377. Malcolm’s Help

The first set of eyes her brain registered was that of her half-brother; unlike Malcolm, he had utterly avoided her the entirety of the month she had been here.

He would glare at her but nothing more. Mauve wasn't complaining; most of her childhood had included several ways in which he had bullied her.

It was good he chose to ignore her now. This was certainly better than getting his attention. She walked closer to the table with Sir Galath by her side.

"Mauve," Malcolm's loud voice echoed in the room. He was sitting next to his younger brother.

"Sit next to me," he said, tapping the empty seat on his other side.

Mauve smiled and nodded. She walked toward him, passing his back. She kept her gaze straight ahead, not wanting to look in the direction of a particular person.

Sir Galath walked ahead of her and pulled out her seat so she could slide into the gap, and then he pushed it closer for her to sit.