Alternative Life Page 12
Uncorking-ithe-iwaterskin,-ihe-isoaked-ione-iend-iof-ithe-icloth,-iand-ibegan-ito-igently-iwipe-iand-idap-iat-ithe-iwound,-iclearing-iaway-ithe-idirt,-igrime,-iand-idried-iblood-ithat-isat-iaround-iand-iin-iit.-iRose-iflinched-iand-igritted-iher-iteeth,-ibut-isaid-inothing-ias-ihe-iworked.-iAfter-ia-iminute-ior-itwo,-iit-ilooked-ito-ibe-iabout-ias-igood-ias-ihe-icould-iget-iit-iwithout-ibetter-isupplies.
As-ia-ifinal-istep,-ihe-ipoured-imore-iof-ithe-icontents-iof-ithe-iskin-iover-ithe-iinjury,-iwashing-iaway-iany-ilast-ireside-ihis-icleaning-ihad-ileft-ibehind.-iAfter-ihe-idid-iso,-ihe-iinspected-ihis-iwork,-iand-ipursed-ihis-ilips.
"It's-ia-ishame-iwe-idon't-ihave-iany-ialcohol...-iIt-icould-ireally-iuse-isome-ito-ihelp-imake-isure-iit-idoesn't-iget-iworse."-iHe-isaid.-i"I-ididn't-ibring-iany-iwith-ime-iwhen-iwe-ileft."
He-ilooked-ia-imoment-ilonger.-i"We-icould-ihonestly-ialso-iuse-isome-ireal-ibandages.-iI-idon't-ithink-ia-ihandkerchief-iis-igonna-icut-iit-ifor-ilong."
Rose-imotioned-itowards-ithe-iother-itwo-ibags-istill-isitting-iby-ithe-ientrance-ito-ithe-ibakery.
"Check-iEleanor's-ibag.-iShe-ispends-isome-iof-iher-itime-ioff-ifrom-ithe-iacademy-itreating-ithe-isick-iand-iinjured,-iand-ishe-isometimes-icarried-ihealing-isupplies-iwith-iher-iother-ispell-icomponents-iwhen-ishe-itravels-iwith-ius.-iMaybe-ishe'll-ihave-isomething-iin-ithere-iyou-icould-iuse."
"Well,-ithat's-iconvenient."-iJames-isaid,-istanding-iup-iand-iwalking-itowards-ithe-idoor.-iHe-igrabbed-iEleanor's-ipack,-iand-idropped-iit-ibeside-ihis-ibefore-isitting-iback-idown.-iHe-ipulled-iit-iopen,-iand-ibegan-idigging-ithrough-iits-icontents.-iThere-iwas-ian-iassortment-iof-ifoodstuffs-ion-itop,-iwhich-ihe-ipulled-iout-iand-iset-ito-ithe-iside.-iBelow-ithat,-ihe-isaw-itwo-ispare-idresses,-iand-ia-ilarger-ileather-ipouch-ithat-ihe-irecognized-ias-iEllie's-imain-ispell-icomponent-ipouch-ifrom-ihis-itime-ipracticing-imagic-iwith-iher.
Beneath-ithat,-ihe-isaw-ia-icouple-ismall-ibundles-istuffed-ito-ione-iside.-iThey-iboth-ifelt-isoft,-ialmost-isilky.-iAs-ihe-igrabbed-ione-iand-ibegan-ito-ipull-iit-iout-ito-iinspect-iit,-ithe-ibundle-ifell-iopen-iin-ihis-ihand-iinside-ithe-ibag,-iand-ihe-ilooked-idown-ito-iinspect-iit.
It-iwas-ia-ipair-iof-ivery-iscanty-iunderwear.-iThey-ilooked-ihandmade,-iwith-ipink-iflowers-iembroidered-ion-ithe-ifront,-iand-ilace-isewn-iaround-ithe-iwaist-iand-ileg-ibands.-iRealizing-iwhat-ihe-iwas-iholding,-iJames-ifelt-ithe-iblood-irush-ito-ihis-iface,-iand-ihe-iquickly-ijammed-ithe-iitem-iback-iin-ithe-ibag.
Rose-ilooked-iat-ihim-iwith-iconfusion.-i"What-iwas-ithat-iabout?"-iShe-iasked.
