Read Online The Sphere (The Magi Series #2) by Kevin M. Turner - Free Book Online Page A

going missing.”
    Roddick looked at the rest of the teachers who were preparing
to head off again.  Then he said, “You two keep in the middle of us, especially
you, Elijah.  Keep your cloak and hood on as much as possible and try to look
bored.”
    “That shouldn’t be too hard,” said Uncle Stan.
    “As long as you don’t draw suspicion,” continued Roddick,
“you should be okay.  You will need to stay with your uncle now, Elijah, so
I’ll see you when I return.”  He mounted his horse and rode off, much earlier
than the other teachers.  Elijah watched him curiously.
    After all the horses had had enough to drink and rest, the
group of teachers, along with Elijah and Uncle Stan, continued on at a steady trot. 
This route toward the academy was much easier to travel than the route he took
with Roddick to Savenridge last year, even though it took much more time.  For
one thing, a visible dirt road began shortly after crossing the river.  The
terrain stayed the same—flat the majority of the way, with just enough land
variations to make the ride interesting.  The group continued traveling, as
long as the road was visible.
    When it eventually became too dark to see, they set up
camp.  They scattered themselves around the trees and found the flattest spots
to put up their tents.  A few chose to manipulate the earth beneath them to make
a flatter spot.  They would stand up, spread their hands apart, and the ground
would smooth out, just like kneading dough.
    Elijah and Uncle Stan found an area near a small stream to
set up for the night.  Uncle Stan told Elijah to get a fire started while he
worked on putting up the tent.  Elijah first gathered some wood from fallen
branches and crunched up as many dried leaves as he could find for kindling,
which was difficult in the rain.  He arranged everything to his liking and then
stood over the pile.  He thought back to his training.  To create fire, he
needed to be angry.  Elijah thought about what he wanted the fire to do—ignite
between his hands, and then stay there.  The fire would want to spread out, so
he focused on containing it between his hands.  He thought of the Maliphists
and the murder of his parents.  At the same time, he remembered to focus on
containing the fire.  It ignited!  He concentrated on moving the flames from
the palms of his hands to the brush beneath him, and soon, he had a modest
campfire.  He tried to keep the flames down just enough for him to stay warm
but not so big that he would draw attention to the camp.  He wasn’t sure if the
Magi teachers were concerned with being seen or not, so he decided to play it
safe.
    When the tent was pitched and the fire smoldered, Uncle Stan
prepared a dinner of dried meat and fruit, and he and Elijah sat leaning
against a large rock to eat.  While they ate, Elijah decided to take the first
opportunity they had to talk.
    “So what have you been up to since you left Savenridge?” he
asked.
    “Nothing,” said Uncle Stan with a mouthful.
    Elijah laughed until he realized his uncle was telling the
truth.
    “Seriously?” asked Elijah.
    “Seriously,” said Uncle Stan, sounding agitated.  “And I
wish I was lying.  I made contact with some of the old crew of marshals who
used to work the region, but there’s been a whole lot of nothin’ goin’ on. 
It’s got us worried too.”
    “Why?”
    “It just ain’t right, y’know?  It’s like when you don’t hear
a toddler for a while.  You know they’re up to somethin’ and it’s probably
bad.”  Uncle Stan took another bite of meat.  “I’ve been a marshal for a long
time and I’ve never gone this long without even a rumor about the Maliphists. 
It’s got us all on edge.”
    Elijah couldn’t help trying to put two and two together.  He
wondered if the Maliphists’ search for the sphere was keeping their deliveries down. 
He desperately wanted to ask his uncle, but no one but he and Olivia knew about
the sphere.