The Dark Hills Divide Part 12

"It's me, Sam," came the cat's voice again. It was strange to understand his meowing, but its meaning was crystal clear. "Pepper is keeping an eye on Grayson. It's all clear for you to come out."

I opened the trapdoor toward me, blew out the lamp, hung it on a rung, and then pushed the chair out of the way. The light was bright at first and I saw only the silhouette of Sam looking down at me from his roost on the back of the chair. I smiled and said, "Hey, Sam! How are you doing?"

"Alexa, answer me. Can you understand what I'm saying, Alexa?" Sam demanded, his dark outline held motionless against the dusty light streaming in behind him.

I pretended not to hear him, which aggravated him more.

"Come on, Alexa, let's have it!" he shouted. "I know 141.

you can understand me. I want to hear the latest from Ander."

Sam jumped down and leaned against my legs, staring up at me with his penetrating gray eyes. Time seemed to stand still as he purred and paced back and forth. He took a long, final look at me and then jumped back up on the chair.

"Stupid girl," he said. "As useless as ever. All you hear is purring and meowing all the livelong day. I should have expected as much." I turned away from Sam toward the bookshelf and fanned my hands over the rows of books to hide the shock on my face.

As I stood and thought nervously about what to do next, a flash of shadows moved about the room and the sound of beating wings filled the small s.p.a.ce. I had not noticed the perfectly still hawk sitting in the sill, waiting for information. As I turned to look I saw the bird flying off into the bright morning sun.

"Off to tell Sebastian of Alexa's return, no doubt," said Sam.

I tried desperately to remember all the things Sam and Pepper would have seen me doing or heard me saying. How many times had hawks watched me? Were they watching when Warvold died and I took the key? I absentmindedly ran my hand along my forearm, feeling the wicked scratch Pepper had given me when I'd tried to take his amulet in my hands. Traitors, both of them. I could hardly believe it. And the hawk it was also a traitor. I had to get a message to Ander.

142.

"No more time for petting right now, Sam, I've got lots to do," I said with false cheer. Then I moved the chair back into its proper place and dusted myself off as best I could. I was dirty, so sneaking up to my room for a quick cleanup before anyone saw me was essential. I quietly wound my way through the corridors of books, creaking the floorboards here and there as I continued cautiously in the direction of Grayson's office. I peeked around the last corner and saw that his door was ajar, Pepper's long tail flicking up and down at the floor. I had a momentary feeling of fear as Sam purred up against my leg unexpectedly.

"Pepper!" Sam said. "She's as dumb as a post, not a word out of her." Pepper's head came whipping around in the doorjamb.

"That you, Sam?" came Grayson's voice. Things were getting complicated in a hurry and I'd been back in Bridewell for only a few minutes.

I crept down the hallway as quietly as I could while Sam held back in front of Grayson's door.

"That's it, slink off to your room for a nice long nap," Sam jeered.

The floorboards creaked a few paces from the library door, and I froze for a brief moment.

"Who's there? . . . Alexa, is that you?" It was Grayson, but I was safely on the other side of the door and out of sight a second later.

My room had never looked so wonderful. I hid my 143.

stone, the tube Yipes had given me, and the other trinkets I had been carrying around. I put on a fresh set of clothes and performed a healthy bit of primping on myself, then flopped down on my bed and felt as though I could sleep for a month. I thought of all the events of the past three days and drifted off into dreams of talking animals and men with brands on their faces.

I awoke at midday, sweaty and hot. I had been dreaming of a hawk at my window. It was scratching and clawing to get inside, and in my dream I let the bird in and it chased me around my room, landed on my head, and ripped chunks of my hair out with its monstrous claws. As I sat up in my bed, all wet and clammy from the heat and the awful dream, I heard sc.r.a.ping at the shutter. Was I still dreaming or had I actually awoke? I cautiously got out of bed.

Everything hurt, and my feet felt as though they were walking on a bed of nails. As I hobbled over to the window, I realized that whatever was banging and scratching to get in was much smaller than a hawk, and it was scampering around from side to side outside the shutter. It could be only one animal: Murphy, the hyperactive squirrel from the grove. I swung the shutters open and he spilled into the room, bouncing from place to place, sniffing everything and whipping his tail from side to side.

"This is an unexpected surprise," I said.

He was behind my bed between the bathroom and the nightstand, and I had to walk around the room to find him. "I think it would be best if we stayed away from the 144.

window," he said. "You never know who might be watching us."

I lay down on my stomach and propped myself up at the elbows. It felt good to be off my feet. Murphy remained lively, darting under the bed, flying out with a leap, and landing on my back then running down my legs and circling back.

"Murphy, if you can calm down a minute, I have news."

"What sort of news? Is it good or bad?"

"Well, to be honest, I think it's mostly bad," I said.

Murphy's cavorting turned to twitching and quick jerks from side to side. Given his nature, I think it took more effort for him to stay still than to scuttle half crazed around the room.

"Let's have it then no point putting off the inevitable."

He closed his eyes tightly and turned his head slightly to the left, as if this would somehow soften the blow of whatever I was about to say.

