"Slow down, child. There's plenty more."
Aunt Susan watched fondly as Gema stuffed Apple Pie into her mouth.
Gema had clearly never eaten much good food. That hardly took any thought: a Druid Avenger who believed in nature and stayed away from Town probably lived on berries and wild greens.
"Are you my cousin?" Martin asked, holding a piece of Apple Pie himself.
"What did you call me?" Gema looked up, jam smeared around her mouth.
"You haven't been a Druid Avenger for long, have you?" Annan asked.
"Mmph..." Gema did not look up.
Aunt Susan asked curiously, "What's a Druid?"
Uncle Holin chimed in, "What's an Avenger?"
Martin raised his head. "What does 'not for long' mean?"
"Well... a Druid is one who protects the Forest, and a Druid Avenger uses force to protect the Forest."
"Oh!" Aunt Susan seemed to understand. "Like a knight? Little Chestnut is a knight too!"
Gema ducked her head lower. Only the sound of her eating could be heard.
Annan picked up a piece of bread and began enjoying dinner.
"I'm finished." Gema hopped down from her chair and rose onto her toes in a dancer's bow to Aunt Susan. "Thank you for the food. It reminds me of meals with my people—hic!"
Gema hiccupped, covered her mouth, and ran outside.
"I know she isn't our cousin, and I know what 'not for long' means..." Martin proudly picked up the last piece of Apple Pie. "I was just tricking her into talking so I could eat more than her."
That was Martin's Wisdom.
"I should be going too."
Annan rose, said goodbye to Aunt Susan and Uncle Holin, and stepped out onto the Street.
“She went down the Coastal Street,” the knight outside said respectfully.
When Annan reached the shore, Gema was leaning