Midnight Wonders

4.6.1. The Hen-Wife of By-The-Well

Luc awoke to knocking on his door. Annabel come to fetch him, surely. "In a bit," he managed to say, though his voice sounded wretched from sleep. He allowed a moment to collect himself, then went and opened the door.

It was Kay. "Here," he said, holding up a rope. Well—it wasn't just a rope. It was the rope upon which Kay's pouches were hung.

Luc blinked at it, still a little groggy. "What?"

"You gave me this," Kay said, lightly touching the tie around his neck, "so I'll give you this in return."

"What—that's a little much," Luc said, but Kay was already reaching around him to tie the pouches round his waist. For a moment, it felt as if Kay was about to hug him. "You're always giving me stuff. I don't need this."

"I don't need this," Kay said, flicking the tie.

"No, but it has your—" Luc patted the pouches to check, and surely enough, he could feel them filled with hazelnuts, peas, and Kay's nutcracker. "It's got all your things."

"They're not necessary things. You need to eat more than I do."

"Oh," Luc said, realizing that they had not worked out how he was going to eat on the way. "I mean, I can just ask Annabel or Emma for food."

"Annabel has food from outside," Kay agreed. "But just in case you wanted something more...familiar." Suddenly, he looked very unsure of himself. There was something endearing about it. Was he nervous? For some reason, that felt as exhilarating as his smile.

"I want—I mean, I'll keep it," said Luc. "Thank you."

Kay gave him an odd look. "You say that so easily."

"Why shouldn't I?" he said. "I'm thankful."

"You're—" Kay jumped as Annabel appeared over his shoulder.

"You know, regifting is considered rude outside," she said.

"Why do you sneak up on me?" Kay said.

"Because you're easy to sneak up on," Annabel said. To Luc, "Are you ready?"

"I suppose so." He glanced at Kay, who was still standing there, looking a bit uncertain.

"Are you coming with?" Annabel said to him. "Go on and get ready then, don't stand there sulking."

"I'm not coming," said Kay with a strange expression. Annabel seemed to understand it, but it was inexplicable to Luc.

"Oh," she said. "Are you sure?"

"He doesn't have to if he doesn't want to," Luc said. "I mean, I'll be with you and Emma, so it's all right."

Kay gave Annabel another look, this one clearly recognizable as, "See?"

She shrugged. "Whatever you want. Have you said your goodbyes then?"

"Already did," said Kay, and pushed past them to leave.

"Wait, you—" Luc tried and failed to catch Kay's arm. "You didn't..."

Annabel sighed, watching Kay disappear into the tangle of tunnels. "Come on, then," she said, patting Luc on the arm. "Emma and I have gotten our things ready. She's waiting outside at the front."

"Oh, wait," said Luc, remembering. "I have to say goodbye to Elaine. You can go meet up with Emma first; I'll be right there."

Annabel obliged, and Luc made his way through the winding halls, trusting that they would take him to the garden, which they did. He found Elaine, still in her white dress and shoes, trimming the flowers off the bushes.