up, trying to catch a glimpse through the cracks in the boards. She stifled a grunt of pain as sand showered on her face, getting into her eyes. She knuckled the grit out of her watering eyes, listening hard.
Something made angry, chittering noises. Allika's curiosity grew. Some kind of animal? What in Verold was going on up there? The little girl followed the scraping and scratching sounds of the box being dragged the length of the pier. There was no more talking. Then, with a grunt, Wolf and Hound hoisted the box and moved onto the main streets. Allika scrambled out from under the pier, losing her footing in the soft sand.
Keeping them in sight, she followed, a silent little shadow. The thieves were silent, wary. Hound and Raven kept glancing about furtively. Allika shrank back from the look on Raven's face, caught for a moment in the silvery moonlight. Something was happening to Raven. Allika had never liked her much to begin with, but now that dislike was growing, backed by a fear of something the child couldn't articulate. She licked dry lips, tasting sand, and knew that if Raven caught her spying on them like this, something very, very bad would happen to her.
Fortunately, now that they were entering the winding streets, there were more shadows in which the child could hide. She was able to move closer, get a good look at the crate, memorizing every feature. It seemed to be simple enough-a large wooden box. If it housed an animal, it would have to be something the size of a small dog. But why would Raven want to steal an animal?
For an instant, Allika's childish imagination concocted something exotic, like a baby mountain cat, or a fabulous creature out of legend. Perhaps this was the king's special pet, stolen in order to exact a bribe. And then another thought struck her, sobering her at once: The cries and noises could have issued from the throat of a kidnapped child-a child just like her.
Unconsciously Allika folded Miss Lally just a little bit tighter in her embrace.
The three thieves stopped over a sewer grate. Wolf and Hound carefully set down the box, handling it as if it contained something fragile and valuable. Then the two men set to work heaving aside the grate, while a clearly nervous Raven kept watch. Allika pressed her back against the stone wall of a building, hardly daring to breathe.
'This whole damn thing doesn't sit well with me,' grumbled Wolf as he rose, panting. 'It doesn't have to,' snapped Raven icily. 'I am the Chosen. You serve me, Freylis, not the other way around.'
Wolf growled. 'Without your mad priest to protect you, bitch — ' He moved forward menacingly. Allika whimpered, softly, her eyes going big with terror. She tried to make herself invisible, but could not tear her gaze from the scene.
Hound smoothly stepped between them. 'Our fight is not with each other,' he soothed. 'Let's set the thing loose and be gone before we're discovered. If we waste time arguing, we may lose all!' 'Khem is right,' said Raven. 'Let's hurry up and get out of here.'
Now the two men eased the crate forward, close to the opening of the sewer. Hound produced a metal tool of some sort and began to open the crate. At the final sound of tearing wood, the three leaped aside.
Nothing emerged.
Wolf peered down and swore. 'Another damn box. What in the Nightlands is this, Khem, some kind of Mharian puzzle-game?'
'Security, I think,' replied Hound absently. 'I told you — this is quite the weapon.' 'So you say. But how do we get the thing down there?' asked Wolf.
Hound flashed Wolf an angry look, but said nothing. Instead, he set to work disassembling the innocuous- looking crate. He tossed pieces of wood down into the sewer as they came loose. After a moment, Wolf joined in. Raven watched for a moment, then moved away. Tension radiated from her. She hunched her shoulders and tucked her hands under her arms as she glanced first one way, then the other.
'This is taking too much time,' she hissed between clenched teeth. 'I'm going to take a look around. You two are making enough noise to rouse the Nightlands King himself.'
Wolf uttered a careless epithet, and Raven moved off. She sprinted down the alley, peered out, then returned.
Allika bit back a whimper. Now Raven was heading her way! Desperately the girl crouched back further, wishing there was a pile of refuse in which to hide. But there was nothing on this street, save the shadows themselves.
Raven moved closer with a steady pace.
'Got it,' came Hound's voice laced with triumph.
Raven halted, wavered between continuing to investigate the length of the alley and returning to help her compatriots. If Raven moved another two yards down the street, Allika knew, she'd be close enough to penetrate the shadows that were Allika's only disguise.
After a moment that seemed like an eternity to the terrified girl, Raven whirled with a fluid movement and hastened back. Allika breathed again. She dared now to move a little, strain for a better view.
And gasped softly.
Inside the crate was a second box. It was as unlike the workaday crate as the sun at midday was to a dying ember. Allika guessed it was two feet long and over a foot wide. It was smooth wood, exquisitely carved and painted with symbols. None of them were familiar to Allika. It was clearly an item of value. The girl frowned and rubbed at her eyes. She must be more tired than she had thought, for it seemed to her the box was… glowing softly.
'I confess, Khem, I doubted,' said Raven softly. 'I doubt no more.' She turned a beautiful smile on him and gripped his shoulder. He returned the grin. Wolfs frown deepened as he watched them, but he said nothing.
'I would not let it out now,' said Hound. 'Let's damage the box, and let it make its own way out.'
'Good idea,' said Raven. With his metal tool, Khem loosened the nails that held the front of the box closed. The creature inside-Allika was sure now that it was an animal, not a child-hissed and scrabbled at the confining wood, and the box rocked softly. All the thieves jumped back.
What was in that box? Something that was able to scare three grown-ups, that was for sure. Hound stepped forward and loosened the wood a little bit more. The thing inside raged now, and even as far away as she was, Allika could hear it beginning to gnaw on the wood.
'That's good enough,' said Raven. 'Push it down.'
They began to shove the ornate box toward the sewer hole. With a final push, it went over the edge. Allika heard it crack as it hit.
'Excellent,' said Raven, peering down. 'That shattered the box. It's sure to work its own way out now. Come on, let's-'
They froze. All of them, even Allika crouched unseen in the darkness, could hear the muted sound of voices heading in this direction.
'Guards,' hissed Raven. 'Let's go. Now.'
Hound glanced back. 'The grate…'
'Leave it. Let's go!'
They vanished into the shadows as if they had never been. All that was left to mark their presence was the open sewer hole cover.
Allika wasn't overly worried. If the guards happened upon her, she'd just start to cry and claim she was lost. They'd have pity on her and give her food and a warm place to sleep until the morning- by which time, of course, Allika would be long gone. She'd done it before, sometimes even on purpose. As long as the guards of Braedon didn't catch her with her little hand inside someone's pocket, she had discovered that could manipulate them as she chose.
But the booted footsteps and low talk died away without ever venturing down the alley. She waited a few moments longer, just to make sure that neither they nor the thieves were returning, then propped Miss Lally up on her bent knees.
'What do you think was in that box, Miss Lally?'
'Hm, I don't know, Allika. Let's be brave and find out! I bet Fox would want to know.'
Her mind made up, Allika rose and walked softly over toward the open sewer entrance. Kneeling a safe distance away from the edge, she peered down.
The faint light of distant torches and moon's glow revealed nothing save some faint shapes. Allika frowned and scooted closer, angling her body so that she didn't block what light there was. Still nothing.
She plopped Miss Lally down near the edge, so that the doll could see, too, then stretched down on her
