Literature
The Crystal Serpent, Chapter Three
Chapter Three: To Eavesdrop from a Pantry
βUp, at once, boys! Time to be moving.β
Robin was roused from sleep by the voice of the chief cook. He rolled over on his side, on his bed of dirty straw, and looked around him sleepily. The servantsβ loft was cold and dark as always. No sunlight yet shone through its one window. Several of the other servant-boys had begun to stir, yawning, rubbing their eyes.
βUp, for the last time! Weβve much work before us, as always. Thereβs no use for a lot of laggards, dβyou hear?β Ivar began to beat his iron ladle on a doorpostβnoisily enough to wake the dead if any were around, Robin thought with a bitter amusement.
βOught to let us sleep till cockcrow, at least,β he heard Petter mutter, near him. βThe fifth bell hasnβt even rung yet.β
Robin pushed his flee- and moth-eaten blanket aside and stood quickly up, slipping into his leather shoes. For a moment he fingered the bronze star which lay on a tiny chain around his neck. His mother had given it