Read Online The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner - Free Book Online

two glasses and a knife.

    ‘You must be hungry.’ He spoke in Romany. It was Yann’s mother tongue, the language they always spoke when they were alone together, the language of their souls.

    Yann laughed. ‘Tetu, I’m pleased to see you.’

    ‘The same.’

    ‘I thought you didn’t like that parrot,’ said Yann. Iago was perching now like some exotic hat on the dwarf’s head.

    ‘He has a very good nature and I had overlooked the fact that he is a remarkably wise bird.’

    Iago, as if on cue, flew to sit on top of the mirror, a better vantage point from which to observe the conversation.

    ‘Well, what on earth delayed you for so long?’

    ‘Vive la evolution! ‘ squawked the parrot.

    Tetu shrugged. ‘I’ve started to teach him a few useful words,’ he said by way of explanation.

    Yann tipped back his chair and laughed.

    ‘What really happened?’ asked Tetu.

    ‘The weather,’ said Yann, his face serious. ‘An attempted burglary at the chateau and a butcher having a heart attack.’

    Tetu listened carefully to all Yann had to say - and all he didn’t mention.

    ‘Mr Tull is involved in the business of exporting stolen furniture to England, a very profitable little industry apparently.’

    ‘Did you see him?’

    ‘No,’ said Yann, running his hands through his thick black hair. ‘There’s no doubt it’s getting harder to get people out. The National Guard is on the alert. They seem to be everywhere, and people are so frightened they’re willing to sell their grandmothers, or anything else they might own, to avoid being arrested.’

    ‘I believe it will get worse,’ replied Tetu. His face was grave. ‘Yannick,’ he asked, ‘do you have your talisman?’

    ‘How do you know about that?’ asked Yann, wondering why he was ever surprised by all Tetu knew.

    ‘Because I saw it around your neck a long time ago and I realise I have been fooling myself, imagining that you still have it.’

    ‘I gave it to Sido,’ said Yann. ‘She needed it more than I do.’

    Tetu got off his chair and started to walk up and down the dressing room.

    ‘Stop it, Tetu,’ said Yann. ‘It is up to me what I do with it.’

    Tetu looked worried, more worried than Yann thought the situation demanded, and for a moment he felt a jolt as if he had missed something, though what, he wasn’t sure.

    ‘Tobias Cooper gave you the talisman.’

    ‘Yes, how do you know that?’

    ‘It is irrelevant, it is nothing. I know. It is the bora bora, the shell of the shells. The emblem of light, a charm against evil, an agent of great luck - and you gave it away?’

    ‘I didn’t give it away to anyone , I gave it to Sido. That makes all the difference.’

    ‘You gave it to someone who is not of our blood, who will no doubt discard it as a trifle, a pretty bauble to be lost.’

    ‘No,’ said Yann, ‘you don’t know her. I do, and I know she would never let it go.’

    ‘Yann, you need it. You are the one in danger, not Sido. It will protect you from the darkness.’

    ‘Then she and the shell are my talismans. They will bring me good luck. Together they make me even stronger.’

    Tetu sat down and let out a sigh. ‘So much is wasted on the young,’ he said. ‘This will only break your heart … my advice is to get the shell back and try to forget all about her.’

    ‘No, Tetu, that is not how it is. With deep respect, this is nothing to do with you.’

    ‘Do you think for a moment that the Laxtons would be glad to know of your feelings for her?’

    ‘I don’t know,’ said Yann. ‘That is between Sido and me.’

    ‘What’s between you? Some letters and the sea. Yann, this will never work! The Laxtons may hold radical views, but do you think they would relish the idea of their long-lost niece marrying a gypsy? She may not have a dowry, but I tell you this, she has a title that is over five hundred years old and that in itself is worth a fortune.’

    ‘You’re wrong,’ he said, knowing