Return of the Crown Read Online Free PDF Page B

sweetness that would wash over her tongue and
wished for it with all her might. She held her breath. Nothing
happened. She blew out an exasperated puff of air, lips rattling
against each other.
    She gazed out the window at a banana tree,
spying a ripe bunch near the top. She licked her lips, savoring the
scrumptious flavor. A tendril of sweetness washed over her,
tickling her senses, and the bananas filled her hands. Her brows
knitted in frustration. Bananas but not cake?
    Rowan pulled himself up on the porch. “Well,
that’s a neat trick; I guess we won’t be clambering to the tops of
the trees for bananas anymore, hey?”
    “Well, that worked, but I was trying to bring
a cake first. I didn’t draw a picture of the bananas like I did the
cake; I just focused on them. The things this morning were things
that I saw directly in front of me as well. Maybe I can’t get
something unless I can see it.”
    “Ah, but what about the book this morning?
You certainly couldn’t see that. It was miles and miles away.
Therefore, it is possible for you to get things from elsewhere.
They don’t necessarily have to be in your line of sight.”
    Ravyn’s eyes lit as inspiration dawned. “I
need to visualize what I want and know where it’s coming from. It
cannot just appear from nowhere, can it? I mean, it must come from
somewhere. I saw the remains of last night’s fire in front of me,
and the tea was there on its shelf in the cupboard. I remember the
book being in the library and could even remember the shelf it sat
on. I think I’ll try again. I have a theory to test.”
    Ravyn closed her eyes, picturing her favorite
bakery in Veris. She could smell the sugary scents wafting from the
shop and saw a chocolate cake sitting in the display case. The
baker always put the tastiest chocolate cakes in the front window;
he had a special place in his heart for chocolate. If he were still
there and in business, he would not forgo tradition. She focused
intently on the cake, relishing the rich chocolate frosting melting
in her mouth. In fact, she smelled something delicious.
    “Ahhhhh,” Rowan sighed appreciatively.
    In her lap sat a large chocolate cake,
exactly like the ones from her childhood. What would the baker
think to see his cake just disappear from the window? “When I get
back, I’ll need to pay for that,” she said sheepishly. Feeling
guilty and giddy at the same time, she grinned at Rowan, “Would you
care for a slice of chocolate cake?”
    Ravyn took a fingerful of chocolate frosting.
Slipping it into her mouth she mumbled, “Rowan, how will I get from
this island to Aigerach?”
    Rowan brushed a crumb of cake from his
silvering beard, “I’m starting on a raft, and we’ll need to get you
provisioned. It will take a few days sailing to reach Aigerach, but
at this time of year the seas are friendly.”
    “What will I do when I get there? Do I sail
right into Veris? How can I confront Aunt Zelera? I doubt she’ll
allow me to just walk into the castle.” The cake lost its flavor as
she thought of the daunting tasks that lay ahead.
    “I wish I had the answers for you, Ravyn. I
only know that help will come when you need it. You are blessed
with the Light; it will give aid. Don’t fret, somehow or another,
it will all work out.” He patted her hand.
    Ravyn spent the rest of the afternoon copying
the legible pages from the book. It never gave direct advice on how
to proceed in the practice of the Light Arts. It lectured about the
necessity of constant vigilance against pride, anger, jealousy, and
other dark emotions.
    The pages continued to disintegrate. She put
the book away to try small experiments. She could do a number of
things without any difficulty. She could light the fire, pluck
fruits from the trees with a thought, and move small objects about
without touching them. Her appetite increased as she practiced with
the Light Arts, and she was exhausted after trying some things. Her
body must take some kind of