Stolen Magic(33)

“The thief is nearby, listening?” Master Robbie suggested. “Johan-bee has a heavy step.”

“And the rushes make noise when anyone but a brunka walks.”

“True. The wretch places the handkerchief’s box in one of these rooms, most likely this one . . .”—IT tapped a room on Master Robbie’s map—“concealed in some way. The thief opens the box and touches the handkerchief. The weeping begins, but softly, allowing him or her time to exit, leaving the door a little ajar so the weeping may be heard. The villain rushes along this route”—a talon traced a path along the corridor that ran parallel to the one that led to the high brunka’s room—“passes the closed door of the garderobe, turns right, then left. The way is long but achievable. He or she hastens through the high brunka’s chamber into the storage room and waits for Johan-bee and Ursa-bee to come and go. The scoundrel then takes the Replica and exits through the storage room door to the corridor. If someone is in the corridor, the scheme fails. But the corridor is rarely traveled. The risk is small. The thief then retrieves the handkerchief and spirits it away, I know not where.”

“Oh,” Master Robbie breathed. “I can picture it.”

“But,” Elodie said, “if Johan-bee is quicker than usual, the villain is caught. I see why two are better.” With mounting excitement, she continued. “If the thief has a partner, the first thief can put the handkerchief here”—she touched a different room—“and turn into one of these side passageways. Thief two can wait here.” She pointed at the corridor IT had said the thief would have to dash through, near the turn that led to the privy. “Thief two—”

Master Robbie broke in. “Thief two has a shorter distance to travel to reach the high brunka’s room. But who are they?”

IT blew gray smoke. “Everyone has a motive to steal an item that is worth a great deal. Even the already rich are not exempt; they may want more. I am at a loss.”

Elodie had never heard IT say such a thing before.

“When you return, do not waste your energy searching shelves and cabinets. Let others do it, because it must be done, but these thieves are too cunning to have hidden the Replica there. Why is that? Think, Lodie! Think, Master Robbie!”

His face wore a strained look, which Elodie recognized.

Think! she thought. Prove I have an original mind, too! Ah. “Because the thieves couldn’t guess where the searchers would look first. Anyone might stumble on the Replica just by luck.”

“Excellent, Elodie.”

Elodie!

“But . . .” Master Robbie hesitated. “If it isn’t in the Oase, where is it? Outside is big.”

“Indeed. I do not say the Replica is outside. It is equally likely to be in or out, but we will find it most quickly through reason. Continue to deduce and induce and use your common sense, both of you. The thieves and the hiding place are twined together. We have uncovered the method. The motive is greed.”

Quoting the puppet, Elodie said, “‘Expectation misleads.’ Perhaps the motive isn’t greed. Maybe there’s another explanation.” She felt silly. “Something inside the Replica? Something it can do?”

IT lifted ITself off ITs belly. “Doubtful. Lacking in common sense.”

Elodie blushed.

“But there may be an additional motive: rage, for example. Dror-bee has reason to be angry at his family for sending him away. Mistress Sirka may be angry, too. Her beloved is a bee because of the family. I suspect the two of a connection before they arrived here. Neither, however, professes to know where the Replica was kept nor has the means to purchase the information. Nonetheless, they are still possible thieves.”

Elodie asked, “Do we know what people did after Ursa-bee and Johan-bee’s watch and before the blizzard?”

“A useful question. Ursa-bee said that she and carping Ludda-bee as well as lumpish Johan-bee, after he returned from the garderobe yet again, dug up the last of the season’s beets.”

Master Robbie said, “A few bees also go out every morning to feed and water the beasts in the stable. One of them milks the goats. Master Tuomo stepped out after the snow began to watch the storm.”

ITs gray smoke darkened. “We have too many possible villains, including even your Albin, Lodie. I had hoped for His Lordship’s information to help me reduce the number.”

“Do you think something terrible has happened to him?”

IT never sweetened the truth. “I am resolved to find out. Shortly I will leave you.”

Then both her friends would be in danger. Elodie ground her teeth to keep from begging IT not to go.

“The danger to me is slight, Lodie. Fire cannot harm me, and I can rise above a rockslide. If I must, I will lift His Lordship out of danger.”

Elodie suspected that IT had an exaggerated idea of ITs strength.

“My fear is more for you. You may trust Master Robbie—”

“At your service.”

“Do not interrupt. You may trust him because he revealed the theft.”

Master Robbie bowed from the waist, a deep bow, much more respectful than the slight obeisance he’d given Elodie.

IT continued. “You may also trust the high brunka, who cannot gain by the theft. Share our discussion with her. When I am gone, she will be the only one holding back chaos. Help her however you can.”