“By the way Hester, whatever brought me here interrupted me when I was about to drink some water, so I’m feeling quite thirsty now.”
“Then you’ll be pleased to know I’ve just made some tea.”
Hester led Mobkin past several other rooms and into a large kitchen with a circular dining table, upon which there was a blue and white ceramic tea set. She poured two cups of red tea and passed one to Mobkin. The tea tasted as if there’d been a little lemongrass among the leaves.
After a few sips from her own cup Hester spoke again. “If you don’t know how you came here, then am I right to assume you also don’t know how to return?”
“I found myself here after I fell into a pond, but its water had started looking strange so I don’t think just jumping into any pond would work.”
“That’s very strange. I’m afraid I don’t have any further insight on that subject. But if you need a place to stay you’re welcome to one of the spare rooms in this house.”
“You’re being very kind to me. I don’t want to be a burden, but, you know, I’m in a bit of a bind.”
Hester gave an awkward smile. “I’d like to claim that’s just my nature, but to be honest there’s more to it. When I know you better I might tell you the whole story.” She smiled even more awkwardly. “Ah, that probably sounded suspicious. I mean I’ve been wanting to make a new friend or two and the full story is too embarrassing to tell someone I’ve just met.”
Mobkin moved his hand which had been resting on the table a little further across. “Hester… Whatever brought me here took me away from all my friends.”
As he struggled to decide what to say next Hester moved from the chair opposite Mobkin to the one on his left and placed her hand on his shoulder. “I already knew that.” She looked away a moment before putting both arms around him and pulling him towards her. “Sorry if I’m overstepping: I just thought I’d need a hug if I were in your position.”
Mobkin didn’t say anything. He held her elbow for a moment but changed his mind and hugged Hester back.
When Hester and Mobkin had finished their tea she began to show him around Muurkat Village - where she lived - and introduce him to some of its residents. Most of the elves had visibly tensed up or even jumped a little upon seeing the short muscular green man but aside from several elves staring at him a little too much everyone had been polite and some had even been friendly.
“This is Mobkin. He doesn’t know how he came to be here. He came to me first so I’m looking after him. He looks like that because he’s a grelling.” Hester used the same introduction verbatim almost every time.
Towards the end of the tour they had met an elf named Sarwin Daksen, who had asked more questions than anyone else.
“Hester said you don’t know how you came here, what exactly does she mean by that?”
“A pond by the field I was working had taken on a strange appearance, as if it were made of metal. I was very thirsty so I tried to draw water from it anyway, but I fell in and the next thing I knew I was in your village.”
“Where exactly did you find yourself?”
“He appeared right in front of my eyes in my bathtub. Don’t go round telling people unless they ask specifically.” Hester interjected.
“Hester, do I need to worry about you any more than I do already?”
“It’s vexing to hear that you were worrying about me in the first place!”
“I’m sorry: I can’t help but worry about people.”
The rest of their conversation was not interesting enough to quote here directly but by the time Hester and Mobkin left they had made an agreement to plant Mobkin’s remaining beetroot seeds, which had gotten wet and would go to waste if left for too long, on one side of a field that Sarwin usually claimed.
“Do you have any particular history with him?” Mobkin asked Hester.
“No. He’s a bit overbearing with everyone. When he stops worrying about what you might do to me he’ll start worrying about you too.”
“Sounds like he’s not a bad person.”
“For all his faults he is a good person. He means a lot to me because after that thing I mentioned back in the kitchen he was the only person who didn’t treat me any differently. Don’t tell him I said that or he’ll smother me even more!”
“I know it’s too soon for me to ask about that story, but you’re making me really curious.”
Hester exhaled sharply through her nose, paused for a moment, and gave Mobkin another hug. “I’m not sure I’ll tell you, but I think I will sometime.”