Tara Duncan and the Forbidden Book Read Online Free PDF

tapestries, creating a miniature rainbow. Fabrice was about to shout out their destination when he suddenly choked, leaving the words unsaid.
    The door to the room had just opened!
    The transfer stopped immediately and the light faded. Rigid with fear, the spellbinders watched as a black dog padded into the room.
    â€œGreat-grandpa?” cried Tara in astonishment. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œTara, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me Great-grandpa,” said the Labrador, sounding miffed. “It makes me feel a hundred years old. Call me Grandpa or Manitou.”
    â€œHow about Popsicle?” asked Tara, who couldn’t resist. “Popsicle would be nice, wouldn’t it? And you didn’t answer my question.”
    â€œPopsicle is totally unacceptable,” he said firmly. “Pops is about as far as you can go. As to why I’m here, I knew you were up to something stupid, so I followed you. And I’m coming too. At least you’ll have a cautious adult along, which might save you from spending the rest of your days on bread and water when Isabella and Selena realize what you’re up to. Besides, I want to be far away when your grandmother notices you’re gone. I’ve got sensitive ears.”
    â€œGrandpa, I adore you!” said Tara.
    Manitou gave her a wolfish smile and went to join the others in the center of the room. Fabrice launched the transfer again. When the four beams of light hit them, he shouted: “Omois, Tingapore Imperial Palace!”
    Their image wavered, and in the next instant, they vanished.
    When they appeared in Omois, they were greeted by a thicket of razor-sharp spears. The imperial guards hadn’t been warned of this unexpected arrival and, following their habit of skewering first and asking questions later, very nearly brought the travelers’ lives to an early end.
    Fortunately, Head Palace Housekeeper Kali was there. She shouted, and the guards’ spears froze.
    â€œUnannounced arrivals are not authorized,” she snapped, waving her six arms. “You’re lucky that I was in the Transfer Room, otherwise . . .”
    She didn’t specify what that “otherwise” was, but Fabrice shivered.
    Tara stepped forward, calmly ignoring the guards’ baleful stares.
    â€œI am Tara’tylanhnem Duncan,” she announced graciously. “The empress requested our presence to help shed light on the death of one of her subjects in an uncontrolled vortex. We were supposed to come with High Wizard Chemnashaovirodaintrachivu, but were delayed.”
    Tara looked as cool as a cucumber, but inside she was shaking like a leaf. She desperately hoped the Kali would swallow her story.
    To her great relief, Kali smiled, then bowed deferentially.
    â€œI will immediately send word of your belated arrival to the empress and emperor. Damien, one of our apprentice spellbinders, will accompany you to your suite.”
    The boy with shiny black hair who had been so hostile to them during their previous visit to Omois bowed in turn. Since learning that their friend Sparrow was able to turn into a monstrous beast ten feet tall—and was royalty to boot—Damien had become the most courteous and attentive of guides.
    The Omois Imperial Palace hadn’t changed; it was as extravagantly dazzling as ever. People with sensitive eyes were well advised to wear sunglasses, so as not to be blinded. Jewel-studded gold statues stood everywhere, bathed in beams of light; valuable carpets were scattered underfoot; yellow and green marble streaked with opalescent mother of pearl made the walls look like flowing rivers. Elegant pieces of furniture wandered around, rushing over to anyone who felt like sitting or lying down.
    Suddenly, Tara cried out. An aged spellbinder had let himself fall to the floor in front of them. An armchair popped out of nowhere and materialized under his bony posterior just in time to cushion his