Read Online Summer's Cauldron by G. L. Breedon - Free Book Online Page A

along.”
    “We don’t have to listen to you,” Anna said. “You’re not in charge here.”
    “That’s where you wrong, little miss muffin face,” the elven girl said. “I give the orders around here. Want to see one? Kenda, show them why they should leave.”
    The girl next to her, who Alex assumed must be Kenda, smiled and shook herself. There was a short burst of green light and suddenly Kendra was no more. In her place stood an eight-foot tall hairy beast with large yellow tusk-like teeth and a shaggy coat of black fur. Her clothes, simple pants and a t-shirt, stretched to fit her new impossibly large form. Alex guessed Kendra’s clothes must have been enchanted in order to remain whole and untorn. Although Alex had no idea how she had done so, when he looked to the elven girl, he realized she had knocked an arrow and held the bow drawn, aimed at Anna’s head.
    “You won’t shoot me,” Anna said, glaring up at the elven girl.
    “Victoria,” the elven girl said, with a nod of her head in Victoria’s direction, “would I shoot her?”
    “She is well known for her impetuousness,” Victoria said, blinking in surprise at the sudden turn of events.
    “She means I tend to do things without thinking about the consequences,” the elven girl said.
    “I know what it means,” Anna said between gritted teeth.
    “My father’s the mayor,” Dillon said, his fists balled in fury.
    “And I’m the Queen of England,” the elven girl said, still staring at Anna, tilting her head to look down the shaft of the arrow at the smaller girl.
    “Let’s go,” Anna said, sniffing slightly. “There are too many freaks here anyway. They smell bad.” Anna turned and started to walk away.
    “My father will hear about this,” Dillon said as he scowled and followed Anna.
    “Just so there’s no confusion,” the elven girl said, “when you whine like a baby to your daddy, tell him it was Elaeda that spanked you and sent you packing.”
    Alex watched Anna and Dillon and the rest of the Mad Mages retreat into the growing shadows of the carnival. A burst of green light revealed Kendra standing next to the elven girl Elaeda again, her clothes back to normal size.
    “Wow,” Ben said, stepping forward and offering Elaeda his hand. “I’m Ben.” Alex blinked in surprise. Ben shook Elaeda’s hand and grinned up at her.
    “I’ve heard of you,” Eleada said. “Heard of all of you. But her we know well.” She turned and embraced Victoria. “How have you been, Vic?”
    “Better now that I have seen you again,” Victoria said, hugging Eleada tightly. “You really didn’t need to do that. They’re more bark than bite.”
    “I’m more bite than bark.” Elaeda grinned.
    “You certainly are,” Victoria said with a genuine smile.
    “Thank you,” Alex said, stepping beside Victoria.
    “Not a problem,” Elaeda said. “I can’t stand kids like that. Thinking they’re special because they’re born human. Or because they’re born the mayor’s son. I’d ban them from the carnival completely if it was up to me, but rousting them out tonight will have to do. They don’t seem to like you lot much.”
    “We have a long history together,” Alex said. “None of it pleasant.”
    “That was an impressive transformation,” Rafael said as he stepped over to Kendra. “How did you manage to become so large?”
    “It’s a changeling thing,” Kenda said. “It’s complicated.”
    Raphael briefly glowed red, but retained his human form. “I think I can follow the conversation.”
    “Oh, you’re a changeling, too,” Kendra said, excited. “It’s been so long since I’ve met another changeling.”
    “So, what’s the secret?” Rafael asked.
    “Mass,” Kendra said. “It’s all about distribution of mass.”
    As he turned away from Rafael and Kendra, something flickered at the edge of Alex’s vision. He could have sworn he saw the shadowed figure again. There was someone following them, he was certain of