The Topaz Quest Read Online Free Page B

an open clay oven smouldered with fire-rock, making the air hot and oppressive.
    Tia and Yonas gently tipped their flowers onto an empty table at the top of the room then left quickly. Tia was glad to be outside again. She sat on the bottom step of a flight of stairs running up to a door on the upper storey and took deep breaths of fresh air.
    The door jerked open and an Outsider woman in shabby clothes came hurrying down. Tia stood up to let her pass but the woman banged into her and she went sprawling on the grass.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ the woman said. She pulled Tia up, brushed grass and leaves from her jacket, apologised again, then rushed away and disappeared among thetrees. Tia and Yonas looked at each other, startled; it had happened so quickly and the woman had behaved so strangely.
    Are you all right?’ Yonas asked.
    â€˜Yes, just surprised.’
    â€˜Off to the fields, then,’ Yonas said.
    With a groan Tia picked up her basket and followed him to the plain.

Chapter Seven

Luona the High Witch
    Back in the fields they saw the strange Outsider woman picking saffron flowers. Tia and Yonas decided to ignore her and work in a different area. At noon Jofranka brought them a meal and some news.
    â€˜The Lady Luona is coming to see how work is progressing,’ she told them as they climbed up on the wall and began eating.
    Tia munched her pie thoughtfully. She was going to see her third High Witch aunt. Would she be beautiful like Malindra or ugly like Yordis? Whichever it was, she was certain to be just as cruel and dangerous as they were.
    â€˜Do you know when she’ll be here?’ she asked.
    Jofranka shook her head. ‘She’ll come when she’s ready.’
    They three of them chattered away until the food was eaten, then Jofranka waved goodbye and Tia and Yonas went back to work. As Tia leaned down to start picking a small dark shape flew over her head and landed on the wall where they’d been sitting. It was Loki. He pecked at the crumbs they’d left behind. Tia hoped he was keeping one eye open for the white cats.

    Luona didn’t arrive till Tia had filled three more baskets and delivered them to the sorting shed.
    The High Witch, accompanied by her women and surrounded by guards, walked haughtily along a stone-flagged path running round the field. Everyone bowed as she passed.
    She was tall and slender and her pale blonde hair, decorated with plumes and glittering stones, was piled high, making her look taller still. She wore a white gown and an orange-yellow sash fastened by a buckle set with a large, deep yellow jewel. She stroked it and, just for a moment, Tia saw a shimmer of enchantment around it. The magic topaz!
    Curious to see it more clearly, Tia made her way closer to the little procession. She’d almost drawn level with Luona when a hand fell on her shoulder.
    â€˜What d’you think you’re doing?’ a harsh voice demanded. It was one of Luona’s guards. He shook Tia so hard that her teeth rattled and she couldn’t answer.
    â€˜Where’s your work badge?’ He peered at her suspiciously.
    â€˜It’s here.’ She pointed at her jacket – but the badge was gone.
    Tia looked round wildly for help. The Outsider woman who’d banged into her glanced away furtively and put her hand over the badge pinned to her dress. Tia was sure that the woman had pushed her over deliberately and stolen her badge.
    â€˜Unauthorised Outsider brat – it’s the ice prison for you!’ The guard started shaking her again.
    â€˜Stop!’ A blast of freezing wind wrapped itself round them. The guard instantly let go of Tia and dropped on one knee, head down.
    The High Witch beckoned. ‘Come here girl.’
    Tia hurried forward, heart beating fast.
    Luona gripped her chin, forcing her to look up. She examined Tia’s face, turning it this way and that.

    â€˜Hmm.’ Luona let go of Tia and gestured to one