Alternative Life Read online

  "I-isometimes-iforget-ihow-isharp-imy-iblades-iare.-iIntimidation-iwas-ithe-igoal.-iHarming-iyou,-ihowever,-iwas-inot."

  James-iwiped-ihis-ihand-ion-ihis-ipants.

  "Well,-ifor-iwhatever-iit's-iworth,-iI-inever-ifelt-iit-icut-iin,-iso-ithey-imust-ibe-iridiculously-isharp."-iHe-isaid.-i"So,-ido-iI-ihave-ito-ikeep-istanding-ilike-ithis-ifacing-iaway-ifrom-iyou-iwhile-isurrounded-iby-iyour-imen,-ior-ican-iwe-ijust-italk-ilike-inormal-iadults?"

  The-ivoice-ibehind-ihim-imade-ia-inoise-iof-iamusement.

  "You-ican-ido-iwhat-iyou-ilike,-iso-ilong-ias-iit-idoesn't-iinvolve-ileaving-ior-iattacking-ius."-iThe-ivoice-isaid.

  James-ishifted-ihis-iweight,-iand-iturned-ito-iface-ithe-ivoice-ibehind-ihim.

  Behind-ihim-iwas-ia-iyounger-iman,-iperhaps-ieighteen-ior-inineteen,-iwith-ishoulder-ilength-iwavy-ihair-iand-igrey-ieyes.-iHis-ifeatures-iwere-isharp-iand-iintelligent,-ibut-ihis-iface-iwas-iheavily-ipockmarked-iby-iwhat-ilooked-ilike-iacne-iscars.-iHe-iwas-iwearing-ia-idark-igreen-idoublet-iof-iwhat-ilooked-ilike-ifelt-iand-ileather,-iand-iheld-ia-ipair-iof-iwickedly-icurved-iknives-iin-ihis-ihands.-iDirectly-ibehind-ihim-istood-iover-ihalf-ia-idozen-imore-ifigures-iin-itheir-imatching-idark-ioutfits.

  Before-iJames-icould-isay-ianything,-ithe-iyoung-iman-ispoke-iagain,-ishifting-iboth-iknives-ito-ione-iof-ihis-ihands-iand-ioffering-ithe-iother-iin-ia-ihandshake.

  "Welcome-ito-iDarkshire-iForest."-i

  ###-iChapter-i67-i--iInside-ithe-iForest-i(part-i3)

  James-ishook-ithe-iyoung-iman's-ihand,-iand-ihalfway-ithrough-ihad-ia-irealization-iand-ifroze.

  "Wait,-ihow-ido-iyou-iknow-iall-iof-ithose-ithings-iabout-ius?"-iHe-isaid,-ifinding-ihimself-iuneasy-iall-iover-iagain.-iHe-ipulled-iback-islightly,-iand-iasked-i"Just-iwho-iare-iyou?"

  The-iyoung-iman-igrinned-iat-iJames's-ireaction.

  "Magic!"-iHe-isaid,-ispreading-ihis-ihands-iwide-ibefore-idropping-ithem-iand-icontinuing-ion-ia-imoment-ilater.-i"I-isuppose-iyou-icould-isay-iwe're-ia-igroup-iof-imercenaries-ithat-ikeep-ian-ieye-ion-ithe-isurrounding-ilands-iand-ikeeping-iout-igoblins-iand-iother-iunsavory-ithings.-iWe've-iactually-ibeen-ihunting-ithe-itribe-iof-ignolls-iyou-isay-iyou've-ibeen-ihunting-ifor-isome-itime,-ibut-ithus-ifar-ithey've-imanaged-ito-ikeep-ithe-ilocation-iof-itheir-ihome-ihidden-ifrom-ius.-iWe-iwere-iactually-itracking-ithe-ishaman-iand-ihis-iwarband-ifor-inearly-ia-iweek-ifrom-ithe-iRed-iFord,-ibut-ihe-igot-ito-ithe-itown-ibefore-iwe-icould.-iBy-ithe-itime-iwe-igot-ithere,-ithe-iwhole-iplace-iwas-ialready-iablaze.-iWhen-iwe-icame-iin,-iwe-ilaid-ilow,-itrying-ito-iget-ia-isense-iof-itheir-inumbers.-iThat's-iwhen-iwe-isaw-iyou-ithree,-iand-ihow-iyou-ihandled-ithe-iwar-iparty.-iTruth-ibe-itold,-iwe've-ibeen-ishadowing-iyou-iever-isince,-ipartly-iout-iof-iour-iown-iinterest,-ibut-ipartly-ibecause-iyou-iseemed-ito-ibe-imaking-ia-ibeeline-ifor-ithe-imiddle-iof-inowhere,-iand-ithought-iyou-imight-iknow-isomething-iwe-idon't."

