All That Glitters (Avalon: Web of Magic #2) Read Online Free Page A

also have seventeen jeeran,” Emily commented proudly, as if she were talking about normal deer, not some magical creatures from another world! She looked back at her list. “Brimbees?” she called out briskly.
    “Here!” came a light, breathy voice.
    Kara stared at what looked like big blue rabbits with iridescent dark blue spots.
    Emily nodded. “Okay, that’s everyone.”
    A small golden-winged creature about the size of a bat zipped up between the brimbees and hovered in front of Kara. It gave a squeak, its jeweled eyes dancing brightly.
    “Who are you?” Emily asked, looking over her list.
    “Skookee!” The bird-thing buzzed around Kara’s head, picking at her long hair.
    “Hey!” Kara ducked, swatting it away.
    Ariel eyed the little flier with a hungry hoot.
    The gold bird-thing gave a loud squawk, zipped off, and vanished.
    “What was that?” Kara asked, brushing her hair back into place.
    “I don’t know.” Emily re-checked her call sheet. “Anyone come through this morning?”
    “Not on my watch!” Ozzie answered stoutly.
    “Ozzie, this is a sanctuary,” Adriane reminded him.
    A large shape slunk behind the pegasi. Kara caught the glint of green eyes.
    The big cat watched her, casually turned, and walked away.
    “And, of course, the cat,” Emily said. “She comes and goes, but she sure seems to be interested in you.”
    “I’ll say!” Kara blurted out. “The school’s going to be talking about it for weeks!”
    “Yeah, so will the town council,” Adriane said, depositing the baby quiffles back with the adults. “Including that horrible Mrs. Windor,” she added with a shudder. “She’s been against Ravenswood from the start. If she hears about a wild animal showing up at school, our wildlife preserve, and my home, are as good as gone.”



K ARA FOLLOWED THE other girls through a back door into the manor. Inside, a short set of steps led to the first floor. Wide hallways lined with paintings opened onto bright sitting rooms filled with plush furniture.
    “Wait till you see the library, come on!” Emily said as she propelled Kara up a steep staircase, down a hallway, and into a room straight out the nineteenth century.
    “Wow!” Kara breathed.
    They were inside a gigantic round library, illuminated in golden radiance. Kara stared up at a vast domed ceiling. Zodiac figures with twinkling stars inset were painted on it in fine gold. Below the dome hung a complicated mobile of suns and planets, shiny discs of metal on long arms. Large oval windows overlooked the great lawn and beautiful gardens out back. Across the parquet floor, a ladder was mounted on a track that ran around the perimeter of the room, allowing access to shelves high above. Books were crammed everywhere.
    Kara walked over to look at a drawing taped to the wall. It was a map of the preserve. All of the gardens were noted, and dotted lines crisscrossed the area, carefully avoiding the special glade that lay hidden behind the ancient monument known as the Rocking Stone.
    “Why does that garden have an X on it?” Kara asked, pointing to a section of the map.
    “Some of the gardens are overgrown since we can’t maintain everything ourselves,” Adriane replied. “That one is the hedge maze. Gran said you can get lost in there for days, so it’s off-limits for tours.”
    “Well, this library alone is worth a tour,” Kara said, turning around to take in the amazing room.
    “No way,” Adriane countered. “We don’t know what special stuff is hidden in here.”
    Kara shrugged. “Fine, let’s just get the website online.”
    “I’ve been working on some ideas on how to organize it.” Emily indicated the notebooks lying open on the desk.
    “I can get Kyle and Joey to set something up,” Kara said, looking over Emily’s papers. “They live for this stuff.”
    “Are you nuts?” Adriane burst out. “We’re not bringing those loudmouths in here. We can figure it out ourselves.”
    “Okaaay, if you say