Night World : Black Dawn Chapter 14

Maggie woke up slowly and al virtually luxuriously. She wasnt freezing. She wasnt perceive or weakwith hunger. And she had an un de signerable tinge of safety. consequently she sat up and the safe olfactory propertying disappe atomic number 18d.She was in laundresss hut of earth bricks.Jeanne and P.J. were t present, whole if Cady had been taken to a nonher hut to be treated. laundress hadstayed incessantlyy(prenominal) iniquity with her, and Maggie had no ideaif she was generateting interrupt or non. The terrified girl cal guide Soaker b awkwardt them breakfast, nevertheless couldonly secernate that Cady was still asleep.Breakfast was the same as dinner survive night hadbeen a elucidate of thick oatmeal scented with huckle berries. Maggie ate it gratefully. It was good-atleast to roughlybodyas hungry as she was.Were fri set asidely to create it, Jeanne tell, stretching.She and P.J. were sitting opposite Maggie on theb ar earth of the floor, eating with their fingers. They all were draining the coarse, scratchy tunicsand loose leggings of slaves, and Maggie kept goinginto spasms of twitching when the material make her itch any(prenominal)where she couldnt reach. Maggiesclothes, including her precious socks, were hiddenat the gage of the hut.They dont grow a good deal(prenominal) grain or ve establishable stuff, Jeanne was understanding. And of melodic line slaves dont getto eat any meat. Only the vampires and the shapeshifters get to eat blood or flesh.P.J. shivered, hunching up her thin shoulders. When you say it equal that, it bases me not extremityto eat it.Jeanne gave a sharp- as well asthed grin. Theyre afraidit would make the slaves as well as strong. Everythingheres designed for that. perchance you noticed, theresnot much in the slave quarters do of forest.Maggie blinked. She hadnoticed that vaguely, atthe thorn of her promontory. The huts were made of bricks, with hard-packeddirtfloors. And there wereno wooden t ools like rakes or brooms lying around. alone what do they burn? she asked, aspect atthe small rock n roll hearth built right wing on the floor ofthe hut. thither was a deal in the roof above to letsmoke out.Charcoaled wood, exc drill in secondary pieces. They makeit out in the forest in charcoal pits, and its stringently regulated. Everybody only gets so much. If they let out a slave with extra wood, they execute em.Because wood extinguishs vampires, Maggie verbalize.Jeanne nodded. And silverkills shapeshifters.Slaves ar forbidden to receive silver, too-not thatany of them are likely to get hold of any.P.J. was facial expression out the small window of the hut.There was no glass in it, and last night it had been stuffed with sacking against the cold air. If slaves hind endt eat meat, what are those? she asked.Maggie leaned to look. Outside devil colossal calves were tether to iron pickets. There were also a dozen trussed-up chickens and a pig in a pen madeof rope.Thos e are for nighttime stack, Jeanne say. The shapeshifters and witches eat secureness food and sodo the vampires, when they want to. It looks liketheyre going to save a cattle ranch they don t bring theanimals here until theyre ready to slaughter.P.J.s face was troubled. I feel sorry for them, she express softly.Yeah, well, there are worse things than beinghit everyplace the head, Jeanne express. See those cages honorable beyond the pig? Thats where the exotics are?tigers and things they bring in to hunt. Thats a bad way to die.Maggie matte ice ingest her spine. Lets hope wenever have to find out 2&8242 she was beginning, whena eye blink of movement outside caught her eye.Get down she said sharply, and ducked out of?line of mess hall of the window. so, very carefully, with her body tense, she edged up to the opensquare again and peered out.What is it? Jeanne hissed. P.J. vindicatory cowered on thefloor, ventilating system quickly.Maggie whispered, Sylvia.Twofigures had appeared, walking through the back tribunal and let looseingasthey went. Sylvia and Gavin. Sylvias gown today was misty throw green,and her hair rippled in shimmering waves over her shoulders. She looked beautiful and graceful andfragile.Are they flood tide here? Jeanne breathed.Maggie shook a take hold low to the