The Mage by Inbali Iserles

Author:Inbali Iserles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2017-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

With a stretch, Métis rose to his paws. “So long, Wolf,” he said to Lop. “Foxling, come. We need to get back to the Wildlands. I’ve been away too long.”

My muzzle wrinkled. “I’m not going with you.”

The old fox scowled. “You must. You have good maa, don’t you? We shall need it. Why do you think the Elders sent you?” He gave his brush a shake. “A foxling. I still can’t believe it,” he muttered to himself. “They might at least have sent Siffrin.”

My heart pitched. “Siffrin’s back in the Wildlands. Jana wouldn’t let him come.” Had the red fox known of Jana’s trick? For an instant I held my breath, thinking hard. Siffrin had argued against my journey to the Snowlands, and later offered to come with me. I doubted he knew any more about it than I had. I let my breath out slowly. “I’m not going with you. I’m going to find Farraclaw. We can’t just leave him to be killed!”

Lop was gazing beyond me across the tundra. “We’ll have to track them at a distance. We have no idea where they’re taking him.”

“Rubbish,” snapped Métis. “What fools wolves are. I know exactly where they’re going.” He extended a black foreleg. Perhaps it was glossy once, but the fur was tatty, clumping in dirty tangles around his paw.

Lop turned to him. “What do you mean?” There was a warning glint in his eyes I’d never seen before. He may have been the under-wolf, but he was huge compared to Métis.

The Black Fox swallowed. His dropped his paw. “The lordess said they’re taking your master to their king. He rules over the Ice Palace at the heart of the Bishar. It’s circled by a scorching stream. Below it the wolves have dug out a dungeon—a frozen cave where their enemies are tortured and killed. That’s where you’ll find your wolf prince.”

I started forward. “We have to go there.”

“And do what?” I sensed the depth of judgement in Métis’s green eyes. “Think for a moment. The entire Bishar will be there. Your prince of Claw is a prized prisoner. Guards will be watching his every move.” His long ears twisted forward. “You cannot save the prince. And why would you wish to? Have you failed to grasp the peril we face in the Wildlands? Do you care more for these wolves than your own kind?” His snout crinkled, though his eyes flicked warily to Lop. Beneath his contempt, I sensed fear.

My voice was a growl. “I already told you, they helped me across the Bishar of Fang. If it wasn’t for Lop and Farraclaw, I wouldn’t have made it to the Ice Razors. I wouldn’t have freed you.”

Métis limped to the edge of the boulders. “Consider me grateful,” he rasped, sounding nothing of the kind. He paused, his forepaw trembling. With a wince he swung around to face me. Exhaustion was etched on his face. “Give me maa,” he said suddenly.

I blinked at him.

Lop was treading warily beyond the boulders.

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