The Familiars #4: Palace of Dreams by Adam Jay Epstein, Andrew Jacobson Read Free Book Online Page A

Malady, Astraloch’s A-to-Z Guide to Antidotes , and Porkivit’s Potion Primer .
    “Maybe the answer to the queen’s ailment is in one of those books,” Gilbert said, hopping onto the desk.
    “Gilbert, stay away from—” Aldwyn started to say, but it was too late.
    The tree frog had already flipped open one of the tomes, and as soon as he did, all the candles in the room flickered on and the organ in the corner began to play quiet, melodic music.
    “The parlor is enchanted with mood magic,” Aldwyn said.
    It was very pleasant for quiet study, but not good for hiding out. Gilbert slammed the book shut, but that didn’t stop the music.
    “Get off the reading desk,” Aldwyn called.
    Gilbert quickly jumped down and the organ silenced itself. The flames burning on the candles extinguished themselves. Aldwyn and Gilbert stood still, as if their silence would erase the noise that had just filled the room. They listened anxiously, waiting to see if they had drawn anyone’s attention. Then the doorknob began to turn.
    “Window,” Aldwyn said, running for the other side of the parlor.
    Gilbert leaped behind him, and the two took to the ledge outside. Just as they pressed their backs to the palace wall, Aldwyn could hear someone enter the room. The heavy thud of boots pounding across the floor got closer.
    Still clinging to the ledge thirty feet above the courtyard, Aldwyn watched as Skylar flew from her bedroom window with her leather satchel slung over her wing.
    “What are you doing?” she asked. “I told you to wait inside.”
    Then she heard the boot steps coming from the parlor. The Three froze, not daring to make the slightest sound. Aldwyn was practically holding his breath, until the noise faded and they heard the door close.
    They all exhaled.
    “Guys, look,” Gilbert said, pointing down below.
    Aldwyn could see Navid, Marati, and the rest of the Nightfall Battalion entering through the gate. The men, women, and animals wore black armor with faint silhouettes of the stars and moon on the shoulders. It appeared the assassination attempt on Queen Loranella had taken precedence over whatever mission they had been called to. In their short existence, the Nightfall Battalion had quickly become the stuff of legend. They had hunted and apprehended dozens of Paksahara’s most loyal followers, traitors to the queendom who had gone on the run after the Dead Army’s fall. Most of the prisoners filling the dungeon below the palace had been caught in their nets. Now Aldwyn, Skylar, and Gilbert were their targets.
    Fortunately, none of them was looking up. At least not yet.
    Aldwyn eyed the dozens of paper lanterns floating in the air, calculating the space between them. They led across to a wall with a staircase winding down to the courtyard.
    “We should be able to make it across on those lanterns,” Aldwyn said.
    “It will be just like hopping lily pads back home,” Gilbert said.
    “Or rooftops,” Aldwyn added.
    Skylar seemed to be on board with the plan, as she was already flying ahead. Then Gilbert was off, making the first two jumps effortlessly. Aldwyn leaped from the ledge next, his paws touching down on the paper lantern closest to him. It cracked under his feet, but before it gave way he bounded again.
    Aldwyn quickened, jumping across three more lanterns. Gilbert continued to set the pace out front. But just as the tree frog landed on the next lantern, the paper split in half. Gilbert narrowly made it off in time, just before the lantern debris scattered to the ground.
    Aldwyn was now staring ahead at a six-foot gap. He didn’t have time to think about it, though. He simply had to keep moving. And that’s just what he did, jumping through the air to the next lantern. His front paws nearly slipped upon making contact, but his claws took hold and he was able to pull himself to safety. Aldwyn made one more leap and joined Gilbert and Skylar on the ledge of the outer wall.
    Skylar flew above the