The Solstice Cup Read Online Free PDF Page A

“I noticed you favoring your leg earlier. Were you injured on your way through?”
    Breanne’s cheeks flushed. “My leg is fine, thank you.”
    â€œIt happened five years ago,” Mackenzie began. The icy look her sister gave her shut her up.
    â€œFive years old, is it? A pity,” the old woman said with a shrug. “My herbs could have helped when the injury was new, but there’s little they can do for you now. Your blue lips and shivering limbs are another matter. Those I can fix.” She turned toward the stack of blankets in the corner. “You’ll find new garments in that pile. A little coarser than the ones you’re wearing, but they’re clean and dry. You’ll be wanting some food too.” She opened one of the baskets on the floor beside her. “I’ll be back when I can with something fresher, but for now here’s bread and dried fish to take the edge off your hunger. And there’s water in this jug.”
    â€œWait—where are you going?” Breanne asked as the old woman started back down the ladder.
    â€œI’ve business to take care of on the island,” said Maigret. “Don’t be frightened. Stay out of sight and no one will bother you while I’m gone. I’ll be back before morning.”

    â€œI’m not going to sit here all night, that’s for sure,” Breanne said after she and Mackenzie had both removed their wet clothes and changed into patched tunics.
    Mackenzie removed a chunk of hard bread and a handful of dried fish from one of the baskets in the corner. “Want some?”
    â€œYou’re kidding, right?”
    â€œActually, it’s not that bad,” Mackenzie said after she’d taken a few tentative bites.
    â€œThat’s disgusting,” Breanne said with a grimace. “I can’t believe you put that stuff in your mouth.”
    â€œI’m hungry. We’re going to need to eat something if we’re stuck here for a week.”
    â€œWe’re not going to be stuck here for a week,” said Breanne. “C’mon, Mackenzie, even you can’t be that gullible! Hey—quit chewing for a second,” she said suddenly. “I heard something.”
    Mackenzie listened with her sister, her muscles tensing. “It’s music. It’s the same music I heard before in the fog.”
    â€œBut where’s it coming from?” Breanne asked as she pushed herself to her feet and went to one of the small windows.
    â€œStop!” Mackenzie whispered. “What if someone sees you?”
    â€œOh, please. You don’t really buy all that stuff about faeries, do you?” Breanne asked. “The old woman just wants company over the holidays. I bet we’re the only visitors she’s had in years. No wonder, if she really lives in this hovel.”
    â€œPlease, Bree. Be careful!”
    â€œCalm down—no one can see me,” Breanne assured her sister. “Come look for yourself. There’s land over there. I bet we could wade to shore. The water can’t be very deep if the old woman can move her boat around with a pole.”
    Mackenzie crept toward the window. It had gotten darker since they’d entered the shack, but the land facing them was still visible as a low black mound dotted with twinkling lights. Some of the lights appeared to be moving, as if they were flashlights or lanterns.
    â€œListen,” said Breanne. “That’s laughter and people singing. They’re having some kind of party over there.”
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Mackenzie asked.
    Breanne had returned to the center of the room and was pulling on her boots. “Are you kidding me?” she said as she balled up the wet clothes she’d removed earlier and stuffed them into an empty basket. “There are people over there! People who can help us get back to the farm. Not that I’m in a hurry to get back, but Aunt Joan has