Stolen Magic (18 page)

T
he fires on Zertrum lit the north face of Svye.

Goodman Hame spotted the caves. “See? There!”

IT saw. A minute later, IT landed on the ledge, while everyone outside dashed inside.

Master Erick and Goodman Hame disembarked, the latter by crawling.

Goodman Hame shouted, “You can come out. IT's a good dragon.”

Masteress Meenore's smoke reddened. Good at what? Good for what?

Lovers of the good ogre—everyone—poured out of the cave, eager to meet the good dragon, and began coughing.

“IT rescued us. IT lifted a boulder off me,” Goodman
Hame announced. Then he fainted.

Several people surrounded him.

“And almost killed me.” Master Erick couldn't keep the tidings to himself: “Uwald stole the Replica.”

After an hour of Master Erick, IT thought, everyone will forgive Master Uwald. IT spied Brunka Arnulf and lumbered to the edge of the crowd, where the brunka joined IT.

“Did Master Uwald really steal the Replica?”

“Yes. Where is His Lordship?”

“Back on Zertrum, finding people and bringing them here.”

“Is that why you lied to me before?”

“He'd been injured as a bird. He couldn't fly back to the Oase. But he's recovered, and I didn't want you to keep him from rescuing folks.” Brunka Arnulf flicked out a short rainbow. “His heroism will live forever.”

“I prefer he not begin his afterlife tonight. He owes me wages.” IT stared across the river. In the chaos, His Lordship could be anywhere. Even a being twice his size might be impossible to find.

“The last time he delivered someone to the cave, I begged him to stay.”

IT pondered.

Leave now and fly to Elodie?

Arrive at the Oase too late to save His Lordship but in time—possibly—to rescue her from Uwald and his accomplice?

Allow Nesspa to lose his master?

IT sneered at ITself for thinking of the well-being of a dog.

“Masteress?” Brunka Arnulf said.

“I am cogitating.”

“His Lordship would search for you.”

“He and I are not alike.”

Although fire held no terror, IT could be buried if the mountain collapsed. A boulder could rip through one of ITs beautiful wings or shatter ITs skull and destroy ITs miraculous mind.

Moreover, if IT went after His Lordship, the folk of Lahnt would for all time dub IT a
good
dragon. That would gall.

“I have decided.” IT pushed off the ledge and flapped back toward Zertrum.

Over the Fluce, unexpectedly—uselessly!—from the depths of ITs prodigious brain, surfaced the location of the Replica and the identity of the second thief. IT remembered the puppet's words: “Expectation misleads.”

Think, Lodie!

But IT doubted that even her penetrating mind would derive the answer.

E
lodie tapped a claw (fingernail) on the table. “Mistress Sirka and Goodman Dror have been proposed as the thieves by Master Tuomo, so let us consider them first.”

“Again?” Mistress Sirka yawned.

“I beg your forgiveness, I mean,
indulgence
.”

Master Robbie giggled.

Elodie wished he wouldn't. This wasn't a mere performance. “Master Tuomo exposed their motives: rage at Goodman Dror's family coupled with greed. The method—”

Ludda-bee burst out, “No one is eating! Eat!” She passed the plate of yellow beans in one direction, the beets in the other.

“The method the thieves used,” Elodie continued as
people helped themselves and their neighbors to food, “we have already established. It will be the same whoever they are. The trouble, I mean,
difficulty
, is that neither knew where the Replica was hidden. Goodman Dror has not been a bee long enough to be told.”

“Another bee may have told him,” Master Tuomo said.

Elodie wished she knew the rest of the bees. She doubted the ones she knew would have told.

Deeter-bee came unexpectedly to her rescue. “Then we would have three thieves, or why else would the bee tell?”

Elodie made an O with her lips and blew a long stream of air. “Three is, er, an
unwieldy
number.” What to say next? She wanted to deduce about Master Tuomo, but she was afraid of him. “Let us move along to another potential villain . . .” Who? “. . . Lodie's father's helper, her friend—”

“Hair and teeth!” Mistress Sirka cried. “Now open your eyes. Open—”

“What happened?” Johan-bee sounded more frightened than glad.

Elodie stepped away from the table to see the high brunka. Everyone else either stood or turned.

“Less than I hoped,” Mistress Sirka said. “She moved her hand and a wee rainbow came out of her thumb. Then the hand dropped back and the rainbow faded.”

“Is that good or bad?” Ursa-bee said.

“Could be either. She may be waking up or sinking deeper.”

“Continue, Mistress Elodie,” Master Uwald said. “I want to satisfy my son and set out.”

Elodie thought, He wants to be off before he can be re-imprisoned.

Albin performed a seated bow. “You were about to accuse me, Lady— I mean, Masteress.”

She sat again. “Indeed. Goodman Albin wanted passage money to rescue my assistant, who in fact needed no
succor
. Stealing the Replica to realize such a small sum may be likened to killing a flea with a cannon. Nonetheless, he was desperate. In a strange twist of fortune, he won more than enough dicing with Master Uwald, but that occurred after the theft, so—”

“I thought you never lose, Grand.”

