WHEN THEY RETURNED, IT was after midnight. Proud and Tickle had finished their late work, and brought away a small bag of gold dust, unseen. They had begun to talk of leaving the mine, and meant soon to call on Soporo, Greedy, and the other dwarvixens, to see if they too might wish to travel elsewhere. They had all gained confidence in Elusion, for none challenged their masterless state, though many had come to realize that they were not truly owned. They had stopped to drink at the Black Still. Proud was merry, Tickle serene. “The house is dark,” said Proud, as they climbed up to the shack. They were glad. They could slink in and not need to see Coira, either to spurn or to be kind to her. (They blamed her, too, for Stormy’s going off, even Tickle did. If he had not taken up with her, surely he would have stayed.) Just outside, under the torchlit roots, they paused. There was a savage smell, stifling, like that of certain flowers. “What is it?” “Some attar of the spring market, some Eastern stuff.”
What do You think about White As Snow (Fairy Tale)?
