Aster Wood and the Lost Maps of Almara (Book 1) by J. B. Cantwell Page A

one of her experiments, too!”
    I didn’t need to be told twice. I thrust the map up above my head and hollered, “Go!”
    The force of the jump knocked both Larissa and Crane to the ground, and Kiron and I escaped into the black of space.

CHAPTER NINE

    As we spun away from the mountaintop, flashes of light blinked behind my tightly closed eyelids. I tried to pry my eyes open against the whirlpool of air that twirled me like a child’s toy, but a wave of nausea forced me to squeeze them shut again. I hunched over, clutching at my stomach. The jump was unpleasant, but Almara’s link wasn’t painful like Kiron’s had been.
    When we landed, it was on hard cobblestone. I stayed crouched down, and my hands pressed into the cold, dirty stone of the street. I was gasping, and a sweat broke out all over my body as I tried to force down the large lump that threatened in my throat. I sat down on the stone, and found the air was cool, helping me regain my head. Whatever there was to see during the jumps, I wasn’t sure if it was worth it trying to look again.
    Kiron sat back against a stone wall opposite me. We were in a long, narrow alleyway.  
    “What happened?” I asked. “What did you do?”
    He smiled between gasps, his eyes closed as he rested his head back against the stone. From beneath his coat he produced a thin, crumpled page. It was from the book.
    “You took the spell,” I said slowly. “Why?” No wonder she had come after us.
    “Lissa was never meant to continue past Aerit,” he panted. “Pa was clear as crystal on that fact.”
    “You tricked her.” I was impressed despite my concern.
    “Lissa has more power than me, that’s for sure. But she’s arrogant. Arrogance breeds ignorance. I’ve always been the brains of the family.”
    After we both caught our breath, I asked, “What about Crane? She’s sure to do something horrible, isn’t she?”
    “Nah,” he said, getting to his feet and brushing the dirt from his clothes. “Lissa’s soft spot has always been animals. No matter how much she hates me, she’d never hurt Crane. Though, after this, I suspect he won’t be mine anymore. She’ll keep him from me, just outta spite. No matter. That mutt will have a great life with her. She adores dogs.”
    “But why do we need the spell?” I asked. “Aren’t we supposed to use Almara’s links? We won’t need to be making more, will we?” My stomach squirmed at the painful memory of the jump from Kiron’s farm to the mountaintop.  
    “I needed something to convince her to take Crane. Without an offering, and a good one, she woulda said no, just to punish me. The book was the only way. But I couldn’t let her have the spell. We have it now, in case we ever need it. Here.” He handed it out to me.
    I stared blankly at the paper and then at him. “But— why are you giving it to me?”  
    “It was always meant for you,” he said. “You’re the one meant to be on this quest, not me. I’m just along for the ride.” He shook his outstretched hand impatiently.
    I took the thin paper and folded it carefully, putting it in my pocket. Then I took his hand and heaved myself upright.
    As my breathing slowed, distant sounds found their way to my brain through the ringing in my ears. I was thankful for the cover of a deserted passage. We must have been far enough away from the people of this place that they hadn’t heard us land. Beyond the shadows, the sounds of men and horses, wagons and commerce came to me. I steadied myself against a stone wall, and held up this most recent link. We both peered at the page.
    The outline of a city had appeared. A perfect square was outlined into the center with several streets lining the perimeter. From each corner a wide lane cut through the streets diagonally to the square. In the center a golden ring twinkled at me.  
    “Where are we?” I asked, handing him the map.
    Kiron studied the map. “Aeso, I believe.” He looked at the buildings on either