Stolen Magic Read Online Free

hundredogres. How fortunate for you if you are. A flock of ogres to shape-shift into birds and fly to Zertrum Mountain and give the alarm. Many ogres to help people off the mountain. More ogres to transform into herding dogs to bring the sheep and goats and geese to safety.”
    The high brunka looked up at the ceiling, seeming to calculate. “Are they, Masteress?”
    â€œNo.” Enh enh enh. “But His Lordship may be kind enough to fly and warn the mountainside. I could do it, but I will be otherwise engaged.”
    â€œWould you, er, Your Lordship?”
    Count Jonty Um favored High Brunka Marya with his smile. Elodie’s shoulders relaxed. At the least, the high brunka would see his beautiful flat—not pointy—white teeth. And she couldn’t miss the sweetness of his smile, the blaze of his goodness gleaming through.
    High Brunka Marya blushed, which IT was unable to resist commenting on. “Madam, you do well to regret your defamatory assumptions about our friend.”
    â€œI’ll fly as a Lepai yellow-feathered swift for speed,” (Lepai was the kingdom Lahnt belonged to.) “While Meenore and Elodie are seeking the Replica, will Nesspa be looked after?”
    â€œOf course,” the high brunka said.
    â€œTell me where to go.”
    She gave him directions to Zertrum Mountain. “Thepeak looks like the gaping mouth of a fish. The brunka house, which is made of stone blocks with a slate roof, is on the north slope. You’ll know it by the two chimneys.”
    Poor farm cottages like Elodie’s parents’ had thatched roofs and only one chimney.
    â€œA stable is attached as well. The brunka who lives there with four bees is Arnulf.” She opened her cloak—green wool like her cap, tight weave, excellent quality, though not as rich as His Lordship’s—to get at her purse.
    â€œDon’t pay me!” Count Jonty Um boomed, sounding loudly horrified.
    â€œIf you show this”—she pulled out a gold medal on a brass chain. Stamped into the medal was an image of High Brunka Marya’s face—“Arnulf will believe you.”
    â€œWind it around my neck.”
    The high brunka looked confused. The chain was much too short.
    â€œThe bird’s neck,” Elodie explained. “Your Lordship, can you fly in snow?”
    They waited. He seemed to be consulting a bird who lived inside him. Finally he nodded. “When it’s just snow, not a blizzard.”
    â€œMadam, we still have not resolved the matter of my fee for finding your Replica.”
    â€œMasteress!” Saving lives should be free!
    â€œLodie, do not interfere.” ITs smoke reddened. “HisLordship will warn your brunka and will not accept payment. I lack his kind nature. I suppose you would like me to identify the thief as well.”
    â€œMasteress . . .” High Brunka Marya tilted her head to look at IT. The worry lines smoothed out, and her face wore the usual calm brunka expression. She smiled the contented brunka smile.
    IT coughed at the back of ITs throat. Coming from anyone else, Elodie would have thought the cough an uneasy sound. Folks usually felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny of that serene brunka gaze. But did IT?
    â€œYou suspect us,” IT said, “as well you may. You should trust no one. People are a perfidious lot. But especially do not trust now.”
    IT was babbling! The high brunka had unnerved IT!
    â€œStill, if my assistant and—”
    â€œYour assistant? His Lordship?”
    â€œLodie is my assistant.”
    She felt a burst of satisfaction.
    â€œI see.” But the high brunka sounded as if she didn’t.
    â€œIf we put ourselves out, we will expect more than a mere fifteen tin coins.”
    Elodie bit her cheek. How could IT haggle over this?
    His Lordship took one step to the door, opened it, and looked out, his broad back to the others. “I’ll watch the snow. When the