Dreamwalker

2- New Shoes

"That smells gross," Bell remarked. "It smells like stinky socks."

"I'd like to see you make a better soup," Soutine replied, stirring the cauldron irritably. His apron was stained with various innamable ingredients.

"It's because you put cabbage in. Cabbage is gross."

"Don't be silly. Cabbage is good for you."

"No way! It's green and I hate it."

Soutine glared at the miniature figure of Bell, who was about five years old, sitting at the head of the table. Despite his borrowed pink apron, he was very intimidating. "Bell, I'm in charge," he said. "When you're old enough and you can lift a frying pan by yourself, I'll teach you how to cook, and you can make your own meals. For now, though?" Soutine lifted out a long piece of opaque cabbage with his spoon and dangled it in front of Bell's face. It dripped like a piece of rotten seaweed fresh out of the ocean. Bell cringed away. "We are very poor. This is all I can afford right now. I could hardly afford to buy this shop. If you'd rather, we can head back on the road again with nothing to eat but mushrooms and tree bark. So eat your vegetables, my dear, please. I'd rather you didn't go hungry."

Bell pouted at him. "I guess," she finally muttered.

"Thank you very much. You are a surprisingly considerate girl." He went back to his stirring.

"What does that mean?"

"Considerate, you mean? It means you're selfless."

"What does that mean?"

"Kind. Caring. Sweet." Soutine spooned up a bowlful of soup and set it down in front of Bell at the table. The cabbage floated to the top of the broth. She swallowed her gag reflex down.

"Ugh," she said.

"That's my girl."

"Didn't say I was going to eat it."

"Are you awake?"

"What?" Bell asked, bewildered.

"Wake up! Come on, peasant girl, wake up!"

---

"Hey, are you awake now? You've been asleep for a long time."

Bell groaned and rubbed her head, which ached horribly. She looked up at an unfamiliar face. He had olive skin and very short black hair curling out at the top of his head, and huge black eyes alight with mischief. Once he saw her eyes open, he grinned. "Hello. I was worried. I thought you might be dead. You see, I'm no doctor. I couldn't tell."

She sat up next to him. Since he was crouching down, they were at eye level. "Who are you?" she asked.

"I cannot tell you. But you're the cobbler, are you not? I need you to make me some shoes."

Bell had to blink a few times to clear her head. "I'm-- what?"

"Shoes. Please. Nobody was downstairs even though the sign said you were open. My squire and I need new shoes and your town was the first one we came across after travelling through the mountain pass."

"I'm not really the cobbler."

He frowned. "Well, then, why am I wasting my time talking to you?"

"I could mend your shoes... if you want..."

"Oh, yes, yes!" His face lit up again instantaneously. "Thank you, Madame Cobbler!"

Bell rubbed her forehead again. She was a little dizzy from the injury and everything was coming slowly. "But... what happened to Soutine?"