by Matt Harris
Madeleine-itook-ianother-ibite-iof-ithe-ipastry-iin-iher-ihand,-iand-ipointed-itowards-ithe-idoor-ias-ishe-isaid-ithrough-ia-imouthful,-i"Fhe's-ioutfide-ipfacticing."
"Oh,-ialright."-iJames-isaid.-iHe-irolled-iup-ihis-ibedroll-iand-itied-iit-iback-ion-ihis-ipack,-iand-itook-ia-imoment-ito-igather-ithe-irest-iof-ihis-ithings-iand-ipacked-ithem-iaway-ibefore-iwalking-iover-ito-ithe-icounter,-igrabbing-ia-iround-iloaf-iof-ibread-iout-iof-ione-iof-ithe-ibaskets,-iand-itaking-ia-ibite-iout-iof-iit-ias-ihe-istepped-iout-ithe-idoor.
Rose-iwas-iin-ithe-istreet-ia-ishort-idistance-ifrom-ithe-idoor,-ipracticing-ia-iseries-iof-isword-idrills-iwhen-ihe-iwalked-iout,-iand-istopped-ito-iturn-iher-iattention-itowards-ihim-iwhen-ishe-iheard-ithe-idoor-iopen.
"Oh-igood,-iyou're-ifinally-iawake!"-iShe-isaid,-iwiping-ithe-isweat-ifrom-iher-iforehead-iwith-ione-iof-ithe-isleeves-iof-iher-itunic-iand-ipausing-ito-icatch-iher-ibreath.
"Yeah,-iMaddy-itold-ime-iyou-iboth-ihave-ibeen-iwaiting-ion-ime-ia-iwhile.-iSorry-iabout-ithat."-iJames-isaid.
"Oh,-ino-iworries.-iIt-iwas-inice-ito-ihave-itime-ito-ihave-ibreakfast-iand-iget-iwarmed-iup."-iRose-isaid,-ismiling.-i"So,-iare-iyou-iready-ito-igo?"
James-ishrugged.-i"About-ias-iready-ias-iI-ican-iget,-iI-iguess."
"Alright.-iI'll-igrab-imy-istuff."-iRose-isaid,-iflipping-iher-isword-iwith-ia-itwirl-iof-iher-ifingers-iand-isheathing-iit-ibefore-iwalking-iinside-ibehind-ihim.
The-ithree-iof-ithem-istashed-ias-imany-ibaked-igoods-ias-ithey-icould-iinto-itheir-ibags-ibefore-ithey-ileft,-iand,-iat-iJames's-iinsistence,-ileft-ia-inote-ithanking-iwhoever-iowned-ithe-ibakery-ifor-iletting-ithem-istay.
As-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-igrabbed-ithe-ilast-iof-itheir-istuff,-iJames-inoticed-ithe-isack-iMadeleine-ihad-ibeen-icarrying-ithe-iprevious-ievening,-iand-irealized-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-ithat-iit-iwasn't-iher-ipack.-iLooking-iat-iit-icuriously,-ihe-iasked-i"What's-iin-ithe-ibag?"
Hucking-ithe-icanvas-isack-ionto-ithe-ishoulder-iopposite-iher-ipack,-iMadeleine-iwalked-itowards-ithe-idoor.
"Loot.-iFrom-ithe-idead-ignolls."-iShe-isaid.
James-ilooked-iat-ithe-isack,-ithen-iback-ito-iher.
"Shouldn't-iwe-isplit-iit-iup-ibetween-ius-ior-isomething?"-iHe-iasked
"You-ididn't-iloot-ithe-ibodies.-iI-idid.-iSo,-imy-iloot."-iShe-isaid,-isetting-ithe-isack-idown-ijust-ilong-ienough-ito-ipull-ithe-idoor-iopen.
"But,-ime-iand-iRose-idid-iall-ithe-iwork!"-iJames-iprotested.
"And-iyet-ihere-iI-iam,-iholding-iall-ithe-iloot."-iMadeleine-isaid,-ideadpan.-i"I-itold-iyou-ito-ialways-iloot-ithe-ibodies.-iWhen-iyou-ididn't,-iI-iassumed-iyou-ididn't-iwant-ito.-iSo,-iI-idid."
