Lords of Trillium Read Free Page A

that. Not right now. No dark thoughts. Not today.
    After hanging the last decoration, he stormed into the throne room just in time to find Ajax finishing up the face of a particularly demonic yellow squash. The black rat dropped a small candle inside it and lit it, raising a critical eyebrow at the gourd’s ghastly yellow grin.
    Ajax turned and stared at Billycan, who leaned against the doorway, catching his breath. “What? You don’t like it?” asked Ajax. He folded his arms and sighed with frustration. “Too scary?”
    Billycan’s eyes brightened to an intense ruby in the candle’s flickering light. His chest still heaving, his voice came out as a raspy whisper. “Just scary enough.”
    Juniper smiled as he watched Julius and Nomi zip around the breakfast table, Nomi intent on catching her brother’s tail. The older boys, Tuk and Gage, had gone off with Mother Gallo toNightshade Passage already, eager to get a look at the latest batch of diaries recovered from the swamp.
    Hob, still finishing his porridge, watched thoughtfully as Julius and Nomi fell headlong into the pillows surrounding the fire pit, giggling hysterically. “Father,” he said, his eyes wandering cautiously over to Juniper, “can I ask you something?”
    Juniper regarded the young rat, who poked at his porridge with a spoon. “What is it, my boy?” He winked at Hob. “You’re not getting out of finishing your breakfast, if that’s what you’re after.”
    â€œNo, that’s not it,” said Hob. His voice dropped to a whisper. “Father, we all know Billycan is Julius’s father.”
    â€œYes,” said Juniper.
    â€œWell . . . what I’m wondering is, who is Julius’s . . . 
mother
?”
    Juniper eyed Julius as the little rat rolled cheerfully on the floor, his white hairs shedding on the pillows. “We haven’t a clue. Billycan disappeared before we could ask him.”
    â€œDoes Julius ever ask about her?”
    â€œHe asks about Billycan from time to time, wanting to make sure he’s all right.” Juniper shook his head, a part of him still amazed that the white rat—his brother—was no longer a mortal threat. “I think Julius is content with the mother he has.” He chuckled. “Why, Maddy all but smothers that boy with affection!”
    Hob wrinkled his nose, thinking. “But, Father, what if Julius’s mother is bad, just like Billycan? What then?”
    â€œI’ve thought about that, and it’s entirely possible—birds of a feather, as they say—but no one has come forth to claim Julius, good, bad, or otherwise. I fear whoever Julius’s mother is, she’s long gone. Perhaps she ran away when the Catacombs citizens were freed. Perhaps she lives Topside now.”
    â€œHow could she leave her own son?”
    â€œThat’s hard to say. When I told our citizens the truth of what really happened here with Billycan last year, the cure, how it changed him, I think it gave them little relief. I, of all rats, certainly understand. Without proof, how could they not still think of him as the same fiend they knew back in the Catacombs—the brutal High Collector and Commander? I wanted to put their minds at ease, to assure them that he was no longer a threat, but without seeing his change with their own eyes, I cannot expect them to believe it.” He shook his head. “Perhaps if they truly knew they were safe from him, Julius’s mother would come forward. I’ve always wondered if she’s hiding in Nightshade City, right under our very noses, simply too afraid of Billycan to come forward.”
    Hob studied his little brother with a gloomy expression. “Perhaps she’s dead.”
    Juniper patted Hob’s back. “Yes . . . sad to say, but perhaps she is.”
    â€œYou’re doing it!” said Elvi.