"What?" Nila asked, not understanding the look.
But her mother merely shook her head. "It's nothing. Quickly now, come inside before you get a cold."
Mrs Felder closed the door behind them. When she turned her head and the light of the fire caught her face, Beam could see the deep lines of worry that had already wormed their way into her skin. In less than a day, she seemed to have aged several years.
By the fire, under the covers of several furs, David lay fast asleep. There was a distressed look on his face as he slept, as though he was forcing his eyes to remain tightly closed. When the door clicked shut, the sound must have awoken him, for he opened his eyes in alarm and took in the whole room like an owl.
His mother tried to offer him a smile to comfort him. "It's only me. There's Nila too – she's brought Beam as well. He's helping to find your sister."
