Mallara and Burn: On the Road by Frank Tuttle Read Free Book Online Page A

back, and ran her
fingers through the tangles of her hair."Go back, Burn," she said
with a sigh."Sit on your Troll's head. Find me if it moves or
speaks."
    Burn made the buzzing noise Mallara called
the "shimmer frown."
    "I certainly will, your Fearlessness," said
Burn."Where will you be?"
    "Finding a Mayor," she said."Meet me at the
Dancing Hound in the morning, if I haven't joined you before
then."
    "Better bring the black staff," said
Burn."This Troll could keep bears in its pockets. It's that
big."
    Mallara shook her head."All I wanted was a
bath and some supper," she said.
    "The very stuff of epic heroism," said
Burn."Good luck."
    The shimmer hummed and was gone.
    Mallara's traveling staff whispered a word of
encouragement. Mallara forced a smile to her chapped lips, put a
spring in her aching step, and marched off in search of the Dancing
Hound.
     
     
    "Good morning, Mistress," said Burn, from
beyond Mallara's open second-story window."Did we sleep well?"
    Mallara smiled a weary smile.
    Burn sailed inside to hang over the remains
of Mallara's breakfast. A knock sounded at Mallara's door.
    "Come in," she said, turning in her chair. A
tall, bald, red-faced man with an enormous black moustache ducked
under the door-frame.
    "Pardon my tardiness, Sorceress," said the
man."But the Book--"
    "Could not be found," said Mallara."I feared
as much. But you will keep looking, won't you, Mayor?"
    "Without halt," said the man.
    "What's in this Book?" asked Burn. The Mayor
cast his eyes about the room.
    "That's Burn," said Mallara."Burn is a
Shimmer, Mayor. Shimmers have no visible bodies -- just big voices.
Burn, meet Mayor Homas Frick."
    "Charmed," said Burn."What's in the
Book?"
    The Mayor tilted his head."Old stories," he
said."The first Mayors started the book just after the sea road was
laid."
    Burn buzzed."I assume Trolls figure
prominently in at least one chapter," he said.
    The Mayor shrugged."There is an old story --
the Tale of the Asking and the Vow. I never actually read it."
    Burn darted quickly to rest just above the
Mayor's pink scalp."The title says enough, I think," he said."The
Trolls asked something, and somebody said yes." Burn sailed back
toward the window."Better find that Book, Mayor. Soon."
    Mayor Frick ran fingers through hair long
departed."Madam Sorceress," he said to Mallara,"I won't even offer
a pretense of haggling. I know what a threat that Troll represents.
If you can end this peacefully -- well, you have but to name your
price."
    Burn whistled."Troll removals aren't cheap,"
he said."We usually charge --"
    "We usually charge nothing," said
Mallara."Averting disaster is the first duty of the Crown, Mayor.
Burn and I will demand no fee."
    Burn made strangled gasping noises.
    "It's time we went to work, Mayor," said
Mallara."Thank you for the room, and the meals, and the coffee. I
trust we will be back in time for supper."
    The Mayor rose."You do that, madam," he
said."The Dancing Hound is at your service." The Mayor pushed his
chair under the table."Is there anything else we can do for
you?"
    "Find me that Book," said Mallara. Then she
too rose."Burn, let's go."
    Mallara left the table, put out her hand, and
spoke a word. A staff fell from a black slit in the air, and she
caught it before the end struck the floor.
    This staff was longer and thicker that her
traveling staff. The shaft was midnight black, the ends capped with
fine traceries of silver, the center carved with symbols that
darted and moved if gazed at for more than a moment.
    Mallara turned and was gone.
    Burn buzzed."You haven't left anything out,
have you, Mayor Frick?" said the shimmer, softly.
    "Nothing," said the Mayor."Nothing at
all."
    "Good," said Burn."You're too tall to be a
frog."
    Burn sailed buzzing after his mistress.
     
     
    Mallara halted a dozen steps from the
motionless Troll, planted her staff by her right side, and racked
her mind for something to say.
    Her staff grew warm and whispered an inquiry
-- what now, Sorceress?