“And Mum said they don't kill you, if they can help it. Not right away. You're much more fun if you're not dead.”
Magrat stared at him.
“I had to run away! She was trying to get my hood off! I had to leave her, miss! You understand, miss?”
“Elves?”
“You got to hold on to something iron, miss! They hate iron!”
She slapped his face, hurting her fingers on the mail.
“You're gabbling, Shawn!”
“They're out there, miss! I heard the drawbridge go down! They're out there and we're in here and they don't kill you, they keep you alive-”
“Stand to attention, soldier!”
It was all she could think of. It seemed to work. Shawn pulled himself together.
“Look,” said Magrat, “everyone knows there really aren't any elves any mo . . . ” Her voice faded. Her eyes narrowed. “Everyone but Magrat Garlick knows different, yes?”
Shawn shook. Magrat grabbed his shoulders.
“Me mum and Mistress Weatherwax said you wasn't to know!” Shawn wailed. “They said it was witch business!”
“And where are they now, when they've got some witch business to mind?” said Magrat. “I don't see them, do you? Are they behind the door? No! Are they under the bed? How strange, they're not . . . there's just me, Shawn Ogg. And if you don't tell me everything you know right now I'll make you regret the day I was born.”
Shawn's Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he considered this. Then he shook himself free of Magrat's grasp and listened at the door.
The singing had stopped. For a moment Magrat thought she heard footsteps outside the door, hurrying away.
“Well, Miss Queen, our mum and Mistress Weatherwax was up at the Dancers-”
Magrat listened.
Finally she said, “And where's everyone now?”
“Dunno, miss. All gone to the Entertainment . . . but they ought to've been back by now.”
“Where's the Entertainment?”
“Dunno, miss. Miss?”
“Yes?”
“Why've you got your wedding dress on?”
“Never you mind.”
“It's unlucky for the groom to see the bride in her dress before the wedding,” said Shawn, taking refuge in run-of-the-mill idiocies to relieve his terror.
“It will be for him if I see him first,” snarled Magrat.
“Miss?”
“Yes?”
“I'm feared about what's happened to everyone. Our Jason said they'd be back in an hour or so, and that was hours ago.”