LegendsAwake_KThomsit-eBooks by Stiles Alex

Author:Stiles, Alex
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The crunch of snow underfoot broke the deep silence as Peran followed Miles across the courtyard outside the Somnium.

‘Miles, where are we going? It’s late, couldn’t this wait ‘til morning?’ He held his coat tight around his neck to keep the chill out.

‘It’s not late, just dark.’

Something twigged at the back of Peran’s mind as he stepped in Miles’s footprints. He stopped to study his tracks. Others had walked in them too, giving them an animal-like quality as if made by a giant creature. Then it hit him and he rushed after Miles into the shelter of the Sanctum. The heavy wooden doors ground shut behind him, scraping a trail into the stone floor once more.

‘I meant to tell you, a klakaby disappeared from the paddock,’ Peran said.

‘How can a klakaby disappear? They’re huge.’

‘Caratrin’s sure something took it, they found large footprints.’ He tried to keep his voice down so they wouldn’t be overheard, but it wasn’t necessary; few walked the corridors that cold evening.

‘Instructor Caratrin? Which one?’

‘The hairy one. The other one can’t speak, can he.’

‘Can’t he? I didn’t realise.’

‘Anyway, I heard him talking to old man Seddon in the Stone Circles. They seemed worried.’

‘What type of footprints?’

‘Animal footprints, maybe a biped.’

‘What eats klakabies? A bautag’s large enough, but they only eat plants, and they’re quadrupeds.’

‘I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t want to meet it, whatever it is. Can you imagine Quinton trying to fend off something that big?’ Peran smiled at the thought as they rounded the corner to the Honour Hall entrance.

‘Where are we going?’ he asked again as they walked past the ornate doors and descended the broad sweeping staircase.

‘You’ll see.’ Miles looked pleased with himself.

He’d worn that expression a lot lately after going off on his own for marks at a time. Peran had tried to find out where he went, but Miles gave nothing away. One moment they’d be heading to the dorm after classes, then Peran would turn round and he’d be gone. Getting up early, coming back late. It had been driving Peran crazy, particularly because he was sure Wiln knew what Miles was up to. But then Wiln knew what everyone was up to.

‘Are you going to tell me where you keep disappearing off to?’

‘No, I’m going to show you.’ Miles had mischief in his eyes as they stopped outside their destination.

‘The Congery?’ he said, not attempting to disguise his disappointment. ‘This is where you’ve been all this time?’

‘Sometimes. Come on.’

The Congery was darker than usual and more pungent. The odour of books and musty old man. But something else was in the air, something sharper.

‘Mr Fendal? Mr Fendal?’ Miles called out as he headed down the aisle in front of them, through the gloom to the light at the end. No response. Peran followed him past the rows of books, manoeuvring round an abandoned chair. The sharp scent got stronger.

Fendal had slumped over his desk, an uncomfortable position, a dark stain on his trousers.

Peran made towards him but recoiled

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.