Literature
The Crystal Serpent, Chapter 3
Chapter Three: To Eavesdrop from a Pantry
“Up, at once, boys! Time to be moving.”
Robin was roused from sleep by the loud voice of the Chief Cook. He rolled over on his side, on his bed of dirty straw, and looked around him sleepily. The servants’ loft was cold and dark, with not even the tiniest bit of sunlight peeping in through its one window. Several of the other servant-boys had begun to stir, yawning, rubbing their eyes.
“Up, for the last time! We have much work before us, as always. I’ve no use for a lot of laggards, do you hear?” Ivar began to beat his iron ladle on a doorpost—noisily enough to wake the dead if any were around, Robin thought with a somewhat bitter amusement.
“Ought to let us sleep till cockcrow, at least,” he heard Petter mutter, near him. “The fifth bell hasn’t even rung yet.”
Robin pushed his heavy blanket aside and stood quickly up, slipping into his leather shoes. For a moment he fingered the crucifix which lay on a tiny chain around his neck. His
