Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton Read Free Book Online

you." Mr. Wylltson took a bow. "I have sworn to use my great powers of literacy for the good of all mankind. That is why I became a librarian."
    "Don't tease the boy, John," Mrs. Wylltson said. "It's not his reading, Finn. It's his voice. I married him for that voice."
    "I thought you married me for my good looks," Mr. Wylltson said.
    "Now, dear," Mrs. Wylltson said. "Be realistic."
    "Women can tear the heart right out of you, Finn," Mr. Wylltson said. "Never forget it."
    "Is Finn really named after that guy?" Aiden asked.
    "Finn's not only named after him," Mrs. Wylltson said. "He's a descendant of Fionn himself."
    Finn shrugged. "Everyone from the isles is descended from someone if you go back far enough. My da used to say there was a king or hero under every family tree."
    "That's true," Mrs. Wylltson agreed.
    "Am I descended from a king or a hero?" Aiden was half lying on the table.
    "Neither." Mrs. Wylltson winked at her husband. "Just a ratty old wizard named Merlin."
    "The Merlin?" Aiden actually sat up. "Like in the movie?" The
Sword in the Stone
had been his favorite video for weeks.
    "Myrddin Wyllt, actually," Mr. Wylltson replied. "He was a Welsh bard who saw his king slaughtered in battle. The horror turned him into a madman or a prophet, depending on whom you believe. Lived alone in the woods, talked to trees. It was a writer who turned him into Arthur's Merlin and gave him the magic. Which just goes to show that if you want to be remembered well in history, you should be kind to writers."
    "That stinks," Aiden said. "I wanted him to be magic."
    "It's past your bedtime, son," Mr. Wylltson said.
    "Just a little longer." Aiden opened his eyes very wide. "I'm not sleepy at all. I want to talk to Finn."
    "Nope," Mr. Wylltson said. "And no arguing. Finn will be here in the morning."
    The doorbell rang.
    "I swear, if that's Ms. Skinner..." Mrs. Wylltson marched into the front room, gripping her paintbrush like a weapon. Mr. Wylltson followed her as far as the kitchen door, then peeked around.
    "It's Mrs. Santini," he said in a stage whisper.
    Aiden jumped up. "Is Lennie with her?"
    "Sorry, son. It's past Lennie's bedtime, too. Don't worry." He turned to Teagan. "Your mother will hold her off in the living room. I'll toss this one into bed and be right back down." He scooped Aiden up and carried him kicking and giggling from the room.
    Teagan focused on finishing the last pan, then passed it to Finn. He rinsed it, and she held out a dishtowel so he could dry his hand.
    "You're a quiet one, aren't you?" he asked.
    "Not usually." She tossed the towel on the counter.
    "Then I'm thinking you've noticed it, as well."
    Teagan felt warmth flood her face as she looked away. So he'd felt them, too. The ... sparks. If this was how Abby felt around boys, it was no wonder she had a hard time studying.
    Teagan turned back to Finn, but he wasn't looking at her anymore. He had leaned over to peer out the window.
    "I'm glad I'm not the only one noticing. There's something strange afoot all right. I haven't seen one
cat-sídhe
around the place all night, neither outside nor in. Not one."
    He hadn't been talking about the sparks after all. Teagan blushed redder. "You haven't seen a what?"
    "A
cat-sídhe.
" Finn gave her an odd look.
    "What is that?"
    "Like the
bean-sídhe.
They're cattish and small. They're always around Travelers' camps, or houses, always watching. Setting traps and causing trouble."
    "
Bean-sídhe?
" Teagan asked. "You mean 'banshee'?"
    Finn frowned. "That's what rooters call the hussy."
    "Rooters?" It was like talking to someone from a different planet.
    "Folk who put down roots. You've never seen a
cat-sídhe,
girl?"
    "I ... don't think so. What do they look like?"
    "Cat goblins that walk upright. You'd know it if you'd seen one. About two feet tall, half dead and half alive. They're some of the goblins from your da's story."
    Goblins?
Finn hadn't had any time to talk to Abby, so it couldn't be a