Free Fly by Midnight by Lauren Quick Page A

Honora’s mother was one of the witches who’d left Everland for a chance to explore the Otherworld. Elspeth Mayhem was an explorer, impossible to keep still, a gypsy witch at heart. After she’d traveled all over Everland and mapped its every nook, she grew restless, too restless to stay. Honora tried not to think about her. Her sisters had been more forgiving, more understanding, but not her. She hadn’t forgiven her mother for leaving Everland, for leaving her behind.
    Honora needed to snap out of it and focus on why she’d come to the shop. “What do you know about the wizard who invented the magical barrier?”
    “I heard that back in his day, he was a young genius wizard. The mages kept him a secret. There’s no name in the history books. He’s a mystery.”
    Honora raised a skeptical brow at her friend. No one was a total mystery. There was always a footprint, no matter how small. “Can you help me find the wardens you mentioned?”
    “The names of the wardens are sealed,” January said.
    “Tell me what you can.”
    “The magic has grown and changed over the years, needing to be reinforced. The wardens work tirelessly to maintain the magical barrier. From what I’ve heard, the Otherworlders peck at the barrier like flocks of hungry birds.”
    “Since the wall went up, have there been attacks? Ones the general public doesn’t know about? Things the council keeps to themselves?”
    “The council is secretive, dear. It has to be.”
    “I need more. This is serious.” Honora drummed her fingers on the counter, frustration building. Her old friend had never been this close-lipped before. It was like trying to pry information out of a clam.
    “Follow me. What you’re looking for is in the basement.” January threw a wool shawl over her head and wrapped it around her neck.
    “There’s a basement?” Honora asked.
    “Oh, child. There is always a basement.”
    Honora followed January through a stone archway and down a spiral stairwell into a dark, cold basement. Globes of illuma lights floated above their heads like distant moons. “You don’t have any creatures down here, do you?” Honora asked, rubbing her arms to stay warm.
    January stopped in the middle of the room and pulled out her wand. She made swirling movements, whispered a spell, and the floor began to rumble. Honora took a step back as an elaborately carved column rose to waist height. January opened a hidden panel, pulled out a book, and wiped a film of dust from the cover. The book was thick, the cover cracked green leather, imbedded with a silver seal.
    Honora sighed, slightly disappointed. “A book?”
    “Not just any book. I think you’ll like this one.” January handed it to her. “This is what you came here for.”
    “ The Manual of Protection ,” Honora read the title aloud. She could hardly believe what she was holding. She flipped through the pages. “The warden’s code—a book of wardens and their ways! You had it all along.” She glanced over a vast collection of magical spells used by the wardens. “How did you get this? No offense, but I’m surprised the council would let this book out of its sight, and especially into the public.”
    “Technically, the basement isn’t open to the public. Not many witches get to see down here,” January said. “Plus, after that incident two and a half centuries ago with the dragon and losing so many of my precious artifacts to the fire breathed by those ruthless beasts, I realized it’s always prudent to protect my most important items.”
    “Makes sense,” Honora said.
    January grabbed her arm, twisting her jacket tightly. “Whatever you’re up to, you can’t let them get through. What’s out there is too terrible to imagine. Whatever’s brought you here, you have to stop it, before it’s too late.”
    “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. I’ve got this.” Honora fell back on bravado whenever she wasn’t entirely sure how to respond. The simple missing person’s