Tobias' initial impression of the child had not been overwhelmingly positive, what with pickpocketing and being defiant. But as he listened, he found himself beginning to like the boy more and more. He seemed sensible and hard-working and didn't ask for much. That put Tobias somewhat at ease about his decision to hire a random kid of the street. The boy's presence might actually make life easier at the farm, rather than add to the chaos.

They reached the higher moorland, where the wind was strong and the views wide. The wagon trail across the brown heathland ahead of them continued as far as the eye could see. On their left the land dipped down into a pleasant valley, before climbing up to yet more moors and on their right, beyond the moors was the glistening of the sea.

"Seems you've done a lot of work and been on your own for a long time," Tobias said after a lengthy silence that had probably made it seem that he hadn't been listening to what Nat had said in the first place. "Say, Nat. How old are you?"