Read Online The Spell of Undoing by Paul Collins - Free Book Online

the magicians, Tab had not explained exactly what kind of vision she had had. ‘And from a non-accredited person at that.’ He shook his head. ‘We have little enough crew to man the rigging, girl. If I take them shipside Quentaris will be compromised. A sudden squall could see us crash. And if that happens … well, it doesn't bear thinking about.’
    ‘So you won't do anything?’ said Tab. She knew Philmon was glaring at her.
    Crankshaft stood. ‘Not won't, child. Can't. Ensign, take this girl home.’
    Philmon snapped to attention. ‘Aye-aye, sir.’
    ‘When you're done, return here immediately,’ said the first lieutenant. ‘And think long and hard on why I'm not relieving you of your duty.’
    As soon as they were outside, Philmon rounded on Tab. ‘See? You almost cost me my job. Oh, why did I listen to you?’
    Tab ignored him. She looked scared. This made Philmon shut up. ‘So the navy doesn't have enough crew to defend Quentaris,’ said Tab. The idea staggered her. She had never given any thought to their defences before, had never realised just how vulnerable they were.
    ‘We've never met an enemy we couldn't handle, so what's the –?’
    ‘Where would you find an extra crew, if you needed one?’
    Philmon looked at her balefully. ‘Huh?’
    ‘Answer me,’ said Tab, urgently.
    Philmon scratched his head. ‘I don't know. You'd need people who've got naval experience, I guess.’
    Tab's face lit up. ‘That's right,’ she said. ‘You would.’
    ‘But there aren't any,’ said Philmon. ‘I mean, the Sky Sailors’ Guild is what used to be the Merchant Navy. We've already got everybody with shipboard time, even the deck scrubbers!’
    ‘Not everybody,’ said Tab, and she turned and sprinted away. Philmon stared after her, frowning.

    ‘Absolutely not!’ Fontagu said crossly to Tab. He always got cross when he was frightened. ‘Count me out. There is nothing you can say to change my mind.’
    An hour later, Tab was creeping along a wall, keeping to the shadows. She came to a sudden stop. Somebody bumped into her from behind.
    ‘Fontagu!’
    ‘You said to stay close,’ came his nervous reply.
    ‘Not that close!’
    Fontagu grumbled, backing off an inch or two. He looked furtively about in all directions. ‘This is a big mistake,’ he hissed, not for the first time. ‘They'll slit our throats and make us beg for mercy!’
    ‘Probably not in that order,’ said Tab, but she kept her voice too low for Fontagu to hear. She had to admit it was a crazy plan. Even stage one was crazy: that is, enter the Thieves’ Quarter unarmed and at night. It was well known that the city watchmen themselves avoided the quarter after dark, unless they were at least a squadron strong, or on a suicide mission.
    Tab gave Fontagu a quick look. Once again, she nearly laughed. He had donned a thief's outfit, as he called it. He wore baggy pantaloons, a gold-braided vest with brass buttons and puffed sleeves, a head scarf, and – as usual – a fake wooden sword painted silver to look real. Tab had had a big job talking him out of wearing an eye patch.
    ‘You read too many trashy stories,’ she had told him in exasperation.
    It wasn't hard finding the tavern called The Purple Wart, partly because some enterprising owner had paid to have a gigantic nose bearing a wart, complete with little wart hairs, erected above the main door. By some magic, the wart even changed colour, from red to blue to glorious purple.
    ‘Charming,’ said Tab, eyeing the monstrosity. ‘You sure that's the place?’
    Fontagu nodded. ‘Can I go now?’
    ‘Sure.’
    ‘Really?’ Fontagu seemed surprised.
    ‘Yep,’ said Tab. ‘If you want to walk all the way back through the Thieves’ Quarter by yourself wearing those ridiculous clothes, be my guest.’
    Fontagu straightened up and looked down his nose at her. ‘My clothes are not ridiculous,’ he said.
    ‘I take it that means you're coming with me?’
    Fontagu sniffed. ‘As