Read Online The Magician's Tower by Shawn Thomas Odyssey - Free Book Online Page A

outstretched hand and pressing his other hand against his side.
    â€œYour task,” said the architect, “is to retrieve a golden banana from inside the tower and make your way to the door marked ‘exit.’ You may now enter the tower.” The stubby-legged little man paused briefly before adding, with no small grin: “At your own risk.”
    Roderick nodded as if he understood. He did not immediately make his way to the door, however, but took a moment to catch his breath.
    â€œWhat are you waiting for, Roderick?” a voice shouted, and as Oona approached the architect with her own token, she glanced toward the crowd of spectators who had once again formed near the stage. The shouting voice was that of Roderick’s father, Sir Baltimore. His face was apple red. “Get a move on, boy! You have a race to win!”
    Roderick glanced in his father’s direction as Oona handed her token to the architect, receiving the same instructions as Roderick. “Your task is to retrieve a golden banana from inside the tower and make your way to the door marked ‘exit.’ You may now enter the tower … at your own risk.”
    She saw a glimmer of mischievous delight in the man’s eyes and instantly began to wonder just what she was getting herself into. What twisted game did the architect have waiting for them behind that door?
    Deacon landed on Oona’s shoulder, ruffling his feathers as if ready to settle in.
    â€œThe bird must wait out here,” the architect added to Oona before Adler Iree stepped up behind her and handed over his token.
    As the architect gave Adler the same instructions he had given Oona and Roderick, Oona cocked her head to one side and shrugged. “Sorry, Deacon. Guess I’m on my own in there.”
    Deacon cast a menacing look toward the architect, puffing himself up, as if to say:
If anything happens to her …
    â€œIt’s all right, Deacon. I’ll manage,” Oona said, her breath slowly returning to normal.
    â€œAs you wish,” Deacon said, and flew to the nearest tree branch, cawing his displeasure.
    â€œI said get a move on, Roderick!” Sir Baltimore shouted at his son.
    The three of them, Oona, Adler, and Roderick, approached the crooked tower door together. Oona craned her neck back, peering up at the swaying monstrosity, wondering how high they would be required to climb today, and what dreamed-up obstacles the architect had placed in there.
    Then came a scream. It pierced through the tower walls like something from a nightmare, followed by what might have been shrieks of high-pitched laughter. Oona went all over with goose bumps.
    Roderick took in a startled breath. “Isadora!” he shouted, before wrenching open the door and darting inside. “I’ll save you, my lady!”
    Adler and Oona watched him go.
    Oona remembered her own hasty promise to Isadora:
I won’t use any magic at all during the contest, and then we shall see who is the better
.
    It had been a silly thing to agree to; she had known that from the moment the words had left her lips, but she also felt it was her duty not to go back on her vow. She had a surprisingly clear memory of her father saying something like: “A great man is only as good as his word.” And Oona’s mother replied: “And a great woman, as well.” Her father had nodded his agreement, and then Oona hadsaid: “And a great girl!” Her parents had laughed. “Quite right, Oona, dear. Quite right,” her father had replied, mussing up her hair as he did so.
    Father made it to the final challenge, and he hadn’t needed magic
, Oona thought.
And neither do I
.
    That settled the matter.
    Another scream issued from the half-open doorway. Oona’s throat was suddenly very dry as she and Adler followed Roderick into the tower.

G et these beasts away from me!” Isadora howled.
    The chatter and shrieks of chimpanzees