"02 - The Wyvern's Spur - Jeff Grubb & Kate Novak [4.0]" - читать интересную книгу автора (Finder's Stone)

"What's the difference?" Steele growled.
"Shieldmeet," Gaylyn cried excitedly, like a woman playing charades.
"Exactly," Uncle Drone said. "Shieldmeet, every four years, adds an extra day.
After fifty years, the extra days add up, so the door opened earlier than I had
expected."
"By twelve days," Gaylyn added.
Gaylyn, Giogi guessed, was one of those women who were good with figures.
"Fortunately," Drone continued, "I had the notion to check out that door within
minutes of the theft. Sure enough, it stood open. I sealed it with a wall of
stone and left magical guards to tell me if anyone tries to break out by that
door or the door from the crypt to the mausoleum. No one has. The would-be thief
is still stuck in the catacombs. So, you see, none of us can be the thief, since
none of us are missing."
Giogi wondered idly, if he hadn't managed to return to Immersea before that
evening, whether his family would be sitting around suspecting him of the crime.

"Since only a member of our family can enter the crypt, it's up to us to deal
with this thieving rogue Wyvernspur," Aunt Dorath said. "No one else need know
about this notorious incident. All we need to do is search the catacombs," she
announced. "First thing in the morning."
"And will you be leading us, Aunt Dorath?" Steele asked with a smirk.
"Don't be absurd. This is a job for healthy young men like yourself and
Frefford."
"And Giogioni," Uncle Drone said. "Can't leave him out."
"That's all right, Uncle Drone," Giogi insisted. "I can guard the crypt door or
something, in case the thief gets past Steele and Freffie."
"Nonsense," Steele said. "We need you, Giogi. Besides, don't you want to renew
your acquaintance with the guardian?"
"Actually, no," Giogi retorted sharply, glaring at his cousin. If looks could
kill, the rest of the family would have to have summoned a cleric for Steele.
Aunt Dorath gave Giogi a cold look. "Giogioni, I won't have you shirking your
family responsibilities. You can help by carrying the water flasks or
something."
"Yes, you can be our provisions officer," Steele said. "But leave the land
urchins behindЧand don't forget your key. It'll remind the guardian that you are
a Wyvernspur after all."
Giogi began breathing a little too deeply, and the room seemed to tilt. Steele's
taunts were wasted on himЧhe was too busy fighting off a rising panic. Frefford
moved to his side and clamped a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It'll be fine,
Giogi. We'll all be down there together"
"You can't possibly still be affected by that scare you had as a boy," Aunt
Dorath insisted.
Giogi did not answer. His mouth moved, but no words escaped.
"Well, that's settled, then," Aunt Dorath said. "I suggest you all get a good
night's sleep so you can get an early start. That includes you, Giogioni. Don't
spend the rest of the evening carousing in town. You must be at the crypt at
dawn. This is not a duty any of you dare take lightly. Until that spur is back
in the crypt where it belongs, none of us are safe. You may scoff all you want,
but I know for a fact that the spur's curse is no silly superstition. Its
absence will bring evil upon us."