The Hundred: Fall of the Wents by Jennifer Prescott Read Free Book Online Page A

leaned closer and touched the soft weave of the tapestry. It was thick, and smelled wetly of unkindness, or blood, or something else that was wrong and bad. Under his fingers an image of an Eft, like himself, drove a sword point into the breast of a Scratchling. The blood and feathers did not seem real this close up—they seemed like a blur of color, with no shape or sense. The Small War had given him Bly, and Sarami, and his own Hindrance. But it had also taken from him Desidere and Skakell. They were gone. And he had never really known them.
    Tully turned away from the tapestry. “Nice art,” he said, gloomily. “Nice for sleep.”
    Hen-Hen seemed to have anticipated their wish to stay together, for in one section of the room there were two freshly made beds and a small pallet (with accompanying miniature pillow and blanket) at their base. One of the beds was filled with fresh, clear water, made for an Eft. On seeing this bed, Tully realized how exhausted he was. Everything that had happened today had worn him out both emotionally and physically, and he was still recovering from his illness. He set his wooden bucket down.
    Tully sank into the watery bed. Just as he laid his head on the pillow, he heard a small, alarmed squawk from somewhere near his right ear. He sat up and flicked a hand through his thin tendrils of hair, and out on the surface of the water fell Fangor the Sand Louse.
    “What time is it? Why am I wet?” said Fangor, bouncing up onto Tully’s arm. “Why’d you have to smack me like that? Feels like I’ve been asleep for days. Is it a party? Where are we? What are those awful paintings? Didja get my dream-day gift? Oof, but I’m ready for some dinner!”
    Tully gaped. The wretched creature had been in his hair, sleeping, throughout the entire day. Copernicus wriggled up over the edge of the bed, and Aarvord leaned over, both equally stunned.
    “I ought to smack you!” said Aarvord. “Tagging along like that, when you’re not wanted.”
    “I ought to ssswallow you up!” said Copernicus, opening his jaw menacingly.
    “Hoy! Wait!” shrieked Fangor. “I fell asleep is all. I was bringing my burfday gift and I couldn’t help it, just lay down and went asleep. I was up late bouncing around, you know.” Fangor hopped up and down Tully’s arm excitedly. “Wiff all the boys. And some girls, too.” He winked, but no one noticed, as he was too small.
    “Did you hear anything today? See anything?” asked Tully, picking Fangor up between thumb and forefinger. The Sand Louse wriggled in displeasure.
    “No! No! Nuffing!” he buzzed. “Put me down!”
    Tully dropped him on the floor, disgusted. Fangor was nothing but a pest, and now they were stuck with him. They’d have to do their best to lose him tomorrow.
    “Well, you’re here now,” said Aarvord, “but we’re going to sleep. So you’ll have to entertain yourself somehow.”
    Fangor wasn’t listening; he had already spotted the piece of cheese Tully had placed on the bedside table and was hopping toward it, making nasty yum-yum noises. Tully groaned and flopped into the watery bed; he hoped that Fangor would not be inclined to nest in his hair again tonight. The very thought made him itch. That awful little louse. He fell asleep thinking of Fangor being trod under a boot. Then he dreamed.
     
    *
     
    The Boring Bees were rising into the air above Hen-Hen’s tower, illuminated by the moon. They rose higher and higher, until they made a ring around the moon’s white face. A dark ring. The ring began to turn, clockwise, then counterclockwise, as if opening a hidden safe that the moon held hostage. Tully strained to see what it was they were revealing: Would the moon crack open and spill whiteness into the sky? But then a cloud obscured the picture, and Tully could not see the bees or the moon. He was left in complete darkness.
    Something was tugging at his neck and choking him. He felt hot and feverish again. Greedy hands clutched at