Chapter 25: Sides

On Wednesday night, the day before the Board met, Draconia called her friends to the kitchen on Ashgrove Lane.

She put the tin box on the table and took the lid off.

She told them everything, in order, in a flat voice, the way she would have read out a will.

Vivienne listened with her elbows on the table and her mouth a little open.

Georgina listened with her hands folded, and did not move once.

Harry sat at the end of the table and said nothing, which was how Draconia knew he was holding the whole of it up.

"That's all of it," she said. "I wanted you to hear it from me before you hear it from the Board."

"And tomorrow?" said Georgina.

"Tomorrow I put the letters on the table and tell the Board what the wards are."

"They'll take the box," said Vivienne.

"They'll try."

"Then it will be your word against two houses," said Georgina.

"Yes."

"That is a very bad position."

"I know." Draconia kept her voice level.

"I am not asking either of you to come. I want that understood."

"If you stand with me, you will pay for it."

Nobody answered.

The stove ticked.

Vivienne got up, and went to the window, and stood there with her back to them.

"My grandfather lost everything in that war," she said.

"I know," said Draconia.

"He stood with your family. He stood on the wrong side, and they never forgave him, and neither did we."

She turned.

Her face was wet and perfectly steady.

"My father signs forms in the village office."

"He has done it for twenty years because the Board gave him the post as a kindness," she said.

"He has thanked them for it every morning."

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