Read Stolen Magic for Free Online

hear them.”
    She couldn’t. She followed High Brunka Marya straight ahead, looking up as she walked. The glowworms continued into the distance. “Are they magic? Did Brunka Harald make them?”
    â€œThey were here before him. They’re just worms.”
    They weren’t just anything. “Why don’t they light up the great hall?”
    â€œThey prefer smaller places.” She turned right into another corridor. The worms shone here, too.
    The passageway was warmer than the great hall had been, as warm as spring. Elodie let her cloak hang loose.
    â€œLamb . . .” The high brunka stopped. “If you want to stay here, no matter what happens with the Replica, we’ll give you asylum. You don’t have to continue to serve thedragon. You’ll be as safe as the glowworms here.”
    Oh no! “Did something happen to my parents?”
    â€œNo. I believe they’re fine. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
    â€œThen why would I need asylum?”
    â€œYour parents sent you away, a twelve-year-old lamb—I mean, child.”
    â€œMy parents love me!”
    â€œYou could be a bee if you like.”
    Elodie shrugged this off. Bees didn’t mansion or deduce or induce. “High Brunka, I’m old enough to apprentice, and my family thought I could do it for free.”
    Her parents, with the encouragement of Albin, who knew she wouldn’t live a happy life on the farm, had sent her, less than six weeks ago (although it seemed like an age) across the strait to apprentice in Two Castles town. They hadn’t known what she’d learned only on her way over, that free apprenticeships had been abolished. If Masteress Meenore hadn’t taken her in, she might have starved. If Count Jonty Um hadn’t hired them, he’d still be just a frightening figure to her.
    So much had happened, so many wonders, so much terror, but also great happiness.
    â€œFew live the life they thought they wanted, lamb.” The high brunka started walking again.
    They passed six closed doors on each side.
    â€œWhat rooms are these?”
    â€œThey’re for guests, but they’re empty now.”
    The Replica could be in one of them, Elodie supposed.
    Or it could be outside, in a tree hole or buried under earth and snow, and then how would anyone find it?
    Only by luck or cleverness.
    The doors ended. Other corridors branched off to the right and left, here and there, but this one continued for at least a quarter of a mile. Elodie felt the weight of the mountain press down on her. How much time had passed since she’d left her masteress? Was Zertrum’s volcano already spewing?
    â€œWhen I get this far, I can no longer hear a sound from the great hall, not even a shout.”
    â€œHow did you hear my masteress?”
    â€œWe’ve been walking south, not far from the face of the mountain. I can hear the world outside. And ITs voice carries.”
    â€œHow far can you hear ordinary conversation?”
    â€œEavesdropping is as rude as picking one’s teeth!”
    Elodie’s smoke would have turned red if she’d had smoke. If the high brunka had been willing to be impolite, she might have heard something and prevented the theft. “If you did listen, how far could you hear?”
    â€œAbout two hundred yards.”
    â€œA whisper?”
    â€œI don’t know, lamb. A hundred yards, perhaps.”
    â€œHigh Brunka, begging your pardon, you’ll listen until the Replica is found, won’t you?”
    â€œI hadn’t thought . . . It’s a habit not to . . . Yes, lamb, I’ll listen.”
    Doors began again on the left.
    â€œWe put guests in here only in summer when all the other rooms are full,” the high brunka said.
    â€œWhy do you wait till then?”
    â€œSo I can sleep. My room is nearby. When these chambers are occupied, the people keep me awake, just by rolling over in their sleep. I feel like