Free The Unwilling Apprentice (Book 2) by Heidi Willard Page A

swept over every square inch of the city, but didn't travel farther than the walls. When it stopped, all the earth stopped shaking. There was no more earthquakes, no more tremors; nothing but silence.
    Fred and the other two looked around in awe at the quiet city. The citizens gaped at their calm, unmoving surroundings and at each other. Fred glimpsed something strange wind its way through the streets from the direction of the castle. It was a ribbon of white fog a few feet wide and so thick he couldn't see anything inside of it. The fog doused the fires, and when it passed over a person they came out the other end calm and tired. Many adults yawned, and the children fell asleep.
    The three companions backed up against each other when the fog passed by them. Wisps floated over the top of the roof, but otherwise it left them alone and floated on to the front of the city. The ribbon of fog reached the front gates,and when it hit the wall it dissipated. Nothing remained of so thick a block of moisture.
    Pat blinked and glanced at Fred. "That wasn't you, was it?" she asked him. Fred shook his head. "That's what I thought." She turned to the gargoyle girl, who stood quivering at their sides. Pat gently took her hand and led her toward the base of the roof. "Come on, we still need to get you back to your dad."
    "Don't try the cistern. That got burnt up," Fred told them.
    Pat paused and pursed her lips together. "That means the only entrance is through the kitchen, so we'd better hurry to the castle. After Ned's and your display of magic there will be extra guards around the castle."
    "Ned's magic?" Fred repeated.
    The girl sighed and glanced over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow. "Who else do you think stopped your magic? Only a castor can cancel a castor."
    Fred shrugged. "I don't know."
    Pat gestured at his staff which was once more a broken stick. "If you're going to be using that thing than maybe you'd better start knowing."
    Fred winced. She was right, he had been reckless using that earthquake move when he didn't know how he did it or how to cancel it out. Pat led the gargoyle girl along the rooftops, and Fred slowly followed behind. In a few minutes they reached the end of the houses and the open area before the castle gates. They ducked down over the peak of the final roof and looked out on their final hurdle. The gates stood open in case of an emergency evacuation, but all but a scarce contingency of the guards were in the city directing the housing and rescue effort.
    Even with so few guards they had no way of sneaking the gargoyle inside without being caught. Lady Luck proved to be on their side, or rather Lady Martley. She came out of the castle and had a word with the guards. To the surprise of the three, the guards lined up and marched down into the city. Martley folded her arms across her ample chest and waved them off. The moment they were out of sight of the castle gates, Martley's eyes turned to the hidden companions. "All clear," she whispered to them. The three looked at each, and none of them moved. Martley's voice told her impatience. "Hurry! More may come, and I can't distract them all."
    Pat frowned. "She could if she took off all her clothes," she muttered.
    "She helped me once before, so let's go," Fred replied. He took hold of the gargoyle girl's hand and guided her down off the roof, with Pat at the rear. They hurried across the open area and into the relative safety and seclusion of the castle courtyard.
    Martley smiled and bowed her head at the group. "Good evening, young people. Quite an interesting night, isn't it?"
    Pat shoved her way to the front of the group. "How did you know we were out here?" she questioned the older woman.
    Martley smirked. "It must have been a lucky guess," she replied in a sweet voice.
    "Lucky guess my foot. You knew we were out here so-"
    Martley held up her hand and pointed behind the companions. They turned and saw shadows dancing on the walls toward them. "You may want