Home and Away by Colin Thompson

Author:Colin Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Australia
Published: 2006-10-25T04:00:00+00:00

In the Himalayas the mist had lifted and the sun shone down into a two-coloured world. Above, the sky was a bright clear blue. Everything else was covered in a layer of fresh white snow that had fallen during the night. It was as if no living creature had ever set foot in this high valley. The stable itself was almost hidden beneath a large snowdrift.

Inside the stable the air was warm and humid, filled with the sweet smell of damp hay. Baby Valla lay in his manger, gurgling quietly to himself as he sucked his thumb. Being a wizard, with a touch of vampire from his great-great-grandfather on his mother’s side, he already had tiny fangs, and soon punctured his own skin. This would make a human baby cry, but as Valla tasted his own blood, a contented grin spread across his little face. His parents lay together, half buried in the straw below the manger, and across the stable Vessel lay curled up at the Queen’s feet dreaming of cheese.

George was gradually eating his way through the Queen’s bed when she woke with a shudder and sat up.

‘What is it, my queen?’ said Vessel. ‘Are you cold?’

‘Go on, blame it on me,’ George whinged. ‘Can’t even eat a bit of breakfast without someone complaining.’

‘No, it’s not the cold,’ said the Queen. ‘I felt the icy hand of death on my shoulder. The Hearse Whisperer comes behind us and she is one who will never rest until she has found us.’

‘The Hearse Whisperer?’ said Nerlin. ‘My grandfather used to speak of her, but none of us believed she was real.’

‘We must leave,’ said the Queen. ‘The further away we get, the better. I knew the King would send people after us, but I never thought he would use someone as evil as the Hearse Whisperer.’

‘We need to find some food for our new baby,’ said Mordonna. ‘I know puncturing your own veins is a great way to keep a deadly pale complexion, but I’d rather not.’

‘Blood, blood, blood,’ gurgled Valla.

‘Oh bless him,’ said the Queen. ‘Look at that blood round his little mouth. What an angel.’

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