  "But-iwhy-inot-ijust-icome-iout-iand-igreet-ius?-iWhy-iambush-ius-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-ithe-inight-ilike-ithis?-iSeems-ireally-isuspicious-ito-ime."-iJames-isaid.

  The-iyoung-iman-ilaughed.

  "I-ican-isee-ithat.-iSorry-iabout-ithat.-iTruth-iis,-iwe-iweren't-isure-iif-iyou-icould-ibe-itrusted,-iand-iI-ifind-imen-iand-imonsters-itend-ito-ibe-imost-ihonest-iwhen-ithe-iodds-iaren't-iin-itheir-ifavor."-iHe-isaid.-iHe-iseemed-ito-ithink-ifor-ia-imoment,-ithen-iglanced-ipast-iJames's-ishoulder.-i"I-itell-iyou-iwhat--ihow-iabout-iI-itell-imy-imen-ito-istand-idown,-iand-iyou-itell-iyour-itwo-ilovely-iladies-icreeping-iup-ithrough-ithe-iferns-ibehind-iyou-ithat-iwe-imean-ino-iharm?"

  James-iturned-iaround-ito-ilook-ibehind-ihim-ijust-ias-ihe-isaw-iRose's-ieyes-idip-iback-iinto-ithe-igreenery-ibehind-ihim.-iHe-iburied-ihis-iface-iinto-ihis-ihand-ifor-ia-imoment,-ibefore-icalling-iout-ito-ithe-iferns.

  "Rose,-iMaddy,-iit's-ifine.-iYou-ican-icome-iout.-iThere's-ino-ireason-ito-ihide-ianymore.-iI-idon't-ithink-ithey're-ienemies."-iJames-isaid,-ireally-ihoping-ihe-iwasn't-iwrong-iabout-ithat-ias-ihe-isaid-iit.

  There-iwas-ia-ifaint-isound-ithat-isounded-ivery-idistinctly-ito-iJames's-iears-ilike-iRose-icursing-iunder-iher-ibreath,-ibefore-ithe-iferns-irustled-iand-ithe-itwo-igirls-istood-iup,-iRose-iwith-iher-ihand-ion-iher-isword-ihilt,-iMadeleine-iwith-iher-inew-idagger-iclutched-iin-iboth-ihands,-iblade-idrawn-iand-ipointed-iout-itowards-ithe-imercenaries.-iAfter-ithey-istepped-iout,-ithey-ilooked-ifrom-iJames-ito-ithe-igroup-iand-iback-ito-iJames,-ithe-iuncertainly-iplain-ion-itheir-ifaces.

  The-iyoung-iman-iwaved-ito-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem.

  "Evening,-iladies.-iSorry-ito-idisturb-iyour-isleep."-iHe-isaid.

  "Who-iare-iyou?-iAnd-iwhat-ido-iyou-iwant-iwith-ius?"-iRose-isaid,-iher-ivoice-ihard.-iIf-iJames-ihadn't-iknown-iher-ias-iwell-ias-ihe-idid,-iit-iwould-ihave-ibeen-ialmost-iimpossible-ifor-ihim-ito-icatch-ithe-iedge-iof-iterror-ihidden-iin-iher-iwords.

  "From-iwhat-iyour-iman-ihere-itells-ime,-iit-isounds-ilike-iwe're-iat-ithe-ivery-ileast-iallies-iagainst-ia-icommon-ienemy.-iNow,-ias-ifor-ibeing-ifriends,-iwell,-iI-iwill-ileave-ithat-ifor-iyou-ifine-ipeople-ito-idecide."-iThe-iyoung-iman-isaid.

