The Scourge (A.G. Henley) - By A.G. Henley Page 0,95

from the caves. Eland. My heart dances when I hear him, but the feeling is replaced by fresh anxiety that he might be in danger if a fight breaks out. I grin at him, trying to look reassuring.

“Yes, little brother, I found them . . . and I found out a lot of other things. Things about the Scourge. They aren’t what we think they are.”

“What do you mean, Fennel?” Fox asks.

“Your minds, all of our minds, play tricks on us. The way you see the creatures isn’t real. The creatures aren’t monsters, they’re . . . sick people.” As I expected, it sounds ridiculous.

“Sick people?” Adder scoffs. “I’ve never seen a sick person tear someone’s head off their body.”

“Listen to her. She’s telling the truth,” Kadee says from the trees. I’m glad to have her support, but I doubt her vouching for me will change any Groundling minds.

I try again. “When I found the Hidden Waters, I also found a village that was protected from the Scourge. Just like in the legend.” There are definite sounds of shock at that.

“How?” someone asks.

“Their water—the Hidden Waters—is pure.” Peree says. “Ours is poisoned.”

I hear the word poison repeated through the caves and the trees.

“And how does a Lofty know that?” Cuda asks, his voice accusing.

I steel myself. “Peree and I found the Waters together.”

“You were with him?” Bear growls. “Why?”

“You admit you led a Lofty to the Waters? How interesting,” Adder says. “I didn’t realize you’d become so cozy with our enemy.”

I erupt. “Isn’t that why you had me banished? And the Lofties aren't my enemies! I’m so tired of your agendas and accusations, Adder. I may be Sightless, but you’re blinded by your prejudice against the Lofties." I face the caves. "Groundlings, I came home two days ago, only to be banished—thrown into a pit and left to die.” From the sounds of peoples’ reactions, I can tell it wasn’t widely known. It gives me courage to continue. “Moray told me it was by order of the Three, but I think it was Adder’s doing. He’s no longer capable of governing us responsibly. His hatred has brought us to the brink of war with the Lofties, and the Three don’t seem to have the will to stop him.” I direct those words to the spot where I last heard Aloe.

To my surprise, she acknowledges my challenge in a defeated voice. “You’re right, my daughter, we don’t.”

“I learned other things while I was away, too. I wasn't born Sightless. I was made this way as an infant . . . so I could collect the water one day.” More murmurs at that. “Did you know, Aloe? Did you allow it to happen?”

“Not until after,” Aloe says. “I would never have allowed it if I’d known beforehand.”

“Be careful, woman!” Adder spits at Aloe. “You're on dangerous ground!” Dangerous ground? What does he mean?

“Is this true, Adder?” Fox asks. “We've always thought the Sightless children came from the Lofties.”

“Of course it’s not true,” Adder says. “Can’t you see where the girl’s loyalties lie? Fennel sides with the Lofties, and challenges the authority of the Three. Either the Scourge has weakened her mind, or she’s a traitor.”

“I’m not a traitor!” I yell.

“She’s a Lofty-lover,” Thistle squeals from the caves. “We can’t trust her.” A few voices agree. A Lofty what?

“Fennel’s no traitor,” Bear says, stepping close to me again. I’m grateful for his solidarity.

“These accusations need to be discussed, but for now we should focus on the negotiations. There are hungry children in the caves, waiting to be fed,” Pinion says from the caves. Of all the voices I’ve heard, hers is the least altered. “Fennel, you’ve vouched for the Lofties, but how do we know they won’t kill us all in our beds if we agree to their terms?”

“Or that you won’t burn us out of our homes!” a Lofty yells.

I face the trees. “You Lofties have reason to be angry with us. But since the day you cast out our ancestors and created the Exchange, you’ve had the upper hand. Instead of fostering goodwill by sharing your most precious resource—the safety of the trees—you kept us low, subjecting us instead to fear and intimidation. If we’re going to survive, we have to earn each other’s trust, as Peree and I did.”

“Show them the necklace,” Peree calls.

Confused, but willing to follow his lead, I pull out the carved bird. There are gasps from the greenhearts.

“Peree, you gave yourself to a Groundling?” The Lofty