Enter the Whisperer by Bruce Coville

Author:Bruce Coville [Coville, Bruce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Collections, Fantasy, Fiction
Publisher: FCA Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

16

Flensa

Luster: Stonehaven

Without a word, Cara and the others raced toward M’Gama’s house. The unicorns took the lead, of course, with Cara coming after them as quickly as she could. The Squijum clung to her shoulder, muttering nervously. Grimwold, moving with a speed that belied both his age and his size, kept pace with her.

Cara was panting when they reached the entrance. Even so, she found the breath to cry out in dismay when she passed through the door.

The massive stone table that took up much of the first room had been overturned. A jagged crack ran across its center. Even worse, the tools and tokens of M’Gama’s magic, which normally covered that table, had been scattered across the floor, then stomped on as if by some malicious child.

“Delvers,” muttered Belle in disgust.

M’Gama, who was still standing just inside the door when Cara entered, looked stunned. Suddenly, as if snapping out of a trance, she lifted her head and cried, “Flensa! Flensa, are you here?”

No answer.

M’Gama bolted forward.

“Wait!” commanded Belle sharply.

The Geomancer turned back, eyes blazing. “Wait for what?”

“We should stay together until we’re sure the delvers are gone,” said Belle, her voice firm.

“The scent of them is still strong here,” agreed Finder.

Their words sent a jolt of fear through Cara, who had assumed the little monsters had left after ransacking the place. I have to train myself to be more careful, she thought, glancing around nervously.

The Geomancer drew a deep breath, then nodded. “You are correct, Belle. But if that’s what you want, keep up with me, for I will not move slowly.”

Cara knew that no matter how quickly they moved, it would take a long time to search all of Stonehaven, since it had not only four levels above ground, but also many other levels and chambers carved deep into the hillside. Even knowing the search would take time, she had not expected how painful it would be, how each door through which they passed would offer fresh evidence of the damage the delvers had wrought.

M’Gama appeared to ignore the destruction, all her energy focused on finding her servant. Because Flensa was so small, and because she might be unconscious, the search was painstaking, and — it quickly became clear — best performed by those who could lift covers and open closet doors; in short, those with hands.

After finishing the rooms on the first floor, they mounted cautiously to the second level. Belle insisted on taking the lead as they climbed, in case of an attack.

The steps, carved directly into the side of the hill, led outside, bringing them to a wide terrace at the front of the house. A quick search was all it took to know Flensa was not there. But as they came back inside, they heard a low moan.

Pushing past Belle, M’Gama hurried toward it.

The sound came from a sleeping room, one Cara had not seen on her first visit to Stonehaven. She gasped when she stepped through the door. The bed in the center of the room had been overturned, its mattress sliced open.

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