Stolen Magic (17 page)

T
he sun sank below the horizon. Zertrum blew out a gob of fiery molten rock, which lit the gray sky with a second sunset as it dropped back into the mouth of the volcano.

Masteress Meenore thought the boulder reduced enough. IT heaved, and the rock rolled off the herder. By the half-light of dusk, IT saw that Goodman Hame's right leg had merely been scraped, but his left ankle was covered with dried blood and swollen to thrice the size of the other.

“We will leave in a moment. First, what is the name of your new master?”

“Erick.”

“Excellent. Can you kneel?”

He proved he could by kneeling.

IT lowered ITself and extended a wing. “Spread your
cloak across my back. . . . Good. Now climb on. . . . You may crawl. You will not hurt my wings, which are nearly indestructible as well as beautiful. When I fly, refrain from touching my scales, which will be burning hot.”

The man was in place. IT flapped ITs wings and sprang into the air, aware instantly of the difference in weight between Goodman Hame and Elodie.

Three wing flaps took IT above Master Uwald's house, where the limping man was just taking his place on a loaded sledge behind a team of oxen.

Below the house was a small field edged with pine trees. IT spiraled down.

“I thought you were saving me,” Master Hame cried.

“I am.” IT landed carefully, not so near the oxen, IT hoped, that they would bolt.

Too close. The terrified beasts broke the sledge out of the snow and began careering down the mountain.

Swearing a dozen dragon oaths, IT flew above the sledge as it crossed a snowy pasture and started onto a long ledge that ended in a cliff. Master Erick's cry rose thin and sharp as he pulled uselessly back on the reins.

IT set ITs teeth. I will not be the cause of this man's death. I will not be Uwald's instrument.

The oxen hurtled on.

I will do what I have never before attempted. IT swooped lower, ITs claws extended.

The first ox plunged over the cliff.

Flapping ITs wings, acutely aware of Goodman Hame on ITs back, IT lifted portly Master Erick by his cloak and his tunic, deposited him in the snow, and landed at his side.

Master Erick waved his hand in front of his nose. “You almost killed me! And your smell may finish me off.”

Zertrum's rumble rose in pitch and volume.

IT ignored the rudeness. “Master Uwald stole the Replica and hopes to contrive your death.”

“No!” from Goodman Hame.

“He wouldn't dare!” from Master Erick.

“I hope to frustrate him. Goodman Hame here was trapped by a falling boulder and is injured. If you—”

“IT saved me, Master. You should—”

“Master Erick, do not delay. The mountain is not reliable. Spread your cloak over me. Sit on it. You will not be cold. Do not touch my scales when—”

The ledge they stood on trembled.

“Hurry!”

Master Erick scrambled up.

IT flapped ITs wings, but Master Erick was heavy! IT was still on the ground when the ledge collapsed beneath them.

J
ohan-bee stopped at the stricken high brunka and rocked on his heels. His sword vibrated. “Is she better?”

Phew! Elodie thought. He isn't leaving. Then why the sword and longbow?

“No,” Mistress Sirka said.

Goodman Dror, still standing at her side, chimed in. “She could die because of you, you clumsy clod.”

Ursa-bee added, “Ludda meant no harm before. She can't help her sharp tongue.”

Hoping to do some good, Elodie said, “I think it was unkind of her.”

Johan-bee headed toward the door, where they were standing.

Oh no!

“Marya didn't want people to leave. Stand back.” He had appointed himself armed door guard.

“We're not leaving,” Albin said, making room for him. “Lady El persuaded me to stay.”

“Step away. I don't want help. People call me useless, but I can do this, and I need little sleep.”

What about when he wanted to use the garderobe?

Elodie and Albin moved a few feet to the side.

“Farther.”

They obliged.

“That's a rare ability,” Albin said encouragingly, “being able to stay awake. Do you really need the weapons? You can just shout and I'll help you. Someone else may get hurt.”

“Only if they try to force their way through.”

With Johan-bee's luck, he might stab himself—or his arrow might bounce off something, come back, and end his sad life. Or he might injure someone else, not meaning to, as he'd already hurt High Brunka Marya.

“Ursa-bee,” Mistress Sirka said, “a drink of broth may do the high brunka good.”

“I'll fetch it.” She hurried to the kitchen.

“Where is everyone?” Elodie asked.

Johan-bee said, “Most of the bees are searching. Master Uwald and young Master Robbie are in their room, and Master Tuomo is in his.”

Preparing to leave? Elodie thought.

