Page 17

Mary shuddered; she hated filth of any kind. But then she said, “I’d do it if it would help my family.”

Otto laughed. “Ah, you’re right to say so, Mary. Any of us would serve the baron, however he wanted us to, if it meant our survival.”

“But as it is, we must steal to live,” I said. “So let’s hurry up and finish what we came for, shall we?”

CHAPTER 16

I was shoving salted bacon into my sack when I noticed Merrick huddled in a corner, ripping enormous bites out of a leg of roasted peacock. I could even hear his teeth cracking the bones.

“Merrick,” I said. “We eatlater!”

He shook his head. “Too hungry,” he said, his mouth so full he could barely speak.

Otto, laughing, held a piece of pale white bread close to my lips. “We need strength for the stealing, love! Open up.”

My mouth watered. I couldn’t resist. Against my better judgment, I let him feed it to me. I closed my eyes at the soft, sweet wonder of it. I’d never had anything so fine. It tasted like hope. Like life itself.

“The baron would surely be pleased to see you enjoying his bread so much,” Otto said. “Too bad he’s asleep in his fine bed, ignorant of the peasants helping themselves to his leftovers!”

“I’ll wager he’s a drunk, like his father,” said Maraulf.

“I’ll wager he’s a spindly weakling, with a prick no bigger than this,” said Merrick, holding a limp, cooked parsnip between his legs.

Vazi’s shoulders shook with laughter, and Otto covered his mouth to stifle a guffaw.

“Enough talking! More stealing!” I said, now grabbing atwhatever I could reach. Bread, cheese, sausages all got swept into my sack, and the heavier the sack got, the better I felt. My plan wasworking. We wouldn’t have to starve.

The others were quiet now, swiftly taking all that they could. I tucked eggs into the bodice of my dress and lowered a block of salt into my bag.

My name is Hannah Dory, and I have saved us.

When my bag was full to bursting and I had to bend under its weight, I called to the rest of them softly. “All right, we’ve been here long enough.”

Maraulf nodded, slinging his sack over his shoulder with a grunt. I looked around for Mary—she was in the corner, pulling little wheels of cheese from a basket. “Mary,” I said. “We need to go!”

She turned around, her face alight with relief. “Yes, Hannah,let’s,” she whispered. “I’m scared.”

“We’ll be safe outside in a matter of minutes,” I assured her.

Then Vazi, reaching for a flagon of wine, knocked a poker into a kettle.

It rang like a bell.

For a moment, we froze where we stood. From across the room, Mary’s frightened eyes met mine. Her sack dropped from her trembling hands with a thud. I started inching toward the stairs, motioning for her to follow.Leave it, I silently begged.Come with me. Now!

The castle was quiet, and for a moment I allowed myself to hope that no guards had heard.

Into the tunnel, and then we’ll be safe!

I was at the top of the stairs when the night exploded around us—shouts, footsteps, and the hiss of knives drawn from their sheaths.

“Run!” I shouted.

It will naturally be asked by what sign is a man or woman to know when they are threatened with a breakdown.

By no one sign in particular. One cloud does not make a wet day. It is only when other clouds begin to gather and we feel a certain change in the atmosphere that we surmise that rain is coming. The signs which warn us of the approach of a storm are almost too indefinite for words.

fromNervous Breakdowns and How to Avoid Them