She leaped off the bed and into the crowd. The children gasped. A boy and two girls, who looked older than the rest, stood petrified in front of her. Then she asked behind her, "who's got these three?"
The boys looked at each other. The Panther sang in Ty's head. "You three are coming with me," Ty told them. "You look tough enough for the jobs I require of you. I'm Ty." She took out her hand to shake with the boy, who was frozen where he stood. A girl, black hair and tanned skin like all of the children though with remarkably golden eyes stepped forward from among the threesome and shook it.
"I'm Galatry," she said. "These are my siblings, Twengyn and Matterdy. They're twins. Matt? Say hello to Ty. Ginny, stop kicking me! Ty won't bite, will she?"
"Only if you really piss me off," Ty said, grinning, stretching out her hand to the boy. He drew himself taller and shook it. A frown passed her eyes, though it didn't reach her face. She then stretched out her hand to the girl, who also shook it.
"Pack, I want this party ready to dance in fifteen minutes," she called behind her. "Tell Otian to get his sorry behind in here soon as he can—if he wants to keep it. You—"she said to Galatry, "I want a word, since you seem the most ready to speak. Come with me."
Ty turned tail and made to stride purposefully out of her rooms—only to find a barricaded entrance. Her mind screamed annoyance, while she simply worked her way carefully to the door around the dozens of crowded youngsters. They parted as much as room permitted to let her pass. Mel was already trying to make the children reason to their abilities and telling them whom they had to go to. Through their words, silence hung thick on the air. Most eyes followed Ty from the room.
Shutting the door behind her, she took a left at the end of the Page Wing and came onto an open courtyard. Finding a corner in the darkness, she walked into it and checked the ceiling for listening spells. The ones here were worn thin. Perfect.
"Galatry, I have a few questions for you," Ty began, but the impatient youngster cut her short.
"I have questions of my own," she said firmly, her voice demanding an authority that made her raise her eyebrows. Through her surprise and hint of amusement, she nodded the girl to proceed.
"Where are we, who are those boys, and where are you taking us?" Galatry asked, all in one go.
Ty could see she was holding her breath. Little suspicious youngster, she mused. All right. Two can play this game.
"We are in the King's Palace, in Corus, in a courtyard a little way north of the Left Page's Wing. Those 'boys' are pages, like me. Seeing you and your lot are too many to simply re-locate, I'm taking you to see a friend of mine. She and her brother owe me a favor. Anything further?"
The girl, stunned, shook her head. She seemed bemused. Ty's annoyance was mounting. She didn't have time for this.
"All right, Galatry, now I need a few questions answered of my own. I'm the leader of my pack, responsible for my cubs. If you mislead me or lie to me, I will know, and the result will be painful. Understood?" The girl nodded. Ty looked her over.
"I was told that none of your company are virgins. Is this true?" Ty asked.
Galatry's eyes turned to ice, as did her stare, but she nodded. Anger mingled with Ty's annoyance as she nodded acknowledgement.
"You—all of you—look distinctly alike. This leads me onto two theories, so tell me which is correct. Option one is you are all from one gigantic family, all uniting here in Corus for reasons of practicality, but something goes wrong. You are attacked by a group of people, who rape you all, and leave you locked in that cellar, taking your parents as hostages.
Option two is you are simply all from one same country, making a massive movement to Tortal for reasons I don't know. Your own parents leave you in that cellar for your protection and promise to return, only they yet haven't and when they do and find you gone will panic, an event we need to prepare for.
Option three, of course, is I'm far off and this is completely different. Pick and choose, Galatry. I need an answer."
Galatry shook her head sadly. "'Tis a sorry tale that brings us to this pretty land," she said morosely. "It is a mix of all options, Ty. Get comfortable, this may take a while.
We are all children of slaves, Ty. Our parents—and us, of course—all worked in an estate abroad. The adults worked in the metal-shops, while we worked in the mud-mines. None of us has seen the light of day until you brought us out of the cellar.
We are all of the same race, as you guessed. According to our parents, our homeland is far to the east, in a land of red soils. Many of the young ones dream of going there sometime, though it is a foolish dream.
But a few months ago, our parents found a way of escaping. Many of them died in the attempt, but the ones that got out—with us—brought us to Corus. They said that the master that had kept us caged lived here and that they were going to kill him and recover their lives. They told us to hide in the cellar and lie low for a bit, that they'd come back.
But they never did. So we waited and waited for months and our food and water was running out. And then the tall boy came and caved in the door, then moved us into a tunnel. And then—then here we are."