Deltora Quest #4: The Shifting Sands Read Online Free PDF Page A

with sweat and greed, turned his small eyes towards her and shook his head violently.
    “You cannot go,” he spat. “I need the bird. He is the best I have ever had. Look at the crowd! You cannot take him!”
    His arm shot out, his pudgy hand grasping at Kree’s feet. But Kree fluttered from his perch just in time, landing at the edge of the table.
    “Come back here!” hissed Ferdinand, reaching for him. Kree bent his head and with his sharp beak tweaked at the red cloth that covered the table. As it was pulled aside, the crowd gasped, then began to roar with anger.
    For on the ground under the table was a pedal with some wires that led up through the table top to the wheel.
    “He can stop and start the wheel as he wills!” someone shouted. “He uses his feet. See? He cheats!”
    The crowd pressed forward angrily. Kree hopped hastily onto Jasmine’s arm. Ferdinand swept up the wheel and leaped to his feet, tipping over the table. The wooden birds and the tin of silver coins crashed to the ground ashe took to his heels, hurtling down the street with surprising speed, the wheel tucked under his arm, the remains of its cheating wires trailing. Some of his customers stopped to pick up the money which was rolling everywhere. Most sped off in pursuit of the escaping man, shouting in fury.

L ief looked after them, open-mouthed. “Why, there is nothing wrong with Ferdinand’s legs at all!” he exclaimed. “He has left his crutches behind — and he is running!”
    “A cheat in every way,” Barda snorted. “I hope his customers catch him. We are fortunate that they did not blame Kree and turn on us.”
    “Fortunate, too, that you made Ferdinand pay us in advance,” murmured Jasmine. She was scanning the roadway, searching for coins. But the crowd had picked the ground clean and all she found was one wooden bird. She picked it up and tucked it away in her pocket with her other treasures. For Jasmine, nothing was too small to be of use.
    Guided by the banner billowing high above the heads of the crowd, they made their way to the Champion Inn. They entered the door and to theirsurprise found themselves in a very small closed room. A plump woman in a bright green dress decorated with many frills and ribbons rose from behind a desk in one corner and bustled towards them, the large bunch of keys at her waist jingling importantly.
    “Good-day!” she cried, in a friendly way. “I am Mother Brightly, your hostess. Please forgive me, but before I can welcome you here I must ask if you are competitors in the Games.”
    “We wish to be,” said Barda cautiously. “But we are strangers in these parts, and do not know how to enter.”
    “Why, then, you have come to the right place!” Mother Brightly beamed. “This is the official Games inn. Here you can register as competitors, and stay until the Games begin tomorrow.”
    The companions exchanged glances. It sounded wonderful, but …
    “We have only one silver coin between us,” Barda admitted reluctantly. “We were hoping that perhaps we could work for our keep.”
    The woman flapped her hands at him, shaking her head. “Work? Nonsense!” she exclaimed. “You must rest and eat so that you can do your best in the Games. If one silver coin is all you have, one silver coin is the price you will pay. Competitors pay only what they can afford at the Champion Inn.”
    Before the companions could say any more she hurried back to the desk, beckoning them to follow.She sat down, pulled a large open book towards her and took up a pen. “Name and town?” she asked briskly, glancing at Barda.
    Lief caught his breath. He, Barda, and Jasmine had decided that it would be unwise to give their real names when they entered the Games. But they had not realized that they would have to think of false names so soon.
    Mother Brightly was waiting, pen poised and eyebrows raised.
    “Ah … my name is — Berry. Of Bushtown,” stammered Barda.
    The woman wrote, frowning slightly. “I