( &Â zarawardlaw. )
Zara shrugged at his response. âIn the Middle Ages theyâd salt-cure all of their meats to prevent spoil and rot. Didnât help much, to tell you the truth.â She returned to picking at her dinner and sighed, decided to pick everything up and set herself down directly in front of Lee. âAnd I used to go here, just came back. Weâve gotten a new kitchen staff, I see.â She glanced over him apprehensively. âI see youâre not eating either.â
âUhâhuh.â Leeâs fork smoothes out the edges of his mashed potato Vesuvius. He is listening â it just doesnât show. But sheâs talking about history, and this is something he knows, something heâs well versed in, so heâs showing more active interest than he usually does. ( Not the Middle Ages, specifically, but Lee has never been picky with history â and heâs got a book on it somewhere. ) âThe Black Death happened under their watch, so I guess they didnât have the best ideas about much.â He looks up from the mess heâs made, pleased, and catches the girlâs eyes. âBudget cuts, maybe. Or maybe they just donât like us Dumfries kids.â He stabs and scoops up the top of the volcano. Adds some more gravy, till it overflows like itâs erupting â the sight makes him smile. âNo â Iâm not usually hungry. Donât have an excuse good as yours.â Engage, Dr. MuĂąozâs voice sounds off. âWhereâd you go?â











