Free The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner

over the loss of the Bridestone, naturally, but what troubled her more was the fact that Susan should be so fearful of the consequences that she would invent such a desperate pack of nonsense to explain it all away. Gowther, on the other hand, was by no means so certain that it was all fantasy. He kept his thoughts to himself, but in places the story touched on his recent experiences far too accurately for comfort. However, the affair blew over and no one mentioned it again, though that does not mean to say it was forgotten.
    Shortly before Christmas Colin discovered that the owls had left the barn, and for days after, the children were in a fretful state of anxiety over what the disappearance could mean.
    â€œEither Cadellin’s got the stone back again,” said Colin, “or he’s lost the fight.”
    â€œOr perhaps it’s only that he’s sure we’re out of danger, or perhaps … no, that wouldn’t make sense … oh, I wish we knew !”
    And although they spent two whole days ranging the woods from end to end, they found no clue to help them. Ifthere had been a struggle as fierce as Cadellin had predicted, then it had left no trace that they could see.
    It was a young winter of cloudless skies. The stars flashed silver in the velvet, frozen nights, and all the short day long the sun betrayed the earth into thinking it was spring. And late one Sunday afternoon at the end of the first week in January, Colin and Susan climbed out of Alderley village, pushing their bicycles before them. They walked slowly, for it was not a hill to be rushed, and the last stretch was the worst – straight and steep, without any respite. But once they were at the top, the going was comparatively good.
    They did not ride more than a hundred yards, however, for Colin, who was leading, jammed on his brakes so violently that he half fell from his bicycle and Susan nearly piled on top of him.
    â€œLook!” he gasped. “Look over there!”
    It could be only Cadellin. He stood against the skyline of Castle Rock, staff in hand, facing the plain.
    At once all promises were forgotten: the children dropped their bicycles and ran.
    â€œCadellin! Cadellin!”
    The wizard spun round at the sound of their voices, and made as if to leave the rock. But after three strides he checkedhis pace, stood for a moment, and then walked to the bench and sat down.
    â€œOh, Cadellin, we thought something must have happened to you!” cried Susan, sobbing with relief.
    â€œMany things have happened to me, but I do not feel the worse for that!”
    There was displeasure in his face, tempered with understanding.
    â€œBut we were so worried,” said Colin. “When the owls disappeared we wondered if you’d … you’d …”
    â€œI see!” said Cadellin, breaking into laughter. “No, no, no, you must not look on life so fearfully. We called the birds away because we knew that you were no longer in danger from the morthbrood.”
    â€œWell, we thought of that,” said Colin, “but we couldn’t help thinking of other things, too.”
    â€œBut what about the morthbrood?” said Susan. “Have they still got my Tear?”
    â€œYes, and no,” said the wizard. “And in their greed and deceit lies all our present hope.
    â€œGrimnir has the stone. He should have delivered it to Nastrond, but the morthbrood and he intend to master it alone. Perhaps they believe Firefrost holds power for them. If so, they are mistaken!
    â€œAnd here we have wheels within wheels; for Grimnirand Shape-shifter, as rumour has it, are planning to reap all benefits for themselves, and to leave the brood and the svarts to whistle for their measure. So says rumour; and I can guess more. I know Grimnir too well to imagine that he would willingly share power with anyone, and the Morrigan, for all her guile, is no match for him. And it may be among all this treachery that we