She-ilifted-ithe-isack-ito-iher-ishoulder-iagain.
"My-iloot."-iShe-isaid,-imotioning-ito-ithe-ibag-iwith-iher-ihead-ibefore-istepping-iout-iinto-ithe-istreet.-i
###-iChapter-i54-i--iDeparture
In-ithe-idaylight,-iit-iwas-ieasier-ito-iget-ia-isense-iof-ithe-iscope-iof-ithe-idamage-ithat-ithe-ignolls-ihad-iinflicted-ion-ithe-itown-ithan-iit-iwas-iat-inight.-iAt-ileast-ia-ithird-iof-ithe-itown-ihad-iburnt-idown,-iwith-isome-iothers-istill-ismoldering-iand-ipouring-isteady-istreams-iof-iwhite-ismoke-iinto-ithe-iatmosphere.-iThe-imajority-iof-ithe-itown-isquare,-iincluding-imost-iof-ithe-iground-iwithin-iit,-iwas-icompletely-idestroyed,-ipockmarked-iby-igiant-itears-iand-ipockmark-icraters-ifrom-ithe-imagic-ibattle-ithat-ihad-itaken-iplace-ithere-ithe-inight-ibefore.-i
As-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-iwere-iwalking-itowards-ithe-ioutskirts,-iJames-ibegan-ito-isee-ia-ismall-ibut-isteady-istream-iof-ipeople-ireturning-ito-ithe-itown-ifrom-ithe-iareas-ioutside-iof-iit.-iNow-ithat-ithe-iimmediate-ithreat-iwas-igone,-ithey-iwere-ilikely-icoming-ito-istart-ithe-ilong-iprocess-iof-iputting-ieverything-iback-itogether.
James-ididn't-ienvy-ithem-ithe-icoming-idifficulties.-iAssuming-ithey-iweren't-iall-idead,-imost-iof-ithe-ipeople-iwho-ilived-ihere-iwere-iprobably-igoing-ito-ihave-ito-istart-itheir-ilives-iover-ifrom-iscratch.
On-itheir-iway-iout,-iJames-isaw-ithe-isame-iman-iwho'd-itold-ihim-ito-irun-ithe-inight-ibefore,-ithough-iit-ididn't-iseem-ithat-ithe-iman-irecognized-ihim.-iHe-iwas-inow-icarrying-ia-iyoung-igirl,-iperhaps-itwo-ior-ithree-iyears-iold,-ion-ihis-ishoulders,-iher-iface-isoot-stained-iand-igrimy.-iAs-ithey-ipassed-ieach-iother,-ithe-igirl-ilooked-idown-iat-ihim-iand-ismiled-iwidely,-iwaving-iat-ihim.-iJames-ismiled-iand-iwaved-iback.-iHe-ihoped-ibeyond-ihope-ithat-ithat-igirl-iwould-igrow-iup-isafe-iand-ihappy,-icompletely-iunaware-iof-ithe-ikinds-iof-ievil-ithat-iexisted-iin-ithis-iand-ievery-iother-iworld.
The-ithree-iof-ithem-itraveled-iin-irelative-isilence-ifor-iseveral-ihours,-iuntil-istopping-ifor-ia-ilunch-iof-ipastries-isometime-iaround-imidday-iin-ia-ismall-istand-iof-itrees-ioff-ito-ithe-iside-iof-ithe-iroad.-iAs-ithey-iate,-iMadeleine-idropped-ithe-iloot-isack-ishe'd-ibeen-icarrying-iin-ifront-iof-iher,-iand-ibegan-irummaging-iaround-iin-iit-iagain.-iAfter-ia-imoment,-iseemingly-iunable-ito-ifind-iwhat-ishe-iwas-ilooking-ifor,-ishe-idumped-ithe-icontents-iof-ithe-ithing-iout-ionto-ithe-iground-iin-ifront-iof-iher.
