The Stumpwork Robe (The Chronicles of Eirie 1) Read Online Free PDF

storms of grief that had broken her and then Bellingham literally snipped her off to the ground again. All she wanted was for her father to come to rescue her, to tell her she was still his perfect girl, to make her feel clean again. Inside her was a hole that ached to be filled and it blinded her to rational thought.
    But now you have come to the end of this book. If you would be so kind, do what you did before - the wand, the shrinking charm - and return the book to the beehive. The books must be secreted each in its sequential spot as it is more important than you could ever believe and you must, absolutely must , read them in the order I say. I beg of you on my life and I do not ask this lightly. It is not some strange peccadillo. If you have found the robe in the Museo and if you are reading the books, then it is obvious you must be Eirish. In which case you understand the Others that lace under and over our world. Trust me when I say they will make you pay if you do not read the books in perfect order. How will this affect me, you ask, if I do not? Then I shall tell you...
    With your life.
    You don’t believe me? Read them out of order then.  See what happens.
     
    Ah ha, you are still with me. Believe me, do you? Good. So go now to the panel of peacock, grapevine and beetle. Very, very gently lift the peacock’s tail and mark how I have used the end of a real peacock’s feather, a clever conceit, I think. There underneath is the next book, covered in teal blue silk. You are lucky this time, because if you also raise the embroidered metallic elytra of the beetle, you will find another book.
    Read on…

 
    Chapter Five
     
     
    Adelina looked up from her work to see a black swathed figure walking past her stall. At first she was unsure if it was Ana - a massive cloak almost completely enfolded the young woman. But Adelina saw the dark mahogany hair and even though it was awry and almost covered a drooping face, she was positive it was her. She waved her hoop with its trailing threads to attract attention but her arm froze in the air as she glimpsed the stricken face that turned toward her. Throwing the hoop amongst the goods on her trestle, she raced out and led her back to the stall to push her onto the cushioned chair. ‘Your face, what happened? Here, let me take the cloak and clean you up.’ She reached for the clasp and was about to pull it off Ana’s shoulders when she saw the torn shirt underneath and yellow and blue striated skin. Sucking in her breath, she pulled the cloak tighter and with an arm under Ana’s elbow, she called to a fellow Traveller. ‘Katinka, hey, Katinka, can you mind my stall? I wish to take my friend to my van.’ Katinka pulled the cheroot from her lips, gave a grin and then continued puffing as she measured off a length of fine navy wool.
    Oblivious of anything, Ana allowed the embroiderer to guide her into the van and through folds of silk-gauze cocooning the bed. The light within the van was muted, large windows at the sides having been hung with the same gauze and creating a secret haven. ‘Ana, what happened, muirnin ?’ Adelina squatted down in front of the girl and tried to get her to focus. But she hung her head to allow her hair to shield her. Even so, Adelina watched two tears overflow and trickle down the smeared cheeks. She took a kerchief from beside her bed, dampened it and began to wipe the stricken face. As she reached for the cloak to loop it off Ana’s shoulders, trembling hands came up and held on tight. ‘By the soul of Aine, Ana, what possesses you?’
    ‘She has been assaulted.’
    Adelina turned quickly to the door. The bottom half had been unlatched and a dark shadow filled the entrance, blocking the doorway. ‘Kholi Khatoun! But how do you know this?’ Shocked, she reached an arm round Ana’s shivering shoulders.
    ‘I saw it.’ Kholi motioned with his hand. ‘May I?’
    Adelina nodded and he moved into the van.
    ‘She’ll not speak, and no