Mine to Fear (Mine #3)(33)
The girl gives me the eye like she doesn't want to say anything while I'm present. “Father said the Grand Chancellor has gone too far, and some of his guards attacked the house. Father and Mother were captured, but I made it out.”
“Oh, you dear girl. Let's get you settled somewhere comfortable.”
Nelly glares at me again like she could never be comfortable while I'm around, barbarian that I am. I don't want to go. I've earned being here as much as the rest of them. But what's the point? I give up and leave the house, Chadwick trailing after me.
“After all we try to do,” I say.
***
The next day, while I'm continuing to avoid the newcomers as much as possible, Cynthia returns. They fawn over her like she's a queen, much like I've seen people do to Tawny. To these people, I suppose Cynthia might as well be one. Annabelle's friend must have met her before because Cynthia seems to recognize her and spends extra time talking to her. It takes a while, but eventually, she moves away from the crowd and comes with me outside.
“What news?” I burst out. “Do you know where Zade is?”
“We think he's in the Grand Chancellor's house somewhere. Probably the dungeon.”
“The Grand Chancellor has a dungeon? Of course he does. Any news on his condition?”
“None. We just know that both him and Councilman Daniel are there.”
I slouch. “At least we know.”
She is silent as I try to take it all in. This isn't how things were supposed to be at all. I was going to come here and give Chadwick his message and then, together with Zade, the three of us were going to turn things around. Make Chardonians see how terrible the Grand Chancellor and his ideals are. Make them see how wrong it is to treat women the way they do. Instead, we're in hiding, and Zade is in some horrid dungeon.
The weight on me is heavy. Oh so heavy. “How are we going to break in there?”
“We'll figure something out,” she says. “There's one other thing.”
“What is it?”
She glances back at the house. “The Grand Chancellor has stopped all trade with other countries.”
“What?” Exactly the opposite of what many of the other countries helping us want to happen. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by it, though, since he's cared less and less what other countries think of him.
“I'm afraid that's not the worst of it.” She pinches her fingers together at her sides.
“Just tell me. I can take it.”
“He's using the magic from not just tarnished, but servants and lower class women, as a source of electricity.”
I think I'm going to be sick. “How could he do that? Why would he do that?”
“I don't know. I just don't know.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Over the next few days, more people continue to trickle in. People who need a place to stay or are outcasts now like us. We take them in and give them a place to stay and chores to do. It takes a lot of work to keep this many people fed and happy. Luckily, the house is stocked for such an event with canned food, but I don't know how long it can last with so many of us eating it.
Only one person comes that I was never expecting. I stare at Phyllis, the girl who betrayed Serena in the hopes of not becoming tarnished herself. Sure, Serena forgave her, and Zade kept her working at his house to keep an eye on her. That doesn't mean I trust her now.
“How did you come to be here?” I ask her.
“There was a group of people I joined. Chadwick came to them with Jack, and I recognized him. I thought this would be a safe place for me.” Her eyes are wide like she's scared.
“It will be safe.” I move closer to her, for once using my height to intimidate someone. “But that's only if you follow the rules and stay true to us.”
“I will,” she says. “I swear it.”
I let her go with the others, finding places for them all over the cave to settle. At least everyone is willing to pitch in and help. But that doesn't solve the other problem.
“There's too many people here. We're going to get caught,” I say.
Jack has a 'no one listened to me' look on his face.
“We can't very well turn them away,” Serena says.
“I'm not suggesting that at all. Only, we can't risk everyone's lives even more by continually bringing in people we don't have the means of supporting. Unless we start taking them to other countries, I don't see what other options we have.”
“Do you think they'll go?” Lukas asks.
“We can ask at least,” I say.
Jack looks like he wants to say something, but it takes him a moment to finally speak. “There's another option.”
“Turn them away, we know,” Chadwick says. “We've been over this.”
Jack grumbles. “I meant something else.”
“What is it?” I ask.
“There's this place. It's a little ways away from here, closer to Councilman Daniel's house, or his previous house now. There's a hidden cave, but it's giant and has fresh water. We would still need to figure a way to get food for them. And it would probably still be a good idea to take those out of the country that can and want to go. But the cave would be better than this at least.”