"Oh,-inothing.-iNothing."-iJames-isaid,-ilaughing-iuncomfortably.-i"I-ijust-ifelt-ilike-iI-ihad-isomething-icrawl-ion-ime,-iand-iit-istartled-ime."
"Okay..."-iRose-isaid,-ilooking-iat-ihim-iin-ia-iway-ithat-itold-ihim-ishe-imight-inot-ibe-ibuying-ihis-iexcuse,-ibut-isaying-inothing-ielse.-i
Moving-ihis-inew-idiscoveries-igently-ito-ithe-iside-iof-ithe-ibag,-iJames-idug-idown-ifurther,-iand-ifelt-ia-ismall,-ihard-ishape-ithat-ifelt-ia-ibit-ilike-ia-ibottle.-iHe-ipulled-ithis-iout,-iand-ifound-iit-iwas-ifilled-iwith-ia-iclear,-iwater-like-iliquid.-iWhen-ihe-ipulled-ithe-istopper-iand-isniffed-iit,-ihowever,-ithe-iscent-iof-ialcohol-inearly-imade-ihis-ieyes-iwater.
"Whew.-iYep,-ishe-idoes."-iHe-isaid,-icoughing.-iHe-iset-ithe-ibottle-iin-ifront-iof-ihim-ion-ithe-iwooden-ifloor.-iA-ilittle-ifurther-iitto-ithe-ibag,-inear-ithe-ibottom,-ihe-ifound-iseveral-istrips-iof-iwhite-ilinen-ifolded-ineatly-iin-ibundles-isimilar-ienough-ito-iEleanor's-iunderwear-ithat-ihis-iheartrate-idoubled-iagain-iwhen-ihe-ifirst-ifound-ithem.-i
###-iChapter-i50-i--iBedrolls-iand-iBandages-i(part-i3)
To-idistract-ihimself,-iJames-iset-ito-iwork-ion-ithe-isecond-istage-iof-itreating-iRose's-iwound,-ipouring-ia-ibit-iof-ithe-ialcohol-ifrom-ithe-ibottle-idirectly-ionto-iit.-iRose-iyelped-iand-isnapped-iher-imouth-ishut-ito-istop-iherself-ifrom-ibeing-iloud-ibefore-iletting-iout-ia-istifled-igroan-iof-ipain-ithrough-iher-iteeth.
After-ithat,-iJames-ibegan-ito-iwrap-iher-iarm,-iplacing-ione-ipiece-iof-ilinen-ifolded-iseveral-itimes-iover-iitself-ion-ithe-iaffected-iarea,-ibefore-iwrapping-iaround-iit-iwith-ianother-ipiece,-ieventually-itying-iboth-iends-iof-ithe-ibandage-itogether-iin-ia-isurgeon's-iknot-ito-ikeep-ithe-iwhole-ithing-iin-iplace.
After-ihe-ifinished,-iJames-isat-iback-iand-iadmired-ihis-iwork.-iAll-ithings-iconsidered,-ihe-iactually-ifelt-ipretty-igood-iabout-ithis,-idespite-ihow-isimple-iit-iwas-ito-ido.-iHe'd-ispent-iso-imuch-iof-ihis-ilife-idoing-inothing-iof-ivalue-ithat-inow-ieven-idoing-ithe-isimplest-ithings-iover-ithe-ipast-iseveral-iweeks-imake-ihim-ifeel-ilike-ia-icomplete-ibadass.-iIt-iwas-inice.-iIs-ithis-iwhat-inormal-ipeople-iwith-iself-confidence-ifelt-ilike-ion-ia-iregular-ibasis?-iBecause-iif-iso,-iJames-iwas-iperfectly-iready-ito-ibe-inormal-iat-ithis-ipoint.
As-ihe-iwas-ireflecting-ion-ithis,-iRose-ileaned-iover,-iand-iwithout-iwarning,-ikissed-iJames-ion-ithe-icheek,-ibefore-isitting-iback-iand-ilooking-iat-ihim-iwith-ia-iwarm-ismile.-iJames-ireached-ihis-ihand-iup-ito-itouch-ithe-ispot.-iThe-ikiss-ihad-ibeen-inearly-ihot-ienough-ito-iburn-ihim,-ibut-ihe-iwasn't-ifeeling-ithe-iheat-iin-ithis-imoment.
