D. Jackson - Thieftaker

“Can you tell me what happened?” Elli asked. He could hear the effort she was making to keep any hint of accusation from seeping into the question. “Do you know why this was done to my boy?”

He hadn’t even considered the question of why. He had seen Holin lying there in the lane, and had focused every subsequent thought on finding a way to save the boy’s life. But as soon as Elli asked him, the answer became obvious. Sephira Pryce.

Sephira’s men killed Daniel Folter, and Anna tried to convince Ethan that Daniel had killed Jennifer. Holin had seen Nigel and Ethan in the street, and now the conjurer had taken Holin and tried to use him for another killing spell. Sephira and this man were working together. But to what end?

“Ethan?”

His eyes snapped up to hers. “I’m sorry. I was… The short answer to your question is that Holin was taken because of me. Because someone saw us together yesterday, when I walked him home.”

“Who?” she asked, as if intent on killing whoever it was herself.

“I shouldn’t-”

“Who, Ethan?”

“Sephira Pryce,” he said.

Elli blinked once, but offered no other response.

“You remember the conjurer I mentioned yesterday?”

She nodded, growing pale once more.

“He’s the one who had Holin. But I think he and Sephira are working together. I think that’s how he knew to go after Holin in the first place.”

“Was he going to-?” She broke off, seeing the look on Ethan’s face. “Holin could have died, just like those others.”

“He’s fine now. We were fortunate.”

She stared at him for a long time, until at last Ethan looked away and sipped his tea.

“You weren’t fortunate,” she said. “You saved him. You told me you did something that you’ll regret.”

“Let it go, Elli.” He said it softly, but he knew she wouldn’t argue.

“Well, thank you,” she said at length. “For whatever you did.”

“Don’t let him go to work tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry,” she answered, falling into the stern tone he had heard her use with Holin and Clara. “What about the next day?”

“It’ll be over by then.” Speaking the words, he knew it was true. He could scarcely believe that his confrontation with Nigel had been only yesterday, that he had spoken with Janna this very morning. Tomorrow night was still a lifetime away, in more ways than one.

“You think you can defeat this conjurer so soon?”

Ethan shrugged, staring fixedly at the fire.

“Ethan?”

“If it takes longer than a day, and I think Holin is still in danger, I’ll let you know.”

He glanced Elli’s way and found her watching him, her green eyes seeing right through the placid expression he had imposed on his features.

“That’s not what you meant, is it?”

“Before I go, I need to wake him, and ask him some questions. Is that all right?”

He was sure she would object, that after all that had happened she would want to protect Holin even from this. But she surprised him. “Yes, but I’m staying right here.”

“Of course.” He put down his tea cup and shifted to the sofa so that he was sitting beside the boy. He gently shook Holin and spoke his name. At first Holin merely stirred without waking, but Ethan shook him again and called to him a second time. After another moment, the boy rolled over, his eyes open. He looked at Ethan and then his mother before lying back and staring up at the ceiling.

“How are you feeling, Holin?” Ethan asked.

The boy swallowed. “Confused.” His voice sounded weak.

“Are you in any pain? Do you feel sick?”

He shook his head and cleared his throat. “No, nothing like that. I don’t remember… How did I get here?”

“I brought you home. What’s the last thing you do remember?”

“Walking up from the wharf. It was light still. What time is it now?”

“It’s late,” Ethan said. “Past midnight.”

“Why weren’t you with Rory?” Elli asked in that same stern voice.

“He and some friends were going to a tavern.” He looked at his mother. “I didn’t think you’d want me going with them.”

In spite of everything, Ethan smiled, turning away so that Elli wouldn’t see.

Elli started to say more, then stopped and just stared at Holin. The boy had rendered her speechless. Ethan wished he had been taking notes.

“Do you remember seeing anyone?” Ethan asked, facing Holin once more. “Did you stop to speak with someone, or pass anyone in the street?”

“I don’t think so.” An instant later, he shook his head and frowned. “No,” he said with more certainty. “In fact, I remember thinking that the city seemed deserted. I didn’t see anyone, and I thought it was strange. That’s the last thing I remember: thinking that there should have been more people on the street. Then…” He shrugged. “Then you woke me up.”

Ethan and Elli shared a look.

“All right then,” Elli said, standing. “It’s time for you to get to bed. Can you make it to your room?”

“I think so,” Holin said. But he didn’t move. “What happened to me?” he asked Ethan. “Why are you here so late?”

Ethan glanced at Elli again, but she said nothing.

“I’m afraid I got you mixed up in some of my dealings, Holin. I’m sorry for that. I won’t let it happen again.”

The boy stared hard at him, obviously dissatisfied with that answer.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” Ethan said. “Nothing you should be involved in. And I think you had better get yourself to bed before your mother forbids me to ever come here again.”

“All right,” Holin said, sounding tired. He stood too quickly, swayed dangerously, and might have fallen had Ethan not reached out to steady him. “Whoa,” the boy breathed.

“Perhaps I should walk you up,” Ethan said.

With Ethan supporting the boy, they made their way up the narrow stairway to Holin’s chamber. There, Ethan and Elli helped the boy into his bed before descending the stairs once more and returning to the sitting room.

Ethan began to gather his clothes, which were warmer but still damp.

“You should stay here,” Elli said, surprising him again. “You can sleep on the sofa, by the fire.”

“Thank you, but that’s not-”

“They’ll find you if you go home.”

“Elli-”

“Look at me and tell me that you wouldn’t be safer here.”

Ethan stared back at her, but he couldn’t argue. The conjurer would want revenge for what Ethan had done to him this night, and he had little doubt that Sephira was after him, too. His room above the cooperage was the first place they would look. The Dowser would be second, and at that thought he very nearly sprinted from the house and back to the tavern without saying another word to Elli. Hearing Sephira threaten to hurt Kannice was one thing; knowing that this conjurer might go after her was something else entirely.

“Besides,” Elli went on after a brief pause, “you’re wearing John’s clothes, and I don’t want you leaving with them.”

He chuckled and shook his head.

“You’re laughing at me.”

“No,” he said. Then, “A little, yes. You understand that if I were to stay here, I would be putting you and the children in danger. I would have to set a warding on the house, and that would mean spilling blood for a conjuring.”

Elli flinched at the last word, but then she gathered herself. “That’s fine. Whatever you need to do to make it safe for us.”

She was full of surprises this night.

“Thank you, Elli,” he said, and meant it. “It’s a kind offer. But there’s somewhere else I need to be.”

“At this hour?”

“Yes. You’re right: They might be looking for me. And if they are, I want to be there. Better they find me than someone else.”