Read Online Tara Duncan and the Spellbinders by Princess Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian - Free Book Online

took a step back.
    â€œIf Tara’tylanhnem becomes a wizard, I will die,” she said as she covered up the glyphs.
    Stunned, Tara stared at her grandmother. What was she talking about?
    The old wizard was thinking so hard, Tara almost expected to see smoke come out of his ears.
    â€œWell that changes everything,” he said gravely. “I didn’t know. Did that happen when you—”
    â€œYes,” interrupted Isabella, nodding meaningfully toward the girl.
    Tara understood perfectly: more blasted secrets! But now she had a secret as well—about her mother—and had no intention of sharing it.
    â€œIn that case we have a serious problem,” said Chem, giving Isabella a worried glance. “How much time would you need to protect the property and the girl?”
    â€œNot more than about ten days, if you can lend me Padimo and Glivol. The thing is, I don’t have all the necessary ingredients here.”
    â€œHmm, I see. And it would be too dangerous to take Tara with you, I imagine. All right, here’s what I suggest: I’ll take your granddaughter with me for ten days. She will accompany me to Other-World, to the Royal Castle of Travia. That way I’ll be able to protect her. And then I’ll send her back to you.”
    He made an odd gesture in the air, stretched out his hand, and raised his voice: “Let what I have declared be recorded.”
    Tara jumped when she heard an incredibly high-pitched voice chirping, seemingly from the empty air. It spoke so rapidly it was as if the words were stuck together: “Verywell, High Wizard. The High Council here by records the decision. he notice will be publishedintheofficialCouncilgazette.”
    Chem frowned, rubbed his ear, and fiddled with something in his hand.
    â€œNo, I want this decision recorded in executive session,” he specified. “No point in telling everybody that the child will be on OtherWorld. Simply advise the other members of the Council. Oh, and also Master T’andilus M’angil, the head of our secret services.”
    This time, the disembodied voice was incredibly low, and spoke very, very slowly: “Veerrryyy weelll, Hiiiggghhh Wiiiizzzzaaaarrrrddd, iiittt wwwiiilll bbbeee dddooonnneee.”
    The wizard sighed, annoyed at the bad connection. When he lowered his hand, Tara saw something in it sparkle and realized that he had been communicating by means of a kind of crystal ball, which he now put in his pocket.
    Isabella hadn’t moved during this entire exchange.
    â€œI could keep Tara’tylanhnem with me,” she said soberly. “Now that I know how the Bloodgraves operate, I can repulse them.”
    The old wizard looked at her, noting the dark circles under her eyes and her slightly trembling hands.
    â€œI think you’re very tired, Isabella. Better for the child to come with me. It will be less of a burden if you aren’t worried about her.”
    Isabella hesitated, but then admitted how fatigued she was. She took a deep breath and looked at her granddaughter.
    â€œI can’t always express things the way I’d like to, but I love you deeply, Tara’tylanhnem, and I want the best for you. But Chem is right. I can’t protect you if you’re with me.”
    Tears came to the girl’s eyes. She knew that her grandmother loved her, in her own way. But there’s a huge difference between knowing it and hearing it said, as she was discovering.
    â€œI love you too, Grandma.”
    Well aware that Isabella didn’t like to be touched, Tara did nothing. But when her grandmother opened her arms, she joyfully ran to hug her.
    â€œWell, well,” said the old wizard with great satisfaction. “That’s one good thing taken care of. Now Tara, it’s very early, and you have hours of missed sleep to make up. Go to bed. We will leave for OtherWorld later.”
    Tara left the office, her mind still buzzing with questions despite