Music and Stone (Closed)

[The Rambler]

"Hmm." Mother Matilda let out a distinctly non-committal noise as she studied Yvonne. The air was tense, though not with hostility, but more of an air of uncertainty, not that any sign of that at all showed on the old woman's face. Even bright, shining Theo began to fidget a little bit as Matilda judged the woman. Eventually, the white-haired woman rapped her cane twice on the ground, and swung her piercing gaze back to Henry.

"Well now. For a first guest that you have brought home since you began your travels, this one is certainly polite enough. Rise, girl. Guests do not help set tables, and for now that is your role. Oliver, Tamara, Hector." Three of the children straightened up. "You three are not guests. Go with Adrianna, set the table and begin bringing out the stew." Adrianna, a brown-eyed blonde, was apparently close to Henry's age, the only adult other than Henry and Matilda who called the orphanage home. She ushered the children in her charge away, and that seemed to break the spell on the others, who almost all disappeared, though they could easily be heard rushing about to washrooms and the sound of running water soon followed.

The other teens all headed off to their own chores, leaving Henry, Yvonne, and Matilda alone in the entry hall. The old woman was silent for a moment, before breaking the quiet. "I'll not say we need more help at the moment, girl. The older children look after the younger, and Adrianna and Henry, when this rapscallion decides to visit, provide ample role models. But talks of business can be saved for after dinner, when the young ones have all gone off to bed. Now come you two. Henry, do tell me how you met this pleasant young foreigner." As she questioned the musician, she was already walking at a stately pace down the hall. Henry blinked twice, and ran one hand through his hair, pushing some of the shaggy locks away from his face before he gave the dark-skinned woman a nod and followed after the caretaker.

"We encountered each other in a market, albeit unexpectedly. There was definitely an impact when we met, I can say that." Matilda paused at the threshold of a door when Henry answered her, and cast one sharp eye over her shoulder at the young man, who gave her a bright smile. The white-haired woman snorted and swept into the room, pushing the door open to reveal a long dining hall. The table and chairs weren't in peak condition, but did seem cared for - though it was easy to see that people of different levels of skill had repaired different chairs at times.

Matilda took her seat beside the head of the table, in one of the more intact and well-prepared chairs. Henry was thumped with her cane, which then pointed at some hooks near the door, and he let out a sheepish laugh before removing his pack and hanging it on one, then pulled off his travel cloak and hung it over the same hook. He turned his attention to Yvonne. "Do you have anything you need hung up, Miss Yvonne?" He tilted his head to one side.

Behind him, the children that had been named earlier were flitting in and out of the dining room, setting out plates with low, wide-rimmed bowls at various spots. Mugs and pitchers soon followed. Adrianna came in, bearing a large pot from which steam could be seen wafting upwards - and with it, came a strong scent of tomatoes and meat. This was set down at the end of the table, at the head of the table next to Matilda.

"You gotta sit next to me and Bubba. S'the rules, guests sit next to the people who invited them!" Bright, energetic, curious Theo spoke up, from where he was still hanging near Yvonne's side. He was pointing at the seat across from Matilda - the seat to the other side of the head of the table where the full pot of stew had been settled.