Page 100 of Salt Between the Wolves

Lyra immediately abandoned introductions and moved on to a new subject.

"Do you know how to ride?"

"Yes."

"Do you know how to hunt?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever seen a bear?"

"Yes."

Lyra gasped dramatically, while Finn closed his eyes.

"Here we go."

The girl ignored him completely.

For the next several minutes, breakfast became secondary to an increasingly dramatic interrogation that covered bears, wolves, mountains, snowstorms, and whether Eira had ever been attacked by bandits.

Unfortunately, the answer to that last question only encouraged even more questions.

Eventually, bread, tea, and common sense managed to reclaim everyone's attention.

As the conversation drifted elsewhere, Eira found herself watching rather than participating.

Her observations came quietly as she noticed Finn moving Maelin's chair before she could do it herself, Lyra stealing honey whenever she thought nobody was looking, and the older woman scolding her without any real conviction.

She also noticed that Maelin knew exactly who preferred which foods without needing to ask.

No one seemed afraid of speaking, and no one measured every word before saying it.

This was what a family looked like—not perfect or orderly, but simply comfortable in one another's presence.

The thought lingered long after the meal ended.

Eventually, the older woman rose to begin the day's lessons, and Finn followed with the resigned expression of someone heading toward unavoidable suffering.

Lyra, however, remained exactly where she was.

A moment later, she slid from her chair and walked directly to Eira with the confidence of someone who had never once considered the possibility that another person might refuse her.

"You should stay."

The words emerged with complete certainty.

Eira looked down at her.

"Should I?"

"Yes."

Lyra nodded firmly.

"As long as you want."

Something tightened unexpectedly in Eira's chest.