The Elves of Cintra (Book 2 of The Genesis of Shannara)

Logan started to say something, but the girl quickly put a finger to her lips and pointed at the door. Together they heaved upward on the iron ring, and the door opened on a set of stone steps leading to a cellar.

Cat went down the steps first, with Logan right behind. The Lizards made no move to follow, standing with their backs to the entry, staring out at the night.

“The Lizards are said to be family,” she told him once they were all the way into the cellar, speaking softly so that only he could hear. “I don’t know if it’s true or not, but they are fiercely loyal. Several have died for him during the assassination attempts.”

“Who tried to assassinate him?” Logan wanted to know.

The girl shrugged. “People from the compound, mostly. Fanatics who think all Freaks are dangerous and should be eliminated. Some blame the Freaks for what has happened to the world in general.” She shook her head. “Some just need to find a way to make someone—anyone—pay for what has happened to them.”

She reached into the darkness and switched on a solar-powered torch. “Not that the Senator hasn’t brought much of it on himself. He’s as dangerous as the things he claims to protect his constituents from. He might even try to kill you.”

Logan grabbed her arm. “Kill me? Why?”

“He doesn’t like you.”

She tried to pull away, but he held on to her. “Wait a minute. What are you talking about?”

She glared at him. “You’d better let me go if you want to get out of this in one piece.”

“I’m not the one who got me into this. You are. Tell me what this is all about, Cat. Right now.”

She held her ground, shaking her head slowly. “You won’t take me with you if I do.”

He heard the despair in her voice, and he softened his own. “Just tell me, please.”

She was silent for a moment, and then she said, “It’s because of me. He owns me.”

At first, Logan didn’t think he heard her right. “He owns you?” he repeated, trying to make sure.

“That was the bargain I made with him when he took me in. He agreed to give me food and shelter, but in return I became his property. He said it was an old tradition dating back to the beginning of politics. He said I would belong to him until I paid my debt.” She looked down at her feet and sighed.

“I agreed. I was desperate. I was starving, and I knew I was going to die.

” She paused. “I guess I would have done just about anything.”

The way she said it suggested to Logan that maybe she had. He felt a tightening in his throat and a sudden anger. “So he doesn’t want to give you up.

That was what he was talking about back in the hall when he reminded you of your bargain. He thinks you might try to leave with me.”

She nodded, saying nothing.

“And all that business about being saved by a family of Lizards who took you in when you were exiled from the compound was just something you made up?”

She shrugged, not looking at him.

He released her arm and looked around at the room, which was filled with boxes of all shapes and sizes. “Is the Cyclomopensia here? Or did you make that up, too?”

She tightened her lips and walked over to one set of boxes, peeled back the covering, reached in, and pulled out half a dozen packets. She handed them to him. “Enough for a month’s treatment. I wasn’t lying. I know about medicines. I was put in charge of the medical supplies because I had some experience in the compound. They don’t use them much out here. Their immune systems changed when they became Lizards. But there are humans among us, too. Street people. I treat them when they get sick. Sometimes, I trade medicines to the compound for stuff we need. But the Senator doesn’t like me doing that, no matter what. He hates the compound people.”

Logan glanced around. “Are all these boxes filled with medicines?” She nodded. “Okay. Pack up the ones you think will do the most good. We’ll take them, too.”

She stared at him. “Are you still taking me with you?”

“Why? Do you think I should leave you behind? I thought we made a bargain.”

“They’ll try to stop you. They might even try to kill you. I wasn’t making that up.”

“Just do what I told you.”

She began gathering packets from various boxes, stuffing them into pockets sewn inside her cloak. She worked quickly and without talking while he made another quick survey of the room, keeping one eye on the open doorway. If they intended to kill him, they would do so when he emerged, thinking to get to him before he could even think to defend himself. The Senator would have told them who and what he was, would have warned them about his staff, would have told them to act quickly.

He shook his head.

He saw a second door at the back of the room.

“What’s behind that door?” he asked her.

She stopped what she was doing and looked to where he was pointing. “Nothing. Another room, but it’s empty. Sealed, too. The Senator fused the locks to make sure there was only one entry. If we try to break them, the guards will hear and call for help.”