I was getting sore on my elbows so I dropped down with my chin on my hands. I was eye to eye with him, only a few inches between us, and for no apparent reason I whispered when I spoke. "Sam and Pepper are traitors. On top of that, I think some of the birds might be against us. I know for sure of at least one hawk who's working for Sebastian. I haven't had time to find out much else. Just getting to my room was an adventure in itself, and I've been sleeping most of the day."

145.

Murphy looked stunned as his eyes squeaked back open. He was still for the first time since I'd met him. "That is bad news now, isn't it? We've had our suspicions about the birds, but Sam and Pepper? I can hardly believe it."

"Believe it," I a.s.sured him.

"Ander will want to know about this right away," said Murphy. "I suppose I should go and tell him."

He started to leave, then stopped. "Oh, I almost forgot it was Yipes who sent me. He said to tell you he was sorry for slamming the door on your head. It made rather a loud noise when it came down, and he ran off into the trees to hide, afraid someone or something might have heard. By the time he came back to check, you were gone. He will be pleased to hear that you're not injured in any way."

Murphy bolted for the window. He was sitting in the sill by the time I had my wretched, sore body up to its knees, leaning over my bed.

"How's the stone looking?" he asked.

"I haven't looked, but we're talking, so I guess it must still be all right."

"Best to keep an eye on it every few hours if you can," said Murphy He was fidgeting back and forth, looking out the window and then back at me. "It will be a shame to lose you. Maybe we'll get lucky and it won't wear out." And then, with a final flip of his tail, he was gone.

Just as well I had a busy afternoon planned.

146.

CHAPTER 16.

Pervis Cotcher on HOLIDAY My first encounter with just about everyone occurred in the main dining area. I arrived shortly before dinner, and it was bustling as usual with activity. Servants were bringing out food for the buffet meats, cheeses, fresh fruits, and vegetables, most imported from Ainsworth and all on gorgeous white china. My father was the first to greet me as I pranced into the room.

"Alexa! How's my girl? We arrived only a few minutes ago." He embraced me, lifted me high off the floor, and whispered in my ear, "Let's have a little talk after dinner."

I gave him a rea.s.suring nod and straightened my shirt when he put me down. "You must go to Turlock more often. It brings out your sentimental side."

Father amply countered, "I'm just happy to be back so I can give you all my washing. I was down to my last clean shirt."

"Poppyc.o.c.k! You missed our little lady as much as I did." It was Ganesh, pulling me close to his side and rubbing my head with the knuckles of his other hand. "Next time, we're taking you with us. Any excitement while we 147.

were gone?" Ganesh released me and bent down on one knee so that we were eye to eye.

"I wandered around town looking for trouble, but I couldn't find any, so I read a book about a man who got lost in a mist."

Ganesh laughed and looked over at Grayson. "What kinds of books are you letting into our library these days?" Grayson replied with only a grunt and a shrug of his shoulders.

I made my way to the table of food. It all looked so good, I s.n.a.t.c.hed a plate and filled it with fresh bread, blackberries, and apple slices. Grayson was holed up over the strawberries, plucking them out with a tiny fork one by one and popping them into his mouth.

"I haven't seen you much in your father's absence," he said to me. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen you at all." He looked around the room and then whispered to me. "Let's keep that between you and me, shall we?" He put another strawberry in his mouth and continued to talk while he chewed. "Say, did you stop by the library this morning? I had the strangest encounter with the cats, and someone was about the place but ran off."

"Not me. It must have been one of the students from downstairs playing a prank on you or trying to steal books," I said. I was getting far too comfortable with lying to everyone, and it bothered me. Was there ever a time when lying was a good thing? Without knowing who I should trust and who I shouldn't, I couldn't just 148.

blurt out the whole adventure and hope Sebastian wasn't in the room. My father, Ganesh, Grayson, Nicolas, Silas they were all here, and I could not conceive of any one of them being Sebastian. The only person missing was Pervis.

"Where's my favorite man in uniform, Mr. Kotcher?" I asked.

"Still on holiday in Lunenburg visiting friends. He's due back tonight, though, so don't get too awfully excited," said Nicolas. He was looking as handsome as ever. "Wait just one minute. You mean Pervis has friends?" I asked.

"Apparently so," chuckled Nicolas. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that. Move it along, Grayson I'd like at least one strawberry to garnish my plate with."

Grayson just kept on poking berries with his little fork and ignored Nicolas entirely.

We sat around the table and enjoyed a lovely dinner.

I ate and ate and ate, my hunger satisfied for the first time in days. My body was much less sore now and my strength edged back to within range of normal.

I was seated next to Silas, who leaned over and whispered in my ear, "I must speak with you privately after dinner."

I nodded my agreement but added, "My father first, then I'm yours."

149.

"A game of chess after dinner, Alexa?" said Silas a few minutes later.

"Sorry, Silas, she's already promised me a stroll around Bridewell. Maybe after that," said Father.

I replied to Silas, "Yes, that would be nice. But I warn you, chess is my game. Father and I started playing when I was only three."

