Stolen Magic Read Online Free PDF

Elodie thought, and it’s the most important clue? “Masteress, you should be there.”
    â€œAlas, the fear and awe that I inspire would call forth trembling and stares. Even I could not discern which were due to guilt and which to my presence. Better by far that you be the only witness.”
    She nodded, but she wished that a mountain and His Lordship weren’t at stake.
    â€œ Feeling —whatever you may feel—may not be allowed in. Madam, do not tell anyone that the girl is in my employ. She is a mere child I am returning to her home out of the goodness of a dragon’s heart.” Enh enh enh.
    â€œA half-truth is as false as a whole lie,” the high brunka said promptly, as if the words had been waiting on her lips.
    ITs smoke purpled. “An exploding volcano will be one complete truth, Madam, and your failure to prevent it will be another.”
    The high brunka sank onto her stool and spoke to her hands in her lap. A pale rainbow unfurled, then faded. “As you wish, Masteress. I’ll lie and try to be convincing.”
    â€œExcellent.” IT asked and was told that the Oase had a great hall, a large room. “Keep everyone there except for your most trusted bees, those who have been with you at least seven years. They may begin a search of the Oase. Have them search in pairs. Better yet, see that they do everything in pairs, and change the pairings often.”
    Oh! Elodie thought, dismayed. She’d heard that the Oase tunneled into the mountain, spidering into a vast warren of corridors and rooms. How could they hope to find anything as small as the Replica?
    â€œA bee would never take the Replica.”
    ITs tail twitched. “Madam, that is the assertion of an imbecile. Look at me.”
    Elodie thought she would shrivel up if IT ever used that tone with her.
    High Brunka Marya met ITs eyes. “Brunkas trust hearts and judge acts. That may make us imbeciles to you.”
    â€œJust so. Dragons rarely trust.”
    They dropped their eyes at the same time. IT continued, “Your bees know where the Replica was kept, which almost certainly caused the mischief. A bee was indiscreet, or a bee is the thief.”
    â€œI’ll do what you suggest.”
    â€œAs my agent, Elodie will hold you to your promise.”
    She’d have to mansion an imperious self for that.
    ITs smoke whitened. “In the morning, expect me at the Oase entry, ready to interrogate each guest and each bee. Instruct those you can instruct to answer me truthfully. The thief will certainly lie. If everyone else is honest, I may catch an inconsistency.”
    â€œCome, lamb.” The high brunka stood.
    â€œGo!” IT said.
    Elodie wrapped her cloak around herself.
    â€œWait, Lodie! In the Oase, proceed as if Zertrum were safe for a century. If you rush, you will bungle. You will meet bees and guests and will need to take their measure. I will want your opinion.”
    â€œMasteress! There isn’t time.”
    â€œMansion that there is. And take care and more care and care again. A thief who would make a mountain explode will not mind destroying you .”
    â€œI’ll keep her safe.”
    â€œYou let your most important possession be taken.”
    â€œI’ll be careful, Masteress.”
    â€œSee that you are. And keep your penetrating mind a secret, Lodie. The appearance of a slow wit . . .”
    Elodie hardly heard the end of the sentence. Had IT truly called her clever? If I had dragon smoke, she thought, it would be white and spiraling with happiness.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    M asteress Meenore watched Elodie follow the high brunka into the night. What a slender reed the girl is, IT thought, and such a valiant reed! How easy to cut down a reed.
    ITs smoke grayed, and something that might have been a tear filled ITs emerald eye. Never before had an unfathomably brilliant, temperamentally chilly IT so treasured a human girl.
    As IT curled ITself for sleep,