I can't tell you how super excited I am about the ensuing chapter or two—or even three. Pi is about to do something just… Truly evil. Those who I may have leaked to weeks ago will know exactly what I'm talking about. ;)

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False Witness

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It was the dawn of another really lovely day—too lovely for the clan's menfolk to spend inside, when there was work to be done. They were all going out to scout for supplies, like they did nearly every morning. Thanks to their hard work, the supplies that had dwindled so slow over December were piling back up nicely.

But 9 didn't want to go out today. He would have been happier to stay in and be with his wife and children—all three of them, yes. However, he was the leader and his brothers needed him. So, despite what he wanted to do, he was preparing to take off for the morning. 7 wasn't particularly pleased that he was going, either; but she had her own list of concerns.

"I hate it that you have to go out again," she commented sadly, though she understood why he had to. In her arms, 10 began to wriggle and fuss, as if she had already figured out that her daddy was leaving.

"Honey, are you… worried?" he asked, tugging his green coat over his arms.

"Maybe, just a little. After all that's happened with Pi, I don't like being left alone while she's here. At first I thought she was just an unusual little girl; but now, after everything that's happened these past few days, and everything 6 told us the other day… How can I not be nervous?"

9 gave her a gentle smile, and walked to embrace them both. "I don't really like it, either. But it's only for a few hours. And Pi's already put her crutch aside, and now her limp is almost fully healed. Her time with us is almost over."

"That's a relief," 7 agreed, gazing down at her baby. Satisfied for the moment that her daddy was still there, 10 had stopped fussing. Now she just silently stared wide-eyed at her parents, her big black pupils flicking back and forth from her mother's face to her father's face, just marveling at them as they marveled at her.

"Say goodbye to your baby," she said sweetly, handing her over. "She already doesn't like it when you go away."

That was a fact and a half. 9 had already figured that out a few days ago, when he had attempted to play peek-a-boo with his daughter for the first time. The fact that her daddy could disappear at will like that seemed to frighten her more than fascinate her. Even when he walked out of a room—any time she couldn't see him—it distressed her.

Daddy's little girl, indeed. He cuddled her closer in one arm, reached up to hold her tiny hand in his free one, and rocked her gently.

"Hello, precious girl," he greeted with a smile. She cooed back in response; the look in her wide eyes was earnest, as if she was silently begging him not to go.

:Oh, you know I wouldn't leave you unless I had to," he insisted. "But I won't be gone for long today, only an hour or two—perhaps three, if your silly granddad gets sidetracked again. And look: you get to spend the whole morning with mommy, and your big brother and sister! Won't that be nice? And then I'll come home later, and we'll spend the whole rest of the day together, as a family. Just like it's supposed to be. You'll like that, huh?"

Not quite convinced, 10 began to fuss again, kicking her legs and flapping her arms angrily.

"Dixie, would you like me to sing before I go?"

She quieted a bit, her attention caught by one of the few words she had learned to recognize. After singing their favorite song so many times, the order of the verses had blurred a little. So 9 started with the first verse that came to mind—which happened to be the second.

No sweetness the senses can cheer
Which corruption and bribery bind
No brightness that gloom can e'er clear
For honour's the sum of the mind

Let the love of our land's sacred rights
To the love of our peoplesucceed
Let friendship and honour unite
And flourish on both sides the Tweed.

10 calmed down and stopped flailing, mesmerized by her father's voice. That would tide her over until he came home. He bent his head down and kissed her precious face a few times, earning a squeal that might have been laughter. He handed her back into his wife's waiting arms, though she refused to let go of his finger.

"Your daddy loves you so much," 7 commented, caressing her baby's face with her finger.

"I love you both," he corrected, leaning closer and nuzzling her face, looking deep into her eyes. "I adore you."

"I would be lost without you."

He slipped one arm around her waist and held his other hand against her cheek, pulling her close for a farewell embrace and a long, sweet kiss.