"Well then, maybe you won't mind playing me sometime, now that I'm back from visiting my chums." It was the familiar slippery voice of Pervis Kotcher, coming from the entryway where he had meandered in, unnoticed. His face was smeared with an awful smirk, and he was advancing on the buffet with an annoying saunter. He was clearly drunk. "That is, if you're willing to wager. I play chess only when something of value is at stake. I find it adds a whole new dimension to an otherwise boring diversion." He was piling meat and potatoes enough for a family of four onto his plate.

"But enough about a silly game," he continued. "On to more important topics, shall we? Say, for instance, the att.i.tude over in Ainsworth toward Bridewell these days. Getting a bit hot under the collar around those parts now, aren't they?" Pervis seated himself opposite my father at the end of the table, swaying to and fro, using his fork to poke and stab as he continued his tirade.

Ganesh interjected, "Pervis, we're in mixed company. I'm warning you 150.

"Warning me to what? To keep my mouth shut about the discord you and the rest of the idiots running this place have caused with Ainsworth? All of Lunenburg is talking about it! The people in Ainsworth are ready to run this place over, and they've got plenty of manpower to do it."

"Pervis!" shouted my father, but he would not be stopped.

"I could give Ainsworth the keys to our beloved Bridewell with what I know, so you might start treating me with a little more respect."

Ganesh rose, standing over Pervis like a giant oak tree over a craning woodchuck. "That's it, Pervis. You just crossed over the line to a place from which you will never return." Six guards rounded the corner and positioned themselves inside the room; two remained at either side of him.

"Hold on now, I was just running off at the mouth -- really now, this is ridiculous. I can help you defend this place really I can, I --" Two guards lifted Pervis out of his chair against his will. He kicked and screamed obscenities, flipping his plate of food into the air. Around and around the plate went, sending food everywhere, then smashing into bits against a stone pitcher of water on the table.

"Take him to a holding cell and search his room," Father said. It appeared that Pervis had pushed things too far, but somehow the whole scene seemed wrong. Pervis 151.

certainly was out of line, but he wasn't anything more than a drunken buffoon returning from holiday. While it was true his behavior was beneath even him, he was hardly a threat in his current condition. Maybe Ganesh and Father had finally become so tired of his ranting they couldn't take another outburst. One thing was for sure the animals were right. Warvold's death had sent things rapidly spinning out of control. A cyclone was building, and Bridewell was at its center.

After Pervis's crazed dinner antics, I was ready to walk around town with my father and breathe some fresh air, although, strangely enough, I felt a measure of discontent knowing our head guard was drunk and detained while danger swirled around Bridewell. If the convicts were to advance tonight, I'd want Pervis sober and at the main tower barking orders to his men. Unless, of course, he was Sebastian, in which case things were going rather well.

"What was that all about?" I started the conversation as we paced the cobblestone pathway along one of Bridewell's winding side streets.

"We've been talking about locking him up for a while now, Alexa. Ever since Warvold died, he's been totally impossible.

We all thought I mean Ganesh and Nicolas and I we thought a few days away would calm him down. But showing up drunk and filling the room with all that rubbish was the last straw. We'll have to find a way to get by without him."

152.

"You'll get no argument from me about Pervis, though I do worry about our safety with our head guard behind bars. Especially if what he said was true." The one man I loathed more than any other. . . and I was practically advocating his release! It was strange how circ.u.mstances were having a way of changing the way I felt about people.

"He's just trying to stir up trouble. I can't tell you much about our dealings with Ainsworth. True, things have been somewhat tense with them. With Warvold pa.s.sing, they've tried to a.s.sert more control. But it's nothing we can't handle." Father sounded Confident that everything was fine, but given what I knew, it was not comfort I was feeling. I knew problems were afoot, bigger problems than even he was aware of.

"So you stayed out of trouble while I was gone? No trying to jump over the wall?"

Trust no one. But this was my father, how could I not trust him?

"I stayed out of trouble like you asked," I said. "But now that you've returned, I really must get back to breaking things. I have a reputation to protect."

Father stopped walking and smiled while he rubbed his chin. He seemed exhausted from worry and lack of sleep. I felt sorry for him just then, which was something I had never felt for him before.

"Just be careful, all right? And don't go snooping around where you know you shouldn't. Agreed?"

153.

"I'll do my best." It was not the answer he was looking for, but he accepted it. We held hands a moment longer and then he returned to the lodge.

I walked to the center of town where the main courtyard was. Along the way, I pa.s.sed three hawks. They were circling closer than usual. Could it be that Ander had sent them to watch over? Or were they on patrol for Sebastian? In either case, it seemed unlikely that the birds could communicate much with either party, so they didn't alarm me a great deal. Silas awaited my arrival as promised and wasted no time getting straight to the point.

"Alexa, thank you for coming," he said. He was nervous, edgy, unsure of how to approach the subject he was trying to delve into. "Here's the thing, Alexa -- I've been working for your father for a little while now. I admire the man -- Ganesh and Nicolas, too. I think they will do great things for us all. The thing is, Alexa, I don't want to get you into any trouble with your father, but I feel I have an obligation to him." He was really nervous, looking down and around in circles, hardly catching my eye.

"What is it, Silas?" I asked.