The Talent Thief by Alex Williams

Author:Alex Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2006-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

ENCOUNTER IN THE FOREST

Cressida strode away from the house into the forest. It was snowing gently and a soft silence embraced her. The frosted trees towered over her head. She felt very much alone and her feeling of loss was almost overwhelming. Her parents were gone, finished by their talent, and now her own talent was gone too. Part of her was grateful to the creature, glad it was gone. It had been a burden. She wished she could have been more like Hans Fortissimo, strong and comfortable with her own abilities. But it hadn’t been the case. However, as she walked along, watching the snowflakes dance to their own music in the breeze, she admitted that being so talented had also been aprivilege of sorts. Adam understood that somehow. (Perhaps because he was so average—poor boy.) That was why he wanted to catch up with the creature and get the talents back.

Cressida’s thoughts turned to the ancient creature. She was sure it was far more than just the evil freak Fortescue’s notebook outlined and Saul’s account seemed to suggest. It had a deep and intense understanding of what it was to be alive. It may have been duped into stealing human talents, but from her dim recollection of her time with it, she was sure it had a certain respect for all living things. Fortescue, on the other hand, did not.

In the quiet forest, something moved up ahead—Cressida snapped out of her own thoughts instantly. Her heart started to hammer. Was it a wolf? Cressida had a sudden powerful impulse to head back to the house very fast, but just before she turned, she saw two familiar glowing eyes emerge from the snowy mist. It was the creature.

It stood alone a little way off, as though it had been summoned by her thoughts. Snowflakes glistened on its dark red hood and cloak; the ends of its leathery blue claws were just visible, potent yet still. Cressida could not explain why, but it seemed lonely. Perhaps it was just providing a mirror for her own feelings. A strangely calm sensation swept over her. Those intense, ancient eyes stared at her. She stared back. It trilled hypnotically. An image suddenly leaped into her mind, except it was more of a feeling, an urging—a burning roof, black smoke. And then three words swam into her thoughts like kindly messengers from afar: YOUR CAVE UNSAFE. In the next moment the creature was gone, swallowed by the snow.

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