Several-ismall-iknives,-ia-ihalf-idozen-ileather-ipouches,-ia-icouple-ipieces-iof-irolled-iparchment,-ia-irolled-iup-ipiece-iof-ileather-iJames-irecognized,-iand-ia-ismall-iwooden-icase-ihe-idid-inot-iall-itumbled-iout-ionto-ithe-igrass-iin-ia-iheap.-iOnce-ieverything-iwas-iout,-iMadeleine-iset-iout-isorting-ieverything-iinto-ithree-ipiles,-isplitting-ithe-ileather-ipouches-iequally-ibetween-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem,-iputting-ithe-ilockpick-iroll-iin-ithe-ione-iclosest-ito-iher.-iShe-ithen-iset-ithe-iknives-iin-ithe-ipile-iclosest-ito-iRose,-iand-ithe-iwooden-icase-iin-ithe-ipile-iclosest-ito-iJames.-iThe-irolled-ipieces-iof-iparchment-ishe-iset-ito-ithe-iside-iapart-ifrom-ithe-ithree-iother-ipiles.
Once-ieverything-iwas-isorted,-iMadeleine-ipointed-ito-ithe-itwo-ipiles-ifurther-ifrom-iher.
"These-iare-iyours.-iI-idon't-icare-iwho-itakes-iwhich-ipile."-iShe-isaid.
"I-ithough-iyou-isaid-iit-iwas-iYOUR-iloot."-iJames-isaid,-iraising-ian-ieyebrow.
"It-iis.-iBut-iI'm-itired-iof-icarrying-iall-iof-iit.-iSo,-inow-iit's-iyour-iloot-itoo."-iShe-ireplied.
"Oh,-iwell,-ithanks,-iI-iguess?"-iJames-isaid,-iunsure-ihow-ielse-ito-ireply.-iHe-iturned-ito-iRose.
"So,-iwhich-ione-iare-iyou-iwanting?"-iHe-iasked,-ithen-iadded,-i"I'm-inot-ipicky."
Rose-ilooked-iat-ieach-ipile.-iLooking-iat-ithe-ione-iwith-iwooden-icase,-ishe-ireached-iout-iand-ipicked-ithe-icase-iup.-iFlipping-iit-iaround-islowly-iin-iher-ihands-ifor-ia-imoment,-ishe-ifinally-iseemed-ito-ifind-iwhat-ishe-iwas-ilooking-ifor-iand-ipressed-iher-ithumb-ion-ipart-iof-ithe-ibox,-icausing-ia-ismall-iwooden-ipanel-ito-islide-iout-ifrom-iit.-iLooking-iinside,-iRose-ifurrowed-iher-ieyebrows-iin-iconfusion,-ibefore-ireaching-iinto-ithe-ismall-icontainer-iand-ipulling-iout-ia-ismall-icarved-ifigurine-imade-iof-ikind-iof-ilightly-ipolished-iblack-imaterial.-i
###-iChapter-i55-i--iSharing-ithe-iWealth
Looking-iat-ithe-ifigurine-iin-iher-ihands,-ishe-iheld-iit-iup-ibetween-iher-ithumb-iand-iindex-ifinger-ifor-ithe-iother-itwo-ito-isee.
To-iJames,-iit-ilooked-ilike-ia-ismall-icarving-iof-ia-iknight,-imaybe-iabout-itwo-iinches-ilong,-iin-ifull-iplate-iarmor-iand-ia-ifull-ihelm-ithat-icovered-ihis-iface.-iIn-ione-ihand,-ihe-iheld-ia-ilongsword.-iIn-ithe-iother,-ia-ilarge-ikite-ishield.-iTo-iJames,-iit-ilooked-ia-ibit-ilike-ian-iornately-icarved-ichess-ipiece.-i
"Well,-ithis-iis-iinteresting..."-iRose-isaid,-ibringing-ithe-ifigurine-icloser-ito-iher-iface.-iAfter-ia-imoment-iof-iinspecting-iit-icloser,-ishe-idropped-iit-iback-iinto-ithe-ipalm-iof-iher-ihand.
"What-ido-iyou-isuppose-iit-iis?"-iShe-iasked-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem.
James-ishrugged.
"I-idunno.-iJust-ilooks-ilike-ia-ilittle-igame-ipiece-ito-ime."-iHe-isaid,-ithen-iadded,-i"I-ikinda-ilike-iit."
"Might-ibe-imagical."-iMadeleine-isaid.
