The Howling Delve - Jaleigh Johnson [53]
"She's not gonna care! You didn't see this blood pool, Har. I pulled her out-no one else was there with her to do the honors. She'd want me to have it." "Get out of my way, Talal."
"Fine. At least let's nudge het and see-see if she's still kicking."
Hands flung the sheet aside to reveal a pair of large eyes surrounded by a nest of dirty blond hait that had not been combed with anything more elaborate than fingers and spit fot many years. The boy couldn't have seen more than two decades of life, and they'd been lean years. His wrists wete the breadth of broom handles, and he crouched like a frog, his spindle legs thickening with muscle at the thighs, as if he squatted and crawled mote often than he walked. He wore a baggy shirt and bteeches. When he moved, the odor wafting off them made Meisha gag.
"It's awake," the boy said, too brightly, as if he were hiding disappointment. "See?" He pointed at her triumphantly, her Harper pin clutched in one dirty hand. "Did that last time. Thought she was dead and whew!" He waggled his fingers and pulled a ghoulish face at the woman who was attempting to push him aside with het hip. "Back to life again." The boy didn't seem to notice the woman's exasperated shoving. "No one dies reliably these days."
Meisha's hand came up, snagging the boy's wrist like a snake after a mouse.
"Ho, there!"
"That's mine," she croaked, squeezing the mouse until the boy dropped the pin on the ground.
"Got 'im worms for wits, but Talal doesn't mean any hatm," said the woman. She was much older and not nearly as dirty as the boy. Her hair was stark white in the dim torchlight, and so thin Meisha could see patches of skin through the wispy strands. Her eyebrows had worn away long ago, but she had a quick, affectionate smile for the boy even as she chided him.
"Are you in great pain?" she asked Meisha. The same pungent herb smell wafted from her hands as she probed Meisha's bandage.
"Only when I move," Meisha grunted. Truth was, she hurt all over, but part of that was from the cold. Despite the blankets piled on and beneath her, the cavern floor was colder than Meisha ever remembered it being. Not all Varan's enchantments were working, she thought, and her heart sank a little. "Who are you?" she asked, stopping the woman in her ministrations. "Where's Varan? What's happened to this place?"
"Easy," the woman said. "One at a time. I'm Haroun." She pointed to the boy. "This one's Talal. Your wound is healing. The knife managed to miss everything vital. Still, you were far gone when Talal brought you in. We're allowed only a small number of healing draughts, and we had to use two just to keep you from death."
"You have my thanks," Meisha said with feeling. She sat up gingerly, and with Haroun's help, got to her feet. "My attackers, do you know who they were?"
"Yes." Haroun's voice was strained. "The Shadow Thieves. They come through the glowing doors once every few tendays- the time varies. They don't want us to know when to expect them. She leaned closer, her milky eyes intent on Meisha's. "Tell me, child, did you come through the doorways? Do you know how to open them?"
Meisha shook her head, and the woman's eyes dimmed. "I came by… other means." Before Haroun could ask, she said, "I can't return the same way, but there is a main entrance. It's kept hidden, but I can show you."
Haroun was shaking her head before she'd finished. "No need. That way is closed."
"Closed?"
"Tunnel's sealed off," Talal spoke up. "Bastards caved it in, put something on it when we tried to dig out." He made scooping and filling motions with his hands. "We dig-stays full."
"An enchantment," Meisha said, temembeting the wizard from the raiding party. "Probably activated from the other side of the cave-in. All it would require is a new casting each day, perhaps not even that often." She looked at the boy. "They trapped you in the Delve? How long have you been here?"
Talal and Haroun exchanged glances. "I'll show her," the boy offered, shrugging.
Haroun hesitated, appearing almost upset, but finally