Stolen Magic(42)

A red-faced Johan-bee changed to shifting from side to side, foot to foot.

Albin whispered to Elodie, “The Replica will be found. Don’t worry.”

But she couldn’t help it. They both knew her parents’ Potluck Farm depended almost as much on him as on her father. If he were held here, the farm would fail.

He pressed a roll into her hand. “I saved this for you from breakfast.”

How thoughtful he was. She took a bite.

Dror-bee said, “You mean I won’t be allowed to help farmers in the spring?”

“I hope we’ll find the thief long before then, but otherwise, you will not.”

His voice rising, he added, “But that’s the joy in being a bee, the only joy. That’s what I delight in.”

“I know, pup.”

Mistress Sirka, always hovering, put an arm around his shoulder, and for once he let her, even leaned into her.

After another minute, bees and guests returned to their appointed tasks, except for Master Uwald, who lingered. He folded his arms and said nothing.

Elodie stayed to see what would happen. Master Robbie stayed, too.

The high brunka smiled. “Am I to be afraid, Master Uwald?”

“You may be whatever you like.”

Elodie hadn’t seen him angry before. His fury was cold, the frost evident in a whiteness around his nostrils and in the pinched lines between his eyebrows.

“I am Master Robbie’s guardian. I cannot care for him if he leaves and I stay.”

“You’d like to imprison him?”

“I will not be offered an impossible choice, a bet I cannot win.”

High Brunka Marya seemed to soften. “I’m sorry, dear.”

How strange for Master Robbie to be so loved by a man who was almost a stranger.

Master Robbie clenched the hand holding his cloak closed. He felt her eyes and shook his head at her. Poor Master Uwald, she thought, unloved again.

“Then you’ll let us go,” Master Uwald said.

“No.”

“You can’t think I’m the thief.”

“I can’t let you go and keep the others.”

“You can. I’m Master Uwald of Nockess Farm, Marya. They’ll understand.”

Elodie thought they probably would. The owner of Nockess Farm was above everyone else.

He went on. “I’ll make sure Tuomo’s sons are safe and come back here.”

“You’re staying, Master Uwald, dear.”

The chill fairly glittered. “The earl will be told you’re holding me. You’ll regret this.”

“I’ll never regret anything as much as letting the Replica be stolen.”

Master Uwald stalked away, but he stopped to pat Master Robbie’s shoulder. “Don’t fret. This isn’t the end.”

Deeter-bee shuffled to the high brunka. While Elodie watched his slow approach, she decided IT would approve the high brunka’s measure. She imagined IT saying, High Brunka Marya is roiling the murky depths of this theft and may force the thief to the surface.

Deeter-bee arrived. “Marya, if you keep this up, you’ll interrupt history. Events won’t progress as they’re meant to.”

“I won’t let the villains leave.”

“If you let them go, they’ll be more likely to reveal themselves. You may catch them recovering the Replica or selling it.”

“They may evade us for years. I don’t want them to have a minute of enjoyment.”

Elodie wondered if Deeter-bee could be the thief—just to make history.

He left the high brunka and made his slow way back to his bench.

Elodie stepped closer to the high brunka.

“You, too, lamb?”

“Is someone taking care of Nesspa and the other beasts?”

Her shoulders relaxed. “Certainly. The bees who searched the stable are caring for them. They’re also searching the area outside. They’ve all been here more than seven years, the most trustworthy, as Masteress Meenore recommended. The Oase has a cottage not far from the stable, which is where they’re sleeping at night.”

Satisfied, Elodie stepped back with Master Robbie to see who else might come forward, but no one did. Feeling bold, she took his hand and tugged him to the southwest corner of the great hall, where they’d be farthest from anyone, although the high brunka would be able to hear them.

“What have we learned?” She shivered and wished for her masteress. “We have to deduce and in—”

“And not be reckless,” he said, teasing her.

She shrugged. “That, too.”

“Why was Master Uwald—er, Grand—so angry now when he wasn’t before? Let’s deduce that.”

Elodie thought the answer obvious. “He doesn’t want to lose you.”

His nose turned pink again. “He knows me as little as I know him.”

Master Robbie probably reminded Master Uwald of his first love. He might imagine he did know his ward. And—this was less admirable—Master Robbie might represent a wager Master Uwald had won in the end, a wager with himself or with his fate.

Master Robbie had his own explanation. “Maybe he thought he could go home after Zertrum explodes. He still owns his land, and he trusts his luck. High Brunka Marya is taking his luck away from him.”