"Maybe."-iRose-isaid,-ilooking-iat-ithe-ismall-ifigurine-iin-iher-ihand.-iShe-iclosed-iher-ihand-iand-iheld-iit-iout-itowards-iJames.
"Well,-iif-iit's-imagical,-iit's-ino-iuse-ito-ime."-iShe-isaid.-i"You-ishould-itake-iit."
"Really?"-iJames-isaid-ias-ishe-idropped-ithe-ipiece-i
in-ihis-ihand.-i"Thanks!"
"Yeah.-iI'm-iglad-iyou-iwant-iit,-ibecause-iI'd-irather-ihave-ithe-iblades-ianyways."-iRose-isaid,-ismiling.
She-ireached-iout-iand-igrabbed-ithe-ithree-idaggers-iand-ithe-ipouches,-iand-ipicking-ithem-iup-iand-isetting-ithem-iin-iher-ilap-ibefore-igrabbing-ithe-ismall-iwooden-icase-iand-ihanding-iit-ito-iJames,-iwho'd-iscooped-iup-ithe-iother-itwo-ipouches.
Looking-iinside-ithe-ileather-ipouches,-iJames-ifound-ia-idecent-iamount-iof-icoins.-iCounting-ieverything-iout,-ihe'd-ijust-igotten-iabout-i35-igold,-iabout-ias-imany-isilver,-iand-itwice-ias-imany-icopper-ipieces.-iHe-iwasn't-isure-ithat-ithat-iwas-ivery-imuch,-ibut-isince-iit-iwas-ithe-ifirst-imoney-ihe'd-iever-ihad-iin-ithis-iworld,-ihe-ifelt-idownright-iwealthy-ihaving-iit.
He-icombined-iall-iof-ithe-icoins-iinto-ia-isingle-ione-iof-ithe-ipouches,-ithen-istuck-iit-iinto-ihis-ipack,-ialong-iwith-ithe-ifigurine,-iwhich-ihe'd-ireturned-ito-iits-iwooden-icase.-iHe-iget-ithe-isneaking-isuspicion-ithat-ithere-iwas-isomething-imore-ito-ithe-ifigurine-ithan-ijust-ibeing-ia-isilly-ilittle-itrinket,-ibut-ithat'd-iprobably-itake-ihim-isome-itime-ito-ifigure-iout.-iIf-ihe-iwas-isuper-ilucky,-imaybe-iit'd-ibe-isomething-iawesome-ilike-ithe-ifigurines-iof-ipower-iin-ithe-iold-itabletop-igames-ihe-iplayed-ithat-icame-ito-ilife-iand-idid-ithings-ifor-itheir-iowners,-ilike-ifight,-ior-ideliver-imessages,-ior-iother-isorts-iof-iuseful-ithings.-iBut,-ithose-iall-ihad-isome-isort-iof-icommand-iword-ior-isomething-ito-iactivate-ithem,-iand-ithey-ialso-ihad-iall-isorts-iof-ilimitations,-iso-ihe'd-ihave-ito-ifigure-ithose-iout-itoo.-i
All-iof-ithis,-iof-icourse,-iassuming-ithis-iwas-ianything-iother-ithan-ia-istone-iaction-ifigure.-iWhich-iit-iprobably-iwasn't,-ihonestly.
He-ilooked-iover-iat-iMadeleine,-iwho-iwas-icurrently-ipolishing-ia-idagger-iJames-ihadn't-inoticed-iamongst-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iloot.-iIt-iwas-idecidedly-inicer-ithan-ithe-ithree-ithat-ihad-ibeen-ihanded-ito-iRose,-iwith-ia-ihandle-ithat-ilooked-imade-iof-isolid-isilver,-iwith-iseveral-ired-igemstones-iset-iinto-ithe-ihilt.-iThe-iblade-iwas-icompletely-idevoid-iof-iany-imarks-ior-iblemishes,-iand-ihad-ia-ifaint-imulti-colored-iluster-iwhen-ithe-ilight-istruck-iit-ijust-iright.
Noticing-iJames-ilooking-iat-ithe-iblade,-iMadeleine-isheathed-iit.
