Read Online Masters of the Veil by Daniel A. Cohen - Free Book Online Page B

statues, log cabins, and plenty of people. Rolling hills, streams, and ornamental bridges playfully entwined with the architecture. The giant sandstone pillar on the other side of town appeared to be miles away.
    With a cautious smile, Sam moved closer to one of the structures, an open-faced shop selling small confectionery treats the likes of which Sam had never seen before. On the table were glossy candies the size of his arm and puffy cotton-candy-type treats that changed color from red to blue and back.
    A large pond with decorative stone borders lay a short distance away. People bent down, grabbed small white things out of the water, and dropped them into pails. A few people looked his way and waved their gloved hands. He returned the gesture.
    Close-cropped grass covered the ground and the folk walked around barefooted. Sam kneaded the grass with his own bare toes.
    A man in a booth gave him a kind smile. “You’re new.”
    Sam nodded.
    “Welcome, young one. Come over here.” His smooth, grey hair didn’t move as he gestured, and Sam found himself staring at the pattern of green concentric circles woven across his chest. An enticing smell invaded his nostrils as he stepped up to the booth, where mountains of gooey pastries were spread out, buffet-style.
    The man opened his arms wide. “Care to break the night’s fast?”
    Sam’s mouth began to water. He reached into his pocket, and then remembered his wallet was back in the Carver locker room. Pulling out his hand, he gave the man a disheartened frown.
    “I don’t have any money.”
    The shop owner smiled. “My name is Fromson of the Bellamy clan. Fromson Bellamy for short.” He picked up one of the larger, gooier treats. “Let me be the first to introduce you to our home.” The man held out the pastry. “Eat up.”
    “Really?”
    “Absolutely. It’s a new recipe and I’m curious to know what you think.” Fromson’s covered hand had taken on the same sheen as the treat.
    “Baker’s leaf,” Fromson said, noticing Sam’s eyes on his glove. “Keeps things from sticking. Now go ahead, enjoy.”
    “Don’t have to tell me again.” Sam gratefully took the treat. After a single bite, half of the pastry was already gone. It was warm and delicious and…moving? The sugary icing rolled around in his mouth on its own accord, as if it were trying to hit every one of his taste buds.
    “Slider buns,” the man explained as he saw the ecstatic look on Sam’s face. “Bet you never had anything like that before.”
    Sam swallowed. “Did it—”
    “Yes.” Fromson’s glove changed to a dusty green. “It tries to make itself as delicious as possible for you. Pretty ingenious, huh? I just wrap a little bit of Her around it in sort of a triangle and… what is that you are wearing by the way?”
    Sam looked down at himself. “A jersey.”
    Fromson pursed his lips. “New Jersey?”
    “Uh… I guess it’s new.”
    “Splendid! Wonderful!” Fromson clapped his hands together. “When I was a child, my parents told me of a distant land called New Jersey. I’ve never met someone from there before.”
    Sam pinched his lips together in an attempt not to laugh.
    “No, not from New Jersey. It is a new jersey.”
    The man’s eyes widened. “I’ve never heard of that magic before.”
    “Come again?”
    The man squinted at the shirt. “Connecting a place with an article of wear. How do you do that?”
    “Sam!” The voice came from behind him. “It’s nice to see you’re finally awake.”
    He turned and saw May, only it wasn’t the May he was expecting to see. Instead of the sharp suit, she wore a beautiful red dress that hugged her waist and accentuated her curves. The variety of patterns on the bodice were far more complex than the shopkeeper’s; May’s dress had checkered patterns, birds, and flowers, along with other small symbols he could not discern. Here, she made no attempt to hide her shimmering glove.
    “May!” Fromson gestured toward