by Hannah Ross
When the three were again alone, she said, "About Eleanor. I'd like to know what she has to say about all this."
"Eleanor isn't in very good shape lately," Dahl admitted.
"Which is quite understandable," Andrew said. "She is Priscilla's mother. I don't expect Eleanor will recover until Priscilla is safely home."
"You have to bring her back," Daphne said with a militant air. "Do you hear me, Pearson? If my niece and great-niece don't end up safe and well, you will have to deal with me."
"Yes, Madam," Pearson said, wiping his brow. Like any sane person, he wouldn't dream of crossing Daphne Van Wullen.
* * *
Contrary to her usual habit of playing the gracious hostess, Eleanor Dahl remained upstairs in her bedroom while her relations were shut up in the office with her husband. When Alexander entered without bothering to knock, for he seldom did when doors were unlocked, he found his wife sitting on the bed, listlessly flipping through the glossy pages of a magazine without actually seeing them.
"Andrew just drove away, but your aunt is downstairs in the sitting-room, sampling a piece of chocolate pie. Not that she needs it. But I thought you might want to come down and say hello before she goes."
Eleanor shook her head slightly, then sighed, as if trying to disperse the apathy that infected her of late. "Yes, I had better do that. I don't want Aunt Daphne to feel unwelcome."
"As if she'd care if it were so," Dahl muttered under his breath.
"Is there any news?"
He knew she wasn't asking about the election campaign. She didn't care three straws about it anymore. Only about her daughter.
"Nothing of significance." As he stared at his distraught wife, he lost control of his emotions. In a fit of fury he all but shouted, "Can you guess why she did this to me, Eleanor? What was there for her to run away from? I understand that all teenagers have their stupid little quirks, but our daughters always had everything they could possibly want. Everything. Wealth, comfort, education, every advantage. They were at the top of the world. You and I don't deserve this. I don't deserve this, especially now. Why would Priscilla do this? It's not like I've been a bad father, have I?"
She stared at him, her eyes burning. "No, Alexander," she said with a coldness he never before heard from her. "You've not been a bad father. I can hardly say you've been a father at all."
With that, she rose and swept out of the room.
34
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Saturday, May 10
The sun warmed Ben and Priscilla as their mounts trotted beside each other through a greening valley. They heard the vehicle before it crested the hill half a mile away and knew the driver saw them when it changed direction.
"Ben! That's a White Tower vehicle! What are we going to do? If we run they'll know I'm the one they're looking for."
"We just keep on our way until they stop us. Then...I have an idea. Let me do the talking. And if it works, we're going to owe my mom big time for doing your hair and all."
The vehicle stopped about fifty feet ahead of them and two men got out.
The driver said, "I'm Agent Fowler and this is Agent Trickett. What's your name, girl?"
Ben urged his horse forward a few steps. "I'm Ben Grey. This is my future wife, Nell Wood. What are Tower agents doing way out here?"
"Nell Wood, eh? Then how do you explain her looking so much like the girl we're looking for?"
Ben shrugged. "Lots of people look like other people. There was a guy in the Ravens' camp that looked a lot like me. Bob Stone. People mixed us up all the time." His head shook. "Damn shame."
"What's a shame?"
"He was a really nice guy. We sort of thought of each other as brothers, with the resemblance and all. He and two others were out hunting last December and got caught in the big blizzard and froze to death. They tried to stay warm by gutting the horses and crawling inside the carcasses. Would've worked, too, if the storm hadn't gone on for two days and buried them pretty deep in heavy, wet snow."
He watched the agents' eyes grow wide as they tried to suppress their feelings of disgust at the idea. Fowler was about to say something when Priscilla's voice cut through the air, causing all three male heads to turn.
"Benjamin Grey!" She looked furious. "Why didn't you tell me?! How could you be so...oh! Oh, no! Janey! She must have been devastated. And last fall she said they were going to try to have children. What if she's pregnant? Or already has a baby? What if—"
"Nell. Stop! There's a lot of people in the Ravens' camp. I'm sure she's been well cared for. We can talk about this later."