"Thanks,-iMister-iHero."-iShe-isaid,-ialmost-ibashfully.-iJames-icouldn't-itell-iif-ishe-iwas-iputting-ithis-ion-ior-ibeing-igenuine,-ibut-ihe-iwas-iwilling-ito-itake-iit-iat-iface-ivalue.
For-ithe-ithird-itime-iin-ithe-ipast-isixty-iseconds,-iJames-ifound-ihis-iheart-iracing.
"Uh,-iyeah...-idon't-imention-iit."-iHe-isaid-isheepishly,-ibefore-istarting-ito-ipack-ieverything-iback-iaway-iinto-iits-irespective-ibags.
As-ihe-ipacked-ieverything-iaway,-iRose-ibegan-istripping-ioff-iher-ileather-iarmor,-isetting-ieach-ipiece-ioff-ito-ithe-iside-ias-ishe-idid-iso,-ibefore-ifinally-istripping-ioff-iher-itorn-iand-ibloodstained-iouter-itunic,-ileaving-iher-iin-inothing-ibut-ithe-ithinly-ipadded-ilinen-ibodywrap-ishe-iwore-iunderneath.
This-iwas-ithe-imost-iuncovered-iJames-ihad-iever-iseen-iher,-iand-ihe-itried-ito-ifocus-iharder-ion-iwhat-ihe-iwas-idoing-iso-ihe-iwouldn't-ibe-istaring-iall-icreepily-iat-iher-ilike-isome-ikinda-ipervert-ias-ishe-igot-iundressed.-iFrom-ihis-icouple-iglances,-ihe-icould-isee-ipronounced-iscars-iraising-ifrom-iher-ishoulders,-ichest,-iand-iback,-isome-irecognizable-ias-islashing-iwounds-ifrom-iblades.-iOthers,-ihowever,-ihe-ididn't-irecognize-ithe-icause-iof,-iand-ithis-imade-ihis-idesire-ito-istare-iall-ithat-imuch-iworse.-iThe-ifact-ithat-ihe-ialso-ihad-ia-ithing-ifor-imuscular-igirls-iwasn't-ihelping,-ieither.-iI-imean,-ihe-ihad-ia-ithing-ifor-ibasically-iEVERY-ikind-iof-igirl,-ihonestly,-ibut-iwho-iwas-ireally-ieven-ikeeping-itrack-iat-ithis-ipoint?-i
After-ia-imoment-ihowever,-iRose-ipulled-ion-ia-inew-itunic,-ihiding-ithem-iaway-iagain,-iand-ileaving-iJames-ito-iwonder-iwhat-ion-iearth-ithe-igirl-ihad-ibeen-ithrough-ito-igive-iher-isome-iof-ithose-iscars.
After-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem-ifinished-iprepping-ifor-ibed,-iJames-igrabbed-ithe-ioil-ilantern-ioff-ithe-itable-iand-ibrought-iit-idown-ito-ithe-ifloor-inext-ito-itheir-itwo-ibedrolls-iso-iit-iwould-ibe-ieasy-ito-iextinguish-iwhen-ithey-ifinally-iwent-ito-isleep.
After-ifinally-ilaying-idown-iand-iputting-ihis-iarms-ibehind-ihis-ihead,-iJames-iasked-iRose-isomething-ithat-ihad-ibeen-ibothering-ihim-ifor-ithe-ilast-ihour.-i"Hey-iRose?"
"Yeah?"-iShe-isaid,-irolling-ion-iher-iside-iand-ipropping-iher-ihead-iup-ito-imake-ieye-icontact-iwith-ihim.-i"What's-iup?"
"Well,-iI've-ibeen-isitting-ihere-itrying-ito-ifigure-iout-iwhy-iyou-ididn't-iburn-ime-iwhen-iyou-igrabbed-ime-iearlier-ior-ihugged-ime.-iThat's-inever-ihappened-ibefore,-iand-iI-idon't-iknow-iwhat-ichanged."-iHe-isaid.
