The Real Boy Read Online Free

useful,” Oscar whispered. But whether for his benefit or for Wolf’s he wasn’t sure.
    Wolf let out a noise and then shook his head slowly. “You don’t even know where you came from,” Wolf said.
    Before Oscar could ask him what he was talking about, Caleb strode in from the back room, and in a blink of an eye Nice Wolf appeared.
    “Are we ready?” the apprentice asked.
    Caleb eyed him. “Ah. No,” he said, adjusting his gray cloak. “That is, I have urgent business to attend to on the continent. I will be gone for a couple of days.”
    Oscar swallowed. This happened sometimes: Caleb often locked himself in his workroom for a day, or all night. And more and more lately Caleb left altogether—sometimes for an afternoon or a day, sometimes for days. Wolf ran the shop and acted like he was the only true magician in the Barrow, and Oscar did his best to stay out of his way.
    But that worked best when Wolf wasn’t actively out to punish him.
    “I know you’ll both keep everything running smoothly,” Caleb added. He glanced at them and then nodded, as if that were all there was to be said.
    “But Master,” Wolf said after a moment, “I thought we had that . . . errand.”
    “Mmm?” Caleb blinked. “Oh, yes. We do. We’ll do it when I get back.”
    Wolf tilted his head. “If it’s important, I could do it on my own.”
    Caleb frowned. “That will not be necessary. We do not close the shop during marketplace hours.” He motioned to the framed piece of paper that hung next to the door—his license from the duke to sell magical goods to the Asterians. “You will run the shop, and Oscar will keep you in supplies.” Caleb looked from Wolf to Oscar. “I trust everything will be in order when I return.”
    Wolf glanced at Oscar and smiled so that only Oscar could see his fangs. “Certainly, Master Caleb,” he said. “You can count on us.”
    Oscar blinked. “It’s Tuesday,” he said. And then he slipped out the door to head to Mister Albert’s to get the washing.
     
    An hour later, Oscar was back in his pantry. It was the first time he’d ever wanted to stay in the marketplace for longer than he needed to. As much as he shrank from the noise and bustle, it was much better than whatever Wolf had in store for him.
    The shop would not open for another half hour, and Oscar could hear nothing from upstairs. Caleb was certainly gone already—the magician did not waste time—and Wolf was probably outside somewhere sharpening his claws.
    The only sound came from the white puffball in the corner—the very fluffy cat Bear, who made little grunting noises when she slept. The company was nice; Caleb’s complex felt eerily hollow when there were no people in it.
    And then—footsteps walking in the shop overhead. Two pairs: Wolf’s assertive footfalls followed by someone else’s lighter tread. Then, three big stomps right above him. The ceiling trembled, the glass jars shook, and Bear started awake with a cranky meow.
    Oscar was being summoned.
    He took a deep breath, rubbed his arm, and headed upstairs, trying to put some identity to the second pair of footsteps so he could prepare himself. His heart was pounding—whether out of fear of Wolf or fear of a stranger he wasn’t sure.
    And, indeed, there was a stranger: Wolf was standing near the front door next to a tall girl with straight black hair and angles for cheeks. She, too, wore a red cloak joined with an apprentice pin. Oscar felt himself shrink, as if he could disappear entirely.
    Wolf grinned at Oscar. “Hello, Oscar,” he said, drawing out the name like a purr. “This is Bonnie. She’s Master Robin’s new apprentice, just certified.” Master Robin was the Barrow guardian, and his former apprentice had had an unfortunate incident involving a warding spell and a tree.
    Oscar swallowed.
    “Why doesn’t he look at me?” the girl asked.
    “I’m sorry,” Wolf said. “The boy has no manners. He’s an orphan and he’s not quite right