The Mage and the Magpie Read Online Free PDF Page B

Castle, Archibald placed the bell back into the pocket of his vest, donned his hat and twirled his cane, catching it with an audible thump in the crook of his arm. It seemed like the thing to do, ringing the bell at the outset of the journey. Once again, he had little hope that anything would happen, so he wasn’t disappointed when it didn’t. He placed one foot in the stirrup and swung himself into his saddle, patting his sturdy pony on the side of the neck.
    “Well, Pilfer, old boy, I thought he would come. But it looks like I was wrong.” No sooner had he said it when Hugo, wearing a large pack and a sword at his side, stepped into the stable. He was smartly dressed in a crisp cotton shirt with the symbol of the Paradise kings, an emerald green salamander, emblazoned on the collar. His golden hair fell in short locks above a clean gray traveling cloak. The dull, apathetic boy of an hour before had vanished, replaced by what looked like an agreeable person.
    “What is that?” Archibald said sharply, pointing to the sword at Hugo’s side.
    “It’s none of your affair,” Hugo said, and turned slightly to guard the sword from view.
    Archibald folded his arms. “I see. And what about when your father notices that you have stolen the sword of the kings of Caraway and gone‌—‌how did he say it?‌—‌gallivanting across the face of the world? He will send the guard to fetch you straight back to the castle.”
    Hugo went red in the face, but said nothing.
    “Very well, you will pout in your chambers, and I shall have no pupil to vex with lectures on the road.”
    Hugo muttered something under his breath.
    “I beg your pardon?” Archibald said stiffly.
    “Fine,” Hugo said loudly. “You are always right, I suppose.”
    Archibald nodded, choosing to ignore the sarcasm. “Tomlin!” he called loudly.
    One of the stable boys ran in.
    “Tomlin, please take the king’s sword back to the armory and fetch Prince Hugo’s from his chambers.”
    Hugo unbelted the sword reluctantly, handing it over to the stable boy.
    “Your horse is almost ready, my lord,” the boy said hastily. “They will bring him out to you in a moment.” He took off at a brisk pace, not unaware of the sudden change in the prince’s mood.
    “I’ll be waiting outside,” Hugo said sullenly, and turned for the door. He paused and turned back for a moment, looking like a person who is forcing themselves to say something that they don’t feel like saying. He spoke in a mumble so soft that Archibald almost missed it.
    “Thanks for taking me.” His face turned a brilliant red, and he turned to leave the stable before Archibald could comment.
    Archibald chuckled to himself, thinking it was a good start.
    ***
    That night they made camp on the far bank of Mirror Lake. They could see the castle faintly in the last light of day; it looked small from this distance. Half a day’s ride had taken them around the long shore. Tomorrow they would ride all the way to Ninebridge, then on to the Magisterium in Tarwal, where Archibald hoped they would find some clue to the Magemother’s whereabouts, and hopefully learn something more about what really happened to Animus; with any luck, the mage’s apprentice would still be there.
    They gathered loose branches from the underbrush for a fire and spread themselves out beneath the stars, waiting for water to boil.
    “I saw Lux today,” Hugo said abruptly, breaking a long silence. Hugo had not said three words to his teacher since Archibald had made him return the sword that morning. Archibald propped himself up on one arm politely.
    “Did you?”
    “I bumped into him on my way to the‌—‌uh‌—‌kitchens,” Hugo lied.
    “On your way to spy on your father and me,” Archibald corrected.
    Hugo was silent.
    “And?”
    “Well,” Hugo continued slowly, “I mean, I should have bumped into him. I should have run him over really‌—‌I was running‌—‌but I just sort of…went through