Part 3
James was soundly asleep when she finally returned, his knife in his hand. She looked up at the stars and smiled. “I suppose we can just wait it out here.” she said, before sitting next to the boy. “He deserves better, and I will make sure of it.” The rest of the journey passed uneventfully, going through several small villages and towns, but she always insisted on passing through the towns at night, going so far as to wait until nightfall if they got too close to one during the day. Several weeks later, they arrived at Palisade Bay.
---
“James, how do you feel?” she asked as they entered the small harbour town.
“So this is my new home?” he asked, as he tried to fix his tangled mess of hair up a bit.
“Yes. Let us head to the Inn immediately. Harrod will be expecting you.” she replied, and pointed at the large 2 story building by the docks. “Right there.”
“As I live and breathe! James Hargrave!” the Innkeeper exclaimed as James opened the front door of the Inn. “It really is you!” The large man ran over to James and hugged him with all his might. “Oh if only I had found out sooner, my boy.” Harrod turned to face the grey-robed woman. “Lady Eigengrau, I don’t know why you’ve done this, but I will never forget it for as long as I live. This is truly a blessing I couldn’t repay in a thousand years.”
She merely smiled at the thanks. Sensing her role in James’s life was over, she turned and left the Inn, leaving James with Harrod Bearskin. “Neville was right. He is a good man.” she said out loud, then vanished mid-step, leaving no trace she was ever there.
“Who was that woman, Harrod?” James asked after the door closed. “She only ever told me she was ‘a friend’, but I’ve never seen her before.”
Harrod sighed at the question. “Maybe when you’re older I can answer that. But if she told you she was a friend then she certainly was. Now then, you must be tired and hungry after such a long journey!” he said, changing the subject. “So which first, a meal or a rest?”
James wasted no time in making a decision. “Definitely a meal, Har... no. Uncle Harrod.” he said, genuinely smiling for the first time in a long time. He had a home again.