Albin spooned beets into Elodie's bowl. He said, “I believe that Master Uwald was kind enough to lose for my benefit.”

Elodie saw Master Tuomo frown.

Deeter-bee put the frown into words. “Hard to lose on purpose at dicing. The game is pure luck.”

“In truth, Goodman Albin ended my long good luck.” Master Uwald helped himself to a second helping of spiced apples, his eyes on the serving bowl. “These are
uncommonly good, Ludda-bee.”

Elodie swallowed a spoonful of warm stew against the chill that ran through her. Master Uwald had just shown two signs of lying. She glanced at Albin and saw him looking at her. He'd noticed, too. Master Uwald hadn't met Master Robbie's eyes, and he'd said
In truth
. Her mansioner training had taught her that whatever followed that phrase was likely to be false. The game with Albin hadn't been the one that ended his luck. Master Uwald had lost before.

Did that matter?

It mattered if he'd lost Nockess Farm.

How could she accuse Master Uwald?

Albin did it for her. “Mansioners study people so we can play our roles truthfully. Begging your pardon—I think you lied about your loss to me being the first.”

Master Uwald patted his lips with the tablecloth, leaving a lip-shaped, beet-colored stain. “How clever, to turn Mistress Elodie's accusation away from you.”

Elodie nodded slowly, remembering ITs big head. “I will continue. Like Mistress Sirka and Goodman Dror, Goodman Albin came to the Oase with no knowledge of the whereabouts—”

“Uwald . . .” Master Tuomo's voice was quieter and more controlled than usual. He half stood to reach across the table and tap Master Uwald's left hand, which was on his bowl. “Did you lose Nockess in a wager?”

Master Uwald put down his spoon with care. “Certainly not.” But he didn't meet Master Tuomo's eyes either.

“Masteress,” Master Robbie said, “I'd like to deduce.”

“Proceed.” Would he help his guardian who loved him? Or would he prove what Elodie now felt certain to be true, that Master Uwald was one of the thieves?

“Yes, son?”

“Master Uwald told me he'd never lost a bet since Grandmother refused him. ‘Lucky in gaming, unlucky not to have her,' he said. Another time, he said he had her now in me. I deduce he isn't lucky at gaming any—”

Master Uwald talked over Master Robbie. “I won every wager against your masteress, Mistress Elodie, didn't I?”

“My sons!” Master Tuomo reached across the table and pulled Master Uwald up by his shoulders. “If you killed them—”

“Tuomo!” Master Uwald cried.

Deeter-bee and another bee pulled Master Tuomo back, although he struggled against them.

Master Uwald whispered, “Your sons are fine.”

“Say again?”

Master Uwald sat slowly with both hands on the table to lower himself. “I sent them to Ilse's wedding and told them not to tell you. I would never hurt your sons. Robbie, I'm not so bad as that.”

It was an admission. Master Uwald was the thief.

He went on, “I tried to give the servants and herders a holiday, too, but you—”

“When did you lose Nockess? Where?”

“The night after the message came that Lilli died. I rode out to clear my mind and met travelers on the—”

“I gave my life to your land.” Master Tuomo had switched from one grievance to another.

Who was Master Uwald's accomplice?

And where was the Replica?

High Brunka Marya groaned. In a weak voice she said, “Johan? Did you hit me?”

M
asteress Meenore landed in a barren field about a quarter mile above a chasm. Plumes of smoke rose from fires that dotted the slopes.

IT surveyed ITs near surroundings. In this field, the snow remained in patches, but most had melted, leaving a meadow where only stones grew.

Earlier, IT had flown up the mountain almost to the terrifying peak, which belched flames but little molten rock—so far. From the heights, IT had descended gradually, to and fro, back and forth. Often, no matter how low IT glided, enough smoke smothered the ground to conceal a mob of ogres. IT had ignored the human cries that assailed ITs ears. If IT stopped for everyone in need, IT would never save His Lordship.

Count Jonty Um wouldn't be looking for anyone or calling out. Perhaps IT could call him. IT trumpeted,

“There was a dragon called Bertram

who flew a long, long way to Zertrum

then tumbled in a deep abyss

and landed with a hoot and a hiss,

that foolish, silly, idiot, heedless, nincompoop dragon called Bertram!”

IT hardly heard ITself over the fire crackle and the crash of tumbling rocks, but, unable to devise a better plan, IT sang again, knowing, as it bellowed and bellowed, that nincompoop Bertram was really Meenore.

J
ohan-bee rocked rapidly heel-to-toe and stared fixedly straight ahead. “Yes, I hit you. I didn't mean to.”

Master Uwald held out his arms. “Son . . .”

Master Robbie shook his head violently.

Mistress Sirka helped High Brunka Marya stand up.

“Slowly, please, dear.” She leaned against the barber-surgeon. “I'm dizzy.” Small rainbows flowed from her fingers. She shook her hands and the rainbows subsided.

Ludda-bee jumped off the high brunka's stool. “Here.” She began to ladle everything into a bowl.

