Free Dark Weaver (Weaver Series) by Dena Nicotra Page A

room!”  All at once that female voice that had greeted us on the glass block filled the room, “You will remain calm, and refrain from outbursts immediately.”  She sounded computer generated, and I figured it was coming through a speaker somewhere.  I balled my fists and shouted at the ceiling, “You’d better open this damn door lady!”  I really had no idea what sort of threat I could add to the end of that statement so I just added, “Right this damn minute!” 
    The door to my room slid open and the little troll/miner man stepped in.  I backed up until my back was against the wall.  He was a strange looking little man with eyes the color of dried straw.  I didn’t know what he intended to do to me, but I braced for the worst. 
    “Whoa there little filly !”  His small hands were raised as he stepped closer.  “You just need to simmer down some now, you listening to me?”  I shook my head. 
    “No sir, I will not simmer down.  I want to go home, and I want to go home right now!”
    “Look, that flat ain’t gonna happen so you may as well hush yer trap and tough this out.  What do you think, you can just bang on that door and make a ruckus without consequences?”  He laughed revealing tobacco stained teeth, and his stomach jiggled.  He was a repulsive little character and the mention of consequences didn’t sound like an idle threat.  My throat felt suddenly very dry. 
    “Listen mister, —“
    “Digger.”
    “What?”
    “The name’s Digger.”
    “Listen Digger, I’m not a criminal, and I just want to go home.  How long are you going to keep me here?  You haven’t even given me anything to eat or drink.”
    “Well now, that’s just an innocent oversight.  Everyone here can just weave what they need.  I’ll getcha something right now, what sounds good?”  He clapped his hands together and rubbed them back and forth in anticipation of my answer.
    “I would like a cheeseburger and fries from Bubba’s in Dempsey Arkansas, and I’d like to eat it there,” I said sarcastically.
    He laughed again, which sounded like “He-hee-heee!”  I turned my eyes away to avoid seeing those nasty teeth again.  Unfortunately, I looked down at his feet and was appalled to see that he wore no shoes.  His long toes were hairy and disgusting.  “Hell, I know they’re not pretty, but they ain’t that bad.”  I found myself blushing as it occurred to me that he could read me like an open book now that I couldn’t block.  I was embarrassed, but too angry to apologize.  My manners had their limits I guess. “I’ve got corns.  Shoes hurt my feet,”  he stated, and wiggled his toes.  As if this revelation justified matters. 
    “I just want to go home Mr. Digger.”
    “Now I see why Prince Kalan was so irritated with you.  You’re an annoying little thing on top of being a thief.”  He shook his head and made a tisk sound with his tongue. 
    “I’m not a thief, and he didn’t seem to find me annoying when he was with me.”  Great, here came the water works again.  Just thinking about Kalan faking his feelings for me hurt to my very core.  He’d been pretty good at it too.  Digger stepped forward and handed me a cloth handkerchief.  I took it and blotted at my eyes.  I hadn’t meant to burst into tears again and wasn’t happy with myself for doing it.  I mopped my tears, blew my nose, and tried to hand it back to him. 
    “No, you keep it.  I can weave another,” he said with a cheery smile.
    “Why don’t you just weave your corns away?”  I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
    He waddled toward the table, his right hand moving like a little flipper for balance.  “Done that, they just come back anyway.  Get over here girly and eat yer burger.”  A bag from Bubba’s sat on the little table under the window alongside a large fountain drink.  I reached into the bag and pulled out my cheeseburger and noticed a second beneath it.  “I can’t