The New Day by Lorraine Thomson

Author:Lorraine Thomson [Thomson, Lorraine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9-783-7325-5519-2
Publisher: Bastei Entertainment
Published: 2017-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

With the exceptions of Warbles and Zee, who had been given jobs and sleeping quarters at the newly established city kitchens, the group had been quartered in one large ground floor room in the Palace. The chamber was sparse, with beds made up on the floor and only the minimum of furniture, but there was enough tell-tale in the ornate fireplace and the fancy plaster-work in the ceiling to understand that it had once been a luxurious apartment.

The chamber would have been large for two or three and had space comfortable enough for five and a dog, say herself, David, Eli, Valen, Einstein and Tailwagger. But with eleven sharing, plus the dog, Sorrel felt both hemmed in and exposed. No words could be uttered in private, every interaction, including her reunion with her father, was a public display, and with Lizbit constantly hovering around, intimate moments with David were frustratingly difficult. Kala’s approving glances when Sorrel and David shared the smallest of moments were almost as irritating as Olaf’s snide comments and snickering.

After so much time spent out in the open with just Einstein and Tailwagger for company, the sudden close proximity of so many people unsettled her.

She wanted to be near to Eli of course, but his continuing rejection stung her deeply, and Brig’s constant presence was a barrier. Brig even took Eli with him when he went to work.

As for the rest of them, Ivan and Olaf were locked in an endless power struggle for Brig’s approval. Einstein and Brig were each determined to pretend that the other wasn’t there and made a show of not looking in the other’s direction. Cyrus and Kala amused themselves by wrestling with each other, verbally and physically, their voices bouncing off the ceiling, their bodies banging into the floor, and Lizbit was in constant orbit around David.

It was all too much.

“I have to get out of here,” Sorrel said to David.

She’d whispered the words, but she’d have been as well climbing onto the table and shouting them.

Kala released Cyrus from a neck lock and stood up. “Me too. I heard tell that there’s a distraction on at the market place tonight. We could go there.”

“Sounds good,” Cyrus said. He was still lying on the floor.

“Eli will enjoy the distraction,” Olaf said. He puffed up, pleased with himself for making the suggestion.

Brig’s gaze drilled into him. “Like a badger enjoys the hunt.”

“I just thought…” Olaf’s words floundered as he deflated.

“Thinking is beyond you.”

“Brig is right,” Sorrel said. “The streets are crowded, Eli is safer here. But I need to get out of this room before I suffocate.”

“I’ll stay with Eli,” Brig said.

“I’ll keep you company,” Ivan said.

“Please don’t,” Brig replied.

“What about Tailwagger – will you watch her?” Sorrel asked.

Brig grunted his agreement.

“I will also stay behind,” Einstein said. “I have experienced distractions before and have no desire to do so again.”

Brig looked at him sidewise before concentrating his gaze on Eli’s slate.

“Are you sure?” Sorrel asked. She had meant the excursion to

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