I never thought I'd be so grateful for Master Tumunir. I weren't thinking to tell anyone about Emory being around, though of course Missus Holbrook already knows, but she wouldn't blab. I don't know if the person who knocked on the door day before yesterday were him or not. I were too afraid to look out the window, and I certainly weren't going to open the door. I knew it weren't Master Tumunir or Master Maurr, as they have keys to come in. I hunkered down in the back room out of sight and just shook like a leaf until it seemed enough time had gone by that it were safe to creep out again. I didn't leave the house at all that evening.
Yesterday, I had to hang some washing outside, and damned if I let my worries about my brother keep me locked inside like a frightened mouse forever. Sometimes I just can't help the waves of fear what wash over me. It's like I feel the fists on my face all over again, without meaning to. I had some kind of small, foolish hope that he'd come back after taking my coin, and apologize for it. I don't like to think that he's fallen into bad ways since I left. Though, it's hardly fair to say that he weren't in bad ways before I left. But at least he weren't a beast all the time. He had moments of being kind to me and acting like a brother should. I guess he blames me for leaving him, and maybe there's no afec affeck love left in him for me now.
I'm being so lazy with my "were" and "was". Sometimes I don't know why I'm trying so hard. Who's going to notice or care?
But back to Master Tumunir. He came home as I were taking down the laundry from the line. He could tell something were was wrong. I wasn't planning to say anything to him or Master Maurr or anyone else. But he got so concerned, and it touched my heart so. I didn't tell him everything, but I did ask him not to talk to any strangers in the village about me, specially a young man what looks a bit like me. He didn't ask questions, and I felt so thankful to him for that. It made me feel like he trusts me, even when I was acting so odd. He said he'd chase folk off with his axe and scare them spitless, and I had to laugh at that! He might be prickly as a thorn, but there's a heart of gold under it, I just know it.
I asked him if he'd be going off for the special dwarf day with all the others, and he said no. I wanted to ask him why and more about it, but I didn't. I do want to respect his privacy and his secrets, whatever they may be. He showed me a box that he'd brought back from the Soothery, and inside were bits and bobs to clean his eye, of all things! I don't even know what's under that eye patch of his, and I wasn't sure I wanted to find out! He asked if I wanted to watch, but I think he was just teasing to get a rise out of me. But I told him if he needed any help, I'd be right there. And I meant it.
I haven't had any strange knocks on the door today. I did go outside once or twice, and didn't see anything out of place, no strange people lurking about or anything. I hope he's just gone back to Bree and given up on finding me. I'm sure the day will come when I have to see him face to face and we just have to get it all out in the open and have it out with each other. But I'm not rushing for that to happen.