"Oh..."-iShe-isaid,-iseeming-ia-ibit-itaken-iaback.-i"I-ithough-iyou'd-ihad-ianother-iwish-igranted-ior-isomething."-i
###-iChapter-i51-i--iBedrolls-iand-iBandages-i(Part-i4)
"No,-iI-ihaven't-ibeen-igiven-iany-iother-irewards.-iI-ispent-ithe-ilast-ione-iI-igot-ito-ifind-iout-iwhere-iEleanor-iis-iso-iwe-ican-irescue-iher."-iJames-isaid,-ibefore-iadding-i"And-itrust-ime,-inobody-iwants-ime-ito-istop-ibeing-iburned-iby-iyou-ithree-imore-ithan-ime."
Rose-ilooked-ipuzzled,-istaring-ioff-iinto-ithe-imiddle-idistance-iin-ithought-ifor-ia-imoment-ibefore-ishe-iasked-i"Are-iyou
-istill-iable-ito-itouch-ime-inow?"
"I-ihonestly-idon't-iknow.-iI'm-ialmost-iafraid-ito-itry."-iJames-isaid.
"Well,-iif-iyou-idon't,-iyou'll-inever-iknow."-iRose-isaid.-i"Hold-iout-iyour-ihand."
"Okay...-iJames-isaid,-ihesitating.
He-ireached-ihis-ihand-iout-igingerly-iand-iheld-iit-iout,-ipalm-iup-iin-ifront-iof-ihim.-iRose-ilifted-ione-iof-iher-ihands-ioff-iher-ilap,-iand-igently-iran-iher-ifingertip-iacross-ithe-iinside-iof-ihis-ipalm.-iJames-iinstinctively-iflinched-iand-ipulled-iaway,-ishaking-ihis-ihand-iseveral-itimes.-iShe-iwas-ipainfully-ihot-ito-ithe-itouch-iagain,-iand-ithe-iinside-iof-ihis-ihand-istung-ifor-ia-ifew-iseconds-iafterward.
"No-igood,-ihuh?"-iRose-isaid,-ilooking-iat-ihim-iapologetically.
"Fraid-inot."-iJames-isaid,-igrimacing.
"Sorry-iabout-ithat."-iShe-isaid,-iand-ithen-iadded-i"I-iwonder-iwhat-icould-ihave-imade-iit-ipossible-ibefore....-iDo-iyou-ithink-iit-ihad-isomething-ito-ido-iwith-ime-icrying-ior-isomething?"
James-ithought-iabout-ithat-ifor-ia-imoment.
"I-ihonestly-idon't-iknow.-iDo-iyou-inormally-ifeel-icold-iwhen-iyou're-isad-ior-isomething?"-iHe-iasked.
"I-iguess?-iI've-inever-ireally-inoticed-ione-iway-ior-ithe-iother."-iShe-isaid,-ishrugging.
"Well,-ithat'll-ihave-ito-ibe-iour-iworking-itheory-ifor-inow,-ibecause-iwhatever-iit-iwas,-iit's-igone-inow,-iand-iI'm-inot-ilooking-ito-imake-iyou-icry-iagain-ijust-ito-isee-iif-iI-ican-itouch-iyou.-iIt'll-ibe-imy-iluck-iyou'll-ibe-iupset-iAND-istill-iburn-ime."-iJames-isaid-iplayfully.
"Maybe."-iRose-isaid,-ilifting-iher-ihead-iand-imaking-ieye-icontact-iwith-ihim-ithrough-iher-ieyelashes.-iHer-iyellow-iirises-iseemed-ito-ialmost-iglow-iin-ithe-iwarm,-iflickering-ilamplight,-iand-ishe-ismiled-ia-ismall,-icrooked-ismile.-i"Maybe-ione-iday-iwe'll-ifigure-iout-ihow-ito-imake-iit-ihappen-iagain."
Her-ilook-itook-ion-ian-ialmost-isuggestive-iquality-ias-ishe-isaid-ithis,-icausing-iJames's-iheartrate-ito-ispeed-iup-iagain.-iHe-iwasn't-isure-iif-ishe-imeant-iwhat-ihe-ifelt-ishe-iwas-iimplying,-ibut-ieither-iway,-ihe-ifelt-ihis-iface-iredden,-iand-iafter-ia-imoment-iof-iher-istatement-ihanging-iin-ithe-iair-ibetween-ithem,-iJames-icleared-ihis-ithroat-iawkwardly,-iand-ichanged-ithe-isubject.-i
"So,-iwe-ihave-iabout-i3-idays-itravel-ito-iget-ito-ithe-icave-iwhere-iEllie-iis.-iIt's-isomewhere-ithrough-ia-iforest,-iover-ia-iriver,-iand-iup-ithe-iside-iof-ia-imountain.-iI-idon't-iknow-iwhere-ithat-iis-iin-irelation-ito-ianything-ielse-iin-ithis-iworld,-ibut-ithat's-iwhere-iwe're-igoing."-iHe-isaid.