"You're my whole world—all of you," he whispered, feeling close to tears, overwhelmed with how wonderful his family was. "I love you."

She gave him a grand smile, letting her face rest gently in his hand. "And I love you."

He pulled her back for a last quick kiss goodbye, then bent down to kiss his baby again, as well.

"It's only for a few hours, I promise," he assured them. He then picked up his pack from the foot of the bed and slung it over his shoulder, finally tearing himself from his ladies and heading for the door. He paused to look back at them a final time and sighed, at a loss for words. They were so beautiful. He loved them both so much…

"7, everything will be alright."

"I know, I know. You take care of the others. I'll look after this monster. I trust you."

Maybe that warmed his heart more than anything. Her trust and her love were the dearest treasures he could possess. He knew he had won them—through a great many trials he would gladly face again—but hearing it out loud always made his heart skip a beat. All he could do in response was smile back and try not to cry.

"Thank you."

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Less than hour an hour later found 9 wandering around with 5, tossing a rock back and forth while they talked, as they always did.

"So," he said slowly, "Pi's leg is better. She's walking all by herself again, and I can barely tell if she's limping anymore."

"Yeah, it's great, isn't it?" 5 agreed, sounding pretty proud.

"I know… So, she'll be leaving in a day or two, yes?"

"Oh, uh…. Oh, yes. I hadn't really thought about that," he answered sadly, almost worriedly.

Ug, he didn't want to talk about this. Certainly not now that 5 had grown ridiculously attached to her. But it had to be said, sometime. And now was as good a time as any.

"You know, most of us have been looking forward to it."

"What? Why? That's so unlike you."

"I know it is, 5, but… Haven't you noticed how strange some of us have been acting since we found her?"

"If you're talking about what happened with 6 that night, just let it go. It was nothing. I know it."

"Well I know different. I actually sat down and spoke with him the other day. Do you know what he said? Or what he did?"

"You actually talked to him?" 5 sounded nervous for a second, but then waved it off and dismissed, "It was probably ridiculous."

"He drew some things, babbling things that sounded pretty important the whole time. Things about curses and sacrifices, and letters—letters of the Greek alphabet, over and over again. And he drew this shadow. It looked like one of us, riding a spider—a mechanical spider, with glowing eyes."

5 looked a little frightened, but also remained amazingly cool. "But… But that can't be right. It has to be—"

"No, 5, you're listening to me. Listen to me now: Pi is trying to do something terrible to us."

"Pi, are you kidding? She couldn't do anything terrible if she tired! Have you spent any time with her, talking to her, looking at her? She isn't a monster. She wouldn't hurt us."

"Look, I don't know what she's planning; but I'm not going to wait around to find out. I can't let her stay here to cause us pain, just because you think she's pretty. You understand this, don't you?"

"So, you're just going to throw an innocent girl out into the January snow and tell her to fend for herself, just because a few of you think she's a witch or something? Is that really what you're going to do?"

9 was taken aback by his brother's tone of voice. He was so angry, like he had been all winter, trying poorly to hide it. But today, he wasn't even making an effort to put on a smile and pretend everything was alright. Today, it looked like he was going to stand up and fight for what he wanted. And while he was inwardly proud of 5 for finding the nerve to stand up to someone like this… Why did it have to be over this?

"I'm not throwing her out like that. She can walk on her own now, and she ought to know the way back to wherever she came from. And I don't know how you can keep listening to her, and not to your own family. She is scaring us. She may have tried to attack the twins yesterday."

"Why would she attack anyone? And what if she can't go home? Someone attacked her and left her for dead! You can't just send her out there to die, not after we've saved her life."

"I don't—I don't know what's out there, and neither do you. Maybe she got separated from her family. What if she has a mother and a father, and brothers and sisters, or even a husband and children who are wondering where she is? They could be scared to death they'll never see her again. They could be bracing themselves to have to go out and find her body, bring it back, and lay her to rest—how would you feel, 5? How would you feel is it was me, or 7, or one of the twins? Wouldn't you want them back? If it was you, wouldn't you want to get back to us?"

