Read Online Tales From The Wyrd Museum 2: The Raven's Knot by Robin Jarvis - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Robin Jarvis
Tags: Fiction
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eyebrows twitched with irritation.
‘A large crow,’ she repeated in a wavering voice. ‘Are you certain you are not mistaken, Edith?’
The girl fished in the pocket of her coat, pulled out the talon that the creature had left behind and flourished it proudly.
‘There!’ she declared. ‘That don't come from no mangy pigeon—see!’
Miss Ursula stepped forward, the taffeta of her dress rustling like dry grass as she moved, and took the severed claw between her fingers.
‘No...’ she whispered uneasily.
Gingerly holding the raven's claw as if it were the deadly sting of some venomous insect, Miss Ursula's expression changed from disbelief to horror and dismay.
In silence, Miss Celandine padded up beside her and she too appeared frightened as she sucked the air through her prominent teeth and bit her bottom lip.
Edie glanced from one to the other, their unspoken fear alarming her.
‘Did I do wrong?’ she asked. ‘You won't send me back will you? I doesn't want to go back to then—even with its pretty bombs. I don't know what the bird was.’
For a whole minute no one answered her, Miss Ursula's face had grown even more pale than usual and Miss Celandine seemed to be on the verge of panic. Then a sorrowful, whimpering voice said, ‘I know.’
Edie and the others turned sharply. There, still seated in the armchair but now with her head turned to face them, Miss Veronica was peering at the thing in her sister's hand and a thoughtful scowl creased her powdered face.
‘A raven!’ she announced, her vermilion circled mouth widening into a jubilant smile. ‘The talon belongs to a raven.’
Closing her eyes, she struggled to remember more, but the pathways of her muddled mind were too tangled and meandering, and she tapped her walking cane with impatience.
Her sisters regarded her cautiously.
‘Veronica!’ Miss Celandine trilled, dashing over to the armchair. ‘Do have a pancake, or would you like me to read you a story?’
Miss Veronica ignored her. ‘But weren't there two of them?’ she muttered under her breath, trying to wade through the neglected memories. ‘I'm sure there were.’
Still clutching the claw in her hand, Miss Ursula glared at Edie. ‘Have you told me the truth, child?’ she demanded fretfully. ‘Did you really see this creature in the museum last night?’
The girl backed away. Miss Ursula was usually so composed and controlled, to see her afraid was startling and distressing.
‘Answer me, Edith!’ the woman snapped, seizing her by the arm.
Edie nodded resolutely and Miss Ursula drew a horrified breath.
‘Then I can only hope you are mistaken,’ she hissed. ‘It is too soon... too soon. Nothing is prepared, we are not ready! Can the hour I have long dreaded be here already? Have I been caught out at the last?’
Casting a final, fearful glance at the confused figure in the armchair, the eldest of the Websters whirled about and hurried quickly from the room.
Miss Celandine scowled at Edie. ‘You mustn't upset us so,’ she chided. ‘Fancy mentioning the ravens, and in front of Veronica too. See how agitated you've made her. Veronica, speak to me, Veronica.’
Edie wanted to run after Miss Ursula, but even as she hastened to the entrance her quick, capricious mind had already decided against it.
If she was caught spying there was no telling what might happen. Of the three Webster sisters, Miss Ursula was the most formidable and Edie knew she had to be wary in her presence. The other two seemed much easier to handle—perhaps she could learn what she needed from them.
Sitting beside the armchair, the girl looked at Miss Celandine's ripe wrinkly, walnut-like features framed by her straw coloured plaits, and Miss Veronica's haggard, overly made-up face.
‘Why is Ursula so scared?’ she asked.
Neither of the Websters replied. Miss Veronica seemed to have drifted off into her own world again and Miss Celandine was nibbling her lip as if wondering what to
‘A large crow,’ she repeated in a wavering voice. ‘Are you certain you are not mistaken, Edith?’
The girl fished in the pocket of her coat, pulled out the talon that the creature had left behind and flourished it proudly.
‘There!’ she declared. ‘That don't come from no mangy pigeon—see!’
Miss Ursula stepped forward, the taffeta of her dress rustling like dry grass as she moved, and took the severed claw between her fingers.
‘No...’ she whispered uneasily.
Gingerly holding the raven's claw as if it were the deadly sting of some venomous insect, Miss Ursula's expression changed from disbelief to horror and dismay.
In silence, Miss Celandine padded up beside her and she too appeared frightened as she sucked the air through her prominent teeth and bit her bottom lip.
Edie glanced from one to the other, their unspoken fear alarming her.
‘Did I do wrong?’ she asked. ‘You won't send me back will you? I doesn't want to go back to then—even with its pretty bombs. I don't know what the bird was.’
For a whole minute no one answered her, Miss Ursula's face had grown even more pale than usual and Miss Celandine seemed to be on the verge of panic. Then a sorrowful, whimpering voice said, ‘I know.’
Edie and the others turned sharply. There, still seated in the armchair but now with her head turned to face them, Miss Veronica was peering at the thing in her sister's hand and a thoughtful scowl creased her powdered face.
‘A raven!’ she announced, her vermilion circled mouth widening into a jubilant smile. ‘The talon belongs to a raven.’
Closing her eyes, she struggled to remember more, but the pathways of her muddled mind were too tangled and meandering, and she tapped her walking cane with impatience.
Her sisters regarded her cautiously.
‘Veronica!’ Miss Celandine trilled, dashing over to the armchair. ‘Do have a pancake, or would you like me to read you a story?’
Miss Veronica ignored her. ‘But weren't there two of them?’ she muttered under her breath, trying to wade through the neglected memories. ‘I'm sure there were.’
Still clutching the claw in her hand, Miss Ursula glared at Edie. ‘Have you told me the truth, child?’ she demanded fretfully. ‘Did you really see this creature in the museum last night?’
The girl backed away. Miss Ursula was usually so composed and controlled, to see her afraid was startling and distressing.
‘Answer me, Edith!’ the woman snapped, seizing her by the arm.
Edie nodded resolutely and Miss Ursula drew a horrified breath.
‘Then I can only hope you are mistaken,’ she hissed. ‘It is too soon... too soon. Nothing is prepared, we are not ready! Can the hour I have long dreaded be here already? Have I been caught out at the last?’
Casting a final, fearful glance at the confused figure in the armchair, the eldest of the Websters whirled about and hurried quickly from the room.
Miss Celandine scowled at Edie. ‘You mustn't upset us so,’ she chided. ‘Fancy mentioning the ravens, and in front of Veronica too. See how agitated you've made her. Veronica, speak to me, Veronica.’
Edie wanted to run after Miss Ursula, but even as she hastened to the entrance her quick, capricious mind had already decided against it.
If she was caught spying there was no telling what might happen. Of the three Webster sisters, Miss Ursula was the most formidable and Edie knew she had to be wary in her presence. The other two seemed much easier to handle—perhaps she could learn what she needed from them.
Sitting beside the armchair, the girl looked at Miss Celandine's ripe wrinkly, walnut-like features framed by her straw coloured plaits, and Miss Veronica's haggard, overly made-up face.
‘Why is Ursula so scared?’ she asked.
Neither of the Websters replied. Miss Veronica seemed to have drifted off into her own world again and Miss Celandine was nibbling her lip as if wondering what to
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