The Celestial Globe: The Kronos Chronicles: Book II Read Online Free PDF Page A

unnerved to see that the design was familiar. Those stitched red flowers had been in her dream. She fought against panic and dizziness. “I need to understand what’s happening to me.”
    He nodded. “Yes. It is a topic that interests us both.” He drew a chair forward and sat down across from Petra. “I am a man of great patience, but every admirable quality has its limits. I will appreciate seeing just how calm, attentive,
and
polite you will be as our conversation continues.”
    Petra took a breath to steady herself. “Tell me what those creatures were.”
    “The Gristleki. They are more commonly known as the Gray Men.”
    “But what
are
they?”
    “An invention. Surely you remember the name Fiala Broshek? Sometime during our stay at Salamander Castle, a man called Karel had the misfortune to be delivered into her hands. Fiala Broshek is a surgeon with a rather interesting set of morals. She decided to use Karel for one of her experiments.
    “Your education has been limited, to say the least. So I imagine you’ve never heard of a Shadowdrake, a particular breed of dragon that breathes darkness, not fire. Fiala Broshek paid a warrior to kill a Shadowdrake and collect its blood. She then cut the wrist of Karel, drained him of every drop of human blood, and gave him a transfusion of Shadowdrake blood. This brought the dead man back to life, if
life
is the word you wish to apply to such a creature. The operation had intriguing effects on the human body, as you witnessed firsthand. The surgeon repeated this operation with several other subjects.”
    “How did you get this information? From spies?”
    “Just so. Are you interested to learn how I saved you from the Gray Men?”
    She nodded.
    “I decapitated them,” he said.
    Her jaw dropped.
    “That means that I cut their heads off,” he added.
    “I know what it means!” Remembering the speed of the Gray Men and their burning touch, she said hesitantly, “All four of them?”
    He smiled.
    His message sank in. However terrifying the Gray Men were, John Dee was more dangerous. At least four times more dangerous.
    She almost dreaded the answer to her next question. “If I’m really in London, how did you bring me here?”
    “With the aid of my daughters. Judging by your shocked expression,you don’t think of me as quite human, do you? Yet I
am
, Petra, and I have a family. My daughters, who are about your age, possess remarkable magic. They can manipulate passageways through space. In less than the time it takes for you to cross a street, I can step from London to Bohemia. Anyone can, anyone who knows precisely where to enter a passageway created by Madinia. She is able to tear Rifts in space. Margaret can close them.”
    “So Margaret and Madinia will help me go home.” Petra’s chest felt tight, just like her throbbing arm. “Won’t they?”
    “No.”
    A numbness crept over her. She couldn’t tell if it was because of the Gray Men’s poison or Dee’s reply. But then Petra remembered something. She was so relieved, she laughed. “Wait. Wait a minute. The night I left Salamander Castle you told me you would grant me one favor. Remember? Well, I want it now. I want you to let me out of here. Send me home!”
    “I didn’t save your life for you to toss it away. If you return, you will be hunted down.”
    “You promised me! You—”
    “Petra.” He sighed. “I already granted you a favor. You called upon me for help.”
    “No,” she whispered. “I didn’t call
you
.”
    “Our minds are connected, and I heard when you called. I brought you here, and now you are safe. I promised you one favor. One.”
    “But you can’t keep me here!”
    “I can and will.”
    Petra struggled to rise out of her chair, but could not. She saw her fingers twitch, but did not feel them move.
    “Hmm.” Dee tapped a finger against his lips. “Paralysis. Finally. The poison has worked a little more slowly than I would haveexpected. But then, perhaps the Gristleki