"3-idays....-ithrough-ia-iforest...-iside-iof-ia-imountain...."-iRose-imuttered-ito-iherself-ias-ishe-ireached-ifor-iher-ipack.-iRummaging-ithrough-iit-ifor-ia-imoment,-ishe-ipulled-iout-ia-irolled-ipiece-iof-iparchment,-iand-iunrolled-iit-iout-iin-ifront-iof-iher.
Looking-iacross,-iJames-icould-isee-ithat-iis-iwas-ia-imap-iof-isome-ikind.-iIt-iwas-iweather-stained-ibrown,-iand-ilooked-ihandmade,-iwhich-iit-iprobably-iwas.-iAfter-ia-imoment-istaring-iat-ithe-imap,-iRose-ipointed-iat-ia-ispot-ion-iit.
"That's-iprobably-iwhere-ishe-iis,-iif-iyou're-iright."-iShe-isaid.
Her-ifinger-ihovered-iabove-ia-isingle-ifree-standing-imountain-isandwiched-iamong-ia-igroup-iof-ihills-inot-iterribly-ifar-inortheast-ifrom-ithe-itown-ithey-iwere-ilocated-iin-ion-ithe-imap.-iDrawing-ia-istraight-iline-iwith-ihis-ieyes,-iJames-icould-isee-ithat,-ibased-ion-ithe-idrawing-iin-ifront-iof-ihim,-ithey'd-iencounter-iall-iof-ithe-ilandmarks-ihe'd-idescribed.-iFrom-ithe-ilooks-iof-ithings,-ithis-iwould-ibe-ithe-ionly-imountain-ithey-icould-ireach-iwithin-ithree-idays-itravel-ithat-iwould-ihave-ithem-icross-ieverything-iFrumpkin-ihad-ishown-ihim.
"Yeah,-ithat'd-ihave-ito-ibe-iit."-iJames-isaid,-inodding.-iHe-ilooked-iup-iat-iRose-iand-ismiled.-i"Good-iwork!"
Rose-ismiled-iback.-i"Thanks,"-ishe-isaid,-ibefore-irolling-iup-ithe-imap-iagain-iand-isticking-iit-iin-iher-ipack.
"Now,-iI-ithink-iit's-itime-ifor-isome-isleep.-iWe-ihave-ia-ilong-iday-iahead-iof-ius-itomorrow."-iJames-isaid.
And-iwith-ithat,-ihe-iblew-iout-ithe-ilantern,-iplunging-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem-iinto-ithe-idarkness-iof-ia-ilong-inight's-isleep.
###-iChapter-i52-i--iEleanor-iwakes-iup
Slowly,-iEleanor's-iconsciousness-ireturned,-iand-iwith-iit,-ia-isearing-iheadache.-iShe-islowly-iopened-iher-ieyes,-iand-itook-iin-iher-iimmediate-isurroundings-ias-ishe-itried-ito-iget-iher-ibearings-ion-iwhere-ishe-iwas.
The-ifloor-ishe-iwas-isitting-ion-iwas-idamp-idirt.-iThe-iwalls-iwere-ismooth,-inatural-ilooking-istone,-islick-iwith-imoisture-iand-ireflecting-ithe-iflicker-iof-ithe-itorchlight-icoming-ifrom-iher-ileft.-iFrom-ithe-ilooks-iof-iit,-ishe-iwas-iin-ia-icave,-ior-isomewhere-iunderground.-iMaybe-iboth.-iOverhead,-ithe-iroom's-iceiling-idisappeared-iinto-ishadow-isome-idistance-iabove-iher,-iand-iit-isounded-ilike-ithere-iwas-irunning-iwater-isomewhere-iin-ithe-idistance,-ibut-ishe-icouldn't-itell-ihow-ifar-iaway-iit-iwas,-ior-ihow-ilarge-ithe-isource-iwas.