  "Now,-isince-iI-inow-ihave-iall-iof-iyou-itogether,-iallow-ime-ito-ifinally-iintroduce-iourselves.-iMy-iname-iis-iFarien-iDarrow,-iand-iwe-iare-ithe-iGreen-iCompany.-iIt-iis-imy-iabsolute-ipleasure-ito-imake-iyour-iacquaintances."-iHe-isaid,-ibowing-ielaborately.-i

  ###-iChapter-i68-i--iInside-ithe-iForest-i(part-i4)

  Seeing-iFarien-ibow-ilike-ihe-idid,-iJames-iwas-isuddenly-ireminded-iof-ihow-iFrumpkin-imocked-ihim-ifor-istriking-iposes-iwhen-ihe-imade-ihis-iwishes.-iIt-iwas-ifunny-ireally...-iEven-ia-imonth-iago,-iJames-iwould-ihave-ifound-isuch-ia-igesture-iincredibly-icool-iand-idashing.-iNowadays,-ihowever,-ithe-iwhole-ithing-istruck-ihim-ias-imore-ithan-ia-ilittle-ilame.

  "I'm-iJames."-iHe-isaid,-i"And-ithat's-iRose,-iand-iMadeleine."

  Nodded-itowards-ithe-igirls,-iand-iturned-ihis-iattention-iback-ito-iJames.-i"So,-iI-iknow-iit's-ilate,-iand-iyou-iall-iprobably-iwant-isleep.-iWe-ihave-ia-ifull-icamp-ifor-iour-icompany-iset-iup-ia-iways-ifrom-ihere,-iwith-ihot-ifood-iand-ishelter,-iand-inight-iwatchmen.-iI-iknw-iwe've-ijust-imet,-ibut-iI-ican-ipromise-iyou-ino-iharm-iwill-icome-ito-iyou-iif-ifollow-ius-ithere-iand-ishare-iin-iour-icomforts.-iIt'll-icertainly-ibe-ia-ilot-isafer-iand-imore-icomfortable-ithan-iwhere-iyou're-icurrently-ibedded-idown."-iFarien-isaid.

  "And-ihow-ido-iwe-iknow-iyou-iwon't-ijust-irob-iand-ikill-ius-ias-isoon-ias-iwe-ilay-idown?"-iRose-ipiped-iup,-iher-igrip-iaround-iher-isword's-ihandle-igetting-itighter.

  "Well-ifrankly,-iyou-idon't.-iBut,-ias-iJames-ihere-ican-itell-iyou,-iif-iwe-iwanted-iyou-idead,-iwe-icould-ihave-ikilled-iyou-idays-iago."-iFarien-isaid.-iHis-iface-ihadn't-ishifted-ifrom-ihis-ipositive-idemeanor,-ibut-ithere-iwas-ijust-ienough-iof-ian-iedge-ito-ihis-itone-ito-igive-iJames-ithe-ivery-iclear-iimpression-ithat-iFarien-iwas-iabsolutely-icorrect-iabout-iwhat-ihe-iwas-isaying.

  "The-ichoice-iis-iyours,-iof-icourse.-iBut-iconsidering-iwe-imean-iyou-ino-iharm,-iand-iI'm-ifairly-icertain-iyou-idon't-iwant-ito-ispend-ithe-inight-iin-ithe-istorm-ithat's-irolling-iin,-ior-ipossibly-igetting-ijumped-iby-iwild-ianimals-ior-ione-iof-ithe-inearby-igoblin-ipacks.-iBut,-ihey,-iI-icould-ibe-iwrong."-iHe-icontinued.

  James-ilooked-iback-iat-iRose,-iwho-imet-ihis-igaze-iwith-ia-iquestioning-ilook-imixed-iwith-idiscomfort-iand-ifear.-iHe-ishared-iher-iemotions,-ibut-iat-ithe-isame-itime,-iwhile-ithe-isituation-iitself-imade-ihim-inervous,-ithere-iwas-isomething-iabout-iFarien-ihimself-ithat-iJames-iinstinctively-iwanted-ito-itrust.-iHe'd-inever-ireally-ipegged-ihimself-ias-ibeing-ithat-igreat-iat-ifiguring-iout-ipeoples-imotivations-iand-iintentions,-ibut-ihis-igut-irarely-isteered-ihim-iwrong,-iand-ihe-iwas-igenerally-ipretty-igood-iat-ipicking-iup-ion-iwhen-isomeone-ior-isomething-iwas-iamiss.-iBut-ihe-icould-itell-ithe-igirls-iwere-ifrightened,-iand-ihe-ihad-ito-itake-ithat-iinto-iaccount.-iHe-ithought-iabout-iit-ifor-ia-ilong-imoment,-ithen-ispoke-iup.

