What are you going to do with me? asked Assa.
In a couple of minutes the guards are going to be here. They’ll do what they want to do with you. Probably throw you in jail with the rats and let you die.
Assa didn’t believe this. Ha! she said. You’re lying.
The girl straddling her grinned. Assa saw her lips in the moonlight. They looked like worms. Glowing worms. Assa laughed once, then began snorting and laughed more. Soon she was hysterical with laughter.
What’s wrong with you? asked one of the girls.
You are princesses, said Assa, but you don’t look like princesses.
They didn’t answer her at first, merely looked at each other. What makes you think we’re princesses? they asked.
Assa stopped laughing. You mean you’re not?
Our mother is Hoyal, said one of them.
Who’s that?
Don’t yo
