Stolen Magic(47)

When IT stopped flaming, the gash had more than doubled in depth.

“I must rest a moment.” A lie. Flaming didn’t tire IT. “We may indulge in conversation. This is Nockess Farm, is it not?”

Goodman Hame nodded.

“Brunka Arnulf informed me that Master Tuomo’s sons are gone from the estate. Is that so?”

He nodded again.

“I suppose Master Tuomo sent them on some errand.”

He shook his head.

Mmm. “No? Then why did they leave?”

Goodman Hame spoke with difficulty. “Master Uwald sent them to his cousin’s wedding because he had to travel to Zee and couldn’t go.”

“Do you know if Master Tuomo was present when the order was given?”

“Only Master Uwald.”

IT flamed again, ITs mind as afire as ITs snout. Uwald?

“He told us . . .” Goodman Hame forced the words out. “All of us herders and servants . . .”

“Yes?”


“. . . to take a holiday while he was away.” He paused for breath. “But Master Tuomo was there then, and he said the farm couldn’t spare us. . . .” Another pause. “He may have killed me. . . . Curse him!”

Curses on the wrong man. It was Uwald! But why destroy his own land? “You are not yet a corpse.”

“And now . . . someone has come who says he’s our new master.”

Master Uwald sold his farm? And then decided to destroy it? No . . . Oho! Not sold. Master Uwald had lost Nockess Farm in a wager. His luck had failed him.

IT flamed again and sliced through the remaining stone. The chunk fell away, but the boulder remained too heavy.

“Goodman Hame, is the man with the limp the new owner?”

He nodded.

IT considered flying off and leaving Goodman Hame to the mountain’s mercy. Better to reach the Oase and Uwald in time. But despite the reasonableness of sacrificing one to save many, IT found that IT couldn’t leave the man.

Had affection for Elodie softened ITs resolve and soaked ITs heart in sentiment?

IT flamed again at the boulder. Master Uwald, old and frail as he was, couldn’t have acted alone. Two thieves, without a doubt. Who was his accomplice?

When IT stopped to view ITs progress, Goodman Hame interrupted ITs thoughts.

“Beg pardon . . . Are you a boy dragon or a girl dragon? Boy, right?”

How quickly terror fades, IT thought regretfully. IT flamed again. If Master Uwald stole the Replica he’d still be rich, but the winner would own the land after the mountain cooled. However, if the winner were on Zertrum when the volcano spewed, he would very likely perish. So Master Uwald must have promised to cede the property on a certain date.

Of course, the man might ride his horse off the mountain at the first tremor. However, Master Uwald knew the winner’s character and predicted he’d stay on his new property as long as he believed he might, which would really be too long, and the evidence of the bet, presumably in the winner’s possession, would be incinerated with him.

IT couldn’t be sure if the fateful bet had occurred before or after Master Uwald knew Master Robbie would be his ward, but IT suspected that the game took place after.

Master Uwald’s plan had been clever, even diabolical.

IT swore that in one respect, at least, the plot would fail.





CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE



People rushed to High Brunka Marya. Elodie would have, too, but Albin held her in place. Master Uwald, who had a similar grip on Master Robbie, remained with them.

Elodie wondered what her masteress would expect her to do.

Think, Lodie!

She didn’t know what to think.

Observe, Lodie!

That she could do.

The pairs of bees who guarded the interior exits had left their posts.

Lambs and calves! The rainbow colors over the entry door were gone. Was the high brunka dead?

No one else seemed to have noticed the door.

Mistress Sirka cried, “She’s breathing!”

Elodie broke free of Albin and pushed into the crowd.

Mistress Sirka sat on the floor. Gently, she lifted High Brunka Marya’s shoulders and head into her lap. “Someone, get my sack. Hurry!” She touched the violet bump that was rising on High Brunka Marya’s forehead.

Two bees hurried out of the hall. The high brunka’s mouth hung open. Her skin had a yellow cast, unlike its usual ruddy tone. Contrasted with her slack jaw, her eyes were squeezed shut. Her fingertips looked ordinary, without any sign of rainbows.

“Can I help?” Ursa-bee hovered behind Mistress Sirka’s shoulder.

Standing near the high brunka’s knees, Johan-bee rocked back and forth. He bit his knuckles, his eyes wide and confused.

Ludda-bee, next to him, slapped him across the face, reaching high to do so. Then, sobbing into her apron, she broke out of the crowd. Johan-bee seemed not to notice the slap or her departure.

Elodie discovered herself surrounded by Albin, Master Robbie, and Master Uwald, who had shoved their way in, too.

Master Tuomo, on the other side of the fallen high brunka, said, “They pushed him too far. These are circumstances that snap a man’s control.”

Master Uwald patted Master Robbie’s shoulder, then sidled to Johan-bee and led him away. Elodie twisted out of the crowd to see where they went, which was to the south fireplace. Master Uwald spoke to him there, while Johan-bee continued to rock, his hands over his face. How kind Master Uwald was to take pity on him, when half his own cloak was soaked with broth and, if the tureen had hit him a little higher, he might have been as injured as the high brunka.