Chapter 7

“Eleven, and it seems like ages ago. I didn’t really get to know him though, because Mother insisted Icome back home. She hated it when I visited Father.”

“Really? Why?”

“I think because she hated him. She didn’t know what he was when they met, at least to hear her tell it. Then she got pregnant and he felt he should do the honorable thing.”

“Marry her?” Mattie asked.

“No. Tell her he was an elf.” Dirk looked defiantly at the others. “Yeah, I’m a bastard.”

Felan snorted. “Sometimes I think that’s the way to go. You can have your family and eat it too, to paraphrase.”

Bay rolled his eyes. “That’s a particularly gruesome thought, especially coming from a wolf.”

“Is, isn’t it.” Felan grinned.

Before anyone could say anything more, Tonio and Reni came into the room. They were immediately bombarded with questions about what had happened. While they replied, in detail, Dirk leaned against the side wall of the room, listening while he eyed Tonio.