pte

ere opened so they could lay flat and now sat in a pile by the door. Bugsy long since abandoned her for someone doing much more interesting things someplace else and she was left to

oxes, Ivy surveyed the library. It was still a shambles, but

and down a set of stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, she turned right and headed into one of the storage a

ooks shorter

f plastic storage bins in the back of the area. "We used some of them to line the bottom

asked as he navigated his way aro

or now they will k

he wir

little diggin

rtoon where carrots were pulled into the ground from bel

at the boxes. "So someone finally started on the library then

a comment, "

was by, "

d y

t Howard Carlson." His

" Ivy t

rothers took the news of the Seers leaving before seeing to the inju

ina and Nick over to him instead of k

Alex started

ewhat vindicated when he was just as surprised as she

ws in the library?" he asked. Alex shook his

ssed. "I was in the library beca

kable?

fication. And I didn't see anythi

oks because of the Uncles, " Alex said after a moment of t

d Hamilton even kno

d. "Those books are still packed, or they were whe

e, " Ivy finished. "But wh

er family background, Ivy considered it a wise move. It didn't help much in the end due to Lila Perkins, her husband

ll come up in the a

ng back to t

of those who were compromised by the Brotherhood." Ivy's quest for more information led her to several people who were paid to falsely

ecause he knows you weren't paid off by The Brot

n, they won't have to tell anyone else if th

can see why he wouldn'

esearch as well. I apparently st

s?" Alex asked. "I didn't know they allowed people to do re

own business as long as I reported b

?" Alex

as a bribe, "

ing to do th

cial report of recent events." Ivy shared Hamilton's commen

putation among those groups, but even if you talk to t

l story was, " Ivy said. "The ones I know might listen to me, bu

tell you wh

o talk to the people I know who n

of your friends

I do need to talk to Irina

. Ivy frowned at him and he held up his hands in mock surrende

he term vassal,

d executed a deep bow. "I am ever your loyal vassal my lady." Alex st

inky finger lifted when we have tea, " Ivy replied. Her s

n't it? Shall I es

"And we can see if Simon is still scowl-ly

Simon sc

vy filled Alex in on what little she kne

he said as they pushed open

igger, but not really any fancier than their large kitchen trestle table. Thus far once the basics were complete no additional details were added in the dining room.

t those walls something befor

week's list, "

eat on the other side of the table. "I fe

he opposite wall. "I'm still not sure why

around the room, taking stock of who was dining as she slid into her seat. Hackett and Jerome slipped in behind Russ

Ivy asked as everyo

e said. "We will soon have s

/or keep him company aft

ty with animals that made Ivy suspect he could actually hear their thoughts. She wondered if it was a ho

he might need during lambing as occasionally refilling food and water troughs were about the extent of her animal related chores. 'At least when t

a tray to the door. Danny and Russell both stood and hel

o matter how many times they invited him to join, he politely refused and ate in the kitchen.

ny said as he sat back down. "He doesn't want the a

y said as Russell handed her

re mage and know you are thinking of

the end of the life cycle process with her, especially if the animal was large enough to require more tha

gation. You go with a scythe into the fields to collect p

lants with a hand held sic

wear the long black

ch under your breath doe

ed. "I hum Wagner. That

e other aspects of the agricultural elements of Wildwood. By unspoken consent

eared away and Russell started slicing one of the pies. Ivy long since stopped worryi

A few days prior she heard the argument of fruit pie bei

another week befor

ne and the dishes cleared, Danny went to the kitchen to fill a thermos of coffee before joining Max in his barnyard. Hackett and Jerome bid ev

sted to her as the others wandered off to

or me?" I

, " he conceded. Ivy nodded and went to

she said as she slipped it on and w