Stolen Magic(56)

“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.





CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN



His breath coming in painful bursts, Count Jonty Um raced along the rim of the chasm, hoping to find a way off the mountain. The two people he’d dug out of the collapsed cottage managed to stay on his shoulder.

Below his thoughts, he felt animal terror, the fright of all the beasts he’d ever shape-shifted into. In the distance, through the roar of the fire, he heard voices crying out in despair and pain. He slowed. Fee fi! One voice sounded nasal, metallic, and not in pain. He stopped.

Couldn’t be. Meenore wouldn’t risk ITself to come here.

He heard the voice again. Singing! Fo fum! IT had, but where was IT in this confusion?

“Here—Meenore!” he roared. Running again, he continued to shout.





CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT



Elodie cursed herself for not thinking.

“Marya, I had to hit you with a bench before you’d help me.” Johan-bee wasn’t rocking, and his hands were steady on the longbow. “Master Uwald was always kind—the last time he was here, too. Master—”

“Anyone who is kind to you is the worst knave that ever lived.” Ludda-bee’s hands inched toward the nearest platter.

“Ludda, I will loose this arrow at you if you move again or say another word.”

She stopped, her eyes bulging, her cheeks puffed out.

What to do? Elodie thought.

“Master Uwald,” Johan-bee said, “please dig up the Replica and saddle two horses. Please come back and tell me when you’re ready.”

“Excellent, Johan.” Master Uwald took the bread knife. “I’ll use it if I must. Robbie, come. Don’t you want to be rich?”

“No, thank you. I want to be a barber-surgeon.”

Master Uwald winced. He circled the table to Master Robbie’s place and grabbed his elbow. “Come. You need someone who loves you.”

Master Robbie, looking an appeal at all of them, went with him.

High Brunka Marya flicked her hand. A few inches of rainbow sprang from it and melted away instantly.

“Goodman Albin,” Master Uwald said, “may I trouble you to open the door?”