The Puppetmaster's Apprentice by Lisa DeSelm

Author:Lisa DeSelm [DeSelm, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Page Street Publishing
Published: 2020-09-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

I RUN LIKE FURY, SPRINGING THROUGH THE CROOKED LANES toward Curio. My eyes scarcely see anything but the soldier with the clock gear struck between blood-filled eyes and Emmitt’s body draped on the glockenspiel. I’m so distracted, it isn’t until I’m several streets past the marktplatz that I realize everything around me feels … wrong.

It’s morning, a Tuesday, though it feels like an eternity has passed since I first ventured to the wood, running away from my problems. Instead of the normal bustle and slosh of hawkers and busy housewives, there’s entirely too much stillness.

Many shops and homes look dark inside, despite cold sunshine grazing the rooftops as the fog flees. Windows aren’t flung open; they remain shut. The usual rag-tag assortment of laundry flutters stiffly from lines strung across the upper windows of each home, like so many flags of surrender. I spy the milkmaid carrying full pails into the cheesemonger’s, but she scurries past with her eyes downcast.

Through my tears, I see Erundle the chromatist tossing a bucket of water across her back steps, leaving a puddle of murky rainbows on the cobbles. No doubt the remainder of the morning’s grindings of powders and herbs.

“Erundle!” I call, waving and gulping great breaths of air, relieved to see a familiar face.

She hesitates, looking pained to see me. She nods roughly and turns around to go back into her home, quickly slamming the door shut behind her. Strange. We’ve always been on excellent terms.

No lights emanate from Curio’s windows. I enter through the back, flinging open the door to Burl’s stable. The horse nickers in surprise. I left him plenty of fresh hay and water, but it’s evident his stall needs immediate attention.

“I know, Burly,” I apologize, scratching his nose. “Papa left us. Then I left you, too. I’m so sorry. Everything is slipping away from me and I can’t stop it or slow it down.”

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