Free Thursdays with the Crown by Jessica Day George Page A

need all the information we can get!”
    â€œAll right,” Ethan said, his face chalky. “I shouldn’t, but … it’s … it’s the Tomb of the Builder.”
    â€œThe Builder?” Celie’s heart started to pound.
    â€œI want … I hoped to go with you to the Castle,” Ethan went on. “In Sleyne. But not if you’re going in there first,” he babbled.
    â€œA tomb? Is it haunted?” Rolf looked delighted.
    â€œIt’s the Tomb of the
Builder
,” Ethan repeated.
    â€œThe Builder of the Castle?” Celie swallowed, trying to calm herself. “There’s a tomb and it’s big enough to be on the map?” She exchanged excited looks with the others.
    â€œHollowing out that mountain was no mean feat,” Pogue said. “He must have been a great man, and powerful.”
    â€œHe didn’t do it himself,” Lilah pointed out. “I’m sure he had lots of people working for him.”
    â€œBut he designed the Castle,” Celie said. “He was in charge?”
    â€œYes,” Ethan said. “And he was a very great man. We shouldn’t disturb his rest. He … you shouldn’t disturb his rest.” His face twisted. “The Arkower made me steal something from it … Darryn, too. That’s why the griffins didn’t want us. They know.”
    â€œThat is being nonsense!” Lulath slapped him on the back and nearly knocked him down. “The griffins, they are not being such … and how are they knowing?”
    â€œWe need to move now,” Pogue said. “We’ve stood around here too long.” He paused. “What did you steal from the tomb?”
    â€œBut we’re going to the Tomb of the Builder, right?” Rolf asked. “You could put back whatever it was you stole, Ethan. Because we’re going there right now!”
    â€œI can’t,” Ethan protested. “It’s gone!”
    â€œThat doesn’t matter,” Celie said. “But we’ve come all this way, and lived in the Castle all our lives, and we never even knew there
was
a Builder,” she said to Ethan by way of apology. “We can’t leave without at least taking a look.”

Chapter 8
    â€œI don’t like this,” Lilah announced.
    â€œIt’s just making you nervous because we’re all staring at your back,” Rolf assured her. “Which is just as lovely as ever. Also, your hair is remarkably shiny despite everything we’ve been through.”
    Pogue laughed softly and Lilah continued to grumble. Celie just kept plodding along beside Rufus, who kept looking up with envy at his father, swooping and wheeling high above them. She was keeping him on a short lead because Rufus showed every inclination of heading back to drink out of the lake whenever Celie let go of him, and he was too tired from yesterday’s flying for her to ride. So they were forced to walk through the forest, with Rufus straining against his harness, searching for the tomb.
    â€œIt is not being the best of maps, this Lilah cape,” Lulath said to Celie, trying to cheer her up. “But it is being thebest of maps that we are having. And how bright of your brain to see it as a map!”
    â€œThank you,” Celie said. “It is a bit too regular, though, isn’t it? I mean, to make the fabric look better. Nothing’s really that round.” She pointed to the circle of lake.
    â€œOh, but it is being the very rounded,” Lulath said. “And so is the valley in which the Castle is now sitting. I am thinking it is being made in this fashion.”
    â€œI guess the Castle likes being at the bottom of a bowl,” Celie agreed. “And if the Builder could hollow out the mountains and make the outside so smooth, I suppose he could make the lake rounder.”
    â€œPerhaps it is making it feel the safety, this bowl,” Lulath said. “But the army that