5 was silent for a moment, considering everything 9 had just said.

"She… Pi does have three younger sisters. Delta, Gamma, and Theta. She hasn't seen them since November."

"Then let her go back to them," 9 insisted, laying a sympathetic hand on his brother's shoulder. "Let her go back to her family. They must miss her so much. If you had been missing you for that long, do you even know how worried we'd be? How… How worried I was?"

He nodded slowly, reluctantly understanding.

"I… I do understand."

9 let go a sigh, very relieved. "I know this isn't ideal for all of us. Safety doesn't always mean freedom; but freedom doesn't always mean safety, either. I want us to be safe, but I also want us to be free. And we can't be either, while she's here."

"….."

"5…. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. In spite of everything else, I know that you've come to know her well."

He nodded sadly. "I simply don't see this, whatever the rest of you see in her. She's smart, and kind, and sort of silly… She's been nothing but sweet to me."

"And I do appreciate that. Hey, if there's Pi, and she has three sisters, there must be other women in the world. Surely we'll find them, eventually."

"Let me take her home."

"…What?"

"I'd like to help her get back to her home, to her sisters. I just—I don't want her to get lost and attacked again, all alone in this snow, with no way to protect herself. If none of you want her here, at least let me make sure she gets back safely."

Something in his gut told 9 that this was a very bad idea. An innocent, kind, and sincere idea, but very bad, nonetheless. After all he knew to be true, he didn't want his brother alone with her, in the Emptiness, in the snow that was waist-deep in places. But then, maybe it would enlighten him. And it would certainly humor him in this moment.

"Yes, that's very kind of you," he finally agreed. 5 reached up and patted his hand, still on his shoulder, and gave him a thankful smile for allowing him this.

"It really does mean a lot to me. I was… worried you wouldn't understand."

"No, I do understand, a little. Hey, I'm just trying to do what's best for us all. And there are children to think about. I don't want Pi to get hurt again; but I'd rather err on the side of caution. I don't want any of us hurt again, either."

"I know…"

Seeing 5 so down was much less startling than seeing him angry; but it always made 9 feel down, as well, to see his best friend so. He put his arm around his brother and led him forward once more. He handed over the rock, which he had been holding since they had abandoned it some time ago.

"Who knows what we'll find out there together, 5? It's a big world. And it's ours. If we just keep walking, we're bound to find something amazing, eventually."

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7 had surprised herself again, recently. Never before had she been so content to stay inside for so long, especially when almost everyone else was out. But 10 was too young to be out in the cold and snow, so someone had to stay home and look after her. And oddly, 7 was content to be that someone. Her baby was a whole new world unto her tiny self, just waiting to be discovered and charted.

Also, it was strange to think about, but it had only been a week and a half since 10 had been born. 7 didn't like to admit it, but her body was still adjusting to not being pregnant anymore. Thankfully, the transition was much more gentle than before; but it was slow going, all the same. Perhaps in a week or two, she would begin to feel restless again. But for now, she was happy to hang around the library, taking it easy so her body would heal easier.

She filled all that time by sitting on the bed and playing with 10, and talking to her a lot. She always spoke slowly, carefully enunciating her words, so that he baby would learn to speak properly. She knew that most of the others baby-talked to her, but she couldn't see how that could be helpful to such a bright little girl. If she was expected to speak so early, her mother wanted to understand every word she had to say.

But it was hard to keep this policy all the time, especially when playing with her little fingers and toes. 7 was also trying to teach 10 to count, up to eight on her fingers, then to nine and ten on her toes. 10 didn't quite seem to understand yet, but she did seem to enjoy hearing her mother's voice, listing the numbers she was beginning to recognize as the names of her family—her grandfathers, her brother and sister, her uncles, her parents, and then herself. But sometimes, in the middle of counting, 7 would lose herself in the adorableness of her child's fingers and stop to just play with them for a while before remembering what she had been doing.

