Stolen Magic Read Online Free Page A

blizzard subsides, I’ll shape-shift.”
    Talk of money was beneath a count.
    â€œMasteress,” High Brunka Marya said, “you’re as clever as a ratcatcher. If you tell me now where the Replica is and who took it, I’ll give you three gold coins, and you, His Lordship, and Elodie won’t be imprisoned.”
    Oh no! Elodie struggled to think of something that would prove their innocence.
    â€œMadam, your suspicions are absurd.”
    High Brunka Marya raised her eyebrows, still smiling.
    â€œAs soon as the blizzard retreats, nothing can stop a shape-shifting ogre from entering your Oase.”
    The High Brunka’s smile faded.
    â€œMice find their way in when the weather turns cold, do they not? He can become a creature much smaller than a mouse. He can gain admission on your person as a louse.” Enh enh enh.
    His Lordship turned his head. “Meenore—”
    â€œPermit me to conduct this conversation, Your Lordship. Once inside, he becomes himself again, crouching if he must. You can imagine the rest: the thief fetches the Replica. No one dares interfere because of an ogre’s hulking presence.”
    Count Jonty Um nodded. “I could do all that. Hypothetically.”
    Elodie smiled at him for understanding. He winked, a slow, effortful wink.
    Masteress Meenore went on. “His Lordship tears the door off its hinges and enlarges your entry. We fly away with Lodie and the thief on my back and His Lordship as the Lepai yellow-feathered swift. Lodie holds the Replica in her lap.”
    The high brunka’s eyes went to Elodie, who mansioned her face to show nothing.
    â€œHigh Brunka, if we are in league with the thief, you cannot stop us. In the event that we are not, you may as well engage us. If we find the Replica, a mountain will be saved. If we fail, then the villain is smarter than I . . .”
    . . . Smarter than both of us, Elodie thought.
    â€œ. . . which I doubt.”
    The high brunka bent over so her head was in her lap, a pathetic pose. A tiny rainbow flickered from her right hand.
    Was she ill?
    â€œThe snow is dwindling,” His Lordship reported.
    A minute passed in silence. Elodie wanted to pat the high brunka’s shoulder.
    ITs smoke tinted faintly gray, meaning IT was faintly sad. Sympathy for the high brunka? Elodie wondered. Or for the people on the mountain that might explode?
    High Brunka Marya sat up, serenity in place again. “We’ll pay whatever you believe reasonable. I trust your fairness.”
    The corners of ITs mouth turned up.
    Greedy dragon! Elodie thought.
    Sometimes IT deduced her thoughts. “Self-interest is not precisely greed, Lodie. Self-interest is reasonable. Greed exceeds the bounds of reason.”
    â€œI can leave now.” His Lordship knelt by Nesspa and rubbed his neck. “Be good, Nesspie. I’ll be back soon.” He stood and began to raise his arms.
    â€œWait!”
    Masteress Meenore had stopped His Lordship in time. He lowered his arms.
    â€œUpon your arrival, ask the brunka and his bees if they know of anyone who might be angry at them, exceedingly angry, or angry at anyone else on the mountain, or angry at the mountain itself, although they may consider that question odd. Ask also if anyone has recently left Zertrum.”
    â€œAsk . . .” Elodie paused, not liking to offend the high brunka, but this wasn’t a time to worry about that. “Ask if the brunkas refused aid to anyone recently.”
    â€œWe never deny help lightly, lamb.”
    â€œExcellent, Elodie. Your Lordship, make them answer you.”
    Count Jonty Um’s expression darkened. Elodie knew he hated to be feared, and now he was being told to take advantage of the terror.
    Masteress Meenore knew, too. “You are a count—nobility. Use that if you can. But if you must, frighten them. You may save lives.”
    The high brunka said, “How soon will you be there?”
    â€œBefore