Fusiah, her dark eyes filled with a mixture of concern and amusement, knelt beside the young girl, her hand resting gently on the child's trembling shoulder.

The girl was no older than seven, her small frame rigid with fear. Her large, expressive eyes, the color of a stormy sea, were wide with apprehension, fixed on Brandon.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," Fusiah soothed, her voice a warm melody. "She just got startled by you." She turned to Brandon, a playful glint in her eyes. "Hey, it's okay! ...