"I'm sorry I can be so fickle and scatterbrained sometimes," she lamented. "I hope you haven't gotten that from me. But if I can focus enough to teach you to count, maybe you can teach me some patience. What do you think, little love? Can you do that?"

10 answered with a yawn, and rubbed her eyes with her burlap fist. Clearly, it was naptime. But it was so adorable, 7 forgot to act on it right away, distracted by how darn cute she was—yawning and rubbing her eyes, like a person, or something. But then she squealed and began flailing around, as if to say, "Um, excuse me, but I'm ready to go to sleep, so why aren't you nursing me yet?"

"Aw, look at you, trying to communicate," 7 commented. But she got the hint and scooped her baby up in her arms, letting her latch onto her catch. As 10 nursed silently, she looked very proud of herself for communicating so well. To 7, that was big and very important. If her child was trying to talk to them, she wanted her to know she was being understood.

It was certainly naptime; 10 drifted off to sleep in a matter of minutes. 7 gently laid her down in the middle of the bed, where she wouldn't fall off if she slept fitfully. She then leaned back against the headboard, feeling truly excellent about her life. It had been nearly two hours, and the rest of her family would be home soon. She supposed that when they returned, she and 10 would move to the common room, and they would all variably stay there for the rest of the afternoon, and probably well into the night. In the meantime, she considered a nap of her own, until they returned.

She wondered what 10 might be dreaming about…

"Oh, hello, 7."

She looked up to an unwelcome sight. Pi was leaning casually against the doorway, looking very smug. As if she owned the place. 7 stifled an annoyed groan and gave the girl a somewhat flat smile.

"Hello, Pi. Can I help you with something?"

She sidled into the room with the cool haughtiness of a cat. "I'm leaving tomorrow morning, you know," she informed.

"Oh really? Ready to be home?"

"I just thought you ought to know, since there's almost no more time—I'm not going alone. 9 is leaving with me."

"…Is that so? He never told me. But it's kind of him to see you home safely. I suppose he'd do the same for anyone else." With a smile and a loving sigh, she added, "He's great like that, you know."

Pi laughed shortly, rather cruelly. "You misunderstand me. He's leaving with me. He isn't coming back."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't tell me you're so naïve. Your husband is leaving you."

7 was stunned for a second. Not because she believed Pi, but because she was outraged. She jumped off the bed and stared the other girl down.

"You're lying. You're lying! Get out!"

"He loves me," Pi continued, ignoring her. "He said so himself. He loves me, and he wants to stay with me, not you."

"He would never say that!"

"Why? Because he loves you? He stopped loving you the moment he saw me—the moment he realized how much better I am."

"How dare you," she growled, advancing on her in a rage. "I will not tolerate this in my own home! I have half a mind to throw you out myself, right now! And when he comes home—"

Before she could finish, Pi threw her fingertips at her, muttering a few strange words in a language that 7 didn't recognize. She lost control of her thoughts, and felt her whole being open up like an empty book, waiting to be filled.

"9 is leaving you," Pi repeated sternly. "He doesn't love you anymore. He only loved you until he realized that I am perfect, and you are not. I'm smarter, prettier, and younger than you could ever be. I don't fight against him, I do whatever he says without contradicting him. I don't hold him back by being fickle and contrary all the time. He says he adores that about me. Why do you think he goes out every morning, when you beg him to stay? You didn't really think he goes out with his brothers, did you? He's been with me all that time. He runs away from you every morning to fool around with me. And he says that I'll be a better mate than you could ever be. He doesn't care about you, and he certainly doesn't care about the child.

"He just wants me. I'm all he's ever wanted. 9 belongs to me now. You'll never have him again. And there's absolutely nothing you can do about it."

