Crucible Read Online Free PDF Page A

Haven.
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    In the quiet solace of her basement, Bree unrolled her pillow and mat, then hauled a small mountain of blankets on top. A bath would have been perfect, but no one had a bathhouse open this late. She slipped into a long-sleeved shift and wiggled under her blanket fortress.
    At least pretend to sleep,
she thought, closing her eyes.
At least . . . try. . . .
    And she must have done more than try, because the voice came out of nowhere, waking her up with a start.
    :Don’t scream.:
    Bree sat up, heart pounding. She was certain she was alone—the cellar only had one entrance and she’d checked it thoroughly before barring the door. She reached under her pillow and pulled out a small dagger.
    :Come outside, Amelie. It’s okay.:
    She gasped, then slapped a hand over her mouth. The voice didn’t come from someone in the room. It spoke
in her head
.
    She pulled on her boots and cloak, tucked the dagger into a concealed pocket, and approached the ladder leading up to the storm door.
    What if it’s a trap?
a tiny voice of doubt asked.
    Then I guess I’m Ferrin’s next sacrifice,
she thought, throwing the storm door wide.
    It opened up on an alley, the cobblestones half-bathed in moonlight, half-doused in moonshadow. At the end where the darkness pooled, she saw a ghostly suggestion of white. As Amelie stepped toward it a Companion stepped out of the shadows to meet her. As did a tall, hooded figure.
    He pushed back the hood of his cloak.
    â€œI heard,” Attikas said, “that you need some help.”
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    He’d been calling himself Attikas since he came to Highjorune a month ago. That had been easy—Wil had used the name before. The real hard part came in convincing a very young child to pretend to be Suze, not Ivy.
    Also, the beard itched. And Wil might have a permanent crick in his neck from looking down at the ground so much. At least here in Amelie’s dank, private basement he could sit up properly.
    â€œI can’t believe I didn’t recognize you,” she said. “Or Ivy.”
    â€œIt’s the beard and the lack of Whites,” he replied. “And Ivy’s grown quite a bit. I’m just sorry I didn’t recognize you. I should have guessed you were near the first time I heard Ystell humming ‘Today, I Ride’.”
    She smiled. “Yeah, that was me.”
    â€œI read your note,” Wil said. “Murder is a strong accusation.”
    â€œI saw him kill someone,” she whispered.
    â€œIs there proof?”
    â€œMy eyes? Truth-Spell him, or Eel, or Sharlot. They’ll spill it all.”
    He nodded. “I may have to. This happened at the castle?”
    â€œYes. After everyone left. I hid in some bushes . . . I couldn’t do anything.”
    â€œDid you see what they did with the body?”
    She shook her head.
    â€œIs there any chance . . . he faked it?”
    She gave him an exasperated look. “I know what I saw.”
    â€œAnd I believe you. But remember what the Circle taught you. Memories are unreliable. And there are tricks a good performer can play on his . . . audience.”
    â€œI know what I saw,” she repeated.
    â€œCan you show me where it happened?” he asked.
    She nodded.
    â€œGood.” He stood up. “I need to go. Ferrin will want ‘Nightmare’ put away.”
    She grimaced. “That poor horse.”
    â€œI know.” A pause. “I could probably arrest him on that name alone.”
    That earned a laugh.
    â€œMeet me at the castle a few bells after noon?” he asked.
    She nodded. “Should be safe enough.”
    â€œAlso, do me a favor—stop singing Lelia’s songs. It’s going to get you in trouble.”
    She bowed her head. “It was the only weapon I had.”
    He opened the storm door and looked back. “You have me now. Good