TWENTY FOUR: Coveted Loaf

The morning came quickly.

Surprisingly, given all her initial concerns regarding the previous night's arrangements, Kel ended up sleeping like a rock, undisturbed even when Dash scrambled over the top of her to get out the door and help prepare the morning meal in her place.

"My goodness, how can that child be so lazy."

With the sun already above the horizon, Kel gradually came to, roused by the sound of Nesta and Harrow bickering outside her door.

"Now, Dear, it's just fine for a man to sleep in every once in a while."

"But to make his friend do his chores instead? I must not have knocked enough sense into him with the spoon last night."

"It's alright, Ma'am. I purposefully allowed Kel to keep sleeping. Really."

"Haaaa. Whatever you say, Young Man."

The shuffling of feet faded back into the main room, and Kel breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Harrow and Dash managed to talk Nesta down from a harsh scolding.