Leaves of Revolution by Breeana Puttroff Read Free Book Online Page B

Samuel away from her.
    “I know that. But when my babies were this little, we spoon-fed them a mixture of milk and mealgrain. It made them sleep better and grow more. He wouldn’t be so fussy. Will you tell Quinn I took him to the kitchens? I’m sure he hasn’t had his diaper changed all morning, either.”
    Thomas looked desperately across the room. Most of his family was deeply involved in a tense moment of the game, except for the very youngest children who were playing nearby, oblivious. Rebecca was there, but she was busy feeding her son, and Mia was distracted by Hannah who was also fussing. He couldn’t exactly call over for help. Sophia was already heading toward the door. He didn’t think the guards there would stop her. They didn’t have instructions about this.
    He finally caught William’s gaze as Sophia reached the halfway point. He tilted his head furiously toward her.
    “Break, please!” William yelled, running toward the sidelines. Thomas followed him. “Sophia! Is everything all right with the baby?”
    “Yes, of course. He’s fine,” she said, though by this point he was screaming and his little face was red.
    Quinn had been farther away, but Thomas could see her approaching now.
    “Thank you for taking care of him for us,” William said to Sophia, reaching toward Samuel. “Quinn was just saying she needed to take a break from playing to feed him.”
    “It’s no problem for me to take care of him for a little while so you can finish your game.” Sophia deftly took a step back from William. “I would love the chance to get to know him better.”
    “That’s very gracious of you,” William said. “We would much appreciate your help sometime, but right now I think Quinn needs to feed him.” This time, he was more assertive than polite, taking two quick steps to close in on her while taking hold of his son in the same motion.
    Thomas’ hands were still shaking when William turned back around to face him just as Quinn reached them. The rest of his family was paying attention now, but – probably wisely – holding back.
    Samuel’s screams subsided quickly, though he was still breathing in hiccupping sobs when William handed him to Quinn. He didn’t settle down completely until they all sat in a quiet corner so he could nurse.
     
    *          *          *
     
    “Let’s all break for drinks,” Stephen said, leading the rest of them toward the chairs on the sidelines of the large gymnasium.
    Zander listened to William’s younger brothers first groan and then engage in a debate over whether to play something else during the indefinite intermission, but then a servant brought in a large tray of cookies and fruit, effectively ending the discussion.
    He wasn’t sure exactly what had happened, but judging from the way William, Linnea, and Thomas were huddled around Quinn and the baby over in the corner, it had something to do with them.
    The gym in this castle was much larger and nicer than the one he’d spent time in back in Eirentheos. One side even had a wood floor – which must have been a nightmare to keep clean next to the packed-dirt playing area – but this area was filled with comfortable, cushioned chairs.
    Along the back wall were several long tables covered with green tablecloths – this was where the snacks were being laid out. Zander glanced over toward Quinn’s little group. None of them budged.
    Nobody was paying any attention to him. He was more than a little tempted to escape, to return to his room and … well, something. Maybe re-arrange his few clothes in the wardrobe again. But then he remembered his conversation with Stephen earlier – about actually living here instead of just avoiding everything. He wasn’t ready to even think about Stephen’s guard suggestion, but this much he could make himself do.
    Sighing, he headed back to the table and loaded up a plate with a stack of cookies, several apples, and some glasberries.
    “Hey,