Master Uwald crooned softly in a longing tone, “Son . . . Son . . . . Son . . .”

Master Robbie looked just as he had when Elodie first
saw him: pink-tipped nose, red-rimmed eyes, hands on his mourning beads.

“Keep the stool, Ludda,” High Brunka Marya said. “I'll just fall off. The bench will be better. And I can't eat yet.”

Everyone shifted, and Mistress Sirka eased the high brunka onto the bench next to Goodman Dror, at the end farthest from the door and Johan-bee, who remained at his post. High Brunka Marya seemed to have forgotten about sealing the door with her rainbow.

Mistress Sirka sat at the very end, so that the high brunka was wedged between her and Goodman Dror. The barber-surgeon smiled triumphantly around the table. “I healed a brunka!”

“Johan,” High Brunka Marya said, “I am disappointed in you. You behaved like an unruly ram, no matter how provoked you were. And now, why the longbow and sword?”

“To keep anyone from leaving.”

“I see. Very well. Soon my rainbow will be able to do that again.” She turned from one bee to another until she'd met the eyes of every one. “No one is to tease Johan anymore. I forbid it. He committed an error, but he deserves better.”

“I just point out his faults to improve him,” Ludda-bee said. “If he weren't such a bumbling clod, he'd—”

“Ludda, no more about bumbling.” She waited, but Johan-bee didn't speak. “My head hurts. How long did I
lie there? I dreamed the Replica was found. Has it been?”

“I'm the thief.”

“Master Uwald? You?”

“My Robbie despises me.”

“I do despise you.”

“Is the Replica back in place?”

Albin said, “We just found out it was Master Uwald.”

Elodie said proudly, “Master Robbie proved it.”

“Master Uwald, where is it?” the high brunka said.

“I won't say.”

Master Tuomo shouted, “He wants to destroy the farm!”

“No, I don't.”

“He wants people to die,” Master Robbie said softly.

“I don't!”

Elodie frowned, believing him. Doesn't want to ruin the farm, although it will be ruined. Doesn't want to kill people, although people will be killed. Mmm. He doesn't care, really, about the people or the farm. What does he care about, other than Master Robbie? Ah. Lambs and calves! “You want one person to die, the one who won Nockess Farm.”

He said nothing.

“He's there, the new owner?” Master Tuomo said. “You enticed him there?”

“With his death, no one would have known of the lost—”

“Hush!” High Brunka Marya put her hands flat on the table, palms down. “I feel Zertrum.” She looked at Master Tuomo and Goodman Dror, the two whose homes were on Zertrum besides Master Uwald. “It's very bad.” She blew her nose on her sleeve and wiped her eyes.

In the silence that followed, Elodie said, “Master Uwald, who was the other thief?”

“I acted alone.” His eyes were on Master Robbie, always on him. “It was an ingenious plan. I placed the magic handkerchief in the Turtle Room. Then—”

“Did you close the door behind you?” Elodie asked. The disturbed rushes hadn't been mice!

“I left it ajar. Few come down that corridor. I waited there for Johan-bee to leave his post. When he did, I started the weeping and went into another room, which I also left ajar. I doubted Ursa-bee would notice, and she didn't. When she came, I ran into your chamber, Marya.”

Elodie thought that a long dash for elderly Master Uwald.

He continued. “Later, after I had the Replica, I recovered the handkerchief.”

Master Robbie said, “How did you know Johan-bee left?”

“I heard him. His steps are noisy.”

“How did you learn where I hid the Replica?”

“How do you think, Marya? I purchased the information.”

Elodie's mind veered off in a different direction. Her masteress believed the Replica might not be in the Oase, where someone could stumble upon it. “High Brunka, is there a door from the Oase to the caves and tunnels of this mountain?”

“No, lamb.” She turned back to Master Uwald. “From whom did you buy it?”

“I won't say. Son, I didn't mean . . .”

Elodie stirred her spoon absently in her bowl. If the Replica wasn't in the Oase or in the mountain, then it was outside. Master Uwald hadn't been out after the theft. He must have had help.

Who had gone out? Several bees had been to the stable to feed the animals, but the stable had been searched. A bee might have left the others and hidden the Replica in a tree hole, or might have dug a hurried hole for it, but that could be anywhere—not a useful line of thought. The high brunka said there was a cottage.

Without listening to what she might be interrupting, Elodie asked, “Has anyone searched the cottage?”

“Of course, lamb.”

In her bowl, the brown stew and the yellow beans and the dark red beet juice made a muddy rainbow.

The beets!

Elodie—recklessly, rashly—announced, “I know where the Replica is.” Unable to resist, she added, “I deduced and induced.” Masteress, you'll be so proud of me. If you're alive.

Around the table, all heads turned to her.

“The Replica is where the beets were. Johan-bee buried it. He's the other thief.”

Everyone looked at the door.

“He left!” Master Tuomo cried.

“No, I haven't.”

With surprising stealth, Johan-bee had edged around the table, and now stood with his longbow raised, nocked, and aimed at the high brunka. At this near distance, he couldn't miss.