It was pitiful. Lydie sat in front of the dresser gently tucking the last of her and Kenth's clothes in the top drawer. She could have easily fit their shoes as well, but she carefully spread them out in the middle drawer instead to give the illusion they had more. The leather bag had felt so burdensome on her shoulder. Now that it was all taken out Lydie wondered how she'd thought to complain of the weight. The temptation to whine and mumble certainly proved attractive, yet the sounds of gentle tapping and entertained babbles had her glancing back with a smile. Kenth sat on his knees on the bed watching the happenings on the street below with one hand pressed against the glass and the other clutching the rattling toy she'd found in the bag. The bulged end served as a comfort against the several teeth poking through his gums as he chewed on it with the fervor she wished to be devouring a plate of, well, anything at this point. She could go and get her dinner, but it'd only been ten minutes since the incident downstairs. Vertinac likely needed more time to calm himself. Also, if she ate so early, she'd be hungry when she tried to sleep. Her stomach would have to hold on for a bit longer.

Lydie stood before halting when her eye caught the little book on the corner of the dresser. She'd noticed it before she started unpacking. Blue and velvety, the golden colored imprint of a stalwart man striking an intimidating and upright pose signaled it a handbook of the Justiciar. Lydie wished once more that he would see the unrighteousness in her situation and bring to light the truth before she had to fear starvation. Even if help wasn't a missing persons report, even if it wasn't her memories coming back...it would be fine as long as it was something.

Perhaps that was why her reflection in the mirror captured her so. The thought that she had nothing to work with wasn't true. She had herself. Her body. It couldn't tell her all, but it could give her some insight. Lydie glanced around for prying eyes, although there was naturally no one else in the room. She closed the curtains enough to grant her privacy while leaving enough room for Kenth to continue his people-watching. Then she slid out of her boots, dress, and undergarments. Her lightly curly hair reached her shoulder blades and tickled her back. The color complimented nicely against her own skin a shade or so lighter than Kenth's. Her face presented a pleasant shape, and her eyes were obvious. What truly drew Lydie's attention was a conflicting truth about the shape of her frame. Hard though lithe muscles sculpted her arms, shoulders, stomach, and legs. She hadn't been a dainty lady sitting inside all day, yet smooth hands and a lack of thick skin on her feet stated manual labor hadn't built her strength either.

Lydie's eyes wandered all over. Though feeling an embarrassment she wasn't sure she should feel, her gaze kept returning to her chest. Her bosom bulged, but not with anything impressive. She was small. Her fingers curled over her flat stomach, smooth with no markings or scars, and for the first time unwavering assurance hit her. Her chest should be bigger if she'd ever been pregnant even if she'd chosen not to feed her child naturally. Her abdomen should bear some marking of pulling or stress, for Ti'pahn explained that magic could not make deep scarring go away completely. Lydie tugged her undergarments back on before taking Kenth away from the window.

"I'm sorry, dear. I'll put you down in a moment," she cooed when he fussed, rubbing his back to settle him as she stood them close to their reflections, staring hard, "I don't believe you're mine. I truly don't. It's hard to find something similar about our appearances, and my body bears nothing to signify I ever carried anyone."

Kenth merely pressed his hands against the mirror and talked to his copy. Lydie smiled and kissed the top of his head.

"It doesn't mean we can't be bound by blood. Perhaps you're my younger brother, nephew, or cousin. It could be that I adopted you. In any case, until we figure out the truth you're mine regardless. I promise you'll be fine."

Her stomach rebutted Lydie's declaration with a ferverous growl. Ignoring it, and the tingling dizziness radiating from the scar of her injury, she returned Kenth to his window after another tender kiss into his mop of hair. The protests of her body, however, refused to be tossed aside. Lydie redressed, and upon turning around to join Kenth she slammed into the floor with a cracking thud instead. Her wavering vision swarmed with blackness while the flaming ache dominated her skull once again. Ti'pahn had cautioned her to take it easy. Just because she'd been released in passable health didn't mean she was fully healed. If only resting until she was no longer broken was an option. No one rushed over to help. No one hovered over her with words of comfort and worry. Lydie gritted her teeth, dug back against the blistering scald in her head, and pushed herself up until she placed enough shaky weight on her feet to shuffle to the bed. Kenth now cried, and his sniffly concern counteracted the painful heat with enough tender heat in her chest to get lungs taking in air sufficient to ease the harshest sting of the ache.

