Treasures of the Twelve by Cindy Lin

Author:Cindy Lin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2020-05-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Hunting the Conjurer

USAGI PEERED THROUGH THE SMALL cavern, the only light from glow worms clinging to the rough stone walls. She kept her hand on Tora’s shoulder as Tora used her sharp vision to lead them through an offshoot of the Painted Hollow. Inu and Goru followed closely behind, Goru bent nearly double to avoid hitting his head on the low ceiling. Something fluttered around Usagi’s face and she squealed.

“Spitting spirits—I’m being attacked!” Ducking, she threw her arms over her head.

Tora snorted. “It’s just a moth.”

As the boys sniggered, Usagi straightened, her cheeks warming. She tossed her braids over her shoulders. “Laugh if you like. But don’t come crying to me if something in these caves decides to make you its snack.”

“It was your idea to go looking for the Conjurer,” Goru pointed out. “We’ve been into four caves so far and found nothing but glow worms, a bunch of mushrooms, and plenty of rocks. No hammer.” Brraaaap. A noxious smell wafted through the atmosphere. “Oh, sorry.”

“Son of a wind god, Goru,” growled Inu, pulling his collar over his nose. “Stop doing that.”

Goru waved a giant hand, trying to clear the air. “I’m not the only one who’s been having stomach trouble. You said yourself it’s a sign that the rice was conjured by the Treasure.”

“Too bad we can’t conjure this away.” Tora muffled a laugh. She hurried them forward. “Come on. The faster we get away from it, the better.”

It was true that they’d all been having the same problem since the firepot meal. For Usagi, it was just the proof she needed to convince the others to go searching for the hammer: food produced by the Conjurer had the unfortunate side effect of giving the eater a lot of gas. Usagi had read that it was because the food disappeared midway through the body, leaving nothing but air. It made for a few uncomfortable moments as they explored the smaller caves that branched from the main cavern of the Painted Hollow. But it only confirmed Usagi’s belief that Panri had used the Treasure to create the rice, and stashed the hammer somewhere nearby.

Tora had tried to get her brother to talk about the Conjurer, asking him where his fancy oxblood clothing had gone when he and the other scouts appeared in ragged, patched clothing. But just as he had avoided answering her question about the rice, he was cagey, even when she hinted that she’d seen Panri’s clothes change right before her eyes. Finally, despite Usagi’s warnings not to say anything directly, Tora had become impatient and asked him point-blank about the Treasure. “I know you have a powerful hammer. It creates whatever you wish for—but everything it makes disappears after a day. Can’t you show it to me?”

But much to Tora’s disappointment, Imugi pretended not to understand. “A hammer that grants all your wishes? What a fun dream tale. I’d wish for a palace and a herd of the finest horses. Maybe a few chests of gold.

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