Stolen Magic(59)

She shook her head. “I can’t leave until I know what happened to my masteress.” And His Lordship.

“But you can sleep. High Brunka? We can return to our rooms, right?”

“Oh, lamb! And pup! Yes. Go, everyone. It’s morning, but no matter. Sleep!”





CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE



At the very moment the Replica was reset on its pedestal, the chasm closed on Zertrum and the volcano ceased spewing. The flow of molten rock that had already been released pooled and cooled quickly. New snowfall soon extinguished the fires that had broken out in myriad places.

But Zertrum didn’t return to its previous state. Boulders that had moved stayed moved. Some farms that had been rich became sandy or too wet or too dry—or the reverse. Folks who’d been injured weren’t miraculously cured. Worst of all by far, the seven people who’d been killed remained dead.

His Lordship and Masteress Meenore had to sleep and eat before flying back to the Oase. They slept the day through, then hunted—His Lordship as a wolf—and dined. By nightfall they were ready. The count raised his arms to shape-shift.

“Wait!”

His Lordship lowered his arms.

ITs white smoke spiraled upward. “I have deduced and induced that the villains are Master Uwald and Johan-bee and that the Replica was buried where and when the beets were harvested. At the Oase, I trust you will attest to this statement. I wish not to be accused of claiming brilliance only after the facts are widely known. If I was mistaken, so be it. I will accept the shame.”

His Lordship nodded, shifted, and began to fly. IT rose, too, but IT couldn’t match a swift’s speed. The bird doubled back and circled the dragon to keep pace.


Upon waking, after sleeping around the clock, Elodie followed her rumbling stomach to the great hall. Before she went in, she heard coughing, and her heart rose to her throat. Inside, she found her masteress filling the entrance and His Lordship (dressed in his own clothes, taken from the stable) seated on a mound of mattresses that had been placed at the trestle table. Nesspa lay nearby, his eyes fixed on his master. As before, IT occupied the head of the table. The high brunka perched on her stool at the other end. Bees and guests sat on the benches. Elodie raced across the great hall. She had hugged IT before so she didn’t hesitate this time and stretched her arms across as much of ITs belly as she could reach. The corner of the table dug into her side. She inhaled deeply and licked her lips to fully take in ITs odor.

ITs white smoke curled in a spiral. “Mmm . . . Elodie . . . teeth and scales! If you must. Mmm . . . You were a credit to me. My confidence in you has been gratified.”

Elodie! Credit to IT!

Finally, she stepped aside. “Zertrum didn’t explode, did it?”

“No, Lodie.”

She nodded, taking in the information. “When did you get here?”

“Perhaps half an hour ago. We deferred discussion of events on Zertrum until you joined us.”

She felt a rush of gratitude.

IT turned to Master Robbie. “A portion of Elodie’s credit belongs to you.”

She was happy to share. “We solved the mystery together.” She ran to His Lordship, who patted his mouth with the tablecloth, smiled his sweet smile at her, and stood, his head grazing the stone ceiling.

She wanted to hug him, too, but she never had, and he was a count, so she contented herself with matching the ardor of his smile, if not its sweetness.

He sat again. “Would you like pottage?”

She nodded.

He ladled pottage into a bowl. A smiling Ludda-bee sat next to him, clearly reveling in his appetite. His own pottage filled a tureen. The others were seated, too, more tightly pressed together than usual.

“Why didn’t you come right back to us?” Elodie said, addressing His Lordship. She took her bowl and squeezed onto the bench next to her masteress. “Did something happen?”

“Yes.”

They all waited.

He put down his spoon. “When I was a swift, an arrow pierced my shoulder. As a bird, I couldn’t fly.” He resumed eating.

“So you had to get better.” She paused for him to say more.

After the silence had stretched for half a minute, he said, “Meenore found me.” He didn’t mention the people he’d rescued.

“Your Lordship, if you please, relate the solution of the mystery as I revealed it to you on Zertrum.”

Count Jonty Um obliged.

Master Robbie, sitting across from His Lordship, clapped his hands. “Whales and porpoises! IT knew.”

Elodie suspected he wanted to be a barber-surgeon only because he couldn’t be a dragon.

High Brunka Marya said, “Masteress, brunkas pay our debts. What is your fee?”

Elodie remembered that High Brunka Marya had promised a reward of a hundred silvers.

IT helped ITself from a platter of boiled eggs. “Madam, it is the quite reasonable sum of three gold coins.”

Albin laughed.

Three gold coins equaled only seventy-five silvers. “But—”

“Lodie, do not tell me that I should be charit—”

“Masteress, there—”

“You have interrupted me, Master Robbie. I hope your reason is excellent.”

He explained about the reward.

“I see.” Blue smoke rose. “Nonetheless, I have named my price. I will not amend it.”