  "I-iam-iwilling-ito-icome-iwith-iyou,-ibut-iI-icannot-ispeak-ifor-iRose-ior-iMadeleine.-iIf-ithey-iare-iwilling-ito,-ithen-iI-iwill-igo-ias-iwell."-iHe-isaid.

  "That-iseems-ifair-ienough,-iunder-ithe-icircumstances"-iFarien-isaid,-iscratch
ing-ihis-ichin.-iHe-ilooked-iback-iat-iMadeleine-iand-iRose.

  "So,-iwhat'll-iit-ibe,-iladies?"-iHe-iasked.

  "I-idon't-itrust-iyou."-iMadeleine-isaid,-ilowering-iher-idagger-ibut-ikeeping-iit-iclose.

  "I-idon't-iblame-iyou.-iI-iwouldn't-itrust-ime-ieither."-iFarien-isaid,-ilaughing-iagain.

  "What-ican-iyou-igive-ius-ito-iconvince-ius-iof-iyour-iintentions?"-iRose-isaid,-inot-imoving-iher-ihand-ifrom-iher-isword.-i"Right-inow-iall-iwe've-igot-iis-iyour-iword,-iand-iyour-iword-imeans-inothing-ito-ime,-istranger."

  "Well,-iI'm-inot-ihere-ito-imake-ideals,-ibut-iwhat-iwould-imake-iyou-ifeel-imore-icomfortable?"-iFarien-iasked.

  "For-ione,-iyou-iwill-iallow-ius-ito-ibe-ithe-ilast-iin-ithe-iline-ifollowing-iyou-ito-ithe-icamp,-iand-iwe-iwill-ichoose-iwhere-iwe-iwill-iset-iup.-iJames-iwill-iset-iup-imagic-iwards-iand-ibarriers-iaround-ius.-iIf-iyou-ior-iany-iof-iyour-imen-iattempt-ito-icross-ithem-iwithout-iour-iconsent,-iit-iwill-ibe-ithe-ilast-ithing-ithat-iperson-idoes."-iRose-isaid,-iher-igazed-ilocked-iwith-iFarien's.

  "Done."-iFarien-isaid,-iwithout-ibatting-ian-ieye.-i"Any-iother-irequests?"

  "I-iwant-ihim-itrapped-iin-ibarriers-inext-ito-ius."-iMadeleine-isaid,-ipointing-iat-iFarien.

  For-ithe-ifirst-itime-isince-ithey'd-ibeen-italking,-iFarien's-iface-iadopted-ia-iless-ithan-iupbeat-ilook.

  "I'm-isorry,-iwhat?"-i

  ###-iChapter-i69-i--iThe-iSecond-iBrother

  "You-iheard-ime."-iMadeleine-isaid,-iher-igaze-iunwavering-ifrom-iFarien's-iface.

  The-imercenary-istood-ispeechless-ifor-ia-imoment,-iand-ithen-iturned-ifrom-iher-ito-iRose,-ithen-ito-iJames,-ias-iif-ilooking-ifor-isome-ikind-iof-iexplanation,-ibut-iRose-ijust-istared-ihim-idown,-iand-iJames-ishrugged-iand-iraised-ihis-ieyebrows.

  "Well,-iI...-iahem.-iIf-iI-ido-ithat,-ihow-iwill-iI-iknow-iyou-iaren't-ijust-igonna-irob-ime-iblind-ior-ikill-ime-iin-iMY-isleep-ilike-iyou're-iafraid-iof-ihappening-ito-iyou?"-iFarien-isaid.

  "You-idon't."-iMadeleine-isaid.-i"Seems-ilike-ia-ifair-itrade-ito-ime."

  Farien-iseemed-ito-ithink-ion-ithis-ifor-ia-imoment,-ihis-iconfusion-iand-idiscomfort-iwith-ithe-iidea-iplainly-iobvious-ion-ihis-iface.-iBefore-ihe-icould-isay-ianything-iin-iresponse,-ia-ilow-imale-ivoice-ispoke-ifrom-ione-iof-ithe-iforms-istanding-ibehind-iFarien.

