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To my relief and surprise, the door of the cottage swung open, revealing a rosy-cheeked couple.
Their smiles, while warm and inviting, also carried a hint of recognition.
“Ah, Thillak! Isla! We’ve been expecting you,” the female exclaimed, her voice melodious, the kind that immediately puts one at ease.
The male nodded, his face crinkling into a broad smile. “Come in, come in. You’re safe here.”
They barely reached up to my waist.
I glanced at Isla, noting the dazed expression on her face.
The revelations, combined with the warm reception from people she didn’t recall, was understandably overwhelming.
Sliding off our Hiikas, we approached the couple, their familiar yet unfamiliar faces beckoning us closer.
Freshly baked bread and something sweet wafted out, offering a comforting embrace.
Without a word, Isla, still in her daze, followed the couple inside, and I trailed close behind, grateful for this unexpected sanctuary.
The Balance might be on our trail, but for now, we had friends, memories, and each other.
13
ISLA
The cottage’s wooden door creaked closed behind us, sealing out the chill of the evening.
Instantly, a warmth that was more than just physical enveloped me.
The interior of the dwelling was cozy, lit by the golden glow of lanterns hanging from the ceiling.
It gave the entire room a soft, buttery hue.
And then there was the smell.
A hearty aroma wafted through the air, a mix of roasted vegetables, some spices I couldn’t quite place, and — was that pie?
My mouth watered at the thought.
Our hosts were a delightful pair of dwarves.
Both had rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and a kind of ageless energy about them.
They buzzed around the kitchen with an agility that belied their apparent age, their short legs propelling them from one end of the room to the other.
Their voices, full of laughter and good humor, filled the air.
“Ah, Isla! Do you remember the last time you were here?” the female dwarf, whose name I recalled as… Mina?
Yes. It was Mina.
She winked at me, her hands busy kneading some dough. “We had quite the feast, didn’t we?”
I strained my memory, trying to pull forward any remnants of that past life.
There was a vague, misty recollection of laughter, good food, and safety.
But the specifics eluded me.