groundtoward her to be quiet. She was afraid of the samething. If the dark People began a systematic gibem of the huts, they were lost.But instead, Sylvia turned toward the cages thatheld the exotics. She seemed to be looking at the animals, occasionally turning to make a remarkto Gavin.Now, whats she up to? a character murmured by Maggies ear. Jeanne had crept up beside her.I dont know. zip good, Maggie whispered.They must be planning a hunt, Jeanne saidgrimly. Thats bad. I heard they were going to doa volumed one when Delos came to an agreement with hunting watch Redfern.Maggie drew in her breath. Had things gone thatfar already? It meant she didnt have m uch timeleft.Outside, she could see Sylvia shaking her head, because moving on to the pens and tethers holding the domestic animals.Get back, Maggie whispered, move down.But Sylvia never looked at the hut. She made some remark while looking at the calves and smiling.Then she and Gavin turned and strolled backthrough the kitchen garden.Maggie watched until they were out of sight,chewing her mouthpiece. Then she looked at Jeanne.I look wed purify go see Laundress.The hut Jeanne led her to was a little bigger thanthe others and had what Maggie k crude by now was an amazing luxury two rooms. Cady was in thetiny room-hardly bigger than an alcove-in back.And she was looking better. Maggie proverb it immediately. The clammy, feverish look was gone and so were the full-bodied-black shadows under her eye. Herbreathing was deep and regular and her lashes lay heavy and still on her smooth cheeks.Is she going to be all right? Maggie asked Laundress eagerly.The otiose womanhood was spong ing Cadys cheekswith a cloth. Maggie was Surprised at how tenderthe big red-knuckled hands could be.Shell liveaslongasany of us, Laundress said grimly, and Jeanne gave a wry snort. Even Maggie tangle her lip twitch. She was beginning to like this woman. In fact, if Jeanne and Laundress were examples, the slaves here had a courage and a blackhumor that she couldnt help only if admire.I had a daughter, Laundress said. She was around this ones age, scarce she had that ones coloring. She nodded some atP.J.,who clutched atthe baseball game cap stashed inside her tunic and smiled.Maggie hesitated, thusly asked. What croakedto her?One of the nobles saw her and liked her, Laundress said. She wrung out the cloth and put itdown, whence stood briskly. When she saw Maggiestill looking at her, she added,asif she were talkingabout the weather, He was a shapeshifter, a wolfnamed Autolykos. He secondment her and headlanded his curse on to her, but then he got tired of her. One nighthe made her run and hunted her down.Maggies knees felt weak. She couldnt think ofanything to say that wouldnt be colossally stupid,so she didnt say anything.P.J. did. Im sorry, she said in a husky little joint, and she put her small hand in Laundresssrough one.Laundress touched the top of the shagged blondheadasif she were touching an angel.Urn, can I talk to her? Cady? Maggie asked,blinking fast and clearing her throat.Laundress looked at her sharply. No. You wontbe able to wake her up. I had to give her strong medicine to push off what theyd given her. Youknow how the potion works.Maggie shook her head. What potion?They gave her lance and bloodwort-andother things. It was a truth potion.You mean they trea authoritatived to get information outof her?Laundress only dignified that with a bare nod foran answer.But I wonder why? Maggie looked at Jeanne,who shrugged.Shes a witch from Outside. Maybe they surveyshe k in the raw something.Maggie considered another minute, then gave itup. She would entirely have to ask Cady when Cadywas awake.There was another reason I wanted to see you,she said to Laundress, who was now briskly cleaning up the room. Actually, a couple of reasons. Iwanted to ask you about this.She reached inside her slave tunic and pulled outthe experience of Miles that shed taken from her jacketlast night.Have you seen him?Laundress took the picture surrounded by a callusedthumb and forefinger and looked at it warily.Wonderfully small painting, she said.Its called a picturegraph. Its not scarcepainted. Maggie was watching the womans face,afraid to hope.There was no sign of recognition. Hes related toyou, Laundress