Disclaimer: I don't own diddly squat of Tamora Peirce's work.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next evening...

Sari was slightly disgusted by the time she got to the stone mansion. The route she had taken there was dizzying. Getting in was a little too easy for her comfort; some stupid guardsman had left the servants entrance open. Waryshe slipped inside, it had to be too easy. Slipping down a empty hallway almostlike a ghost Sari found the place a little too silent. Not a soul stirring anywhere.

There weren't any lights, torches or lanterns sothe going was very slow. When she was closer to the treasury she would have to drop back and map out the guards positions. According to the information they had a guard should be right around the corner. Peeking around the wall Sari's eyes widened in surprise. Empty, that was worse than having more than one. Ignoring her urge to run Sari crept forward in the darkened hall.

Turning the next corner she found the next hall empty as well, worrying more and more that she could be walking into a trap. Why else would the servant gate be open and the halls empty? Sari turned the next corner, the last one that should have been bristling with guards, was empty except for a torch that wasburning low. She knew she should have turned and run but the thought of a massive treasure un-guarded was too much for a thief to turn down. Taking the torch Sari went into the last empty guard room in something of a daze.

Still holding the torch She bent to look at the large locks on the massive door in the flickering light. They were recent and would take a while to open. The locks looked a little strange though as Sari stared at them. Trying to figure what the difference was she looked until it dawned on her.

Sitting back on her heels dazed even more she gave the door a push, to have it swing gently open. Sari stood and walked into the very big and very empty room. Waiting for the Watch to spring out at her from thin air Sari stood there dumbfounded. She wished the watch, guards, or even the chief cook would come out even if that meant the end of the line for her.

If someone would pop out then it would make sense. Disregarding silence completely Sari walked threw hallways to the nearest door throwing it open she saw it empty of everything, even the rugs. She ran out to the nearest garden to find all the miniature trees uprooted and gone, anything that could be carried was gone. Running from random room to random room to find them empty of everything. Heart beating Sari left the empty place heading straight back to the den.

The word was everywhere the next day that three royal houses had been abandoned. Sari was puzzled beyond words; every person was gone servants and all. How could three giant houses simply disappear? She wanted to ask The Watch but that would be gambling with her life, something of which she wasn't fond. There was a different feel to the watch that Sari saw; they looked jittery.

There were a lot more of the watch on the street so Sari's collection for the day was sparse. The sun was setting when Sari started making her way back to the den. Pausing by a closing stall listened to the conversation going on. It was the same everywhere, the crops failing, the rain holding back and holding back... bad omen after bad omen. Sari wasn't ruffled; she couldn't do anything about it so she wasn't going to pull her hair out worrying.

The next day was the same, except the pickings were even fewer. The watch was out more again and keeping a sharper eye. Lingering in a corner Sari wondered what was going on that the rich knew but she was being left out of.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N: Whaddya think? Click the button and tell me.