Voyage of the Owl Read Online Free PDF Page A

learned at the kitchen table, taught by their parents. Sometimes they had difficulty imagining Roana’s privileged upbringing as a royal princess.
    ‘My father had a little trick he used for hiding money when he travelled to buy cloth and supplies,’ Saxon said, tactfully changing the subject. ‘He had acord attached to his money pouch around his neck and he hid the pouch inside his clothes so it would be harder for a pickpocket to find it.’
    After each consuming a generous slice of cherry tart with custard, they requested needle and thread from Peg, and retired upstairs to set to work. Soon the Sun Gem was carefully triple sewn, with tiny invisible stitches, into the hem of the green riding cloak that Roana had borrowed from Ethan. Roana could feel the power of the gem pulsing through her fingertips as she sewed.
    Saxon fashioned a strap for the money pouch. Ethan burned both the original and decoded messages in case they were stopped and searched.
    Regretfully they burned the curious puzzle box, pushing it into the hottest part of the fire with the poker. A strange exotic smell filled the room as the timber smouldered. The four watched the flames tentatively lick the box, then flare into a greedy, leaping blaze. Saxon used the poker to crush and crumble the box until it was just a pile of glowing coals and ash.
    Now there was nothing left to link them with the stealthy adventures of their night in the palace. The evidence was completely destroyed.

They had finished all their preparations when Peg knocked on the door once more.
    ‘Master Drummond has returned and wishes to speak with you,’ she murmured shyly.
    Roana retrieved the curl of paper from her boot and hid it in the palm of her hand. The four children and Aisha followed Peg downstairs into the taproom. Peg waved them towards a large round man with rosy cheeks, who was waiting alone at a table by the window, then she scurried back to the kitchen.
    ‘Good afternoon,’ the man smiled, offering them each a cup of steaming tea. ‘I am Albert Drummond.I am told that my sister sent you from the palace, hidden in the back of a garbage cart.’
    The children nodded. Master Drummond looked remarkably like his sister Cookie, and the children immediately felt they could trust him.
    ‘A most curious form of transport for her to choose!’ Master Drummond exclaimed. ‘However, I am happy to have you in my humble inn. I hope my staff have looked after you well?’
    ‘Peg has been lovely,’ replied Lily. ‘She even managed to get our clothes clean again after our journey – no easy task!’
    ‘The lunch was absolutely wonderful too,’ Ethan agreed.
    ‘Good,’ Master Drummond continued. ‘I presume my sister sent you here because you are in some sort of trouble, and you need my help.’
    Roana handed the bedraggled ribbon of paper to Master Drummond. ‘Cookie asked me to give you this,’ she explained.
    Master Drummond looked around carefully, checking that there was no-one else in the taproom. He rose and fetched a broom from beside the fireplace and brought it back to the table. Carefully he fastened one end of the paper ribbon to the end of the broomstick, then wound it tightly round anddown the wood. He glanced down the stick, reading the letters on the paper ribbon.
    Master Drummond whistled low, thoughtfully assessing Roana.
    ‘Your highness, I am honoured to have you here,’ Master Drummond whispered, bowing his head. ‘I am happy to help you and your friends in any way I can.’
    Roana flushed, conscious of her ragged clothes and shorn hair. ‘I thank you kindly, sir,’ she murmured.
    Saxon and Ethan glanced surreptitiously at the ribbon of paper, rolled around the broomstick, wondering what was written there. Master Drummond laughed and showed them the message. With the ribbon of paper curled around the broomstick, the letters lined up in a different order so they now made sense.
    ‘HELP PRINCESS ROANA ESCAPE SEDAH’
    ‘My orders from the