Snowbone by Cat Weatherill Read Free Book Online Page A

how long, I do not know. And then the storm carried me here.”
    “You're making this up,” said Snowbone. “Kings. Wicked stepmothers. How stupid do you think we are? This is a fairy tale.”
    “No,” said Manu. “It's true. I swear on my father's life.”
    “Prove it,” said Snowbone.
    Manu stared at her. “Why should I? I know it to be true.”
    “So you have no proof?”
    “I have this chain,” said Manu. He showed her a fine golden chain round his neck.
    “Give it here,” said Snowbone.
    “I can't,” said Manu.
    “What do you mean, you can't?” said Snowbone. “Take it off and give it here.”
    “I can't,” said Manu. “That's the whole point.”
    He leaned toward her, too close for her liking. She felt his breath on her face and squirmed.
    “Look,” said Manu, holding up the necklace. “There's no fastening.”
    Snowbone looked closer and found it was true. She slid the slender chain through her fingers. It was exquisite. But there was no clasp—just a single, unbroken length of gold. “How did you get it on?” she said.
    “I was born wearing it,” said Manu. “Only a prince of Balaa would be born with such a gift. This is my proof. Whether you choose to believe it or not is entirely up to you.”
    Snowbone said no more.
    “Have you ever tried to cut it?” said Blackeye.
    “Enkola tried, before he put me in the box,” said Manu. “He had wire cutters, but they wouldn't cut through.”
    “But it's so delicate!” said Mouse. “There's nothing to it!”
    “I know,” said Manu proudly.
    “Manu,” said Tigermane, “there's something I don't understand. Where does the
Tamberlory
fit in?”
    Manu shook his head. “Now
I
don't understand!” he laughed. “What is the
Tamberlory
?”
    “It's a ship,” said Mouse. “It went down last night in the storm and the wreckage was washed up on the beach. We thought you were part of that.”
    “No,” said Manu. “I was never aboard a ship! I was on my own out there, believe me.”
    The tiddlins fell silent, imagining how that would feel. To be trapped in a box … with miles of ocean all around … night falling … a storm brewing … and no one coming to save you.
    “Scary,” said Mouse with a shudder.
    Manu smiled. “Terrifying,” he said. “Absolutely terrifying!”

Chapter 16
    arly the next morning, while the tiddlins were still fussing over Manu like a new puppy, Snowbone slipped out of camp unnoticed. She strolled through the forest, enjoying the silence and the glorious day Sunlight was filtering through the leaf canopy, strewing her path with golden pennies of light. She felt rich indeed.
    Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something. A fluffy gray bundle, plumped on the ground at the foot of a tree. Snowbone started to creep closer, wondering what it could be. Suddenly the bundle shook itself and sneezed. A pair of silver eyes opened, looked up at her and blinked.
    “Oh!” cooed Snowbone. “It's a baby owl!”
    She carefully picked up the owlet and stroked its soft, warm feathers. “Are you hurt, baby one?” she said. “Are you lost?”
    Snowbone looked around, trying to find the owlet's mother. There was no sign of her—but there
was
a hole in the tree trunk above.
    “Did you fall out of there?” said Snowbone, peering up. “Well, I can't put you back. I can't reach that high. And I can'tleave you on the ground. A wolf will get you. No, I'll have to take you with me.”

    Snowbone slipped the owlet inside her shirt and started to grin. She had an owl! How fantastic was that? She couldn't wait to see the faces of the other tiddlins when she showed it to them. They would be so envious! But they couldn't have one, oh, no! She was the leader. She was allowed to have special things, wasn't she? That's what being a leader was all about.
    Snowbone walked on. But she hadn't taken more than ten steps when a deafening screech ripped through the forest and a furious owl attacked her from behind. It swooped