The Sapphire Quest Read Online Free Page B

in the castle. ‘There, it’s done. Thank you, Loki.’ Tia stroked the bird’s grey head.
    â€˜I’ll be back to keep an eye on you,’ he said. ‘At least you haven’t been captured again – yet.’ He took off and was soon out of sight.
    Tia sighed. She missed him, and she missed her DragonBrother even more.

Chapter Six

Master Zeno
    When Tia and the children were safely back in the cellar Ingvar insisted they make rules. ‘It’s the best way to stay safe,’ he said.
    Tia agreed, though she knew she wouldn’t be able to keep all the rules, not if she was going to steal the sapphire.
    â€˜We need to be responsible for each other,’ Ingvar said. ‘And us older ones have to look out for Sindri especially.’
    â€˜No-one must be late leaving the castle.’ Bryndis glared at Tia. ‘If they get left behind, Skadi might capture them and make them tell where the others are.’
    Ingvar nodded in agreement. Tia did too, but her face went hot with embarrassment. Bryndis made it sound as though Tia had been late deliberately. Buteven if she had been captured by the High Witch she’d never have told Skadi about Bryndis and her brothers.
    â€˜And Sindri,’ Ingvar spoke sternly to the little boy, ‘you must promise not to wander off. Always tell one of us where you want to go and ask permission.’
    Sindri nodded. ‘And you mustn’t wander off either,’ he said earnestly to Tia.
    â€˜All right,’ she agreed, feeling terrible because she didn’t mean what she was saying.
    They spat on their palms and linked hands to seal the promise.
    Sindri yawned. It made Bryndis laugh. ‘Let’s get some sleep before we go to work tonight.’
    Tia wanted to sleep but she tossed and turned, trying to think of a way to steal the sapphire without breaking her promise to her friends. She couldn’t think of a thing and it was a long time before she dropped off to sleep.

    That night the children were in for a shock. When they reached the castle kitchen they were just in time to see a servant woman, carrying a tray, bustling out of the door.
    â€˜What’s she doing?’ Bryndis asked quietly as the woman turned a corner at the end of the corridor.
    â€˜No idea,’ Ingvar said. ‘Let’s check there’s no-one else in the kitchen.’ It was empty.
    Tia picked up a note lying on the kitchen table and read it out:
    Noble Elves,
    Master Zeno, the sculptor, is carving a marble fireplace in the great hall for the lady Skadi. He often works late and we have to take him food and drink.
    We will knock on the kitchen door and wait a while before we enter.
    We do not wish to offend you. Please do not leave the castle.
    â€˜That explains it,’ Ingvar said. ‘It shouldn’t interfere with our work if we’re careful. Let’s find a place where we can hide quickly when we hear the knock.’
    They decided on a large cupboard where the brooms were kept. ‘She won’t go in here if she’s just serving food,’ Bryndis said.
    â€˜Especially if we sweep the floor clean first!’ Tia grinned.
    The four children worked silently at their tasks in case the servant woman came back, heard them chatting, and realised they weren’t elves at all, only lost children.
    Sure enough, after a while, there was a tap on the door and a voice said politely, ‘O elves, I must enter.’
    The children squashed into the cupboard and closed the door. There were little ornamental holes carved in the wood and they were able to spy through them.
    â€˜I am entering now,’ the voice said and the servant woman came in. She glanced around, the firelight reflecting on her anxious face. Bryndis and Ingvar drew a quick breath of surprise.
    They’ve recognised her
, Tia thought.
I wonder who she is?

    The woman put her tray on the table, hurried to the door, turned and curtseyed. ‘Thank