said, holding the photo to Maggie.Hes my brother. From Outside, you know? Andhis girlfriend was Sylvia Weald. He disappeared last week.Witch Sylvia a cracked, shaky voice said.Maggie looked up fast. There was an old womanin the doorway, a tiny, wizened creature with thin dust coat hair and a face exactly like one of the driedapple doll s Maggie had seen at fairs.This is grey-haired Mender, Jeanne said. She sews uptorn clothes, you know? And shes the other healing woman.So this is the Deliverer, the cracked voice said, and the woman shuffled closer, peering at Maggie.She looks like an ordinary girl, until youseethe eyes.Maggie blinked.-Oh-thanks,-she said. Secretlyshe public opinion that honest-to-goodness Mender herself looked morelike a witch than anyone shed ever seen in her life. But there was promising intelligence in the old wom-. ans birdlike attentiveness and her little smile was sweet.Witch Sylvia came to the fortress a week ago, shetold Maggie, her head on one side. She didnt have any male child with her, but she was talking about a male child.My grand-nephew Currier heard her. She was telling Prince Delos how shed chosen a human for aplaything, and shed tried to bring him to the castlefor Samhain. But the boy did something-turnedon her somehow. And so she had to revenge him,and that had hold up her.Maggies heart was beating in her ears. Punishhim, she began, and then she said, WhatsSamhain?Halloween, Jeanne said. The witches here normally have a big celebration at midnight.Halloween. all(a) right. Maggies mind was whirringdesperately, ticking over this new information. Sonow she knew for certain that Sylvia hadgone Ink ing on Halloween with Miles, just as shed told thesheriffs and rangers. Or maybe theyd been driving, if Jeannes stratum about a mysterious pass that only night People could see was true. But anyways theydbeen coming here, to the Dark Kingdom. Andsomething had delayed them. Miles had do something that made Sylvia terribly angry and changed her mind about taking him to the castle.And made herpunish him. In some way thatMaggie wasnt sibylline to be able to guess.Maybe she just killed him after all, Maggiethought, with an awful sinking in her stomach. Shecould have shoved him off a lessening easily. Whatevershe did, he never made it here-right?So there isn t any human boy in the dungeon oranything? she asked, looking at Laundress andthen Mender. But she knew the answer sooner theyshook their heads.Nobody recognizes him. He cant be here.Maggie felt her shoulders slump. But althoughshe was discouraged and heartsick, she wasnt defeated. What she felt instead was a hard little tan like a coal in her chest. She wanted more than ever to gingersnap Sylvia and shake the truth out of her.At the very least, if nothing else, Im going to findout how he died. Because thats great.Funny how it didnt seem impossible anymorethat Miles was dead. Maggie had erudite a lot since coming to this valley. People got hurt and died andhad other awful things happen to them, and thatwas that. The ones left alive had to find some wayof going on.But not of forgetting.You said you had two reasons for coming to seeme, Laundress prompted. She was stand with her big hands on her hips, her gaunt body erectand looking just slightly impatient. Have you fallup with a plan, Deliverer?Well-sort of. non exactly a planso much as well, I guess its a plan. Maggie floundered, difficultto inform herself. The truth was that shed derive up with the most basic plan of all.To go see Delos.That was it. The simplest, most direct solution.She was going to get him alone and talk to him.Use the weird joining between them if she hadto. Pound some sort of understanding into histhick head.And put her life on the line to back up her words.Jeanne thought the slaves were going to be killedwhen Hunter Redfern and Delos made their deal. Maggie was a slave now. If the other slaves werekilled, Maggie would be with them.And youre betting that hell care,a nasty littlevoice in her brilliance whispered. But you dont reallyknow that. He keeps threatening to kill you himself.He specifically warned you not to come to thecastle.Well, anyway, were going to find out, Maggie told the little voice. And if I cant convince him, Illhave to do something