“Ludda is cooking,” Goodman Dror said. “She says the last meal was ruined.”

Elodie had to hold herself back from laughing. While a brunka was insensible, while people and a precious ogre and dragon might be dying, while a mountain was on the point of exploding, a spiteful cook fussed over pottage and cabbage and beets. Why didn't she help with the search?

Because she was a thief and knew where the Replica was?

Just as Ursa-bee emerged from the kitchen with a mug of broth, the door to the corridor opened. Master Tuomo, carrying a satchel in each hand, marched in, followed by Master Uwald, similarly burdened. Master Robbie lagged behind, bearing a large velvet sack in one hand and a small burlap one in the other. His eyes sought Elodie.

“Only Master Uwald may leave.” Johan-bee's right hand rested on the hilt of his sword; his left held his bow. His rocking slowed. “He's no thief.”

No one could leave! Elodie thought. What to do?

Master Tuomo halted but didn't put his satchels down. His face reddened to scarlet.

“And Robbie.” Master Uwald continued toward the door.

“Only you, Master Uwald.”

Master Robbie stopped in the center of the great hall.

Master Uwald stopped, too, his face regretful. “I'll come back for you, son.”

Elodie thought, Albin would never leave me behind. IT had, but IT was a dragon, and IT was hoping to save everyone.

What to do?

“If Marya awakens,” Master Uwald added, “she'll let you come to me.”

But the high brunka seemed far from waking. Mistress Sirka had to hold her mouth open to dribble in a thin stream of broth. “There you go. Isn't that good?”

“Johan-bee, what will he accomplish that I can't?” Master Tuomo's gruff voice was pleading. “He doesn't have sons on the mountain.”

“Just Master Uwald.”

“Because he was kind to you? I never teased you, did I?”

Johan-bee didn't answer.

The steward turned to his master. “What will you do when you leave, Uwald?”

“First I'll go to Brunka Keld and—”

“He'll be helping on Zertrum.”

Keld was the brunka on Svye Mountain, just to the south of Zertrum.

“You're right.”

Elodie felt one of ITs
Mmm
s bubble up. Master Uwald hadn't thought out what he'd do when he left here?

He went on. “I'll stop at the first cottage and tell them to go to Poldie.”

Poldie was the brunka on Bisselberg, the mountain Elodie and her friends had passed on their way north.

“He'll come with bees who can search outside here and bring food. Then—”

“High Brunka Marya already has bees looking outside,” Elodie broke in. “She said so. They're also taking care of the dog who came with us.” You don't have to go for that reason, she thought.

Master Uwald said, “Oh?” and blinked. After a pause—for a moment too long—he added, “Excellent news.”

Mmm.

But Master Uwald couldn't be the thief. He owned Nockess Farm on Zertrum.

“Not excellent news for the thieves.” Mistress Sirka sounded amused.

What if the outside bees had found it, Elodie thought, and run off with it? Even bees might be tempted.

“Never mind,” Master Uwald said. “Poldie will bring more bees to help inside and out. Tuomo, I'll go to Zertrum and see how bad it is at the farm. When I find your boys, I'll send them here.”

“Just send one. As soon as the mountain dies down, the
others can get to work. But Johan-bee, I'm better suited to the task than Uwald.”

“Only Master Uwald.” Johan-bee stepped away from the door.

B
eating ITs wings frantically, IT managed to do what had to be done: keep ITs cargo on ITs back; not plummet; and gain altitude, although Master Erick felt as heavy as a boulder. When ITs flight steadied, IT flapped wearily south. Night had fallen—a charcoal, cloudy night. IT smelled more snow on the way.

Goodman Hame was silent except for an occasional groan, but Master Erick complained with every breath: The air was foul. ITs flight was uneven. He had a delicate stomach. His bottom was too hot, his head too cold.

IT was astonished he'd voice discontent to his bearer, who had only to tip a wing to drop him—which grew more tempting by the moment.

“Where are you taking us?” Master Erick demanded.

To the closest haven I can find in the dark, IT thought.
But IT saved ITs breath and didn't answer.

Master Erick said he'd always heard dragons were rude.

Goodman Hame said, “There are caves on Svye.”

“Nearby?” IT asked.

“Yes. I've been there. Fly low, along the river.”

H
is Lordship couldn't judge time here. After a half hour or an hour or ten minutes, the cries ahead became more distinct, a man's voice and a woman's, grunts and a few words: “Here.” “Push.” “I'm trying.”

He saw a mound of stones with a few wooden posts protruding—a collapsed cottage. How could anyone be alive under there?

