The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell Read Free Book Online Page A

and was instantly lifted off the ground.
    Ivy felt dizzy as she watched him float up to the cave roof. She looked down at the belt in her hands. Shifting all those warm uncommon rucksacks had left her palms sweaty, but there was something else she had noticed every now and then.
    Whispers.
    Careful not to let Valian see, she held the belt to her ear. If she listened closely, she could hear voices. She couldn’t tell what they were saying – they seemed to hover at the very edge of her hearing – but she wasn’t imagining it. If the heat she felt was real, then the voices were too.
    She took a deep breath and clutched the belt tightly. She’d have to figure out what was going on later. Right now she needed to focus all her energy on rescuing Seb.
    She peered over at Valian, who was sinking back towards the remains of the rucksack mountain by lowering the uncommon belt past his waist. Once safely down, he stepped over to the elevation shaft. ‘Just copy me,’ he called. ‘We don’t have much time.’ He lifted the belt over his head and immediately rose up off the floor. Using his elbows to nudge himself clear of the walls, he headed into the shadowy hole and floated upwards.
    After Valian’s feet had disappeared, Ivy hauled herself up the rucksack hill and leaned out over the edge of the opening. There was only darkness beneath her, heavy with the smell of stagnant water. Her face flushed. She still couldn’t believe this was happening . . .
    â€˜Hello?’ Her voice echoed in both directions.
    There was no response.

Chapter Eight
    Cool air streamed through Ivy’s wet curls as she soared up the elevation shaft, Granma Sylvie’s bag rocking gently around her hips. The sensation was incredible.
    I’m flying.
    I’m actually flying.
    She could feel her face glowing with exhilaration as she clutched the uncommon belt tightly above her head, marvelling at the fact that she didn’t need to do anything. It wasn’t as if she was hanging from the belt; the belt seemed to be holding her up.
    A square of pale yellow light glowed above her – the entrance to another tunnel. As she floated up to it, Valian offered her an elbow and she pulled herself in, reaching down with her toes as she slowly lowered the belt.
    I just flew. In the air. Using a belt.
    She spotted a smirk on Valian’s face as he returned his belt to another set of hooks on the wall. As she copied him, she tried to hide her amazement. She reminded herself that Valian had made no effort to stop Seb from being arrested. She shouldn’t trust him.
    He leaned back against the wall, stretching his shoulders. ‘I can’t go any further,’ he said casually. ‘Beyond this point I’ll be recognized.’ He gestured down the tunnel. ‘When you get to the T-junction, take a left, then second right. After the cave filled with suit-carriers you go left, then down the passageway that smells of boot polish. That’ll lead you into the main arrivals chamber.’
    Ivy peered ahead. The thick gloom of the passageway was broken only by a few strips of weak lemon-squeezer light. She tried not to let Valian see her fear. ‘Er – what exactly do you want me to get for you?’
    â€˜Just a candle.’
    â€˜
Just
a candle?’
    Valian studied his nails. ‘It’s uncommon, OK? I need it to get into Lundinor, to visit someone who can clear my name.’ He nodded in the direction of the main arrivals chamber. ‘All you have to do is get into the cave. The candle trader has debts to settle with me, so you won’t have to pay him; and you don’t need to worry about finding him. He’ll find you. He always does.’
    Ivy didn’t like being given orders by someone so suspicious. ‘Fine. But first you have to tell me how to get my brother out first. That was the agreement.’
    Valian raised a hand. ‘All right, I know. The