He turned back to the agents and rolled his eyes, which elicited a faint grin from each. "Is there some kind of reward for helping find this girl?"
"Not officially. But the family's offering an incentive, in gold, for information that leads to locating her."
"Gold?! She must be pretty important. And you say she looks a bit like Nell?"
Fowler nodded. "Black hair. Shoulder length. Same general build. Maybe a few pounds lighter."
"What do we do if we come across her? It's not like there's phones or radios out here."
"If you can detain her, bring her to Resurrection Town or flag down one of our vehicles if you see one."
"And if one of those other vehicles stops us?"
"Just tell them you're working with Agent Fowler."
"You have a card or something I can show them to prove we talked? Some folks out here have been saying you guys have been giving them a hard time, and we don't want any trouble."
"Sure." He glanced at his partner and said, "Grab some cards," then turned back to Ben. "Why don't you give cards to people you meet? Let them know about the reward. The girl's name is Priscilla. Whoever finds her will have some very powerful and grateful friends inside the Boundary. You understand?"
"I do," he said as he took the cards from Trickett. "Thanks. Well, we best be getting on." He began to turn his horse, but stopped and looked back. "Say...we've been talking about making a visit inside the Boundary someday, maybe on our honeymoon. See what it's like in there. If we do, can I give you a call? I hear there's permits and stuff required and…you know out here it's mostly all pretty causal. Maybe you know someone who can help us get a visitor's permit? Maybe tell us the best places to visit while we're there?"
Fowler nodded. "Sure. When are you getting married?"
"Not 'till next year when she turns eighteen. Lots of people out here just live together even at fourteen or fifteen, have kids and all, but we're kind of old fashioned. Think folks shouldn't be having kids 'till they're adults and properly married… in a fashion, of course. There's no legal marriage around here or anything. But anyway, maybe we'll see you again next spring."
He raised a hand and turned his horse away from the agents, beaming a wide grin at Priscilla who struggled not to grin back. "Let's go, Nell. I want to get back before sundown."
When the sound of the vehicle's engine faded into the distance, Priscilla pulled up and turned to Ben. "You did it! That was amazing. You—"
"No. We did it. You interrupting Fowler like that was inspired. I could tell they weren't really buying my story until you did that. And when I interrupted you and spoke as I did, and then rolled my eyes when I turned back to them, I could see them relaxing. Probably because they couldn't believe anyone out here would speak to a Dahl that way. You really saved the day."
A soft blush crept into her cheeks. I saved the day! Me! I guess I’m good for something after all. "Thank you for saying that, Ben. It means a lot to me." They exchanged smiles for a few seconds until her eyebrows arched as she squinted and said, "Now, what do you mean you rolled your eyes?"
35
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Sunday, May 11
"Is this it?" Priscilla asked Ben the next day, shielding her eyes and staring ahead from the back of her horse. She saw a cluster of large dun and brown tents, with fires in front of a few, and makeshift cattle-pens wh
ich were currently empty. Large herds of sheep were grazing in the meadows around the camp, watched over by shepherds on foot and on horseback, who were aided by large herding and guardian dogs.
"Yes. This is the Ravens' summer camp. Well, one of their spots, at any rate. Come on, let's ride down. I'm sure they'll be pleased to see us."
"I'm sure Raven will," Priscilla said with a sly and penetrating look, which made Ben toss his head and laugh a bit awkwardly.
"It isn't like that. Raven and I are friends now. Actually, the Eagles and the Ravens are friends regardless of me. We help each other out. And they're really a decent sort of people. They'll be glad to have us around for a while. You'll see."
Though Priscilla didn't dare to show it, her heart secretly trilled at the sound of the little word us. "You'll hang around for a few days, then?"
"I'll stay as long as you do. It will be safest. If someone spotted you coming away from my parents', they must have seen me too."
"And you'll have to tell Raven who I really am?"
"Yes, but don't worry. Raven is loyal to her friends. I'd trust her with my life."
They were welcomed with exclamations of surprise and delight that were, nevertheless, mixed with worry at first.
