Free SandRider by Angie Sage

Great Hall, toward the star-studded sky, she began to feel sick. And then, to her surprise, they passed through a hole in the sky and emerged into another, much simpler, smaller space with a floor all of its own.
    â€œWe need to get off soon,” Tod said. “I’ll go first and then you grab my hands and jump. Okay?” Before Kaznim could say anything, Tod had stepped up onto the floor and wasstanding, arms outstretched, smiling with encouragement.
    Kaznim froze.
    â€œCome on,” Tod said. “It’s really easy. Just step off.”
    Kaznim shook her head. Her world was spinning out of control and she didn’t know what to do. She clung to the center post with one hand, held on tight to Ptolemy with the other and screwed her eyes shut.
    Tod watched Kaznim rotate on upward. She leaped back onto the stairs and broke Wizard Tower Apprentice Rule Number Fifty-Two: Apprentices must not move between steps on the spiral stairs . Tod didn’t like to break the rules, but she reckoned that helping a scared girl and her tortoise was more important. Feeling very daring, she climbed the moving stairs and soon caught up with Kaznim.
    Tod spent the next three floors trying to persuade Kaznim to open her eyes, but to no effect. As the stairs turned slowly on, ever upward, Tod realized they were now approaching floor seven, where the Sick Bay was located. Deciding to make the best of it, she said, “Do you want to see how Sam is?”
    â€œHe’s dying,” Kaznim whispered.
    â€œHe’s not dead yet,” Tod said briskly. “Come on, Sam needsall the help he can get. This floor is the Sick Bay. Let’s get off and see if there is anything we can do.”
    The only thing Kaznim wanted to do more than get off the horrible corkscrew was to help Sam. She let go of the center pole, opened her eyes and wished she hadn’t. The world was still spinning. She saw the floor traveling down to meet them and closed her eyes to stop herself from falling. The next thing she knew, Tod had grabbed her and lifted her onto something that, to her relief, didn’t move .
    Warily, Kaznim opened her eyes. The Sick Bay corridor was dimly lit and she couldn’t see much. Clutching Ptolemy tightly to her, Kaznim allowed herself to be guided to some double doors at the end of the corridor, above which was a sign proclaiming in glowing red letters: No admittance. Press green button and wait .
    Tod had never seen that sign lit before. She thought it did not bode well, but said nothing to Kaznim. She pressed the large button beside the doors and waited. After a very long minute, the doors opened a few inches and Edd peered out. “Tod—good timing!” he said.
    â€œOh?” Tod asked anxiously.
    â€œSeptimus wants you to fetch Marcellus Pye. As quick as you can.”
    Tod knew that was not good news. Marcellus Pye was the Castle Alchemist but he also had a talent for surgery, which was something that Dr. Draa thought was barbarous. Things must be bad for Dandra to agree to have Marcellus in the Sick Bay. “I’ll get him right away,” Tod said.
    â€œThanks.” Edd began to close the doors and then remembered something. “And Septimus says, when you’ve done that, can you tell the rest of our brothers? That’s Simon—you know, the Deputy Alchemist? And also Nicko, who’ll be down at the boatyard, and Jo-Jo, who’ll be . . . well, somewhere. Ask at Gothyk Grotto, they’ll know. Is that okay?”
    Tod was a little overwhelmed by the idea of rounding up the Heap brothers, but she was determined not to show it. “Yep. Okay,” she said, and turned to go. Quickly, before the doors closed, Kaznim pushed Ptolemy into Edd’s hands. Edd Heap looked down at the creature as though Kaznim had given him a bomb. He had never seen a tortoise before.
    â€œFor Sam,” Kaznim said. “He’s an Apothecary tortoise.”
    Edd shook his head.