This story has a rhythm and rhyme to is that is reminiscent of a fairy tale. The writing style is smooth and flows well and I'm already intrigued to find out who this dark and dreary stranger carrying a small girl and smelling of the river is, and why he's barged into the tavern on a dark night. Will she live? Who does she belong to? 21 pages is so little, but the author has done a great job of making me want to know more.