"Is everything alright?" asked Patrick Moon as they dismounted and came over to say hello. "No more mess at the Eagles', or in the city, is there?"
Ben assured him everyone was fine. "We just rode over for a visit. Is Raven around?"
"She's watching the sheep on the lower meadow today. You could get there in a jiffy if you want to see her, but she'll be back soon. Come into my tent and have a drink in the meantime.
Ben and Priscilla, hot and thirsty after their ride, readily agreed.
"I didn't know you had a tent of your own," Ben said as Patrick led them to the edge of the camp. As far as he remembered, Patrick shared a tent with a few other bachelors.
"Yeah, I set it up not long ago, when Cassie and I got serious." He looked slightly embarrassed. "She told me she was tired of sharing a tent with a bunch of other people. I mean, in winter there's little choice, as it's so cold and much easier to heat one large yurt than several small ones. But in the summer anyone who wants to can set up a tent for themselves, no problem. And she…uhh…likes the privacy."
Their tent was small but neatly made, and Priscilla, marveling, ran a hand down an outside wall. "It's made of hides."
"Yes, Nell. Cassie and I tanned them ourselves. It didn't take very many, as we're only two people… for now, anyway."
They entered the dim and shady space. The smoke-hole was the only source of light, and when the guests took their seats, Patrick tied back the entrance-flap, allowing a shaft of yellow sunlight to illuminate the interior.
"A glass of beer?" he offered, going to a barrel that stood a little to the side. "I'm going to have one."
"If it isn't very strong," Ben said. "I haven't had much to eat today. Don't want it to go to my head."
"It's small beer," Patrick explained, placing a cup in front of each of them. The hint was understood, however, and he offered the guests sheep cheese, some slices of hard sausage, and last winter's dried fish and fruit.
Priscilla sniffed at the cup suspiciously, as she did most of the time with the Wild Children's brewed drinks. The beer had a mild yeasty smell, not unpleasant, and she took a cautious sip. It tasted like it contained very little alcohol and was very refreshing.
Presently Cassie came in, carrying a pail of sheep milk. "I see we have guests, Pat. Nice to see you again, Ben! And I see you've brought a friend." She gave Priscilla a curious look.
"Cas, this is Nell, Ben's friend," said Patrick. Priscilla squirmed but didn't correct him at present. "Did you see if Raven is back yet?"
"I saw her riding up. She should be in the camp by now."
"We'd better go and have a chat with her, then. Thanks for the drink and food, Patrick."
Ben and Priscilla found Raven outside her tent, brushing out her mare's coat. She was dressed in a deerskin suit and moccasins she made herself, and smelled of sheep, horse, and smoke. "There now, Ink. You're all groomed. Hey, Ben, Nell. This is a surprise."
"Yeah, I guess it is," said Ben. "Could we have a word?"
"Sure," Raven said, beckoning them in. A small fire burned brightly, and a rod full of fat little sausages was suspended above it.
"Where's Taylor? He's supposed to be watching the food and he knows better than to leave an inside fire unattended." She gave the rod a twist, so the meat could brown more on the other side. Some grease dripped into the fire, sputtering and raising a plume of denser smoke that rose up and out of the opening at the top. "I hope you don't mind the smoke." Changing her mind, she said, "I'm starving and these are done enough." She took the sausages off the fire and slid them onto a plate. "You want some?"
Ben smiled at her uncharacteristic nervousness. "No thanks. We ate at Patrick's."
"You sure? Well, suit yourself. How about a drink? Nell?"
Priscilla squirmed, tired of being called by that false name. "Tell her, Ben."
Raven paused with a piece of sausage speared on the tip of a pocket-knife and halfway to her mouth. "Tell me what? Spit it out, Ben. You know I hate suspense."
"Well—"
"Stop," Priscilla said. "It's not fair for me to keep having you speak for me." She met Raven's eyes. "It's about me. You'd better take another sausage and get comfortable. It's a pretty long story." Without further ado, she launched into it, doing her best not to make herself seem like a naughty little girl run away from home on a whim. For some reason she couldn't quite pinpoint, Raven's good opinion was important to her. She needn't have been afraid of harsh judgment, though.