"I'm-ithe-ionly-ione-iwithout-ia-iweapon,-iso-iI-itook-ithe-inicest-ione.-iI-ifigured-iyou-itwo-iwill-iprobably-ineed-imy-ihelp,-ieven-ithough-iI'm-ia-ibetter-isneak-ithan-ia-ifighter."-iShe-isaid,-istowing-ithe-idagger-iinside-iher-ipack-iagain.-iAfter-ithat,-ishe-igrabbed-ithe-iparchment-irolls-ioff-ithe-iground-ibeside-iher.
"And-ithese-iare-iscrolls-ifor-iEllie,-iafter-iwe-iget-iher-iout."-iShe-isaid,-isticking-ithem-iin-ithe-ibag.
"IF-iwe-iget-iher-iout."-iRose-isaid,-idarkening-islightly.
Madeleine-ilooked-iat-iher-isister,-iher-iface-iserious.
"When."
###-iChapter-i56-i--iStargazing
After-ifinishing-iup-ia-ilunch-iof-ipastries-iand-ibread-ifrom-ithe-ibakery,-ias-iwell-ias-isome-idried-imeat-iand-icheese-ithey'd-ibrought-iwith-ithem-ifrom-iSimon's-ihouse,-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ishouldered-itheir-ipacks-iand-icontinued-ion.-iAfter-iconsulting-ithe-imap-iand-isurveying-ithe-isurroundings,-iRose-isuggested-ithat-inow-iwould-ibe-ithe-iright-itime-ifor-ithem-ito-ileave-ithe-iroad-iand-ihead-iout-inortheast-itowards-ithe-imountain-iher-iand-iJames-ihad-idetermined-iwas-iprobably-iwhere-iEllie-iwas.
They-ileft-ithe-ismall-icopse-iof-itrees,-iand-irather-ithan-iheading-idue-inorth-ialong-ithe-iwell-beaten-ipath,-icrossed-iover-iinto-ithe-ifallow-ifield-iacross-ithe-iway,-iand-icontinued-ion.-iThey-iwalked-ifor-ithe-imajority-iof-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iday,-iuntil-ithe-isun-ibegan-ito-iset-iand-itransform-ithe-imostly-icloudless-isky-iinto-ia-ipastel-irainbow-iof-iyellows,-ioranges,-ipinks,-ireds,-iand-ipurples.
Since-ithey-iwere-isurrounded-iby-irolling-ifields-iin-iall-idirections,-iand-ia-icomplete-ilack-iof-iother-ifeatures,-ithere-iwasn't-imuch-iin-ithe-iway-iof-ishelter-ifor-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ito-itake-icover-iunder,-iso-iwhen-ithey-ifinally-imade-icamp,-ithey-isimply-ifound-ia-iflat,-idry-ispot-ion-itop-iof-ia-ilow-ihill,-iand-irolled-itheir-ibedrolls-iout-ionto-ithe-itall-igrass,-ipressing-iit-iflat-ibeneath-ithem.
As-ithe-isun-iset-iinto-inight,-ithe-itemperature-iaround-ithem-idropped-isignificantly,-ithough-ithanks-ito-ihis-irecent-iperk,-iJames-iwasn't-ibothered-iin-ithe-islightest-iby-iit.-iNeither-iwere-ithe-igirls,-ifrom-ithe-ilooks-iof-ithings.-iFor-icomfort's-isake,-iand-ipromise-iof-ihot-ifood-ifor-ia-ichange,-iJames-isuggested-istarting-ia-ifire,-ibut-iRose-ishot-ithe-iidea-idown.-iWith-ithem-iexposed-ilike-ithey-iwere,-ia-ifire-iwould-ireveal-itheir-iposition-ifor-imiles-iaround,-iand-ipossibly-iattract-iattention-ifrom-iplaces-ithey-ididn't-iwant-iit.
James,-ifor-ihis-ipart,-ifelt-istupid-ihe-ihadn't-ithought-iof-ithat,-iand-iagreed,-ideciding-ito-iplacate-ihimself-iwith-iusing-ia-ibit-iof-ihis-imagic-ito-iheat-iup-ia-isweetroll-ifrom-ihis-ipack.
