FADER FOLLOWED THE two silent boys, Link and Tumble, along the dark hall, keeping well back. Ahead of them, the red-haired woman seemed to float in a dancing globe of candlelight. Reaching the end of the hall, she turned a corner to her right. The boys followed her. Catching up, Fader peeked around the corner.
At the end of a shorter hall, the woman stopped beside an open door to the corner room. A brightness flickered within. The silent boys carried their still sleeping burdens of Slip and Rattle into the room. The woman followed them inside, pushing the door almost closed behind her. A sliver of light still showed along its edge.
Creeping to the door, Fader listened at the open c***k. Two voices—one female, one male. Cautiously, he pushed the door open far enough to peer inside.
The r
