Alcatraz versus the Knights of Crystallia by Brandon Sanderson Read Free Book Online Page A

that it involves popcorn.
    "Okay," I said, turning to Bastille. "How do I find this Folsom guy?"
    "I don't know," she said flatly, pointing. "Maybe ask his mom , who is standing right there?"
    Oh, right , I thought. Quentin's brother , th a t makes Pattywagon his mother .
    She was talking animatedly (which is how she always talks) with Sing. I waved to Bastille, but she hesitated.
    "What?" I asked.
    "My mission is officially over," she said, grimacing and glancing toward Draulin. "I need to report at Crystallia." Draulin had made her way toward the exit of the room, and she was regarding Bastille in that way of hers that was some how both insistent and patient.
    "What about your father? " I said, glancing in the direc tion he and Grandpa Smedry had disappeared. "He barely got time to see you two."
    "The kingdom takes precedence over everything else."
    That sounded like a rehearsed line to me. Probably something Bastille had heard a lot when growing up.
    "Okay'' I said. "Well, uh, I'll see you, then."
    “Yeah.”
    I braced myself for another hug (known in the industry as a "teenage boy forced reboot") but she just stood there, then cursed under her breath and hurried out after her mother. I was left trying to figure out just when things between us had grown so awkward.
    (I was tempted to think back on all the good times we had spent together. Bastille smacking me in the face with her handbag. Bastille kicking me in the chest. Bastille mak ing fun of something dumb I'd said. I would probably have a good case for abuse if I hadn't also (1) broken her sword, (2) kicked her first, and (3) been so awesome.)
    Feeling strangely abandoned, I stepped up to my aunt Patty.
    "You done being affectionate with the young knight there?" she asked me. "Cute thing, isn't she?"
    "What's this?" Sing said. "Did I miss something?"
    "Urk!" I said, blushing. "No, nothing!"
    "I'm sure," Patty said, winking at me.
    "Look, I need to find your son Folsom!"
    "Hum. Whatcha need him for?"
    "Important Smedry business."
    *Well, it's a good thing I'm an important Smedry, then, isn't it!"
    She had me there. "Grandpa wants me to ask about what the Librarians have been doing in town since he left."
    "Well, why didn't you say so?" Patty said.
    "Because . . . well, I . . ."
    "S lowness of thought," Patty said consolingly. "It's okay, hon. Your father isn't all that bright either. Well, let's go find Folsom, then! See ya, Sing!"
    I reached for Sing, hoping he wouldn't abandon me to this awful woman, but he had already turned to go with some other people, and Patty had me by the arm.
    I should stop and note here that in the years since that d ay, I've grown rather fond of Aunt Pattywagon. This state ment has nothing at all to do with the fact that she threatened to toss me out a window if I didn't include it.
    The mountainous woman pulled me from the room and down the hallway. S oon we were standing in the sun light on the front steps outside as Patty sent one of the serving men to fetch transportation.
    "You know .” I said, "if you tell me where Folsom is, I could just go find him on my own. No need to –“
    "He's out and about on very important business," Patty said. “ I' ll have to lead you. I can't tell you. You see, as a Librarian expert, he's been put in charge of a recent defection."
    "Defection?"
    "Yes ,” she said. "You know, a foreign agent who decides to join the other side? A Librarian fled her homeland and joined the Free Kingdoms. My son is in charge of helping her grow accustomed to life here. Ah, here's our ride!"
    I turned, half expecting another dragon, but apparently we two didn't warrant a full-size dragon this time. Instead, a coachman rode up wit h an open-topped carr iage pulled by rather mundane horses.
    "Horses?" I said.
    "Of course," Patty said, climbing into the ca rri age. "What were you expecting? A . . . what is it you call them? A pottlemobile?"
    "Automobile," I said, joining her. "No, I wasn't expecting one of those. Horses just