Stolen Magic(55)

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?”





CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE



Masteress 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.





CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX



Johan-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—”