C J Busby [Deep Amber 01] Deep Amber (retail) (epub)

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.She shook her head, as if to clear water out of her ears.There was bound to be an ordinary explanation.“It’s Mum’s, I bet,” she said, firmly.“I must have just missed it when I came downstairs.”“Maybe…” said Simon, but he was certain the sword had nothing to do with Mum.It was odd, and out of place, and yet there was also something about it… something that Simon almost recognised.As his fingers ran along the shining length of the sword, he suddenly noticed that the kitchen table was emptier than it should have been.“Cat?” he said, annoyed.“Have you taken my DS?”Chapter ThreeJem was not entirely happy about having to accompany Dora on the journey to the city.He had various bits of mischief planned for the Summer Fair, and the ongoing feud between the castle servant boys and the castle squires was reaching a critical stage.Without Jem, the plan to steal all the squires’ undergarments and hang them on a line over the battlements was not going to happen.But on the other hand, he would be going to the palace.None of the other servant boys had even been to the city, never mind visited Queen Igraine’s court, so Jem was looking forward to lording it over everyone when he returned.Even better, it seemed they were going to take the short cut, straight through the Great Forest, and that meant he might even get to meet one of the mysterious forest folk who were said to live there.The only drawback, as far as Jem could see, was having to make the trip with the unutterably wet apprentice witch, Dora.Dora herself felt pretty much the same way about having to have Jem along.When she’d first arrived at Roland Castle, six months ago, she had found everything utterly overwhelming.She was never quite sure what to say, or how to behave – who was important and who wasn’t.But out of everyone at the castle, Jem had probably been the hardest to work out – and the most annoying.He was supposed to be a kitchen boy, but he had spent most of his time since he could walk hanging about in the stables, or practising archery, or sword fighting.When he wasn’t stealing food, fighting, or leading the other servant boys in an all-out battle with the squires, he was out hunting with someone else’s hawk.No one seemed to be able to control him, except occasionally Sir Mortimer Roland, the lord of the castle.Nobody knew who Jem’s father had been, and his mother had given up trying to discipline him at the age of four, when he had flooded the whole castle by stuffing three fat hens down the main drain.And then just a few months ago he’d set the east wing of the castle on fire after hatching six red dragons down in the stables.A couple of the baby dragons were still hanging around the castle, convinced Jem was their mother.“Why Jem?” she complained to Lizzie while she packed her bags.“Of all the people the Druid could have chosen! He’s bound to get us into trouble, or upset someone important, and we’ll be marched back to the castle in disgrace.”“I’m sure it will be fine,” said Lizzie, soothingly.“He’s fourteen, and very good with a sword, and he’s clever.You won’t get tricked out of your money or robbed with Jem there.Plus he knows all the roads between here and the forest.He spent all last summer helping Old Tom take the goats to market.”“Until that time he smuggled one of them into Lady Alys’s chambers and it ate all her dresses,” Dora pointed out.She sighed.That was exactly the sort of trick Jem was famous for, and exactly why she didn’t want him along.He’d spend the whole time playing tricks on her, she just knew it.Dora gathered up her travelling bags reluctantly, gave Lizzie a hug, and went to meet Jem at the castle gates.He was swaggering around, whistling loudly and looking like he’d been waiting all day.Sol the butcher’s boy was there with him, along with Violet and her bunch of girly friends, making eyes at Jem and giggling at everything he said.Dora put on her blankest expression as she walked towards the group.But luckily, just as she got there, Sir Mortimer arrived and ordered all the onlookers to get on with their duties.“The Druid’s been called away,” he said.“Fire at the mill.He asked me to see you both off and make sure you had everything you needed.”Dora’s heart sank.The Druid had already shown her the magic she needed to get into the forest, but she’d still been hoping to see him for some last-minute advice and encouragement before she left.Besides, Sir Mortimer was the lord of the castle, and always made her feel horribly nervous.“It’s the queen’s nephew, Lord Ravenglass, you need to take the objects to,” Sir Mortimer said, looking sternly at them both.“He pretty much runs things now, I’ve heard.You’ll need this letter of introduction.” He tucked a piece of parchment inside Jem’s pack [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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