Chloë by Marcus LaGrone

we get the cash, get a proof of life, make the
swap.  If they try to double cross, my dad’s friends pound them.  You
can get the cash, yes?”
    Chloë
shrugged, still somewhat dazed at the bewildering rollercoaster of emotion,
“Um, maybe.  They said my father had money at the Nedej bank, and I ought
to be able to pull it.”
    “Oh,
that is even better.  When this is all over, we let your father know that
they made off with his cash.  That will go over well.”
    “No,
it won’t!  My father will have them hunted down!”
    Heather
stared at Chloë with a blank face. “First of all, that was sarcasm . 
Second, um, it would really bother you if your father did hunt them down
after all of this?”
    Chloë’s
mind was still spinning, “Sarcasm.  Right.  I should never have
expected that from you.”
    Heather
laughed at the feeble attempt at humor, “There you go, girl.  Now you are
getting with the spirit of it.   Let’s get back and prep.  If
little Penn can find the guy, then so much the better.  But we can’t rely
on him long; it’s already past his bed-time!”
    Chloë
nodded as the pair quickly made their way across the great sea of people and
back toward the inn.  “Um, Little Penn, as you called him.  Who is
he?”
    “Oh,”
laughed Heather, “there I go again.  Throwing names around without a
proper introduction.”  Heather blew a raspberry. “Great, I’m turning into
my Second Mother…”  She quickly regained her smile.  “He is my cousin
on my dad’s side.  His father is Penn Merryfield of clan
Silverglade.  He is visiting my cousin Ellis as the Merryfield family just
had a pair of twins and could use a little more calm around the house.”
    “Was
he following me?” asked Chloë somewhat paranoid.
    “Just
at the dance,” replied Heather with a toothy grin.  “Dad wanted someone to
keep an eye on you and Little Penn is fairly inconspicuous.”
    “Is
everyone in your family sneaky?”
    “Nah,
just the boys…”

15        
     
     
    “Time
to get up.”
    Chloë
rolled over in bed and squinted.  “Already?  It’s…”
    “Four
thirty in the morning.  I know, way too early.  Get up and get
dressed, wear your warmer skirt and blouse.   I have a light jacket I
can throw you.  The morning air has quite a chill to it.”
    Chloë
stared at Heather in disbelief.  Was this the same hyper, bouncy, giddy
girl she had known for so many weeks?  As she fought the sleep from her
eyes, she got a good square look at her.  Yep, same girl.  Same grin
in fact.  “Are you enjoying this?”
    That
grin spread across her face. “Sneak across the border being pursued by
malicious kidnapers or spend a day looking for a new teacher to apprentice
under.  Hmm… let me think.”
    “You
can’t be that upset about looking for a job.  This is serious!”
    Heather
laughed softly. “No, I’m not that put out about getting a job.  But I am
seriously put out that these jerks won’t leave you alone!  Greedy, evil
and probably have mange for all I know.”   She laughed again, a
little louder this time.  “Dad says the best way to prevent evil from
spreading is to take care of it early and often.  Time to do my share of
culling the forest.”
    Chloë
blinked again.  “You are either awesome or insane.”
    “Must
it be ‘or’?” she beamed.   “I’m going to go grab some food for us
right quick.  Get dressed and meet me in the lobby as soon as you
can.  Do not go outside without me.”
    Chloë
nodded; she needed little reminder about traveling alone.  It was almost
like home—she had an escort wherever she went.  Unlike at home though, her
escort here was a friend trying to help!  Five minutes later she was
dressed, packed, and waiting in the lobby.  Chloë quickly met Heather and
the pair stepped out into the cold and dark city streets.  Less than eight
hours ago, these same streets had been a blur of people coming and going from
the dance.  Now, a pair