more violent.I need to get into the castle, she said to Laundress. non just into the kitchen, you know, but theother rooms-wherever I ability be able to findPrince Delos alone.Alone? You wont find him alone anywhere buthis bedchamber.Well, then, I have to go there.Laundress was watching her narrowly. Is it assassination youve got in mind? Because I knowsomeone who has a piece of wood.It . Maggie correspondped and took a breath. I really hope it isnt going to come to that. Butmaybe Id better take the wood, just in case.And youd better hope for a miracle, the nastyvoice in her mind said. Because how else are yougoing to overpower him?Jeanne was detrition her forehead. When shespoke, Maggie knew shed been thinking along thesame lines. Look, dummy, are you sure this is agood idea? I mean, hes-A Night Person, Maggie supplied.And youre=Just an ordinary human.Shes the Deliverer, P.J. said stoutly, and Maggie paused to smile at her.Then she turned back to Jeanne. I dont knowif its a good idea, but its my only i dea. And I knowits dangerous, but I have to do it. She looked awkwardly at Laundress and oldish Mender. The truthis that its not just about you people here. If whatJeanne told you about Hunter Redfern is right,then the whole human piece is in trouble.Oh, the prophecies, Old Mender said, and cackled.You know them, too?We slaves hear everything. Old Mender smiled and nodded. in particular when it concerns our own prince. I remember when he was little-I was theQueens seamstress then, before she died. Hismother knew the prophecies, and she said, In blue fire, the final darkness is banished.In blood, the final hurt is paid.Blood, Maggie thought. She knew that blood hadto run before Delos could use the blue fire, butthis sounded as if it were talking about something darker. Whose blood? she wondered.And the final darkness is the end of the world,right? she said. So you can see how important itis for me to change Deloss mind. Not just for theslaves, but for all humans. She looked at Je anne asshe spoke. Laundress and Old Mender didnt knowanything about the world Outside, but Jeanne did.Jeanne gave a sort of grudging nod, to say that, yeah, putting off the end of the world was important.Okay, so we have to try it. Wed better findout which slaves are allowed in his room, and thenwe can go up and hide. The big chambers havewardrobes, right? She was looking at Old Mender,who nodded.We can stay in one of those-Thats a good idea, Maggie interrupted. Everything but the we. You cant go with me this time.This is something I have to do alone.Jeanne gave an indignant worm of her shoulders. Her red hair seemed to stand up in protest and her eyes were sparking. Thats ridiculous. Ican help. Theres noreasonThere is, too, a reason, Maggie said. Its too dangerous. Whoever goes there magnate get killedtoday. If you stay here, you may at least have afew more days. When Jeanne undefendable her mouthto protest, she went on, Days to try and figure outa new plan, okay? Which will pro bably be just as dangerous. And, besides, Id like person towatch over P.J. and Cady for as longaspossible. She gave P.J. a smile, and P.J. elevate her head resolutely, obviously trying to stop her chin fromquivering.,., Ido need to do it alone, Maggie said gently, turning back to Jeanne. Somewhere in herown mind, she was standing back, astonished. Whowould have ever thought, when she graduation exercise met Jeannein the cart, that she would end up having to talkher out of trying to get killed with Maggie?Jeanne blew air out pursed lips, her eyes narrowed. Finally she nodded.Fine, fine. You go conquer the vampire and Illstay and arrange the revolution.I bet you will, Maggie said dryly. For a momenttheir eyes met, and it was like that initial time, whenan unspoken bond had formed between them.Try to take care of yourself. Youre not exactlythe smartest, you know, Jeanne said. Her voice was a little rough and her eyes were oddly shiny.I know, Maggie said.The abutting moment Jeanne sniffed and cheered up.I just thought of whos allowed up into the bedrooms in the morning, she said. You can helpher, and chew up lead you to Deloss room.Maggie looked at her suspiciously. Why are youso happy about it? Who is it?Oh, youll like her. Shes called Chamber-potEmptier.