At the Keep - Feeling Useless

Bai had been right about Lek not being able to do anything. Because not long after Lek arrived at the Keep he learned what little he was able to do. He could pace. He could hang out with his aunt and uncle in a room down the hall. He could hear Pinja’s cries that sounded too weak. When Millie came into the room, Lek bolted towards her.

“How is she?” He asked anxiously.

“The same as she was last time I was in here.” Millie answered. “Just closer.”

“Is she okay? She sounds so weak.” Lek worried.

“You should just go, Lek. You’re going to drive yourself crazy listening and fretting over her.” Millie said.

“Yeah, come with me for a walk.” Shawn offered.

Lek shook his head. If anything happened he wanted to be nearby. The day of the raid he should have been at his sister’s shop protecting Pinja, not giving her up for dead and fleeing with Millie and everyone else. “I’m going to stay here.”

“Difyr said she won’t give birth for hours yet.” Millie said.

“Yes, Lek, even Shawn and I have not stayed here all day.” Brighid said. “We have been taking breaks.”

“I’m going to stay here.” Lek said stubbornly.

Millie rolled her eyes and left.

But less than an hour later Lek was given something to do. To fetch water from the well, boil it in the kitchen, then carry it up the stairs of the dormitory building to the hall- where Millie would take it from him and bring it to the room Pinja was in.

Lek suspected that it was just something to keep him busy so he was not just pacing and worrying. He did it anyway, just in case the hot water actually was needed and he was helping Pinja.