I swallowed and felt my adam’s apple brush against the blade of his knife. There was much shuffling as the kidnappers pulled Jury and Pim toward themselves and arranged their long blue robes to hide the children. Hidden from plain sight, they looked like any ordinary traveler visiting for the celebration. Scar Lip bound my wrists and grabbed a third robe to cover me. It wasn’t until he led me into the street that I saw the reasons behind the blue robes.
There was a dancing troupe that was late coming to the city and their caravan filled the streets. The entire troupe wore same blue robes. Scar Lip and the henchmen pulled us in line with the caravan. No one paid us any attention as we walked down the street. I was able to glance out the side of my eye to see Joss and Cooper still lounging outside of the dress shop, oblivious to what was going on around them.
Why hadn’t Syrani told them I was missing? She must have heard the commotion that was going on in the backroom. Or was she in on the kidnapping? Thoughts flew through my head as I tried to put together what was happening. Nothing made sense.
I tried to mindspeak Faraway but the distance was too great, I couldn’t reach him. What I needed was a distraction and a plan. The caravan stopped as another parade made their way down the street. It was the Queen and her guard, heading toward the castle.
The guards moved through the streets ordering everyone to move aside and let the Queen pass. I could almost see Captain Meryl at the head and the red hair of Queen Lilyana behind him.
Scar Lip looked at the Queen and whispered under his breath, “So close, we are so close. Next time Queen Lilyana, it will be different.”
All heads were turning to watch the Queen pass, this was my distraction. My muscles tensed with anticipation, knowing that this may be my only chance for help. Scar Lip felt me tense and pressed the knife deeper into my back. “Don’t even try it!” He growled into my ear and slammed my head against the stone building to prove his point. I cried out from the pain and no one noticed, or almost no one noticed. An old woman couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of Scar Lip.
“Get moving!” He hissed to his companions. “We are supposed to meet Raven’s carriage around the next bend.”
The Raven! He was here, in the city!
“What about the other one? Weren’t we supposed to bring both of them?”spoke the Septori who had Jury under his cloak.
“I’m not waiting around for that one.” Scar Lip hissed. “Besides it was this one that Raven specifically wanted back, the one that worked. He doesn’t care about cast-offs or failed experiments. He wants this one so he can duplicate her results. Now get moving before I tear you to pieces and leave you for what’s left of Raven’s demon dogs.”
The Septori looked scared, closed his mouth and shuffled faster toward the road. Scar Lip mentioned Raven’s demon dogs, or what was left of them. It was obvious then, who controlled the beasts.
The crowd started to dissipate as the Queen and her guard turned down the first street. I looked after them longingly, knowing that I would have to find another way to get Pim, Jury and myself out of this mess.
The two Septori and Scar Lip pulled us into another alley and I could see an enclosed carriage. I knew if I got into that carriage it was over. I started to struggle with Scar Lip and he grabbed the back of my hood and a handful of hair and pulled hard. Tears formed in my eyes but I didn’t stop.
“Kill the girl!” Scar lip ordered. “She’s fighting me.” The Septori looked up at Scar Lip and grabbed at the bundle under his robe. I could hear Jury start to cry.
“NO! Please no.” I screamed and instantly went limp, showing Scar Lip that I would behave. He looked at me before motioning one of them to open the door. I saw a dark carriage with velvet padded seats, something that only someone rich could afford. Scar Lip reached inside and pulled out a vial of green liquid.