The Threads of Magic by Alison Croggon (best books for students to read .TXT) 📗

was dank and smelly, little more than a foot wide, but soon it opened up into an alley. Pip breathed out and continued onward, diving down some damp steps through a crumbling archway. For some reason, this alley was completely empty. After the crowd, the emptiness felt a bit sinister, but Pip began to feel hopeful that maybe luck was on his side after all.

He scuttled around a corner and tripped over someone who was crouched against the wall, their face hidden in their arms. Pip swore and picked himself up, turning to abuse them.

He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was Princess Georgette. She was dressed in breeches and a tunic, and her ringlets were mostly tangles, but it was definitely the same girl. He gaped in astonishment and then pulled himself together.

“What the hells are you doing here?”

Georgette scrambled to her feet, clenching her hands. “Who are you?”

“Pip,” he said. “We met at Amina’s.”

Georgette blinked, and he saw that she didn’t remember him. He felt a twinge of annoyance. “I expect you didn’t really look at me, me being a commoner and everything.”

“No, no, I remember you,” said Georgette hastily. “It’s just . . . I’m just . . .”

“Running away?”

She nodded warily.

“Us too,” said Pip.

Georgette looked puzzled and peered behind him. “Us?”

“Who are you running from?”

Georgette looked as if she were about to cry again. “I’m not sure,” she said. “There was a horrible fight, and some of my — my companions were injured. And then I just ran . . .”

“Which way was that? Were you in the square?”

“What square?”

Pip pointed behind him, trying to curb his impatience. “That one back there.”

Georgette shook her head. “I came from the other way,” she said. “And then I got lost and I ended up here, and I don’t know what to do . . .”

Pip reflected that the last thing he needed right now was a tearful princess, but he felt a stab of sympathy. “Well, then, maybe come with us. I mean, with me.”

“Where are you going, though?”

“Somewhere safer,” said Pip.

Georgette stood up. “I’d like to,” she said. Pip realized with surprise that she wasn’t only frightened; she was shy. “I don’t really know my way around.”

There isn’t anywhere safer, said Clovis. Not here. Not anywhere.

“Well, that’s really helpful, thanks,” said Pip, speaking out loud. Georgette looked hurt, and he added, “No, not you. Clovis.”

“Who?”

“Clovis,” he repeated impatiently. “The prince. Isn’t he some kind of cousin of yours?”

We can’t take her. She’ll betray us. Clovis sounded panicked.

Don’t be silly, said Pip. We can’t leave her on her own here.

He can smell her, said Clovis. Like a dog. Like dogs sniff people out. He’ll track her down, and then I won’t be able to hide us.

Pip hesitated. Georgette, puzzled and afraid, tried to drag together some of her dignity. “I understand if you can’t help me. Of course.”

“No time to explain,” Pip said, taking her hand. “Let’s go.”

“WHERE’S PIP?”

Oni was the only one who heard El’s question. The witches were still discussing what to do next. El had given up trying to follow what the witches were saying, because she hardly understood any of it.

Oni had said nothing for ages and was just sitting there, frowning and picking at her lip. Pip had disappeared to look for a privy, but it had been a long time since he left the tent. Too long.

“Oni, maybe we should go look for Pip? Do you think he got lost?”

Oni quickly met El’s eyes. Be quiet, the look said.

“Oni?” El felt her chest tightening. “Do you know where he is? Has something happened to him?”

Oni shook her head and put her finger on her lips. But it was too late: they had attracted Amina’s attention. She glanced at the two girls sharply, and then her gaze swept to Pip’s empty chair. Her lips set into a straight line and she settled back into her chair, staring at her daughter.

“Where is that boy?”

Oni shrugged. “How should I know?” she said.

“The Heart boy?” said Juin.

“He isn’t back,” said El. “He went to the privy ages ago and maybe someone’s kidnapped him or he got lost and now —” She yelped because Oni kicked her under the table. “Oni! Why did you do that?”

Now everyone was looking at Oni. “I told you, I don’t know,” she said.

“I am willing to bet my last silver piece that you do know,” said Amina. “And now is not the time for games, Oni. I’m serious.”

Oni swept a fiery glance around the table. “He ran away because he thought you were going to kill him. And I don’t blame him.”

Helios looked appalled. “Why would he think that?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” said Oni. Her eyes were sparkling with anger. “Maybe it’s because you wouldn’t listen to him — or me. Maybe it’s because all you can talk about is how to destroy Clovis. Maybe if you want to destroy Clovis, you have to destroy Pip.”

There was a shocked silence, and then everyone started talking at once.

Amina stood up, her voice carrying over the rest. “Are you saying he’s run off?”

“You frightened him. And Clovis. Clovis was terrified.”

El stared at Oni, her lower lip trembling. “They wanted to kill Pip?”

“Pip knows better than any of you what Old Missus Pledge did to make the Heart. Of course he thought you wanted to kill him.”

“You knew he’d run off, and you said nothing?” Amina looked as angry as Oni. “Knowing everything you do, with the fate of the city in the balance?”

“None of you would listen.”

Oni folded her arms mutinously and refused to say anything more. Juin leaped out of his chair and said he would search for Pip in the Undercroft, because he was sure that even a day person couldn’t be so ignorant as to walk out into direct danger. Helios was suggesting a search party. El began to sob quietly, her face hidden in her hands.

Sibelius d’Artan emerged from the back of the tent in the