In a frenzy, His Lordship burrowed in, his hands like shovels, heaving rubble behind him.

Lower on the mountain, a gash—a chasm too broad for His Lordship to leap across—opened in the earth.

M
aster Uwald transferred both satchels to one hand and lifted a torch from a sconce beside the door.

“Wait!” Elodie cried.

Courteous as ever, he said, “What is it, young Mistress Elodie?”

“Er . . . travel is hazardous at night. Why not wait until morning?” When High Brunka Marya may have awakened and can stop you. “You won't get to Zertrum in time anyway.”

“No, but I'll reach a cottager who can start for Bisselberg. Johan-bee, please.”

Johan-bee pulled open the heavy door.

“Tuomo, watch over my boy. There's danger here. Don't let him be hurt.”

“I won't.”

Elodie sent Master Robbie an imploring look.

“Mast—um . . . Grand . . .”

“Yes?”

“I don't want you to leave me.” Master Robbie, apparently a mansioner, too, twisted his mourning beads.

Master Uwald's smile melted. “Oh, my boy, my boy.” He returned the torch to its holder, went to Master Robbie, and hugged him to his chest.

After a pause, Master Robbie's arms circled Master Uwald's waist.

Johan-bee stood awkwardly with the door open. The cold night air rolled in.

Ludda-bee entered from the kitchen, ringing her bell. After a minute she held the clapper to announce, “I made a light repast. I expect it to be eaten.” She put her bell on the floor. “How is Marya?”

“The same.” Mistress Sirka rubbed more ointment on her bumps.

“Too bad we don't have a real physician.” Ludda-bee went to the corner where the tabletop and trestles were stowed. “Someone, help me.”

It was best to do Ludda-bee's bidding. Goodman Dror, Ursa-bee, and the bees who were searching the great hall hurried to her. They began to assemble the table in its usual spot, not far from where the high brunka lay and near
Master Uwald and Master Robbie, who had just dropped their arms from their hug.

“Son . . .” Master Uwald coughed wetly, a tearful cough. “It's right that I go. Tuomo suffers from not knowing his sons' fate. Our laborers need me. Nockess Farm needs me.”

“Master Uwald's the proper one to go.” Ludda-bee set a trestle in place. “But he should eat something first. Johan, put down those weapons. You look ridiculous. You can help with the table if you don't trip over yourself.”

Johan-bee smiled or bared his teeth, Elodie wasn't sure which. In one smooth movement, he nocked his longbow and aimed it at Ludda-bee.

Lambs and calves!

In a mock frightened voice Ludda-bee cried, “Oh, don't shoot me.” She shook the trestle and made it rattle. “See how afraid I am.”

He'll kill her! Elodie thought. “Don't do—”

Ursa-bee cried, “Johan, you—”

“Johan-bee,” Master Uwald said silkily, “remember? We talked about this. Ludda-bee speaks harshly sometimes, but you rise—”

“I tell the truth!” Ludda-bee said. “Everyone needs to hear the truth.”

Johan-bee lowered the bow.

“Now help me.” Ludda-bee picked up one end of
another trestle. “Stop playing the fool.”

“I'm guarding to keep people from leaving.”

Ludda-bee opened her mouth for a rejoinder, which might have gotten her shot, but Master Robbie spoke first.

“Master Uwald”—he'd reverted to the term he found more congenial—“if you leave, I won't go with you when you return. High Brunka Marya told me I could live here.”

Master Uwald shook his head as if unsure of what he'd heard. “Who . . . what?”

“If you stay now, I'll go with you later.”

“Son, Marya wants to imprison me, all of us.”

Ah. That's the crux of it, Elodie thought. He isn't a thief. He just can't bear losing his freedom.

The bees finished setting up the table and placing the benches. Deeter-bee lumbered to the end of a bench and sat. Ludda-bee stumped into the kitchen.

Elodie thought, I'm not nearly as brilliant as IT, but maybe the others would deduce along with me. “Er . . . Master Uwald . . .”

“Yes?”

“Everyone . . .” This would be the end of appearing dull witted, but she hadn't made much of a show of that anyway. “Masteress Meenore flew off in search of information, leaving me to continue unraveling the mystery, with Master Robbie's help.”

He nodded. “Mistress Elodie is ITs assistant. IT
pays
her.”

“The dragon thought you might help?” Master Uwald asked, sounding proud.

“IT said I have an ‘original mind.'”

“I'll wager you do.”

“They're children!” Master Tuomo cried.

