Lord Day and Lady Night

26. Family

Grace stood alone in the centre of the single room. There was no sign of her parents. No sign of anyone.

"W-where are dey?" the little girl whispered.

"Could they have been taken?" Patrick's voice was sharp. "Did DeLacy take her parents to get at her?"

"W-what?" Grace's eyes went wide, and Amy hurried to grab the girl. She quickly shook her head.

"No! No, dat ain't what 'appened." Amy gestured around. "Look around. Dere ain't any furniture turned over, no doors broken, not a single sign of struggle. They weren't taken by force."

"That is," Patrick whispered into her ear, "if they weren't taken by surprise."

"Shh! Not so loud!" Amy hissed, low enough for only him to hear, with a meaningful look at Grace.

"So," Titus asked after a long moment, "what are we going to do now?"

"Now? Now, we—"

"Shh!" Amy cut Patrick off, lifting her finger to her lips. "Do you 'ear dat?"

They fell silent, and it didn't take long before they did indeed hear. It would have taken a deaf man with wax in his ears not to.

"Who is shouting like that in the middle of the night?" Patrick frowned.

"I 'ave no bloody clue." Amy's eyes narrowed. "But whoever 'e is, dey ain't very 'appy, dat's for sure."

"Maybe we ought to take a look."

"Ye think?"

"Oh, and..."

"Aye?"

"Let's fetch Mr Karim." Patrick's face was grim. "I have a feeling we might need his assistance. And his sabre."

"Aye."

Gathering Grace up in her arms, Amy strode out of the room, the other two close on their heels. They had only crossed half the distance to the coach when a hulking figure approached out of the darkness.

Amy met his eyes. "Ye..."

"Aye." Nodding darkly, Karim unslung the rifle from his shoulder. "I heard. Screaming."

"Great. Let's move!"

Together, they marched into the darkness, down the muddy path that passed for a road around these parts. Again, they heard shouting, getting louder and louder, followed by a crash. Exchanging a glance, they sped up. It wasn't long before, out of the shadows in front of them, appeared the origin of the ruckus: a house far larger than any of the small tenant farm houses that made up most of the village.

"What is dat place?"

To Amy's surprise, it wasn't any of the men who answered, but a young, soft voice.

"It's da town hall," Grace whispered. "Da mayor lives dere, and sometimes da villagers meet dere to discuss things."

Just then, from somewhere inside the building, a crash came, followed by a shout.

"Aye, discussing things. Looks like dat's what's 'appening right now," Amy commented.

"Dat's Dad's voice!" Grace exclaimed, pointing forward eagerly. "'e's in dere!"

"Well, well..." Grinning down at the little girl, Amy patted her head. "Looks like someone is anxious in dere. Shall we give 'im a surprise?"

Giving a squeal, Grace lunged up, threw her arms around Amy's neck and nodded so fast her head almost toppled off. Together, the five of them snuck towards the town hall. As they approached, the voices coming from inside became clearly audible.