Raven's eyes widened and she forgot all about her lunch as she listened. Slowly, a grin spread over her face. When her guest took a deep breath and sat back, she softly said, "Wow! This is like one of those tales of runaway princesses, isn't it?"
"I wouldn't say I'm a princess," Priscilla said with a shrug. "But… well… who am I kidding? I was certainly raised like one."
"Alexander Dahl," Raven said. "He's the bastard thanks to whom we've all been slung across the Boundary, to live without IDs, rights, education, healthcare, and too many other things to count. I suppose we ought to thank him!" She brightened up and took a bite of sausage, now gone cold.
Priscilla's head shook. "Thank him?"
"Why, yes." Raven reached for a flagon of ale, took a long swig, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Most of us come from the lower classes, Priscilla. The only future we could have looked forward to was living in the slums, suffocating in little four-wall cages and trotting to some dreary factory or dingy office to work and back every day of our lives until we dropped dead. Working our asses off just to have a corner of that cage formed by the Boundary. Instead we have all this, these tents, which we can move whenever it takes our fancy; livestock and lands, rivers and forests and sky… and freedom. So many years have passed since the War. The country has mostly recovered, but there are only a handful of people around. It's vast, empty, unexplored. It's all a great adventure from beginning till the end. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
"Some have, you know," said Ben. "Some people took the offer of Class B citizenship the government made, and went back to the Boundary. They have three meals a day and a roof over their heads, and consider it a fair trade-off."
"Pooh," said Raven. "None of the Ravens left, or even felt tempted to. Nor do I see why we should. It would be like going back to the orphanage."
"Raven, I need a place to stay for a while," said Priscilla, "but I'll be honest with you. They're looking for me. They've already reached Ben's camp and we encountered TIO agents on the way here. Fortunately, Ben was brilliant and they went on their way. But if they show up and find me here, you and the others might be in deep trouble. I don't want to put anyone in danger."
Raven looked unimpressed. "You're welcome to stay. We move every few weeks during the sp
ring and summer. We have outriders at all times, day and night. If we spot anything suspicious, you take your horse and be off to the hills. There are several caves where you can tide over if the government pawns decide to hang around. They won't stay long. Then you can come back. Eventually they'll give up looking for you here, and will move on to other areas."
"You make it all sound so simple," remarked Ben.
"It is simple. It's you, Ben, who tends to make things complicated," she said with a smile. "I'll have to let all the others know, of course. I won't tell them who you really are, just that we're hiding you for a while. If anyone has any objections, they'll say so. But I daresay there won't be any trouble."
"I'm really grateful, Raven. Thank you."
"It's nothing. But this tent is usually pretty crowded. I think you could spread your sleeping bags at Dan's. He has some spare room. I assume you'll be staying too, Ben?" Her question made him blush.
"Yeah, I… I guess so," he said, cursing himself for his awkwardness.
"Okay, then." She looked at Priscilla. "Later you and I can take a nice walk and get properly acquainted. But now, let's go and pay a visit to Dan Crow. He won't mind having you around for a while, Ben. But I have to warn you not to drink any of his beer. He's proud of it, but it's godawful. Trust me on this one."
* * *
Dan was indeed very accommodating. "Sure, Ben. You two can stay here. Even get some privacy in the space behind this partition. We had some visitors not long ago and they only just left. Do you have your sleeping bags?"
"They're outside. We'll just go and fetch them," said Ben. When they walked back into the sunlight, Priscilla could see he was concerned as he asked, "Are you alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the Ravens are really roughing it, even compared to us."
She smiled. "Yeah. Your parents' farm seems kind of like a five-star hotel right now. But it's OK, Ben, really. I'm sure it will be… interesting." She cast a dubious look at some hides stretched across wooden frames in the process of tanning. "Why do they do that?" she asked in a low voice. "I saw the stores and warehouses in the city. There are heaps and heaps of clothes lying around."