Kendra Kandlestar and the Shard From Greeve Read Online Free PDF

hear beyond the rustle of the leaves, see beyond the glint of the sun, smell—yes, even smell—beyond the dew of the morning mist. When you can do that, the poetry will enter your mind, the incantations will dance off your lips with ease.”
    Kendra sighed. If you have ever struggled with learning a new skill, such as ice skating or playing the violin, then you will know exactly how Kendra felt. It seemed so easy when her uncle performed magic, but for her, it was like trying to climb a steep cliff. She had seen Uncle Griffinskitch cast some marvelous spells. Once, he had even turned a dragon’s flames into harmless snowflakes! How did he ever manage to block out the world when a ferocious beast was charging down on him? Would she ever be able to do that?
    “You’re thinking grand thoughts again, aren’t you?” Uncle Griffinskitch declared, banging his staff against the earth. “Do not jump ahead of yourself. One day you will be able to pluck a giant out of his own boots. For now, let’s concentrate on the leaf. Again. ”
    Kendra closed her eyes, screwed up her face, and raised her wand to the pesky leaf that fluttered in the breeze a few Eenlengths above her. She tried to do as her uncle said, closing off the world around her, trying to concentrate on the simple task of picking the leaf. For the briefest of moments she could feel the world becoming mute around her. The autumn colors dimmed, the breeze quieted, and she could sense the words rising in her throat. She chanted:

    Gentle leaf, orange as fire
    From your twig you must retire
    Come to me, my gentle shire—I, er, mean, squire—or to admire—oh, blast it!
     

    Kendra opened her eyes and groaned. She had finally felt a pulse of energy fire through her wand—but it had disappeared all too quickly. Her focus had evaporated like steam, and the leaf was still anchored firmly to its branch. It waved in the breeze, as if to taunt her.

     
    “Perhaps it’s time we take a break,” Uncle Griffinskitch suggested.
    “I want to do it,” Kendra declared.
    “That may be so,” Uncle Griffinskitch said irritably. “But you aren’t able to do it, not now at least.”
    “This is ridiculous!” Kendra cried. “All I want to do is go find Kiro. We’re wasting time plucking leaves when we could be out there trying to find him.”
    “Humph!” Uncle Griffinskitch snorted. “And who here is plucking leaves? I see no leaves plucked.”
    “You know what I mean.”
    “We’ve discussed this, Kendra,” Uncle Griffinskitch said. “We don’t even know where to begin looking for Kiro! And winter is a dangerous time for Eens.”
    “Kiro’s an Een!” Kendra cried.
    “Or an Unger,” Uncle Griffinskitch returned. “The last we saw him, he was transformed into one of those beasts. So now we will show patience. Who knows? We may receive word from him yet. If not, we will resume our search after the snows.”
    “That will mean months of waiting,” Kendra said.
    “Aye,” Uncle Griffinskitch said. “Thankfully, we will have plenty of study to keep us occupied.”
    Kendra fumed.
    “Magic does not always come so easily,” the old wizard said, resting his withered hands on the knob of his staff.
    “It should to me,” Kendra declared, clutching her wand tightly.
    “Humph!” Uncle Griffinskitch mumbled, his sharp blue eyes flaring. “And why do you assume that? ”
    “Well, because . . . it just should!” Kendra said. “My mother was a sorceress! You’re a wizard!”
    “Which means absolutely nothing,” Uncle Griffinskitch said. “Your father was a gardener; does that mean you should be a master of flowers?”
    “I don’t want to be a gardener,” Kendra replied crossly. “I want to be a sorceress.”
    “Do you? Or do you just want to be powerful? There’s a difference.” Uncle Griffinskitch shook his head and sighed. “You share your mother’s stubbornness. She too was a headstrong pupil.”
    “How do you know?” Kendra muttered.
    “Humph!