laid out on the cold stone floor and hurry to it, pulling back the cover and revealing the purple, death-frozen face beneath.
“Oh, Vallen, oh no,” moans an old woman. “Oh, his poor mother. How did this happen?”
“This one here.” The warrior hits the slats. “This one killed him.”
Jack peers up earnestly from his cage.
The old woman’s mouth gapes wide, shocked as she looks on Jack in horror. Gradually her expression softens and she releases her suspended breath, regarding him now with something akin to pity.
“Well,” she resigns, “I guess that’s what you should expect from a boy raised by savages.”
Chapter Three
The stewards finish unknotting the bindings until the sides of the cages fall flat on the stone floor. When every one of them is liberated the children sit immobile inside, looking dully around, afraid of being set free.
“Come on, little ones,” says the old woman. “My name is Ezbeth. I’m going to help you. Come on, now.”
No one moves.
She kneels, her voice lilting. “I know you’re scared. It’s okay. That was a scary trip.” She frowns childishly. “It’s all over now. You’re safe. Don’t be shy, come on out.”
The stewards go from cage to cage, gently tugging on arms and legs, pulling the children out. Jack feels someone grab his upper arm and guide him from his foul smelling prison, his joints and thin muscles on fire, cramping as he tries to extend his body and stand up. He kneels shaking on the ground and a man places his hand gently on Jack’s bony back.
“You’re all right, there, boy. Take you’re time. You’re all right.”
Gradually they all manage it, taking slight steps like newborn fawn, glancing frantically around the room.
Braylon unfurls, steadying himself on the edge of his cage, and lunges at the nearest steward. His wasted body collapses and he is brutally thrust to the ground. A severe looking man with a square jaw straddles his back and digs his knees into his ribs.
“I wouldn’t do that, young man,” he says, his presence commanding. “We will lock you away and you won’t see daylight till this time next year.” He flashes militant eyes at the children. “Anyone else want to get violent with me?”
They shirk back and cling to the cold walls. He cautiously lifts his weight and stands, then offers Braylon a hand. Braylon looks contemptuously at the extended gesture while the tension chills the room. Slowly, he reaches up his hand and accepts the help.
“That’s good,” says the man. “If you can all learn some respect, we’ll get along fine here. Now, wasn’t that easy?”
Braylon stays silent.
“I said, wasn’t that easy?” he repeats, calmly and without malice.
“Yes,” Braylon whispers.
“Thank you, Nisaq.” Ezbeth sighs. “No more roughness, okay?” She looks around imploringly.
Lia shuffles up behind Jack and puts her arms around him.
“You killed that man?”
Jack only nods.
She looks at him with big scared eyes. “I wish you killed them all.” The words sound utterly surreal spoken from her delicate lips.
Ezbeth grabs Lia and guides her to the far side of the room while the stewards shepherd the children into two lines, boys and girls. Jack joins his line, standing by William and Aiden.
“Now listen,” says Ezbeth, “you must all be starving. The sooner you do as we say, the sooner you will be fed. Girls, you are going to follow me in just a moment, and boys, you will go with Nisaq. Do not speak, and do not touch anything. Your hands are filthy.”
She moves to a broad doorway, leading to a sconcelit corridor, and beckons the girls to follow. Haylen is at the front of the line and her feet slip nervously across the stone and begin to move her body toward the door. The female stewards go along as well, and Nisaq takes his place by the exit.
“All right, young men, follow me. Let’s get you cleaned.”
The hallway is a sheer cavern that extends off into hazy gloom in both directions. Dreary candlelight turns the pale sandstone a ruddy orange, illuminating ghostly the paintings and furs hung along the walls. Some of the paintings depict the blue-eyed man.
Jack glances to his left and sees the line of girls shambling away, following Ezbeth to some unknown destination within the monstrous structure. Nisaq leads the boys to the right and they follow without contest. Their path cuts left and they find themselves in an open space in the corner of the Temple. A small open door allows a shaft of pale blue light to cut through the dimness.