"Hey, hey, it's alright," she whispered, gathering her infant in her arms as she lay down, "I'm alright. I need a little break, that's all. The walk here was quite long after hardly moving for several days. Let's get you a snack, we'll see how we feel about another nap, and then we can go get dinner. After that, the two of us can take a bath. I'm sure that will be nice. I'll make sure to get plenty of rest tonight so that I don't fall again. Searching for employment can wait until tomorrow."

The gentle talking calmed Kenth's whines, and the plan of action granted more relief than expected. Lydie wished to go out and scout places that might take someone like her on, but the admission that she required rest dissolved one of the many burdens on her chest. One afternoon wouldn't hurt. She owed Ti'pahn that. His family was moving from his hometown, and he was heading off to war. She didn't need to collapse in the street, risk hurting Kenth, and have Ti'pahn find out only to not be able to do anything about it this time. From the wooden box of packaged infant food her friend also supplied, Lydie gave Kenth a piece of herbed hardened bread to replace the toy. Kenth merrily munched while she broke a small piece of another just to get her stomach to shut up enough for her to sleep. Her abdomen accepted the offering.

Lydie awoke when the sun lit up the western horizon in cheerful golds, canary yellows, and soft lilacs while the moon on the eastern horizon ushered in deep navy, rich purples, and pure ebony. Her whole chest screamed and pounded its renewed demand for sustenance. Kenth was hurriedly changed, and she wiped clean the spit from his fingers that he sucked on while sleeping. Her feet had to be urged to slow so as to not trip making her way downstairs where a full dining area with boisterous, cheerful patrons relished their dinners and a band played a lively, uplifting tune. Vertinac continued to hark orders from the bar. A studious stare rested on his face as he noticed her, but Lydie couldn't be bothered to acknowledge him. She slid into an empty booth. Almost instantly a barmaid appeared by her elbow.

"Dinner for you and the boy, hun?" the woman with mouse colored hair, silver eyes, and strong facial features asked.

"Um, yes. What are we allowed to have? Is there a set menu, or is it whatever's within reason, or...?"

"You can have a side of rice, bread, or salad. Your meal can be a serving of meat, soup, stew, or pasta, and for desert you can have either a bowl of pudding or slice of pie. Water you can have as much as you want, or you can have one glass of another beverage. The cooks will get your babe whatever they deem suitable. If you want anything more than that, you'll have to pay for it."

"I see. I would like the bread, pie, and water, please. As for the meal...well, I suppose I don't really know," Lydie laughed quietly. What in the world did she like? "Is there anything your cooks like to make, but no one orders?"

"There is actually," the barmaid revealed merrily, "Petrin has this dish he's proud of. It's chicken with capper apples and diced parlets. No one wants it as soon as they learn it's meat and fruit. Poor guy hasn't gotten to make it in over a month. I've tried it, and it's delicious."

"I'll have that then."

"Sure thing."

The barmaid hustled off, and Lydie tried to enjoy the music. The dominating sound throbbed her temples. Her attention focused on Kenth, who fussed and whined until she placed him at her feet under the table. His effort went into standing. He accomplished it after a moment of grabbing and grasping at the cushion where he then proceeded to bob and wiggle to the tune of the band. It was beyond her if she should feel proud. This could be the first time he ever stood, and she had no clue. The barmaid returned with her first glass of water. Lydie downed it by the time the woman turned back around after quickly grabbing empty beer tankards from the table of four departing males. Lydie's now empty glass was taken as well, and the next time the barmaid returned with it she also brought the bread. It took all Lydie's willpower not to stuff it down her throat in one huge bite. Something had to be saved for breakfast.

Lydie picked off small pieces to nibble and glanced around. The Lavenmore's patrons were mostly male, although a table of women slightly older than her filled a large table across the way. The majority ate and chatted merrily. Only several appeared to be nursing sorrows with helpings of alcohol. Lydie straightened her back to take note of as many individuals as possible. There could be someone who looked like her. There could be someone who looked like Kenth. There could be someone who knew them, yet didn't know they were here due to the collection of bodies in the way. Unfortunately, no one cared of her presence save for three men a few rows down in slightly stained clothes. Their ages were hard to guess. Sun worn skin sagged their foreheads and cheeks, but their bodies moved with the vigor of life. The tallest one with curly hair trimmed close to his scalp caught her wandering gaze first. His companions then cast eager looks of hunger, and not for food, in her direction. Lydie immediately slumped herself back down as she ignored the plumper one's motion for her to join them.

Hopefully, the barmaid would return soon.