“Where did Ermine die?” The village elder sat before Ai, a still sculpture of dark cloth and shadows.

“Next to a road, South-East of the village.”

“Why did you go to the road?”

“I smelt rotting flesh, I thought the Queen Bean might’ve killed again.” No zaps, but Ai felt the hair on the back of her neck raise with static electricity.

“Did you go with her?” The hood turned to look at the goblin.

“No.” He averted his eyes.

“Why not?” The village elder leant forwards, like she was actually interested.

“I didn’t want to run into the Queen again.” The goblin eyed the dome suspiciously, as if he thought it was going to zap him at any second.

“So you left Ai to potentially walk into the Queen by herself.” She posed it like a question but it was a statement. When the dark under the hood turned towards Ai she could feel the ‘I told you so’ message radiating from beneath. The goblin huffed and glared at the elder.

“And did you know Ermine was following you when you went to the road?”

“I knew someone was following me, not that it was Ermine.”

“Did you make them aware of what you had smelt, and that you were potentially walking into a very dangerous situation.”

Ai bit her lip.

“No, I wasn’t thinking about it at the time. I only remembered when I heard Ermine behind me, right before he was attacked by a ghoul.” Ai could still remember how the crack of the branch had broken the silence, and the rough bark digging into her fingers.

In a bird –like motion, the village elder cocked her head to one side. With the dark cloak, she reminded Ai of a vulture.

The village elder continued to question her, bring back Ermines death in sharp detail before she finally stopped. Nobody got electrocuted or anything so Ai guessed the dome had said they were telling the truth.

“You’re done right?” Jack asked from where he was tapping his foot in the corner.

The elder looked at him for a long moment before flicking her hand. The dome slid back into the stones as if it were never there.

The goblin leapt out, quickly followed by Ai as she stretched her legs. She felt as if she had been sat down forever.

“It’s best you leave come morning.” The village elder cooly announced.

Ais eyes snapped to her.

“What?” Her voice had a sharp edge to it.

“While it may have been determined you were not directly responsible for Ermines death, there will be those that blame your for it.”

“Not directly responsible?” Ais eyes narrowed.

The village elder inclined her head in affirmation. “If you had never come here, Ermine would still be alive today.”

Ai didn’t even know what to say to that. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish.

“That’s such bullshit.” Jack spoke in for her. “You’re going to take someone in just to throw them out cold turkey? Because she went to see if someone needed help, because she saved me and some idiot with a sword got killed in the process? It isn’t like he wasn’t capable of defending himself.”

Ai felt a little warm inside. She hadn’t expected Jack to come to her defence. She had actually got used to having to solve her problems on her own, having someone on her side…it felt good.

“You may stay until the rainy season if you wish, but I do not advise it.” The old woman was completely unapologetic.

Ais lips tightened. It would be good to go, away from all this false compassion and bigotry. She tilted up her chin.

“I think it’ll be a relief to leave. I couldn’t have stayed here much longer anyway, not with all the bigotry you people have going on.”

“I’d be careful with my words if I were you, you would be long dead had we not taken you in.” The old womans voice held a note of warning.

“I should be grateful, but I should leave before you lot kill me? You can’t have it both ways.” Ais expression was stony.

“Leave my hut. Now.” The village elder ordered, quiet force behind her words.

Ai wanted to stay, but she didn’t have a death wish or to leave with a curse over her head. Reining her anger in she strode out of the hut with Jack. Making itself very small, the goblin followed after them.