And just like that, everything she knew to be true vanished, replaced instead with everything that Pi had said. All of a sudden, it wasn't ridiculous and outrageous. It was the truth. Everything she said was true! 9 was really leaving her! 7 felt impossibly confused and so very betrayed, and she felt her heart crumbling to pieces. Pi leaned victoriously into her face with a cruel smile.

"He tastes like potatoes, doesn't he," she commented, and turned and stalked out of the room, leaving 7 to her thoughts.

She could barely breathe. Her head was spinning, and she felt sick and alone. Part of her new consciousness tried to rationalize that it wasn't true—it simply couldn't be. He couldn't just leave her like this. Not the man who had saved her life so many times, who had married her, had a child with her, shared a bed with her, had kissed her goodbye this very morning…

It only served to rip what remained of her heart to shreds. He had betrayed her. She had trusted him with her very life, when his mind could be changed so easily? This was the thanks she got? The aching of her broken heart was too much to bear. It was all she could do to fall to her shaking knees, weeping bitterly.

What am I going to do? She wondered. What am I going to do…?

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Two and a half hours had yielded a productive venture into the Emptiness. 2 had a brand new project he was starting, and had a list of items he needed; so while he had no pressing projects of his own, 9 had been happy to help him look for the things he needed. The list was still quite long, but they had managed to find several things in the snow. Given how deep it was, they were surprised they had found what they had.

But now they were home, and all that 9 wanted was to be with his wife and kids. He missed the days when they could all go out together, and looked forward to when those days would return in the spring. And when the days weren't so cold, he could bring his daughter out of the library and introduce her to the world. Springtime would be green again. 10 would never have to know how dark and desolate the world had been before.

9 couldn't begin to express how thankful he was for that.

Dumping his pack in the common room, he started right off for his bedroom. 10 and her separation anxiety would be thrilled to see him home. And he couldn't wait to give 7 a hug and a kiss. Nearly three hours was entirely too long for her to not be reminded of how much he loved her. How did she even survive? He felt like he just barely got by, himself, without her.

He walked into the bedroom to see 10 asleep on the bed, and 7 standing in the middle of the room with her back to him. She appeared to be deep in thought, but he was too happy to see her to keep from interrupting her reverie. Surely, she wouldn't mind.

"I'm home," he greeted.

At the sound of his voice, she flinched painfully and hiccupped softly, as if she had been crying. His excitement died down in a flash, as he realized that something was wrong. Very wrong. He walked right to her, intent on consoling his beloved, no matter what was troubling her.

"7, what's the matter?" he asked, trying to take her into his arms. "What's wrong? What—"

Without warning, she spun around and slapped his face as hard as she could. He was so startled he nearly fell over from the force; it hurt so much, he couldn't quite feel the pain at first. But while he hesitated, completely fazed, she slapped him again and shoved him back toward the door with a horrible, anguished scream.

"get out! Get out! I hate you! I never want to see you again! Get out!"

Before he even realized what was happening, he found himself back in the hallway, and the door slammed shut in his face. He heard the bar slide into place on the other side, locking him out, along with 10's terrified wailing and 7's continued screaming.

"How dare you come back here, you monster! How could you do this to me! I hate you! I hate you!"

He knew it was useless, but he desperately banged his fists against the door, praying she would let him in.

"7, open the door! Please! Tell me what's wrong. What did I do?"

"Don't you talk to me like that! I'm not stupid! If you're going to go, take your little brat and go!"

He heard her fall against the door and sink to the floor, sobbing helplessly, while 10 went on crying without attention. 9 stood back, unable to believe what was happening. His face stung fiercely, but not nearly as much as his utter confusion. What could he have done to her? What was he going to do now? If only he could get through that door to them, to comfort his frightened baby and hold his precious 7 close…

But if she wouldn't listen to him, maybe she would listen to someone else.

"7! 7, hold on. I'm going to get help. I'll make this right, I promise."

It had been months since he had run so fast. But in this dire moment, it didn't matter.

"2, come here! I need your help!"