In the voice of a mansioner narrator, Albin intoned, “‘The foolishness of age, the wisdom of youth.'”

“Nonsense!”

Elodie went on as if Master Tuomo hadn't spoken. “IT may have been delayed.” Injured or killed! “In the meanwhile, ITs method is to deduce and induce and—”

“Use common sense!”

Elodie nodded at Master Robbie. “Yes. But IT asks for others' opinions, too, especially when IT's thinking hard. IT liked Master Robbie's idea. That's why—”

“What idea, son?”

“That the thief might have made a replica of the Replica, and the actual Replica might have been stolen before High Brunka Marya showed it to us the first time.”

“Ingenious!” Master Uwald clapped his hands.

“But then,” Master Tuomo said, “Zertrum could have done its worst while we were still on it, or days ago.”

Elodie didn't want Master Uwald to lose his enthusiasm. “Correct or not, it was clever. Masteress Meenore explained ITs thinking thus far to both of us. If we tell
you, maybe all of us can determine what happened.”

“Please stay, Grand.”

Ludda-bee returned with a loaded tray. “I'm not laying out a full meal in the middle of the night.” She put the tray down. “You'll have to make do with this.”

No one moved.

Ludda-bee rang her bell and didn't stop ringing. People started toward the table. Elodie crouched to tie her bootlaces and delay sitting. Finally the clangor ceased. She stood and saw that almost everyone, including Master Uwald, was seated. Relief coursed through her. Only Johan-bee at the door and Mistress Sirka on the floor with the high brunka didn't join them. Johan-bee closed the door with a creak and a thud.

Ludda-bee occupied the stool at the head of the table, farthest into the room, closest to the high brunka. The other stool stood empty. Elodie, feeling presumptuous, took it. She wanted to be able to see everyone, and she could, excepting Johan-bee at his post behind her.

Albin sat at her right and a bee she hadn't met was at her left, until Master Robbie squirmed out of his place between Master Uwald and Ursa-bee and came around the table, where he squeezed onto the bench at her left.

Across from Master Uwald and Albin, Master Tuomo and Goodman Dror were on either side of Deeter-bee. The
other places were filled by the bees who'd been searching the Oase beyond the great hall.

“I'll stay for the meal,” Master Uwald said. “It would be foolish to leave hungry. Son, will that satisfy you?”

Master Robbie nodded.

Eat slowly, everyone! Elodie thought.

There seemed to be as many dishes as ever. No pottage, but a sausage-and-bean stew, along with poppy-seed rolls, spiced apples, long yellow beans, the eternal beets, and honey wafers.

Ludda-bee told Johan-bee to sit. When he told her twice and roared at her once that he wouldn't, she filled a bowl and brought it to him. He put down his bow to eat.

“Well, girl?” Master Tuomo demanded.

Elodie tried to quell the flutter in her stomach. “Deeter-bee, would you tell everyone where the Replica was hidden?”

He obliged and answered Master Tuomo's questions about who had known.

When the subject was exhausted, Elodie persuaded Ursa-bee to say what had happened when she'd been guarding and had heard the weeping.

As soon as she finished, Elodie asked Master Robbie to lay out ITs theory about what had happened. While he spoke, she worried about the next step, the deducing.

If only IT would blow the door open.

But she might get ITs help another way. Maybe she could
be
IT—shape-shift in a mansioner's fashion. Lambs and calves, could she?

Master Robbie ended with “Now we have to deduce and induce and use our common sense.”

Elodie cleared her throat and glanced at Albin. Help me.

“Masters . . . Bees . . . Mistress . . . We'd certainly do better if my masteress were here, but if I mansion IT, IT may help us all think.”

“Absurd!”

“Master Tuomo,” Albin said, “if your sons survive, you can tell them and your grandchildren that you were fortunate enough to be present when Elodie of Lahnt mansioned.”

Thank you, Albin!

“Oh, hush, Tuomo.” Master Uwald smiled benevolently at her.

If you rush, you will bungle.
In her own voice Elodie said, “If Masteress Meenore were really here, ITs smoke would rise in tight white circles, which mean dragon happiness. IT's always pleased to show off ITs unfathomable brilliance. Please imagine the smoke rings.” She wished she could recline as IT would have, but she might lose everyone if she began moving benches.

She made her voice nasal. “When an object of great value is taken, there is never a lack, I mean,
dearth
”—she needed all the hard words she could command. Luckily, the mansioners' plays were a help—“of persons who would benefit from owning it. Let us consider you one by one.”