The Heir of Mistmantle Read Online Free PDF Page A

taken the baby for some fresh air on a warm evening?”
    “The only way out was the window,” said Crispin, “and she didn’t tell anyone she was going.”
    “Which nursemaid?” inquired Fir.
    “Mistress Linty,” said Cedar.
    “Linty?” said Fir thoughtfully.
    “The possibilities,” said Crispin, “are that something happened to alarm Linty and she’s run away, taking the baby with her, or that somebody got in through the window and forced them away. That’s unlikely because nobody heard anything and there’s no sign of a struggle. And the very worst…” He glanced at Cedar.
    “I know,” she said firmly. “The worst is that Linty is a traitor and she’s”—she took a deep breath—“she’s taken Catkin…and she…she means…”
    Urchin tried not to look at the picture in his head, but he had to. Prince Tumble, lying dead and cold on the floor, so small. Death had come so quickly, and so easily. It could happen to Catkin too.
    “…perhaps,” continued the queen, and he heard her struggling to keep her voice steady, “Linty has already…”
    Fir had been quiet since Linty’s name had first been mentioned. Now he held up a paw.
    “Dear Queen,” he said calmly, “I very much doubt that Linty intends to harm your baby, but I do think she will be easily frightened. If your search parties find her, it is most important, most important, that they don’t send her into a panic. If she’s alarmed, she will do anything to keep the princess to herself.”
    “What is it about Linty, Fir?” asked Crispin.
    “What is it?” repeated Fir. “Hm. What is it? We must all search our memories, and I will speak to those who have known her longest.”
    Crispin dismissed the guards. Cedar, Mother Huggen, and all available members of the Circle remained with him in the chamber. Longpaw, the squirrel messenger, and Juniper were sent for. Padra arrived, saying that Arran and Fingal were setting a watch on the shores. Urchin and Needle waited to see if they’d be dismissed, but the queen herself cleared a space for them in the window seat. Captain Lugg appeared, a bit out of breath, his face grim and set as he bowed.
    “We’ll find her, Queen Cedar,” he said gruffly. “I’ve set guards on all the tunnels.”
    “But Linty must not be alarmed,” insisted Fir. “She must be spoken to gently.”
    “But you’re sure she won’t harm Catkin,” said Crispin urgently.
    There was a moment’s pause. “I’m quite certain she won’t mean to,” said Fir. His voice was becoming an uneven croak, and Urchin offered him a mug of water. “Thank you, Urchin. Spring Gate water. Very good. But, you know—I don’t wish to alarm you, Your Majesties, but you must fully understand the situation—we are dealing with an animal whose mind has been damaged. She is intensely loving, and for that reason I am sure she’ll protect the baby…” He paused, and added quietly,“…as if it were her own. As I said, if she feels threatened she may panic, and by panicking, she could do something very dangerous.”
    “She mustn’t leave the island,” said Crispin.
    “She can’t,” said Padra. “We’re patrolling the shores, and Lugg’s moles are watching the tunnels.”
    “If she’s on the island, we’ll find her,” said the queen firmly. “We must increase the search parties.”
    “Small search parties will be best, if we don’t want to alarm her,” said Crispin. “No more than four at most in each. Every party to include at least one animal with a good sense of smell. And get the young ones involved. She might be scared of guards and the senior members of the Circle, but not someone like Urchin and Needle and their friends.”
    “We really want to help,” said Needle. “And little Hope’s very young, but he’s good at finding his way by scent. We’ll find her.”
    “Longpaw, we’ll need you to summon animals to the Gathering Chamber,” said Crispin. “We’ll instruct them about what to do and what