As-inight-isettled-iin,-iand-ithe-ilast-ivestiges-iof-isunlight-idisappeared-ibelow-ithe-ihorizon,-ithe-idark-inight-isky-iexploded-iinto-ia-isea-iof-istars.-iIt-iwas-imore-iclear-ithan-iJames-ihad-iever-idreamed-iit-ipossible-ia-inight-isky-icould-ibe,-iall-ithe-imore-iso-ibecause-ithere-iwas-ino-imoon-iin-ithe-isky.
As-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ilay-ithere-ion-itheir-ibedrolls-igazing-iup-iat-ithe-isky,-iRose-ipointed-iout-idifferent-iconstellations-iin-ithe-isky-ito-ihim-iand-iMadeleine,-iand-itold-ihim-ia-ilittle-ibit-iof-ithe-ihistory-ibehind-ieach-ione.
"Over-ithere-iis-iSecundus,-ithe-iDragonslayer.-iYou-ican-itell-ibecause-iof-ithe-i5-istars-iin-ia-istraight-iline-iclose-itogether-ithat-imake-ihis-isword.-iAnd-iover-ithere-iis-iMyrmidan,-ithe-iSeven-Headed-iDragon-ithat-iSecondus-idefeated."-iRose-isaid,-ipointing-ito-ia-iforked-iconstellation-ithat-iculminated-iin-ia-icluster-iof-iseven-ivery-ibright-iyellow-istars.
"What-iabout-ithat-ibright-iblue-istar-iover-ithere?-iIs-ithere-isomething-ispecial-iabout-ithat?"-iJames-isaid,-ipointing-ito-iit.
"That's-iEleanor's-iEye.-iIt-ialways-imarks-ieast,-iso-iyou-iknow-iwhere-ithe-isun-iwill-ibe-icoming-ifrom."-iRose-isaid.
"Eleanor's-iEye?-iLike-iour-iEleanor?"-iJames-iasked.
"Dad-inamed-iher-iafter-ithe-istar-ibecause-iof-iher-icolor.-iThat-iand-ibecause-ishe-i'always-ileads-ithe-iway-ito-isunshine'.-iOr,-iat-ileast-ithat's-ihis-iexcuse."-iRose-iexplained.
"So-iwhy-iis-ithe-istar-icalled-iEleanor's-iEye?"-iJames-iasked.
"Eleanor-iArmysen-iwas-ia-igreat-ihuman-iarchmage-iwho-imapped-ithe-isky-ia-ilong-itime-iago.-iShe's-ithe-ione-iwho-inamed-imost-iof-ithe-ishapes-iin-iit.-iStories-iabout-iher-italk-iof-iher-ibeautiful-iblue-ieyes,-iand-iafter-iher-ideath,-isomeone-inamed-ithe-istar-iin-iher-ihonor.-iAfter-ithat,-ieveryone-ijust-icalled-iit-iEleanor's-iEye-iin-iher-ihonor."
###-iChapter-i57-i--iEleanor-iwakes-iup-i(part-i2)
As-ithe-iapproaching-ifootsteps-iand-ibraking-ivoices-igrew-icloser-iand-icloser,-iEleanor-icould-ifeel-iher-iheart-iracing-iin-iher-ichest.-iThere-iwas-ino-itelling-iwhat-ithe-ignolls-iwanted-ifrom-iher,-ior-ieven-iif-ithey-iplanned-ion-ikeeping-iher-ialive-iat-iall,-iand-ibased-ion-ithe-istories-ishe's-iheard-iwhispered-iby-isome-iof-ithe-iadventurers-iin-iHawkport,-ibeing-ikilled-ioutright-iby-ia-ignoll-itribe-iwas-ifar-imore-imerciful-ithan-ithe-ithings-ithat-iyou-iwere-isubjected-ito-iif-iyou-iweren't.
Especially-ias-ia-iwoman.-iThings-iit-iwas-isaid-ignolls,-iespecially-ichieftains,-idid-ito-ifemale-icaptors-iwas-ienough-ito-imake-ieven-ia-igrizzled-iadventurer-ilower-ihis-ivoice-iin-ipublic.