  "We-iaccept-iyour-iterm."-iHe-isaid.

  Farien's-ieyes-iwent-iwide,-iand-ihe-iturned-ito-ilook-iat-ithe-iman-iwho-ispoke-iwith-ibarely-concealed-iirritation.-iThe-iman-istepped-iforward,-ipulling-iback-ithe-ihood-ithat-ihid-ihis-iface-iin-ithe-idim-ilight-iof-ithe-imoonlit-iforest.-iJames-iwas-istruck-iby-ihow-imuch-ihe-ilooked-ilike-iFarien,-ialbeit-ia-ibit-iolder,-iand-igood-ideal-iharder-iin-ithe-iface.-iThe-iman-isidled-iup-inext-ito-iFarien,-iand-iclapped-ia-ihand-ion-iFarien's-ishoulder,-icausing-ithe-iyoung-iman-ito-ivisibly-istruggle-ito-imaintain-ihis-ibalance-ifrom-ithe-iimpact.

  "You'll-ihave-ito-iforgive-imy-ibrother's-ihesitance.-iHe's-iunaccustomed-ito-ihaving-ito-ihave-iskin-iin-ithe-igame-ito-imake-ifriends."-iThe-iman-isaid,-ihis-iface-isharing-ithe-isame-iamused-ilook-ihis-iyounger-ibrother-ihad-iworn-ia-ifew-iminutes-iearlier.

  "Urien.-iI-ihave-iGOT-ithis."-iFarien-isaid,-iglowering-iup-iat-ithe-imuch-ibigger-iman.

  "I-ican-isee-ithat.-iSo-iwhy-idon't-iyou-ilead-ithe-iway-ito-iour-ihideout-iso-ithese-inice-iladies-ican-iget-isome-iwell-deserved-irest-iwith-iyou-ibeside-ithem?"-iUrien-isaid,-igesturing-ibroadly-iwith-ihis-ihand-ito-ithe-iforest-ibehind-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem.

  "Because-iI-idon't-iWANT-ito-ispend-imy-inight-itrapped-iin-ia-imagical-ibox-ijust-iso-isome-ilittle-igirl-ican-ifeel-isecure!"-iFarien-iprotested,-ihis-ivoice-igetting-ihigher-iand-iwhinier-ithan-iJames-iwould-ihave-iexpected.

  "Well,-ithat's-ia-idamn-ishame,-ireally,-iconsidering-iI-ijust-iagreed-ito-ithat-irequirement."-iUrien-isaid,-ihis-iamusement-iat-ihis-ilittle-ibrother's-ifrustration-ibecoming-imore-iand-imore-iapparent.

  "But-iI-iDON'T-iWANT-"-iFarien-istarted,-ibut-iUrien-icut-ihim-ioff-iby-italking-idirectly-ito-iMadeleine.

  "We-igladly-iaccept-iyour-irequirement.-iAnd-isince-imy-ichild-ibrother-ihere-"-iUrien-isaid,-ihis-igrip-ion-iFarien's-ishoulder-itightening-i"can't-iseem-ito-ifind-ithe-iwill-ito-ido-iit-ialone,-iI'll-ibe-ijoining-ihim-iin-iyour-ilittle-imagic-ibox.-iIs-ithat-iacceptable?"

  Madeleine-iraised-ian-ieyebrow,-iclearly-itaken-ioff-guard-iby-ithis-isudden-ichange-iin-icircumstances.-i"I-isuppose-ithat-iis-ifair.-iAre-iyou-iin-icharge-ior-isomething?"-iShe-iasked.

  Farien-iopened-ihis-imouth-ito-ispeak,-ibut-ibefore-ihe-icould-iget-ia-iword-iout,-iUrien-ispoke-iover-itop-iof-ihim.

  "My-ibrother-iand-iI-iinherited-ithe-iGreen-iCompany-ifrom-iour-ifather.-iI-isuppose-iyou-icould-isay-iwe're-iboth-iequally-iin-icharge,-ibut-isometimes-ione-iof-ius-ihas-ito-imake-ithe-iright-idecision-iif-ithe-iother-ione-iis-ilacking-ithe-iwill-ito-imake-iit."-iUrien-isaid,-icasting-ihis-ibrother-ia-iside-long-iglance.

