The Aedyn Chronicles by Alister E. McGrath

Author:Alister E. McGrath [McGrath, Alister E.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Published: 2010-04-09T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

10

Peter watched the door close with a dull, final thud, and felt for perhaps the first time in his life that he was utterly alone.

“Now, Peter,” came the hissing voice of the Wolf, “perhaps you would be so good as to share your secrets?”

“Show us how to harness your gunpowder,” rasped the Leopard. Peter made a sound rather like a gulp and stepped forward. This was not at all what he had intended—but what else was there to do? How else could he save his sister? If he gave them the diagram of a cannon he would save Julia by making the Jackal, the Leopard, and the Wolf invincible. Was the cost too high?

Peter decided he must get a grip of himself. His own life and that of his sister were at stake. He simply could not afford to make any more mistakes. He stepped forward and looked directly at the Wolf. Behind that mask, he told himself, was an ordinary human being. There was nothing to fear from a mask.

“My lord, I gave you the secret of gunpowder. But this is of little use without the weapon to direct the blast over great distances. We call these weapons cannons. I am prepared to tell you how to make one, but there are conditions.”

The Leopard laughed—a cold, gravelly laugh that held no trace of joy. “You are in no position to negotiate. We have ways of making you tell us what we need to know.”

Peter squared his shoulders and tried to look brave. “I will tell you nothing that I have not agreed to, my lords. Of that you can be certain. I am offering to give you this information on certain conditions.”

Again that gasping laugh from the Leopard, but the Wolf intervened, motioning the others to silence.

“We would like to hear your conditions, Lord Peter. Pray tell us.”

“Freedom for the lady Julia and myself. Freedom…and a boat, so that we might return to our own land.” A boat wouldn’t do them much good, he knew. Somehow they had to get back to that garden and make the pond become a portal back to Oxford. But freedom had to come first.

The Wolf nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on Peter. “Rebellion against the state is a capital crime. The penalty is severe and immediate. Traitors must die. You know that. Normally, we would…”

Peter’s heart leapt at the word “normally.” Surely this meant that they were about to make an exception in his case?

“Normally, we would insist on immediate execution. But if you serve us in this way, we will allow you and your companion to leave Aedyn. You will supervise the construction and testing of this weapon, and you will have your freedom if the test is successful. If it is not, you will die. Is that clear?”

Peter gulped again. This was getting out of control. But what other option did he have?

“That is very satisfactory, my lord. I have your word on this?”

“You have the word of the Wolf.” The lord stood and reached out a pale hand to Peter, who took it in his.

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