47 - Legend of the Lost Legend Read Online Free PDF Page A

humor,” the woman said. “I guess it comes from
living out here in the middle of the forest. I can’t resist a really mean joke.”
    I still didn’t understand. “You mean you didn’t lock us in?” I demanded in a
trembling voice. “You haven’t captured us?”
    She shook her head. The horns on the helmet moved with her head. She suddenly
reminded me of a large, gray bull.
    “I haven’t captured you. I sent Silverdog so that I could help you.”
She pointed toward the stove.
    I saw that the big white dog had dropped down beside it. He lowered his head,
licking a big front paw. But he kept his eyes on Marissa and me.
    My sister and I stayed near the door. This woman was strange. And kind of
terrifying.
    She was so big and loud. And powerful-looking. And those green eyes flashed
and danced wildly beneath the horned helmet.
    Is she totally crazy? I wondered.
    Did she really bring us here to help us?
    “I know everything that happens in this forest,” she said mysteriously. She
raised the jeweled medallion close to her face and stared into it. “I have ways
of seeing things. Nothing escapes me.”
    I glanced at Marissa. Her eyes were wide with fright. Her hand reached for
the cabin door.
    Back by the stove, Silverdog yawned. He lowered his head between his paws.
    “What are your names?” the woman boomed. She let the heavy medallion drop
back onto her chest. “My name is Ivanna.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Do you
know what Ivanna means?”
    I cleared my throat. “Uh… no,” I replied.
    “I don’t, either!” the woman exclaimed. She tossed back her head in another
cackling laugh. The medallion bounced on her chest. Her helmet nearly toppled
off her blond hair.
    Despite the warmth of the small kitchen, I shivered. We had walked so far
through the cold forest. I couldn’t shake off the chill.
    “You two look half-frozen,” Ivanna said, studying our faces. “I think I know
what you need. Hot soup. Sit down.” She motioned to a small wooden table with
two chairs in the corner of the room.
    Marissa and I hesitated. I didn’t want to leave the door. I knew we both were
still thinking of making a run for it.
    “Our dad…” Marissa murmured. “He’ll be looking for us. He might be here—any minute.”
    Ivanna stepped over to the stove. “Why didn’t you bring him along?” she
asked. She pulled down two bowls from a cabinet.
    “We couldn’t wake him up,” I blurted out.
    Marissa glared at me.
    “A heavy sleeper, huh?” Ivanna had her back to us. She was ladling soup from
the black pot into the two bowls.
    I leaned close to Marissa. “If we want to escape, now is our chance,” I
whispered.
    She turned to the door, then swung back. “I’m so cold,” she whispered. “And
the soup smells so good.”
    “Sit down,” Ivanna ordered in her deep, booming voice.
    I led the way to the small wooden table. Marissa and I sat down on the hard
chairs.
    Ivanna set the steaming bowls in front of us. Her green eyes lit up as she
smiled. “Hot chicken noodle soup. It will warm you and get you ready for your
test.”
    “Huh? Test?” I cried. “What test?”
    “Eat. Eat,” Ivanna ordered. “Warm yourselves.” She stepped back to the stove.
    I watched her bend to pet Silverdog’s head. Then I raised the soup spoon to
my mouth. Blew on it. And swallowed a mouthful.
    Delicious.
    And it felt so warm and soothing on my dry throat.
    I took a few more spoonfuls. Then I glanced across the table. Marissa seemed
to be enjoying it too.
    I had raised a spoonful of noodles nearly to my mouth—when Ivanna spun
toward us from the sink. Her eyes went wide. Her mouth dropped open.
    She pointed at us with a trembling finger. “You—you haven’t eaten any of it— have you?” she demanded.
    “Huh?” Marissa and I both gasped.
    “Whatever you do, don’t eat it!” Ivanna cried. “I—I just remembered. It’s poison !”

 
 
13
     
     
    The spoon dropped from my hand and splashed into the