  "Makes-isense-ito-ime.-iWell,-iif-iyou-iwant-ito-ijoin,-iI-iwon't-istop-iyou."-iMadeleine-isaid.-iShe-iturned-ito-iRose.

  "Well,-iI'm-isatisfied."-iShe-isaid.-i"Anything-ielse?"

  Rose-ithought,-ithen-iadded-i"And-iI-idont-iwant-ito-icarry-iall-iof-iour-istuff-imiles-ithrough-ithe-iwoods-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-ithe-inight.-iSomeone-ielse-ineeds-ito-icarry-iit."

  Madeleine-inodded.-i"Yes,-ithat-itoo."

  "That's-ifine.-iFarien-iand-iI-iwill-icarry-iyour-ipacks."-iUrien-isaid-inon-chalantly.

  While-iJames-icouldn't-isee-iterribly-iwell-iin-ithe-idim-imoonlight,-ihe-iwas-icertain-ihe-isaw-iFarien-iget-ia-icouple-ishades-iwhiter.-i

  ###-iChapter-i70-i--iNight-iHike

  The-itrip-ito-ithe-iGreen-iCompany's-ihideout,-iby-iJames's-iestimation,-itook-ithe-ibetter-ipart-iof-ian-ihour,-ithough-ihe-icouldn't-ibe-icertain.-iThe-itree-icanopy-igot-ithicker-iand-ithicker-ithe-ifurther-ithey-itraveled-iinto-ithe-iforest,-iand-ibefore-ilong-ithe-imoon-iand-isky-iwere-icompletely-iobscured-ifrom-iview.-iHe-ihad-iinitially-iasked-iUrien-iif-ihe-icould-ihave-isome-isort-iof-ilight-isource-ito-isee-iwhere-ithey-iwere-igoing-isince-iit-iwas-inearly-ipitch-black-iunder-ithe-icanopy,-ibut-ithe-iolder-iman-ihad-ijust-ishaken-ihis-ihead.-iThey-iwouldn't-ineed-iit,-ihe-isaid.-iHe-ithen-ireached-iinto-ia-ileather-ipouch-ion-ihis-ibelt,-iand-ipulled-iout-ia-icouple-ismall-idried-imushrooms,-ihanding-ithem-ito-iJames.

  "What's-ithis?"-iJames-iasked,-iholding-ione-iof-ithem-iclose-ito-ihis-ieyes-iand-itrying-ito-imake-iout-iwhat-ihe-iwas-iholding.

  "Nighteye-iMushrooms.-iIf-iyou-ieat-ithem,-ithey-itemporarily-igive-iyou-inight-ivision.-iIts-ihow-iwe're-iable-ito-inavigate-ithe-iforest-iin-ithe-idead-iof-ithe-inight-iwithout-iany-ilight-isources."-iUrien-iexplained,-ibefore-ipopping-ione-iof-ithe-imushrooms-iinto-ihis-imouth.

  James-itook-ithe-icouple-ismall-imushrooms-iand-istarted-ichewing-ithem.-iThey-ihad-ia-itexture-isimilar-ito-irubbery-ileather,-iand-ihad-ia-islimy,-iunpleasant-itaste-ithat-iwas-isimultaneously-isalty-iand-ibitter.-iIt-itook-ievery-ieffort-ito-inot-igag-ior-ispit-ithem-iout.-iAfter-ia-imoment,-ihe-iswallowed,-iand-iimmediately-itook-ia-ilong-idrink-ifrom-ihis-iwaterskin-ito-iwash-ithe-ihorrible-itaste-iout-iof-ihis-imouth.-i

  Within-imoments,-ihowever,-ihe-ibegan-ito-ifeel-isomething-itake-ieffect.-iThe-iforest-iseemed-ito-iget-iless-idim,-iand-islowly-igained-iin-iresolution.-iThe-ieffect-iwas-istrange.-iIt-iwas-inot-iunlike-idepictions-iJames-ihad-iseen-iin-igames-iof-inight-ivision-igoggles,-iwhere-ieverything-iwas-icast-iin-ishades-iof-iharsh-igreen-iand-iblack,-ibut-iless-igarish,-iand-ia-ibit-iclearer.-iThere-iwas-ino-icolor-iwhatsoever,-ibut-ihe-icould-isee-ialmost-ias-iclearly-ias-iif-iit-iwas-ifull-idaylight-ioutside,-ialmost-ilike-ihe-iwas-iwatching-ihis-ilife-ion-ia-iblack-iand-iwhite-itelevision.

