Quest for the Secret Keeper Read Online Free PDF

Eva to lend her healing gift to the wounded, only those closest to Eva understood its cost on her own robust health. Over the past few months she’d become overly fatigued, and very thin, causing Carl—who was quite sweet on her—to dote on her like a lovesick puppy.
    Even with Carl’s attentions and affections, Eva was so worn out of late that she’d been ordered only the day before by Dr. Lineberry to take time off to rest, but Ian had seen her sneaking around the beds that morning, checking on a few of the patients.
    He was now terribly worried that even she would not have the strength to heal Madam Dimbleby. “Is there anything we can do?” he asked Carl.
    His friend shook his head. “No. Except wait for word.”
    Ian again eyed the patch of forest. “When I went looking for Eva, I saw a soldier here,” he told his friend.
    “A soldier?”
    “Not one of ours and not one of the Germans,” Ian told him, edging close to the path that led toward the portal. “I think he might have had something to do with the prophecy.”
    Carl cocked his head. “Why do you think that?”
    “Because of the way he was dressed,” Ian explained. “And because he was wearing a helmet exactly like the one we found by that skeleton in the portal wall.”
    Carl’s eyes went wide. “He came through the portal?”
    “I think so.”
    Carl looked around. “Well, where is he, then?”
    “I had to leave him here while I went for Eva. I don’t know where he’s gone off to.”
    Carl marched toward the woods. “He’s probably gone back the way he came, Ian,” he said reasonably.
    Ian followed him and soon they came to the stone steps that led down to the portal. After descending the stairs, they were about to pass through the large iron gate that guarded the entrance to the tunnel and the portal when the very man they were looking for stepped in front of them, his sword drawn. “Oh, it’s you,” said the soldier when he saw Ian.
    Carl gave a yelp and backed up several stairs. The soldier considered him. “Who is this?”
    “He’s a friend,” Ian explained quickly. “Just like me.” The soldier’s gaze remained doubtful. “Is the portal wall closed, then?” Ian asked, making his voice light and friendly.
    “I don’t understand this magic,” the soldier said, waving his free hand behind him. “I came back down the stairs, saw Calais in the distance, and just as I was calling out to him, a stone wall appeared, locking me here in this tunnel.”
    Ian turned over that name in his head. “Calais,” he repeated softly. Where had he heard that name before?
    But the soldier eyed him suspiciously. “I should not have mentioned him to you,” he said. “The wall is obviously the work of a sorcerer, and it is well known that once a sorcerer knows the birth name of someone, they gain power over them.”
    Carl made a sort of strangled laughing sound. “Sorcerer?” he said. “What? Like Magus the Black?”
    At this the soldier’s head snapped toward Carl. “You know the sorcerer Magus the Black?”
    Carl pumped his head enthusiastically. “We know him and his sisters, Caphiera, Atroposa, and Lachestia, all too well, I’m afraid.”
    The soldier pointed his sword at Carl. “Is Magus your master, then?”
    Ian and Carl both shook their heads vigorously. “No, sir!” they said together. “We hate Magus and his threesisters!” Ian added. “They’ve been trying to kill us for over two years, in fact!”
    The soldier’s eyes flashed with recognition. He lowered the sword and considered both Ian and Carl. “Are you … Ian?” the soldier asked him, and to Ian’s ears his name sounded like Eye-an.
    Ian smiled. He must have heard Carl say his name and gotten the pronunciation wrong. “I’m Ian,” he answered, but said it correctly.
    The soldier removed his helmet and tucked it under his arm. “Eeee-an,” he repeated with a nod.
    Carl laughed but quickly ducked his chin when the soldier’s steely gaze settled