Read Online The Jade Dragon by Rowena May O'Sullivan - Free Book Online Page A

anything about this.”
    â€œIt’s likely she already knows.”
    Zelda Mortiboy had been their mother’s best friend and confidant. She’d arrived in Raven’s Creek within hours of hearing of their parents’ death to look after the girls and stayed to ensure their safety, nursing them through their darkest days as they gradually came to terms with their orphaned status.
    As if she’d known they talked of her, Zelda walked through the door. “You sure know how to court trouble,” she said without preamble. Her eyebrows arched behind her horn-rimmed glasses as she focused an all-too-knowing gaze on Alanna.
    â€œAnd you sure know how to stir the pot,” Alanna muttered and kissed Zelda’s cheek with affection. The old woman gave her a hard time, but she always knew exactly where she stood with her.
    â€œThat’s my job,” she flicked her hand at them in a go-on, get-moving gesture. “I’ll mend the stone wall. Don’t fuss over that. Work out how you’re going to replace the jade dragon. I may be a sorceress, but I’m no artist. I’m likely to conjure up a cross between a lizard and a turtle if I tried.” She walked them to the Gallery door. “Go. All of you. Discuss. Come back and give me the shortened version once you’ve figured out what you’re going to do. It’s best to have a united front in this type of situation.”
    Alanna was fed up with being blamed for everything. “It seems trouble has a way of finding me with or without a spell.”
    â€œYou’re a good girl,” Zelda patted her on the back, and both Rosa and Beth’s mouths gaped. “Go get that coffee, calm those nerves. Don’t worry about a thing here. Take as long as you want.”
    â€œOh shit, I’m in deeper do-do than I thought.” Alanna’s heart pitter-pattered in her chest. “You’re never nice to me.”
    â€œI’m always nice, girl,” Zelda shrugged off her jacket and hung it on a peg behind the office door. “You’re usually too self-involved to notice.”
    â€œThat’s so not true.” Alanna trailed after her as the old woman picked up a mug, pointed her finger at it and the cup filled with a pale green liquid.
    â€œGreen tea,” Zelda said. “Full of life-giving antioxidants.”
    â€œAccording to Aden, you don’t need life-giving anything. You’re immortal.”
    â€œDoesn’t mean I shouldn’t be a healthy immortal. I can shape-shift. You cannot. It would be wise to look after your health so that when immortality comes knocking you won’t look like a saggy old crone.”
    â€œSpeak for yourself.”
    â€œAlanna!” Beth gasped. “I can’t believe you said that.”
    â€œYou were thinking it, though.”
    â€œI was not.” Beth looked to Rosa. “Say something.”
    Rosa shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I’ve only seen Zelda in her present form. Aden has seen her, though.”
    â€œThat’s what he thinks” Zelda chortled. “He hasn’t seen the real me either. You wouldn’t know who I was if you saw me walking down the street in my true form. If I revealed to everyone what I really looked like, I’d never have any peace.” Zelda practically cackled. “There are many things you don’t know about me. But there’s a lot I know about all three of you. Including this current mess Alanna’s found herself in. Here’s a piece of news for you all. I participated in Gregori’s ensorcelling. There are valid reasons for this action. No use asking what they are. I can’t tell you. Go on. Go discuss. You need a plan. Alanna, you need to get that magic back or you’ll be stuck without your broomstick for the rest of your miserable mortal life.”
    â€œEnough of the miserable, thank-you. Besides, you forget. Goran reckons that will take several