Page 71 (2/2)

"Good, Father" Toff wanted to smile back, but he was too depressed to make the attempt

"Child, what's wrong?" Corent always knew, even if Redbird brushed it off

"Nothing, Father" Toff looked down at his plate

"Have you washed your hands yet?"

"No"

"Then come with me"

Corent didn't scold Toff for not washing his hands before sitting at the table, as he nor his hands into the wash pan filled with clean water, "Don't compare yourself to the others They know you're not what they are and they do this anyway They won't grow sense for another ten years, if they grow any at all I' to have my doubts about some of them Tiearan says he may speak with the Queen"

Toff looked sharply at Corent The Queen Just the mention of her sent Redbird into hysterics Redbird was afraid of the Queen Toff had only seen the Queen froht him to stay away

"She'll drink your blood!" Redbird hissed at hi Toff had no idea what his foster-

"What will the Queen do?" Toff asked as he moved to take Corent's place at the wash pan Corent dried his hands as Toff reached for the soap and then dipped his fingers in the water He'd almost whispered his words; Toff didn't want his foster- about the Queen

"She'll come and take a look for herself If they're not suitable to stay, she'll send theave this land to us to settle on, since ere forced away fro ones with no power fail to follow the laws, they won't be allowed to remain on Le-Ath Veronis" Toff watched as the deep blue of Corent's hair turned a lighter shade Cloudsin

"Where will they go, Father, if the Queen sends them away?" Toff asked as he accepted the towel from Corent to dry his hands

"No idea That will be the Queen's worry, not ours My concern will be their parents—they don't watch them as closely as they should" Corent's eyebrows dipped in a frown

"Gren's always been a bully," Toff ht as he took the towel fro He'd failed to hear Toff's words and Toff didn't repeat them Silent now, they walked to the kitchen for dinner