Read Online The Missing Link by David Tysdale - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: David Tysdale
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tried.
"There be yer answer Philamount," Herling said into the silence. "Answer, and a
prophecy, and a riddle all tied together."
"Indeed," Professor Philamount said. "Most unsettling."
"Ye bin right 'bout the Conundrum and Sylphwood, all along. They be bound
together."
"I always felt it was so. But it seems we have been presented with even deeper
mysteries."
"Ye bin wise to keep her abilities a secret. Want us to house her here fer awhile? Might
be a bit safer."
"To do so might tip our hand. This excursion was believable, given Miss Sylphwood's
planned get-together with her witchling friend, and my business with you. But to linger further
would certainly raise suspicions."
"Truth be in that," Herling said.
"We must return this evening as prearranged, and allow events to unfold as they
will."
Herling poured a bucket of water over the coals, extinguishing the brew fire and
plunging the shack into total darkness. She struck a match and relit her lantern. "Best we get back
to the celebration, then. Ye need to put some meat on yer bones, anyway. Ye look more specterish
each time ye calls." She shuffled over to the door and led the Hub instructor into the night.
"Wow! What ye makes of all that, Carole?" Mariat said, after Philamount and Herling had
gone.
"Don't know, but we'd better get you back to bed before anyone realizes you've skipped
out."
"I be fine. Jest help me to my broom."
"Want me to glide beside you?" Carole said, once they were outside, breathing fresh air
again.
"Pshaw! I bin flying since before I could walk." Mariat motioned for Cleopatra to hop
onto the bristles, and the two of them zipped into the sky. "We be waiting fer ye at Brunstice's
cottage, slow poke," she called over her shoulder.
Grinning to herself, Carole leapt to the cottage to await Mariat's arrival. A minute later,
the witchling stepped through the doorway and did a double take. "What kept you?"
"Able to jump 'tween places in the same realm, eh?" Mariat said as she quickly
recovered her composure.
"Just learned."
"Much faster than a broom."
"But not nearly as fun. Come on, you don't look so good. I'll help you to bed."
Shrugging off the offer, Mariat walked nonchalantly to her cot but once there sat
gingerly, exhaling slowly as she did so. Cleopatra followed, settling beside the witchling.
"You'd better have some more soup," Carole said. Mariat grimaced but didn't resist as
Carole passed her a bowl.
"So what ye be thinking 'bout the brew's reading?"
"Not sure."
Mariat reached into her dress and pulled out a folded piece of parchment. "I copied this
fer ye." She held the paper out to Carole. "It not be real neat. Still, I got ye the reading, like I
promised."
"Yes you did." Carole examined the scribbles.
"Ye bin right 'bout Philamount, too. He be keeping close eyes on ye. Probable something
to do with the 'battle of ages'."
"Through the ages," Carole corrected. "'Through ages of battle, Conundrum was
cast.'"
"Who be battling?"
"I suppose it could mean the Terrible Tiff. That was sort of a battle between two
professors, though it more a battle of words."
"That be a problem with the brew's answers. Often ye get answers, but jest as often get
more questions."
At that moment the cottage door swung open and Lucreta stepped in with a plate full of
goodies. "Thought I best make sure ye not getting into mischief, witchling."
Mariat shot Carole a quick look.
Lucreta gasped. "I saw that. Barely able to breath and still getting into trouble. Spit it
out. What have ye two been up to?"
"Nothing."
"Should I ask Cleo, then?"
"No!"
"Then out with it."
"We jest checked out the brew shack, quick like," Mariat admitted. "Carole be curious as
to Philamount's meddling."
"The brew shack? Ye be crazy, walking all that way."
"I took my broom."
"That be even worse. 'Sides, the brew be no business of yers."
"It be Carole's business. Philamount be asking his questions 'bout Carole and the
Conundrum. It be all 'bout her. She had the
"There be yer answer Philamount," Herling said into the silence. "Answer, and a
prophecy, and a riddle all tied together."
"Indeed," Professor Philamount said. "Most unsettling."
"Ye bin right 'bout the Conundrum and Sylphwood, all along. They be bound
together."
"I always felt it was so. But it seems we have been presented with even deeper
mysteries."
"Ye bin wise to keep her abilities a secret. Want us to house her here fer awhile? Might
be a bit safer."
"To do so might tip our hand. This excursion was believable, given Miss Sylphwood's
planned get-together with her witchling friend, and my business with you. But to linger further
would certainly raise suspicions."
"Truth be in that," Herling said.
"We must return this evening as prearranged, and allow events to unfold as they
will."
Herling poured a bucket of water over the coals, extinguishing the brew fire and
plunging the shack into total darkness. She struck a match and relit her lantern. "Best we get back
to the celebration, then. Ye need to put some meat on yer bones, anyway. Ye look more specterish
each time ye calls." She shuffled over to the door and led the Hub instructor into the night.
"Wow! What ye makes of all that, Carole?" Mariat said, after Philamount and Herling had
gone.
"Don't know, but we'd better get you back to bed before anyone realizes you've skipped
out."
"I be fine. Jest help me to my broom."
"Want me to glide beside you?" Carole said, once they were outside, breathing fresh air
again.
"Pshaw! I bin flying since before I could walk." Mariat motioned for Cleopatra to hop
onto the bristles, and the two of them zipped into the sky. "We be waiting fer ye at Brunstice's
cottage, slow poke," she called over her shoulder.
Grinning to herself, Carole leapt to the cottage to await Mariat's arrival. A minute later,
the witchling stepped through the doorway and did a double take. "What kept you?"
"Able to jump 'tween places in the same realm, eh?" Mariat said as she quickly
recovered her composure.
"Just learned."
"Much faster than a broom."
"But not nearly as fun. Come on, you don't look so good. I'll help you to bed."
Shrugging off the offer, Mariat walked nonchalantly to her cot but once there sat
gingerly, exhaling slowly as she did so. Cleopatra followed, settling beside the witchling.
"You'd better have some more soup," Carole said. Mariat grimaced but didn't resist as
Carole passed her a bowl.
"So what ye be thinking 'bout the brew's reading?"
"Not sure."
Mariat reached into her dress and pulled out a folded piece of parchment. "I copied this
fer ye." She held the paper out to Carole. "It not be real neat. Still, I got ye the reading, like I
promised."
"Yes you did." Carole examined the scribbles.
"Ye bin right 'bout Philamount, too. He be keeping close eyes on ye. Probable something
to do with the 'battle of ages'."
"Through the ages," Carole corrected. "'Through ages of battle, Conundrum was
cast.'"
"Who be battling?"
"I suppose it could mean the Terrible Tiff. That was sort of a battle between two
professors, though it more a battle of words."
"That be a problem with the brew's answers. Often ye get answers, but jest as often get
more questions."
At that moment the cottage door swung open and Lucreta stepped in with a plate full of
goodies. "Thought I best make sure ye not getting into mischief, witchling."
Mariat shot Carole a quick look.
Lucreta gasped. "I saw that. Barely able to breath and still getting into trouble. Spit it
out. What have ye two been up to?"
"Nothing."
"Should I ask Cleo, then?"
"No!"
"Then out with it."
"We jest checked out the brew shack, quick like," Mariat admitted. "Carole be curious as
to Philamount's meddling."
"The brew shack? Ye be crazy, walking all that way."
"I took my broom."
"That be even worse. 'Sides, the brew be no business of yers."
"It be Carole's business. Philamount be asking his questions 'bout Carole and the
Conundrum. It be all 'bout her. She had the
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