He made his way to the end of the corridor where a yellow sandstone stairwell spiraled upwards. Still worried about capture by his grandmother, he quickly made his escape. Reaching the top of the stairwell, he strolled down a corridor similar to the one he had just left. Heading towards the dining hall he planned to join his brothers in sharing the breaking of their fast. If his younger brother was too ill to join them then he would visit Raphael in his sleeping chambers later on, he liked to see Raphael at least once every moonwake. He was pleased to spot his elder brother Amos, seated with Raphael at a long dark wooden table. ‘Ah splendid, Leon has finally lifted his head from his soft pillow to honour us with his company.’ Amos threw up his arms in a friendly gesture to welcome his younger brother. ‘Tell me Leon, how does your neighbour, our Grandma Dahlia fare these days? Does she still pine your company young fellow?’ ‘Ha, ha you can laugh Amos.’ They all knew perfectly well that Grandma Dahlia could pounce on any one of them, she did not just target him for her tender loving care.
