Story's End by Marissa Burt Read Free Book Online

though she wore it like a garment.
    The liquid in the pot hissed, and the heat burned Peter’s face. He stepped back.
    “If it’s true that you’ve been on pilgrimage longer than anyone,” Una said, “tell us what you know about the Dragon’s Ink.”
    The woman stared at Una for a long time. Peter glanced over at Indy, who hovered between Una and Jaga like a coiled cat ready to pounce.
    “You know better than I what happened to the Dragon’s Ink.” Jaga stood up, more nimble than she appeared, and, edging Peter out of the way, knelt before Una. “Now you come to test my loyalty.” The old woman grabbed Una’s hand and kissed it. “Milady, you do me great honor to visit here. I have not forgotten your commission. Watch and wait. That’s what I’ve done.”
    Peter’s mouth dropped open. Una looked equally astonished, but Peter saw her expression change from disbelief to something like determination. Who does this old lady think Una is? And why is Una playing along with it?
    “That’s very good,” Una said awkwardly. “Do you . . .” She hesitated, and Peter could tell she was trying to find the right words. “Have . . . um . . . have you seen anything like the Silver Quill?”
    However second-rate Una’s dialogue was, the old woman didn’t seem to mind. A toothless smile creased her wrinkled face. “I knew it! I knew it was you, milady. You have made yourself young. An illusion many would kill for.”
    “Quite right,” Una said, sounding surer this time. “But the Quill?”
    “Wait and watch. Watch and wait. That’s all I’ve done this past year at least, and I’ve found another quill for you. Perhaps it’s the one you seek,” the old woman said, while hobbling over to what Peter thought must be her bed. The misshapen pile was lost in shadow, and as she rummaged in the darkness, two cats, a rat, and something else much bigger scampered out and took refuge in the other dim corners of the room. “Fools have come and worshipped at this made-up shrine, and I’ve listened to every one of them. The scholars from the cathedral were the worst, though they were the ones who’d had word of the Silver Quill. Brother Geryon, they said. His family served the one who took it from the griffin.”
    “Take care, Una,” Indy hissed.
    For once, Peter agreed with him. It didn’t take a genius to see that the old lady thought Una was someone else, someone who was hunting the Lost Elements. There was no way this would end well. Jaga could have anything hidden in there: a weapon, a charm of some sort. A witch who offered children candy wasn’t doing it because she was nice. He gripped the hilt of his sword.
    Jaga scooted back toward Una, clutching something to her chest and bobbing her head up and down. “I keep it safe, right here with me. I have it with me while I sleep.” She hugged the soiled cloth close and reached out her other hand. She held one long feather tightly in her filthy fist.
    Peter had seen quills before, but nothing the size of the one before him. This one was the length of a man’s arm, and its silver color glowed dully in the dark room.
    “This was hard to come by, milady. Had to barter with the scholars myself.” She handed it to Una with a little curtsy. “It could be the one. It’s older than the Unbinding, or so they claimed. It’s definitely older than the others I’ve brought you. Those fools from the cathedral say much that’s nonsense, but they do know their legends. I would have brought it to you, milady, only there hasn’t been a new moon yet.” Her voice faltered. “You know I’ve never failed to obey before,” she said as Una looked carefully at the quill. The longer Una kept quiet, the more the old woman bowed and scraped before her.
    “I would’ve come to you, milady, I swear it. At midnight, just as you require.”
    Una frowned at the point of the quill.
    Peter couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but now they knew for sure a woman was hunting the