Read Online A Sliver of Stardust by Marissa Burt - Free Book Online

all.” Mary’s voice floated back to them. “And you’ll find that keeping the effects of stardust hidden reduces unwanted questions. For example, can you imagine the attention my falcon would have drawn if I hadn’t used the stardust to mask it at your science convention? Think of the time we would waste coming up with and maintaining a credible reason for Pippen Hill’s existence. Using stardust to preserve our privacy saves valuable time for research.” The branches crunched under her feet, and she raised her voice. “The Crooked House is isolated enough that you’ll find we can wield stardust freely there.”
    Wren thought this over. She’d probably passed by Pippen Hill countless times on her treks to the observatory. And all the time a whole magical world had been right under her nose.
    Jack pushed aside a thorny branch that was blocking the path and held it so Wren could pass through.“I am so pumped about the falcons. I haven’t flown them yet—I can’t believe Mary’s taking you on your first day.”
    â€œThe falcons. Right. I forgot,” Wren said in what she hoped was a normal voice. Some part of her had hoped that the whole bit about tending the falcons was simply part of keeping Pippen Hill a secret. The only way she wanted to see a bird of prey was through a glass window at the zoo. She wrinkled her nose. “How close do you think we’ll have to get to them?”
    â€œWhat? Afraid of a little falcon?” Jack shot a teasing look at her. “Don’t you want to know everything there is to know about stardust?” Jack let the branch twang back into place. “I do. Falcons are part of that. And so is the Crooked House. Apprentice lessons are going to be so much more intense now. First falcons, and then, well, all the Fiddler secrets.”
    â€œWhat exactly is the Crooked House?” Wren asked, ignoring the whole topic of falcons and picking at the brambles that were now stuck to her jeans. Mary had been surprisingly closemouthed when Wren and Simon had asked questions at breakfast. All she would say was that it was essential that they go there today, that the discovery of the stone changed everything, and visitingthe Crooked House would be good for their apprentice training.
    â€œIt’s like Fiddler research central,” Jack said. “Fiddlers live all over the world, I guess, but most of them report back in at the Crooked House. Some of them even have laboratories there.” He turned to look back at her wide-eyed. “Just think about what we could discover about stardust by being there!”
    â€œBut Baxter said . . .” Wren began, thinking about how Baxter had flipped out about Jack wanting to go to the Crooked House.
    â€œBaxter is suspicious of telephones.” Jack rolled his eyes. “You’ll see. Once we get to the Crooked House, it’s going to be amazing.”
    They emerged from the trees to find a field dotted with wooden poles in front of a long barnlike building. On the three foremost poles perched foreboding falcon silhouettes. Wren took a deep breath. There was no way she could ignore them now.
    Mary directed each of the apprentices to one of the falcons. Wren stood, arms folded across her apprentice cloak, looking up at the falcon whose fathomless black gaze was locked on her face.
    Mary handed her a cloth bundle. Wren unwrappedit to reveal something that looked like a glove made all of leather, with buckles on one side.
    â€œIt’s a falconry gauntlet,” Mary said, demonstrating how to strap one on her forearm. “To protect you from their talons.” She moved over to Wren’s left to help Jack.
    Wren fumbled with the straps. First the gauntlet hung loosely; then she fastened it too tight. She pressed her wrist up against her thigh to try to stabilize it.
    â€œAwesome,” Simon said from Wren’s left. He buckled the gauntlet on as though