The Dream Thief by Kari Kilgore (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

"That's the first thing that's made sense to me since we got here," Karl said. "I know how to restrain him or anyone else. Mind if I use one of your sheets, Gemma, or something else I can tear? That and some good sturdy rope would do the trick."

"Of course, dear, get whatever you need. Loretta and I will fetch the rope. Can you carry this poor child inside for us first?"

Karl focused on the boy's face to keep from watching the shadows. His sense of creatures moving in from all directions to attack them was growing worse by the second.

Morgan seemed to be eight or nine, and the pale skin around his eyes and mouth were definitely bruising. Karl brushed the fine brown hair back to see more around his thin neck and forehead. Blood was crusted around his mouth, nose, and both ears.

The boy was still breathing, but he might not be for long with a beating like that.

Holding one hand under Morgan's head to support his neck, Karl lifted him carefully, settling the boy's head against his own shoulder. A small wing at Joffrey Columns was set aside for children, but he'd never been inside.

He couldn't imagine having to tend to these small, delicate bodies every single day. He felt like he was carrying a warm bundle of twigs. By the time Karl got the boy inside, Gemma had covered the sofa with a blanket and was holding another.

"Let me check him while he's still out," Karl said. "Make sure nothing is broken."

He moved the boy's limbs, feet, and hands, marveling that none of the tiny bones seemed to be fractured. More bruises on his torso and back worried Karl, but he couldn't verify anything about the state of the child's organs. All they could do out here was make him comfortable and hope he woke up.

"Are there any healers we can get him to?" he said. "Any doctors?"

"None close enough to reach tonight," Gemma said. "I tended to five children of my own a long time ago. They're tougher than you think. We'll let him rest as long as he will." When Karl looked up, the older woman was holding a bundle of fabric, most of it already ripped in one way or another. "Use this to tie up the one who did this."

"Do not be kind," Loretta said, handing him a coil of thick, rough rope.

Chapter 30

Rullin started to stir while Karl was still working, but he was far past being a threat to any of them. He'd been less careful about straining limbs or cutting off circulation than he usually was.

Other than that, this was the same improvised restraint Karl had used more times than he cared to count. Find the body's natural points of weakness, the ways muscles and joints weren't used to moving. Secure limbs in that position. Simpler and more effective than most people imagined.

"Is that one injured?" Gemma said.

She stood beside him, and Karl realized she'd turned on yet another bright outdoor electric while he was working. Full dark surrounded the house and barn, dark with all the secrets and monsters he could imagine. The grinding blue fury that put Rullin into this state made him wonder just how much current Loretta's grandmother could draw upon if she needed to.

"He has some pretty good burns on his hands and face," he said. "Probably where he tangled with whatever you have set up on your door. We've run into him before, Gemma. I'm afraid he came up here because of that. I'm sorry."

"Don't you even pretend to apologize, Karl," Gemma said. She patted his shoulder. "These things happen from time to time. That's exactly why I have these little safeguards set up. I doubt he'll be the last."

"He's enough, though, Gemma." Loretta stood beside her grandmother, glaring into Rullin's bleary eyes. "We have no way to know how many people he'll tell, or how many he'll come back with. The world would be a better place if he never drew another breath. And even then, you're not safe up here alone."

"Wait, Loretta, we still need Bill to get us out of here." Karl pulled the last knot tight enough for Rullin to flinch, then got to his feet. "He made it clear he wants to deal with this asshole himself."

"He didn't do the best job of that, did he?" Loretta kicked the boy in the ribs before Karl could stop her, but Rullin only grunted. "This lovely example of brotherhood managed to get away, and he might have permanently hurt Morgan. Not to mention whatever he'd planned to do to all of us."

"I've been fine up here for a long time, you know," Gemma said in a low voice.

"Do you really think Bill won't figure out where he is?" Karl said. "The man has an airship, Loretta. He can search Alterra from end to end. You said Morgan is the stable owner's son? What makes you think Walton won't tell Bill what happened? He knew where we were headed. He or Bill will be up here before we could even manage to hide the body."

"So we take it apart and feed it to the bloody wolves then!" Loretta shouted. "I'm not going to look over my shoulder for this waste of human flesh for the rest of my life. Morgan's father isn't likely to agree to keep a watch on Gemma any longer, not after this. We either have to take her out of here or kill this bastard right now!"

"I am standing right here, and I'm not going to let you murder a man in my own yard!"

Karl and Loretta recoiled from Gemma's shout. Karl saw exactly where Loretta's temper came from. The tiny woman was leaning toward them, both fists clenched, eyes as fierce as her voice had been.

"Loretta, I raised your own father, such that he was, and I've managed up here just fine for a long time now."

"I know, Gemma," Loretta