Even-ithe-ithought-iof-isomething-ilike-ithat-ihappening-ito-iher-imade-iher-iabsolutely-iterrified.-iBut-iwhat-iwas-ishe-igoing-ito-ido?-iShe-ididn't-ihave-ithe-iability-ito-icast-iany-ispells-iof-ivalue,-iand-ieven-iif-ishe-icould,-ihow-imany-ignolls-ifollowed-ithe-ichieftain-ithat-ihad-itaken-iher?-i20?-i50?-i200?
She-ihad-ino-iidea.
But,-ithat-iserved-ithe-ipoint-iin-iher-ihead.-iEven-iif-ishe-icould-ifight-iback,-iit-iwas-istill-ivery-ilikely-ishe'd-inever-imake-iit-iout-ialive.-i
No,-ithere-iwere-ionly-ithree-iways-iout-iof-ithis.
She-iwas-igoing-ito-ihave-ito-ifind-ia-iway-ito-itrick-iher-iway-iout,-ibe-irescued-iby-isomeone-ielse,-ior-idie-
iat-ithe-iend-iof-ia-ignoll's-iweapon.-iShe-iwas-inot-iabout-ito-ispend-imonths-ior-iyears-iliving-ias-isome-imonster's-iviolated-iplaything-iuntil-ishe-idied-iof-istarvation-ior-iabuse-ior-ineglect.
But-iwhat-ito-ido.....-iwhat-ito-ido...
She-isat-iwracking-iher-ibrain-ias-itwo-ilarge-ignolls-istomped-iinto-ithe-ichamber,-iboth-icarrying-iheavy,-icrudely-imade-iglaives.-iThey-iboth-ilooked-iat-iher,-iand-ione-iof-ithem-igrinned-iwickedly-ibefore-isnarling-isomething-iin-ignolltongue.-iThe-iother-ione-ilaughed-ia-iwicked,-igiggling-ilaugh,-iand-ilooked-iat-iEleanor-iwith-ian-ievil-iexpression-ithat-imade-iher-iheart-istand-istill-ifor-ia-imoment.-iThe-ione-iwho-ilaughed-iwalked-iover-ito-iwhere-ishe-isat,-ishifting-ihis-iglaive-ifrom-ihis-iright-ihand-ito-ihis-ileft-ias-ihe-ipulled-ia-iring-iof-icrudely-imade-ikeys-ioff-ihis-ibelt.-iWhile-ihe-iapproached-iher,-ithe-iother-ignoll-idrew-icloser-iand-iextended-ihis-iglaive-iuntil-ithe-itip-iof-ithe-iblade-isat-ipoint-ifirst-iagainst-ithe-isoft-iof-iher-ithroat.
"Dront-iMoovfe."-iThe-ignoll-igrowled.
Eleanor-iheard-ithe-ikeys-ijangling-iabove-iand-ibehind-iher-ihead,-ifollowed-ia-imoment-ilater-iby-ithe-iloud-iclick-iof-ithe-ilock-iholding-iher-ichains-ipopping-ifree.-iThe-ignoll-iwith-ithe-ikeys-ibent-idown,-igrabbed-ithe-islack-ilength-iof-ichain-ithat-isat-ion-ithe-iground-ibeside-iher,-iand-iwith-ia-istiff-ijerk-itugged-iher-ito-iher-ifeet,-inearly-icausing-ithe-iother-ignoll-ito-itear-iher-ithroat-iopen-iwith-ihis-iglaive-ias-ishe-iwas-idrug-iup-iunexpectedly.
Struggling-ipast-ithe-itension-inow-ibeing-ipressed-ion-iher-ithroat-ifrom-ithe-ignoll's-itight-igrip-ion-ithe-icollar-ichain,-iEleanor-iturned-iher-ihead-itowards-ithe-ignoll-iwho-ipulled-iher-iup-iand-iasked-i"Where-iare-iyou-itaking-ime,-idog?"
As-iif-ion-icue,-ithe-iother-ignoll-ibrought-ihis-iglaive-iarround-iand-iforcefully-ismacked-iher-iface-iwith-ithe-iflat-iof-ithe-iblade,-inot-ihard-ienough-ito-ibreak-ianything,-ibut-ihard-ienough-ito-icause-iher-ihead-ito-iswim.
