They responded to the resolve in her voice, finished quickly, and set about doing their chores, leaving the two women were alone together.
‘I’m going to make some tea. Would you like some?’ said Malina, rising and moving to the stove.
Theuli shook her head in wonder at the Pixie, and said, ‘Yes, I would. And I would very much like to talk about . . . some things.’
Malina tried not to show her surprise as she filled the kettle from the ceramic water tank, and placed it on the stove. Sitting down again, she said, trying not to appear uncomfortable with this sudden change in their relationship, ‘What sort of things?’
‘I have given this a great deal of thought,’ said Theuli, not meeting her eye, noticeably skirting around the subject. ‘It’s something we have to plan on . . . something we may have to do.’
The Elf woman’s features were pale, Malina noticed. Pale with fear. With dread. But Malina bit down on her own responding anxiety, and said levelly, ‘Go on.’
Theuli raised her eyes, and the look she gave Malina now was more direct than it had ever been before.
‘Our men are gone. They may not come back. I will not stay here, undefended, and wait for the enemy to come and murder the children. That will not happen while I have breath in my body.’