The Queen and the Nobody Boy by Barbara Else

Author:Barbara Else
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, magical realism, Teenage
ISBN: 9781877579684
Publisher: Gecko Press
Published: 2013-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

23

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At the side door, Hodie expected them to hire another ogre carriage. Instead, Lu’nedda waved a hand, and two low-slung cycle-chairs rolled up, pedalled by dwarfs.

“Keep heads down,” said Lu’nedda. “And cloak collar up as if we do not like bad city-smell.”

“I certainly don’t,” muttered Sibilla.

Lu’nedda frowned. “Do not attract attention. Surprise, that is what I am after. Happy surprise for Great Prowdd’on, and bad surprise for Gree’sle. Allana – take a happy-family moment with your boy.”

She hauled Sibilla with her into a cycle-chair. Sibilla gave Hodie and Murgott a horrified glance, and clamped a hand tight to her cap. Hodie’s mother hesitated. Murgott eyed her, then Hodie, and scooped the squirrel with him into the Princessa’s cycle-chair. Sibilla blinked with relief. But it left Hodie and his mother on their own.

~

Hodie pretended he was too busy looking at the city to look at Allana. He leaned out, cloak over his nose. The bad smells were ripe. The cycle-chair rolled past stalls that sold handbags, scarves, and cheap toys that would break as soon as the shopkeeper had your dolleros. If you had any dolleros in the first place. Hodie didn’t and never had, which was in large part because of his mother. He didn’t count those dolleros from Murgott because he’d only had them for minutes before they fell down the pulley tower along with the pie, lemon cordial and whiffy blanket.

The cycle-chair with Sibilla trundled ahead. Hodie gave a small wave but she didn’t see. Bag on her lap, she was peering up each flight of stairs. Seeking a way out for the bird, of course. She’d better not let it go in public – it would definitely draw attention.

Hodie sat back. That meant his shoulder touched his mother’s. It felt as if a current rippled through him. He made himself as narrow as he could.

His mother stirred and cleared her throat. “Your name isn’t really Hodie,” she said. “It’s Ro’lan …”

“My name is Hodie. Only Hodie.”

“I know you’re angry. Of course you are. I understand.” His mother clasped her hands tight on her lap.

“More probably you don’t.” He sounded like any ordinary boy grumbling at any mother, but it was hardly another good moment.

“There were many reasons why you and I could not be together.”

“Dardy and I lived like nobodies,” Hodie said. “But you lived with a Princessa. I’m not sorry for myself – well, sometimes I am, but I try to get over it. I’m sorry for you. And sorry for my father. He might be a spy too, but he wasn’t happy very often.”

“A spy?” His mother cleared her throat again. “Hodie, you have every right to be furious with me. But why with your father? And – a spy! No, Hodie …”

He made the first sound of an angry sentence, then stopped. “I didn’t say I was furious. I said I was sorry. And I don’t understand why you’re a spy.”

His mother’s voice shook. “I’m not a … Hodie, I don’t have much time to explain.

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