so that he could enter the room. If he had come back up to talk to her, she was at least open to one final conversation.
He followed her in. The leather pack from his room was slung over one shoulder. It looked full.
“I should apologize as well,” she said. Approaching her work table, she set the roses on the side of it, out of the way. She turned back to face him. “I should not have made that rude comment about your family the other night,” she said.
He nodded.
Isa could think of nothing further to say. “So, you are leaving?”
He nodded again.
“Be safe...” she started to say, but then stopped. Now was her chance. He might scoff at her opinion, but if she did not speak up now then she would regret it later. She hated the feeling of regret. “Actually, I can’t say that truthfully. The deep mountains are not safe, especially for one man traveling alone. If you are trying to reach Chendas, then you should go on the route around the northern peaks. It’s longer in terms of distance, but it will save you time in the end. Just travel south down the canyon until you can find a way to safely cross the river and get back to the main road.”
He nodded. Again. “Thank you.”
Her shoulders relaxed. He had not contradicted her or used his own opinion to refute hers. “Blanca gave you food?”
His wolf-like jaw spread into a small smile. “More than enough.”
Again, at a loss for what to say, Isa merely stood there awkwardly.
He did the same. His eyes roamed around the room, then came back to land on her. He bowed a small bow. “Thank you again for your generous hospitality.”
She nodded. “Of course. Thank you for...” She closed her mouth.
“For not eating you?” he finished for her.
“No! I mean, yes.” She looked down in embarrassment. Despite his terrifying appearance, he had proven multiple times that he had no intent of hurting them.
“Goodbye.” He turned and walked away from her.
She watched the back of his head, glad that she had offered him advice but oddly sorry to see him go.
At the doorway, he stopped, placing a paw against the doorframe. After the space of a few breaths, he turned back to face her. “This morning,” he said, “when you said the Council wouldn’t threaten my family... what did you... Did they threaten your family? Is that why the Foutast is so important?”
Isa narrowed her eyes.
He seemed completely serious, concerned even.