  Rose-iand-iMadeleine,-ihowever,-ididn't-itake-iany,-iand-iwhen-iJames-iasked-iwhy,-iRose-iexplained-i"most-inon-human-iraces-ihave-ilow-light-ivision-inaturally,-iso-iwhile-iI-ican-itell-iit's-idark-ioutside,-iI-idon't-ihave-idifficulty-iseeing-iin-ithese-iconditions."-iJames-imade-ia-imental-inote-ito-iadd-ithis-ipower-ito-ihis-i"request-ifrom-iFrumpkin"-ilist.-iBeing-iable-ito-inever-ihave-iyour-ivision-ilimited-iby-ithe-ienvironment-iwould-ibe-ia-isuper-ihel
pful-ithing-ito-ihave.

  The-igirls-iseemed-ito-itake-ithe-iunexpected-inight-ihike-iin-istride,-iand-isoon-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem-iwere-ilaughing-iat-ithe-istories-iUrien-iwas-itelling-ias-ithey-iwalked.-iWhile-iJames-iliked-iFarien-iwell-ienough,-ihe-iliked-iUrien-ieven-imore.-iThe-ibig-iman-iwas-ifriendly-iand-idisarming,-ibut-ilacked-ihis-iyounger-isiblings-itendency-itowards-ibravado-ithat-itended-ito-imake-ihim-icome-iacross-ito-iJames-ias-iawkward.

  Farien,-ifor-ihis-ipart,-iwas-ihaving-ian-iabsolutely-imiserable-itime-ion-ithe-itrip,-iand-iwhile-ihe-isaid-inothing-iopenly-iabout-ihow-ihe-iwas-ifeeling,-ithe-irolling-isweat-ion-ihis-ibrow-iand-ithe-idefeated-ilook-ion-ihis-iface-itold-iJames-ieverything-ihe-ineeded-ito-iknow.-iUrien-ihad-isaddled-ithe-ipoor-ikid-iwith-ithe-itwo-iheaviest-iof-itheir-ipacks,-iand-iwhen-iit-iwas-iobvious-ithat-iFarien-iwas-istruggling-icarrying-iboth-iof-ithem,-iJames-ioffered-ito-itake-ihis-ipack-iback-ito-ihave-isome-imercy-ion-ihim.-iFarien-ilooked-irelieved,-iand-iwas-iabout-ito-ihand-iit-iover-iwhen-iUrien-iwalked-iover-iand-ishot-iFarien-ia-iglance-ithat-iread-i"don't-iyou-idare".-iFarien,-idefeated,-ireshouldered-ithe-ipack,-iand-iJames-isaid-inothing-iof-iit-iagain.

  After-ian-iinterminable-iamount-iof-iwalking,-iUrien-isidled-iup-ibeside-iJames,-iand-ipointed-iahead.

  "We're-ihere.-iWelcome-ito-iour-ihumble-iabode!"

  ###-iChapter-i71-i--iThe-iGreen-iCompany-iHideout

  The-iarea-ithey-iarrived-ito-iwas-ia-iclearing-iconcealed-ion-iall-isides-iby-ithick-itree-igrowth-iand-iunderbrush,-iat-ithe-ibase-iof-iseveral-ilarge-iboulders-ithat-istood-ia-icouple-idozen-ifeet-itall-ifrom-itheir-ibase.-iThere-iwas-ino-ifire-ior-ilight-ito-ispeak-iof,-ibut-ithere-iwere-iseveral-iplaces-ithat-iwere-iobviously-iused-ias-ifire-ipits,-iaround-iwhich-igroups-iof-ifigures-ihad-iset-itheir-ibedrolls.-iThere-iwere-iseveral-ivisible-icaches-iof-icrates-iand-iother-istorage-icontainers,-iand-ia-iset-iaside-iarea-ithat-ilooked-ilike-ia-imakeshift-ikitchen-ion-ithe-ifar-iside-iof-ithe-iclearing.-iThere-ialso-iappeared-ito-ibe-iseveral-iimprovised-iarchery-itargets-iset-iagainst-itrees-ito-ithe-iside-iof-ithe-ikitchen.