Free The Pirate Princess: Return to the Emerald Isle by Matthew Morris Page A

another language.
    The last instrument was comprised of a series of thin, overlapping discs with all sorts of geometrical markings. Each disc could be turned in a circle like a dial. There was a hole offset in the center disc that Meg realized showed the phases of the moon when she turned it. She also recognized the symbols of the twelve zodiac signs aligned around the disc, along with more numbers and tick marks. One of the discs was a frame of arcs and points that revealed etched outlines and dots below it. Meg turned this disc and saw that the lines beneath sometimes matched up with the points of the arcs, although she did not know what this represented.
    The back plate of the compendium had another movable arm attached to the center with fobs that folded out and numerical tick marks all around the perimeter.
    The compendium was as complicated as it was beautiful. The engravings and inscriptions were starkly black from rubbed-in dirt, while the bronze was smooth and shiny. Meg’s mom had taught her basic navigation with a compass and charts, but she had no idea how this piece of art could help her sail a ship. Looking at the different instruments with their complex markings, Meg was intrigued. She couldn’t wait to learn how to use them.
    She studied her gift a while longer, folding out the leaves and turning the dials and gizmos first one way then the other, then finally closed it. To think that several generations of her family had held this tool in their hands and used it to sail the seas sent chills up Meg’s spine. She then shuddered at the thought that the compendium was also held by the now-dead Owen O’Flaherty, the man she was about to fly over the Atlantic Ocean to see for the first time, at his funeral! She wrapped her treasure back up in the tee shirt and replaced it securely in her bag, vowing she would never let it out of her sight.
    The drive went by more quickly than she had expected and they were soon pulling their car into John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. After unloading at the curb in front of the terminal, Meg said goodbye to her father. It was weird leaving her dad behind. Meg had never spent a significant amount of time alone with just one parent. Days spent with her mom on the sailboat were always balanced with snuggle time with her dad at night. As Mark pulled away and they walked into the terminal, Meg already missed him more than she ever thought possible.
    After Meg and Shay got their tickets, they had some dinner in an airport restaurant that was jam-packed with people. Most were happy and looking forward to their trips, but Meg also noticed the business travelers who were unimpressed with air travel, sitting with straight faces as they typed away at computers or looked at their cell phones.
    Meg was excited to be traveling … sort of. But she was also a bit scared to go on an airplane. The idea of floating on air in what looked like a big, long metal can was not natural to her. Boats on water made sense, and besides, the air was for birds. They walked around the terminal, amid all of the air travelers. Meg started to get anxious about getting on the plane. Her mother must have noticed Meg’s apprehension and was extra comforting and even hugged her a few times which was very unlike Shay. Meg told her mom she was a little scared of flying. Shay told her she had nothing to worry about, and hugged her tightly again. They bought some magazines to read while they were waiting and found a space on a bench near the door to their plane. A short time later, they handed the flight attendant their tickets and walked down an enclosed ramp to the long metal can with wings.
    When the flight attendant pulled the door closed, Meg grabbed Shay’s hand and squeezed it tight.
    “I’m scared , Mommy.”
    Shay looked down at Meg and kissed her on the top of her head. “You have nothing to worry about , honey. Remember, our family is protected by the fairies and they won’t let