The Broken Raven by Joseph Elliott

Author:Joseph Elliott [Elliott, Joseph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781536216226
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2021-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

I’m still holdin the metal file in my sweaty hams. I haven’t let go of it since Lady Beatrice sneaked it to me. It takes hek slogs for Konge Grímr to finish his chewin and get into bed. Even then, I gotta wait until he’s sunk deep before startin.

Soon as his snores are rattlin the bed frame, I put the file to the chain and start grindin it back and forth. My workin’s makin the chain rattle, and its clinkin sounds awful loud all of a sudden. Jarg! There’s no way Konge Grímr’s not gunna hear that. I move the wrist what’s got the chain on it between my legs, hopin my trousers will stop the sound some. It’s better, but still louder than I want. I go slow and hard, keepin as quiet as I can. It’s not easy, and before long I’m sweatin seas. It’s workin, though. Little by little, it’s cuttin through the chain.

I don’t know how long I do it for. A hek long time. I’m speedin up now cuz I’m nearly done. It’s gettin louder, but I don’t care, I’m nearly through and —

“What?” ses Konge Grímr.

I stay still, not darin to breathe. My heart is speedin so fast I swear it’s gunna leap straight outta my mouth. Konge Grímr doesn’t say nothin else. How much did he hear? Keepin my back to him, I turn my head, slow as I can. He’s on his back, breathin deep. Asleep. He musta spoken in his sleep is all. A thousand horns to Øden, that was lucky. I gotta be more careful. I start my filin again, bein more careful of keepin quiet this time. Just a little more, a little more, a little more, and then —

The clank of the chain breakin is almost silent. The links slip away and I’ve done it; I’m not attached to him no more. There’s still the part of the chain what’s around my wrist, but that don’t bother me none.

I stand up, keepin hold of the file. It’s not much of a weapon, but it’s better than nothin. I can’t believe I’m free. On my way to the door I pass the remains of Konge Grímr’s food. It sure don’t matter if he notices I ate some now. I grab a hamful of meat and shove it in my mouth. It’s so rich my taste buds are poppin. I take another fat wodge and bury it in my pocket for later. My breathin is snortin loud outta my nose cuz my mouth’s so full of chewin. Slow down, I tell myself. Quiet, quiet, quiet.

I step over to the door. The bolt what keeps it locked is stiff as bones. It clunks open. I look back at the sleepin skapfiend one last time. He’s gunna be hek fiery when he wakes up and finds me gone. If I get caught, it’s the end of me — I’m straightaways dead and no mistakin. Well, there isn’t nothin I can do about that.

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