Free Sorcerer's Secret by Scott Mebus

Fritz took their leave, heading south. Simon called out, “See you in Queens, kiddies!” before they disappeared into the trees. Alexa remained behind, deciding that her father’s farm in the Bronx would be the best place for them to start their search. After all, there was a chance he’d left some clues behind.
    They traveled north, crossing the Broadway Bridge into the Bronx. As they moved deeper into the borough, Soka fell in beside Rory.
    â€œI’ve been thinking,” she said. “I’ve got an idea how Kieft’s treasure might help your mother.”
    â€œHow?” Rory asked.
    â€œYou remember how Abigail Hamilton found those Munsee spells written on parchment when she stumbled upon Kieft’s hiding place in the park? Kieft had been stealing our magic, writing it down for himself. My people have lost much of that magic over the years, but Kieft still has it. Which means there is a good chance that the healing magic of my grandmother, Alsoomse, survives on those pieces of parchment. The spell to save your mother is somewhere in those pages, I bet.”
    Rory nodded excitedly. “Of course! You can use that spell to save her!”
    â€œOr my mother can,” Soka replied, looking away. “If I can’t manage it.”
    â€œWe’ll fix you, I promise,” Rory said, then regretted his words as Soka’s eyes flashed.
    â€œI can look after myself. And I certainly don’t need you to risk your life for me, so please stop doing it.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    â€œYou risked your life for me in the lighthouse with your coin-flip game. I didn’t ask you to.”
    â€œI knew she wouldn’t let me bet my life,” Rory reminded her, wondering why she was suddenly so irritable. “So it wasn’t really a gamble.”
    â€œJust . . . don’t do it again, okay?” Soka said. She quickened her pace, catching up to Alexa. Rory sighed. He’d never understand women.
    They traveled down a busy Bronx street until at last they turned into a small alley. Though the sun was high in the sky, the buildings on both sides left the alley half shrouded in darkness. Alexa turned to face them.
    â€œI better go on alone from here.”
    â€œWhat?” Rory exclaimed. “No! We’re going with you!”
    â€œI don’t know if Kieft is watching my father’s farm, but he probably has somebody out here spying,” Alexa explained. “I won’t risk it. Please, just wait here in the alley until I get back.”
    With that, she raced down the alley and disappeared. After a moment Rory sneaked a peek around the corner and gasped. Halfway down the alley, the concrete turned to dirt, the walls melted into trees, and the buildings just faded away into stalks of corn. In the distance, he could see a large manor house set back behind a grove of flowering trees. It was beautiful.
    â€œWhat now?” Bridget was asking Soka behind him.
    â€œNow,” the Munsee girl answered, leaning against the wall, “we wait.”

    A lexa hurried through the cornfield toward the old manor house, taking care to stay hidden among the stalks. She’d grown up on this land, helping her father with anything he needed, from harvesting the crops to researching the law. It had been a happy home, though a sense of sadness and loss never quite faded. The specter of Marta van der Donck floated above them all and Alexa had never felt as if her mother was far from her, even though she barely remembered her.
    Alexa stepped out from the corn into the open to run up to the front door, when the sound of hooves on gravel made her jump. A dozen or so riders on horseback were trotting up the long driveway, led by a handsome young man in a long coat wearing a tricornered hat, out the back of which hung a thin, rakish ponytail. He guided his men up to Alexa, towering over her from atop his well-muscled steed.
    â€œWhat are you doing