Ludo met Garwin’s eyes, and the man made a shushing sound with his lips. Ludo tried to make eye contact with Minwar, but the pasty man only shook his head and looked away. The silence stretched on for a minute or so, and then with a “Giddup!” the wagon lurched forward, the trotting of horses’ hooves accompanying the creaking of the vehicle’s wheels and axels.

Minwar and Garwin both sprang into action at the same time, diving headfirst for the bowls, heads cracking together in the process. If it hurt, they showed no signs, jostling and shoving with their shoulders as they tried to snap at the food like animals. Ludo had frozen, not knowing what to do, only able to watch as the two men jockeyed and grappled armlessly, occasionally slurping up a strip of bacon or a sliver of fried egg.

When the food was gone, including the bowl that was supposed to be for him, both men retreated to their respective sides, using their tongues to lick the grease and crumbs from around their mouths.

“Sorry, lad, it’s survival of the fittest in here,” Garwin said, trying, and failing, to capture a crumb that had gotten lodged in the bountiful hair of his beard.

Ludo said nothing, trying not to think of the hunger that suddenly started gnawing at his stomach.

“How’d you lose your eye, anyway?” Garwin asked.

“An ember from a fire,” Ludo said. He didn’t explain how the ember had ended up on his eye, nor why it had burned his sight away with such efficiency.

“That’s a horrible story. If anyone else asks you, tell them you lost it to a bear, and that the bear got the worst of it.”

Minwar snorted. “Don’t listen to him. He’d sell his grandmother to a whorehouse if they paid two silver coins.”

“They wouldn’t take her. My grandmother’s nose was too big, her ears too small. Her hair was so rough it could’ve been used for rope. And she had a mouth on her that would make most men cross the road rather than risk walking past her.”

“Then how did she have any children?” Ludo asked, feeling a little mouthy considering his breakfast had been stolen.

“A good point,” Minwar said, raising both eyebrows appreciatively.

“Easy. She lured my grandfather in with pies. After they did the deed, she made more pies, except with him as the main ingredient.”

“Rutting liar,” Minwar accused.

“Oh yeah? Cause you know me so well? Half the time you can only groan.”

“Shut your godsdamn trap or I’ll shut it for you!”

“With what?” Garwin scoffed. “Your hands are shackled.”

“Then I’ll use my teeth!”

“If you lot don’t shut your traps, then you’ll all drink the tar!” shouted Mister Rose from the driver’s seat. Ludo could just make out the man’s silhouette through the covering that surrounded them. Dahlia’s shadow was right beside his.