Ellida Read Online Free PDF Page B

category.”
    “That’s right. In our wizard tongue, we call
ourselves—”
    “Asanni, asyr and asyngaer,” he said,
nodding. “I thought those words aren’t in use anymore. Miss
Mohegan, I’m sorry I offended you by calling you a witch.”
    “Oh, you didn’t offend me at all. Now, about
my eye color. See, Henry, I simply have two different eye colors.
Astrid the Witch is blue-eyed and my wolf has amber eyes.”
    “I see. Does it give you trouble sometimes?
For example, when you travel, with the customs officers when they
check your passport?”
    I almost burst out laughing. “I’ve been quite
lucky so far. May I see your picture?”
    “Of course.”
    He offered me his drawing. I studied it
trying to suppress a smile. “It’s a very accurate map of the United
Arab Emirates,” I said, amused.
    “And surrounding countries: Qatar, Oman,
Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Granny used to work in Saudi Arabia, you
know,” Henry said, and then carried on with a brief account of the
current geo-political situation in this part of the world.
    “You seem well informed for a young man of
eight,” I said.
    “I’m six, Miss Mohegan.”
    “You don’t say! Six! I was sure you were much
older.”
    Henry beamed and asked me if I played
chess.
    “I do,” I said.
    “Then perhaps we can have a match or two one
day.”
    Although I was a decent player, I wasn’t
crazy about chess. But one look into Henry’s bright, smart eyes
told me that a match with Red Cliffs’ young genius could be quite
an experience. “It will be my pleasure, Master Henry,” I said and
placed a loud smack on his rosy cheek.
    One by one, our guests started departing.
Graeme told me to not forget to look for my magic glue to fix his
truck. Henry gave me his Middle East map as a present.
    Peyton came to say goodbye.
    “It was nice to meet you, Peyton,” I
said.
    “I hope I’ll see you soon, Astrid. Jack told
me about your house and condo. Let’s talk about it when you have
time. We can go out for lunch.”
    “ Yeah, that’s gonna happen ,” my wolf
smirked.
    “Sure. That would be nice.”

 
     
Four
Astrid
     
    I COLLAPSED on the sofa with a deep sigh of
relief. The last visitors had left, and we had a few more hours
before Morgaine and Takeshi arrived. James and Jack would meet them
at our small airport and drive them home.
    Eamon had tried to convince his mother to
allow him to skip school on Monday, but he was promptly sent to his
room to finish his homework. Jack and Uncle James were in James’
study.
    “You all right?” my aunt said and sat beside
me, holding a tray with some finger food and a glass of mineral
water. “Have a bite. You must be hungry.”
    “Thanks. I’m fine now,” I said and shoveled a
cheese roll into my mouth. “I’m starving.”
    “What happened, Astrid? I didn’t notice
anything until Henry asked you about your eyes.”
    “My wolf sometimes likes to play
hide-and-seek at the most inopportune moments,” I said. “Sometimes
she feels neglected, sometimes she acts upon my deepest instinct.
Today there were so many fellow werewolves around and she had to
stay inside. Some other times, when I’m upset, she tries to help.
She says she’s stronger, but sometimes she just makes everything
worse, like today.”
    “Would you turn if she was persistent?”
    “I usually turn during the full moon only,
but since I met Jack, my wolf tries to come out in between changes.
Sometimes I have memory lapses when she tries to take over, but so
far I’ve been able to control her. When my eyes turn amber, it
means she’s close. My voice changes slightly as well.”
    “Are you okay now? In spite of that episode,
you did extremely well, Astrid. We’re proud of you.”
    Betty’s praise lifted my spirit. “I’m fine,”
I said. “Overall, it wasn’t that difficult.”
    “Except for Heather, of course,” Betty said.
“Don’t pay attention to her, Astrid. She is a bitter, unhappy
woman. Remember when I told you that