As-ishe-itook-ieverything-iin,-iit-itook-ihere-ia-iminute-ito-iput-itogether-ihow-ishe-ihad-iended-iup-ihere.-iThe-ignoll-ihad-igotten-ithe-ijump-ion-iher,-iand-iremoved-iher-iability-ito-icounter-ihis-imagic.-iThat-iwas-iher-iown-ifault.-iShe'd-itrusted-ithe-idog-ito-ibe,-iperhaps-inot-itrustworthy,-ibut-iat-ileast-iafraid-ienough-iof-ihis-icompromised-iposition-ito-inot-itry-ianything-istupid.-iAnd-ias-ia-iresult,-ishe'd-ibeen-icaught-icompletely-ioff-iguard.-iWay-ito-igo,-iEllie.-iYou-ifell-ifor-ione-iof-ithe-ioldest-itricks-iin-ithe-ibook.-iStupid-iidiot.
Everything-ihurt.-iHer-ihead,-iher-iback,-iher-imuscles,-iher-ibutt,-iit-iall-ifelt-ilike-ishe'd-itaken-ia-ilong-itumble-idown-ia-irock-covered-ihill.-iAnd-iin-imore-ithan-ia-icouple-iplaces-ion-iher-iarms-iand-iface-iher-iskin-ifelt-iraw-iand-iexposed,-iwhich-iwere-iprobably-iburns-ifrom-ithe-ifireballs-ishe'd-ibarely-iavoided-ibeing-idestroyed-iby.
Her-istaff-iwas-idestroyed,-ithough.-iThat-imade-iher-imore-iupset-ithan-ianything.-iShe'd-ibeen-igiven-ithat-iby-iMystera-iRunus-ibefore-iher-igraduation-iat-ithe-iColtriss-iAcademy-ias-ia-igift.-iNow,-ishe'd-ihave-ito-imake-ia-inew-ione,-ior-itake-ione-ifrom-isomeone-ielse.-iThat-iwas-igoing-ito-ibe-ia-ipain.
But-ithat-iassumed-ishe-iwas-iever-igoing-ito-isee-ianything-ioutside-iof-ithis-iroom-iagain.-iWhich-ishe-imight-inot.-iShe-iinstinctively-ireached-idown-ito-ithe-iplace-iwhere-iher-ispell-icomponent-ipouch-iwould-ibe,-ibut-iwhen-ishe-ifelt-inothing-ibut-isinged-ifabric-iand-ilooked-idown,-ishe-iremembered-ithat-iit's-ibeen-idestroyed.-iWithout-iits-icontents,-ishe-iwouldn't-ibe-iable-ito-icast-ianything-ibut-ithe-isimplest-icantrips,-iand-ithat-iwas-iif-ishe-iwas-iwell-rested-iand-ihad-iaccess-ito-iher-ispellbook,-iwhich-iwas-iconveniently-iinside-iher-ibackpack,-iwherever-ithat-iwas-iat-ithis-ipoint.-iShe-iwas,-ifor-iall-iintents-iand-ipurposes,-idefenseless.-iThe-ionly-ispells-ishe-ihad-imemorized-iwere-iPrestidigitation-iand-iRead-iMagic,-iand-iwhile-ithey-ididn't-ineed-iany-icomponents-ito-icast,-ithey-iwould-ihelp-iher-ia-iwhole-ibunch-iof-inothing-ifor-igetting-iaway.
And-ispeaking-iof-igetting-iaway,-ias-iif-ito-imake-ithings-iworse,-ishe-iwas-ichained-ito-ia-ilarge-iwooden-ipost-iburied-iinto-ithe-iground-ibehind-iher-iback.-iHer-iarms-iand-ilegs-iwere-ifree,-ibut-ithey'd-istuck-ia-iheavy-ileather-iand-imetal-icollar-iaround-iher-ineck-ihooked-ito-ia-ilength-iof-ichain-iwrapped-iaround-ithe-ipost.-iWhile-iit-igave-iher-isome-iroom-ito-ichange-ipositions,-iit-iprevented-iher-ifrom-ieither-istanding-iup-ior-ilaying-idown,-iboth-ifacts-ithat-ishe'd-idiscovered-ipainfully-iwhen-ishe'd-ifirst-itried-ito-imove-ia-ilittle-iwhile-iprior.
