Tangled

Chapter 267

Unshift 267

Unshift 267

267 Lisa: Waking to War

A tiny hand shakes me awake with incongruous force, something I'd attribute to King Kong and not the gnomes who've been sheltering me and teaching me about magitech since my escape.

Groaning. I pull my blanket over my head. I'm too tired. "Go away

"Wake, wake, lazy girl! The war has come!"

The wizened old housekeeper-it has to be her, because no one else treats me like an unruly pig -yanks my covers off and slaps at my legs. "Hurry up, or die here alone!"

War?

I

Die?

My brain isn't functioning yet, but I stumble out of bed as she throws some clothes at me. "Dress! Hurry! Boots too!" Those are tossed at my feet, bruising my pinky toe in a way that has me hissing and hopping on one foot. "No time, you lazy girl! Get moving!"

Uncertain of what's going on but recognizing that her anxiety level is sky high, I throw on a clean shirt and jeans that they must have sourced from humans. Too bad they didn't bring a bra, too.

But at least there's socks.

Shoving my feet into them, the gnarled woman shoves at me until I fall onto my ass on the bed. "Put this on," she snaps, throwing a coat at me.

"Okay, okay. Hold on. You haven't even explained what's happening!"

"War!" she snaps. "Hurry!"

Despite her gruff demeanor, she kneels to shove my boots on as I shrug on the coat, two sizes too big and I double check what I'm feeling strapped in some hidden pockets-armed. With knives. In fact, they seem to fit the term dagger more than knife.

"Let's go. Hurry, hurry. The Grand Sage is waiting"

owns this place. He's some sort of high-falutin' to-do in the gnome community. They don't explain a lot, but it's what

name, but I'm not

a real title, but it's definitely what she enjoys

"Mistress Keeper, I don't-"

you don't understand, then shut your face," she hisses. "This

go."

bubbling up inside me. Even

14

Waking

about doling out pain to keep me in line. So I follow her silently through the

once-confusing paths.

bewilders me. After perusing a map for hours

that it's any sort of comfort at the moment, as I'm dragged through the halls in the middle

feet, and I stumble, my heart leaping into my throat. Elverly's iron grip closes around my arm, yanking

her gravelly

run, my longer legs having to put in a

that chill your blood and

War.

words echo in my head, taking on a horrifying new meaning. I'd thought she

Not a war here.

Not a war now.

of our situation slams into me as we careen down a flight of stairs. The basement. We're heading to the basement, where

word, he ushers us toward what he calls the "safe room. The door swings open, revealing a space crammed with gadgets and gizmos I can't even begin to

usual calm

pile in, and he locks the door behind us. The room comes alive, whirring and clicking. Panels shift, mechanisms engage, and the space around us shrinks. It's like being inside a giant, mechanical Rubik's cube as

out of the question, and moving?

scents of oil, metal, and fear. I struggle to control my breathing, trying not to give in to the claustrophobia clawing at the edges

thing, ever since my escape. I don't

happening?" I whisper, unable

24

C

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