* * *
When Ivy awoke, she was in an oversized nightgown lying on a strange bed. The bed was fluffy and comfortable and built onto a stone ledge. For a minute, she thought she was back with the birds, but a soft lantern in the dark and the black rock wall told her that she was safe.
Rolling onto her side, Ivy pulled the blankets to her shoulder and closed her eyes for a few more minutes before sneezing. Her throat had the tickle that comes before a sore throat. But she wasn't cold anymore.
Hearing her sneeze, Merilee said, “Oh, you're awake. What a darling. Are you feeling better?”
Ivy didn't really feel much like talking, but she had to be polite. After all, this woman had probably saved her life. “Much better, thank you.”
“Does your head hurt?” Merilee came into the light and Ivy had a bit of a start. Fortunately, she'd seen these skeleton folk in her dreams. Merilee was a heavy-set woman with large arms and an ample body, but that bulk was translucent and behind the bulk, Ivy could see a skeleton. It reminded her of one of the fishes she had seen on television.
Ivy's head did ache. So much that she didn't even bother to turn when Merilee sat back down, out of sight. “Yes. Have you been sitting with me?”
“A head injury can be dangerous. I've woken you up twice.” Merilee's voice was as warm as honey, soothing and sweet, and Ivy immediately liked her.
“I don't remember.” Ivy felt so tired, her eyelids drooped. If she could just keep them open a minute longer. It was rude to fall asleep talking. But Ivy couldn't help it. She fell asleep to Merilee's sing-song voice telling her that everything would be okay.
While Ivy slept, Merilee said to Twif, “You might as well come in. This one will be asleep for hours more. She'll have the sniffles for a week.”
Twif flew in and perched on a crease in the blankets. He didn't bother talking to Merilee. She was a creature of the underground. He'd stay awake until Ivy could keep watch for him. He didn't want to end up in a bowl of soup this close to being named dragon-friend.
Ivy woke up scared. This time she didn't have dreams about Carrie underground or Sparky high on a mountain. She dreamed that the birds kept pecking her. She cried out with her hands on her head. Marilee touched Ivy's hair softly and told her that it was just a dream.
Her head still hurt, but this time she wanted to get up. “Is it okay if I walk around a little?” Ivy asked. She felt like a giant toad had landed on her chest and stayed there. She could still breathe, but she needed to move.
“Of course. Let me get my basket and we can visit Florence. You'll like her.” Merilee bustled across the room to a cupboard with a wooden door fitted deftly into the stone. “There have been a number of strangers in the halls lately. It wouldn't do for you to be walking alone.”
“Was there another little girl like me?” Ivy asked. “I'm looking for my friend, Carrie.”
Merilee hugged Ivy's shoulder, “I'm sure we'll find someone your age to play with, Dear. But the only other girl found in the tunnels was the princess's friend. We won't see her.”
“I think it's Carrie. Maybe you can just send a message from me and ask?”
They were in the halls now and Merilee shushed her kindly. “One does not ask for an audience with the king. It just isn't done.”
She'd never had to deal with kings before, but from her own experience at school, Ivy figured the king was probably a bit like the principal. Not there every day, unless you caused problems or did something really extraordinary. Except for good grades, Ivy was average. She didn't win the best poster or poem contests, so as far as the principal was concerned, she was just a name on the roster.
“If I caused a lot of problems, would I have to go before the king to be sentenced?” Ivy asked.
Twif made a phft noise from Ivy's shoulder. Merilee laughed, “Your friend has the right of it. You don't want to do anything bad enough to get the king's attention.”
They turned down a tunnel. Merilee was kind enough to give Ivy a little light to carry so that she could easily see her way through. “Come along. Florence will ask you a thousand questions about the overworld. I think she secretly wants to move into the sunlit countries but is too afraid to take the first step.”
Merilee rang a little bell outside a slatted door that seemed hung from the ceiling. It was then that they heard the screams.