After-iseveral-imore-iminutes-iof-itrying-ito-idiscover-ianything-iin-iher-isurroundings-ithat-iwould-ihelp-iher,-iEleanor-islumped-iback-iagainst-ithe-ichain-ipost,-idefeated.-iOutside-iof-imatching-iposts-ito-iher-ileft-iand-iright,-ithe-iroom-iwas-icompletely-iempty,-isave-ithe-idirt-ifloor-iand-ithe-istone-iwalls.-iNot-iso-imuch-ias-ia-ipiece-iof-igrass,-ipebble,-ior-ianything-ielse-iwas-iout-iof-iplace.-iWhoever-ihad-ichained-iher-iup-ihad-iapparently-ibeen-ivery-icareful-ito-imake-isure-inothing-ithat-icould-ipossible-ibe-iused-ifor-ispellcasting-iwould-ibe-iaccessible-ito-iher.-iShe-ihad-ito-igive-ithem-icredit.-iWhoever-ihad-imade-ithat-idecision-iwas-ismart.
As-ishe-irested-iagainst-ithe-ipost,-ishe-iwonde
red-iif-iJames-iand-iher-isisters-iwere-ilooking-ifor-iher.-iShe-idoubted-ithey'd-ibe-iable-ito-ifind-iher,-iespecially-iconsidered-ishe'd-ibeen-iteleported-iaway.-iBut-iRose-iand-iMaddy-iwere-ismart.-iAnd-iJames...-ihe-iwas-isupposed-ito-ibe-iGod's-ichosen-ihero,-iright?-iAnything-iwas-ipossible...-iright?
As-ishe-ireflected-ion-ithis,-ishe-iheard-igrowling-iand-ibarking-iin-ithe-iguttural-ilanguage-iof-ithe-ignolls.-iThen-ianother-ivoice-iresponded.-iAnd-ithen,-iapproaching-ifootsteps.
###-iChapter-i53-i--iA-iLesson-ion-iLooting
James-isleepily-iawoke-ito-iMadeleine's-iface,-ilaying-iapproximately-isix-iinches-iaway-ifrom-ihis,-istaring-iat-ihim-iexpressionless.-iHe-ishrieked-iand-isat-ibolt-iupright,-iscooting-ia-ifew-ifeet-iback-ion-ihis-ihands-iand-ibehind-iuntil-ihis-ibrain-icleared-iand-ihe-iwas-ifully-iawake.-i
"That's-ia-ilittle-idramatic,-idon't-iyou-ithink?"-iMadeleine-isaid,-iraising-ian-ieyebrow.
"Well-iI-iwasn't-iexpecting-ito-ihave-iyou-iin-imy-iface-istaring-iit-iat-ime!-iIt-ifreaked-ime-iout!"-iJames-isaid,-istarting-ito-icalm-idown.
"You-iscare-itoo-ieasily."-iMadeleine-isaid,-igetting-iup-iand-iwalking-iover-ito-ithe-icounter-iwhere-ithe-ipastry-ibaskets-isat.
"You-ialso-isleep-ilate.-iMe-iand-iRose-ihave-ibeen-iawake-ifor-ihours-iwaiting-ifor-iyou-ito-iwake-iup.-iOh,-iand-iyou-isnore.-iDid-iyou-iknow-ithat?"-iShe-isaid.
James-igrunted,-irubbing-ithe-idust-ifrom-ihis-ieyes,-iand-istood-iup,-iyawning.-iOf-icourse-ihe-iknew-ihe-iwas-ilazy-iand-islept-ilate.-iIt'd-itaken-ihim-ia-ilong-itime-ito-iget-iover-ihis-iinsomnia-isince-icoming-ito-ithis-iworld,-iand-inow-ithat-ihe-iwas-iwell-ipast-iit,-ihe-iwas-igoing-ito-ienjoy-ihis-isleep,-ithank-iyou-ivery-imuch.-iHe-iwas-iabout-ito-isay-ias-imuch-iwhen-ihe-inoticed-ithat-iRose-iwasn't-iin-ithe-iroom-iwith-ithem.-iAfter-ilooking-iaround-ifor-ia-imoment,-ihe-iturned-ito-iMadeleine-iand-iasked-i"Where-iis-iRose?"