Yet this was not Hollind. These were not her people, and she was far from home, and no amount of fatherliness or motherliness could make it so.
Even as these thoughts crossed her mind, she found herself disfocusedly staring at someone: Akaru, the half-troll, the terrifying creature that had captured her and brought her here.
For the first while she had feared continued hostility from this half-man, half-monster, but he was now just another of Lund's inhabitants, sitting alone . . . perhaps this monster was not quite so monstrous after all, sitting alone . . .
. . . sitting alone . . .
Yes . . . how could she have failed to see this before? He was very much alone. Even here amongst his own people. He sat in a chair near a window, his gaze and his thoughts far from here.
So alone . . . like herself, she realised at last.
No, not like herself. He was half a troll, which could only mean . . .
She winced inwardly at the implications, at what this must have meant where he and his poor mother were concerned. What had been her fate?
Wondering at her own bravery, she moved closer, wanting to ask questions, afraid of losing her nerve, afraid of intruding on his private thoughts or of being rude.
Without turning to look at her, his gaze came back into focus somewhat. Not the fierce and frightening creature she remembered, but softened now, quiet and still. "Have you come to stare at this ogre, young Miss? Or do you have a question, or both?" He gestured to a nearby chair.