The Black Fortress (The Gryphon Chronicles, Book 6) by E.G. Foley

Author:E.G. Foley [Foley, E.G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Middle Grade Fiction
Publisher: E.G. Foley
Published: 2019-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 36

The Fratricide

The next day, Waldrick Everton smoothed his new silk waistcoat as he stood before the mirror. Reflected behind him was the luxurious bedchamber he’d been assigned when he first arrived at the Black Fortress three weeks ago.

The cunning magic in the walls of these guestrooms allowed the occupant to conjure any sort of setting that he liked. So Waldrick had imagined for himself a bedchamber worthy of the Palace of Versailles. Lots of gilding. Crystal chandeliers. A magnificent canopy bed.

In one corner sat a bombé chest full of gourmet refreshments he could munch on whenever he pleased. By the opposite wall stood a towering wardrobe full of handsome new clothes that fit him perfectly. And through that white door there lay a splendid bathroom with gold-plated spigots and fine tile mosaics. It had a huge tub for his bubble baths, and large mirrors for making sure he had rid himself of unsightly nose hairs.

In short, Waldrick Everton was back to his old dapper self, living in the style to which he had once been accustomed.

Luxury suited him well. He looked much better, having regained some weight and shaved off that hideous prison beard, saying goodbye to all of its resident fleas. Smelled better, too. But, somehow, he didn’t feel as happy about all this as he ought.

Why was Fionnula acting so distant? he wondered as he frowned at his tidy, clean-shaved, well-dressed reflection. She’d been excited to see him that first night, but then it was like he barely existed.

Well, Waldrick wasn’t blind. He could see how his former ladylove was all aflutter over her precious Nathan the Nephilim.

Humph. No matter. Waldrick would soon win back her affections. He just needed something that would put him on a more equal footing with the six-fingered freak—namely, getting his pyrokinesis back.

And that was supposed to be happening today.

Waldrick warded off a hint of apprehension at the prospect and flicked a piece of lint off his sleeve. True, he could still hear the screams of those peasants he had accidentally torched as a lad. But surely he was old enough by now to control his gift.

He was a man, after all, not a boy. Once he had his firepower back, then Fionnula and Wyvern would start to treat him as an equal, not some charity case.

Turning toward the door of his chamber with a resolute stare, Waldrick squared his shoulders, pointed an admiring goodbye at his reflection, then dragged himself away from the mirror, determined to get this day underway.

To be honest, though, he didn’t much like going out there. His princely chamber was his refuge, but it made a jarring contrast to the rest of this stark black place. He knew by now that once he stepped out that door, there was no telling what bizarre thing might happen next.

Aye, over the past three weeks, Waldrick had learned that life inside the warlocks’ castle brimmed with all manner of high strangeness. Still, it was a vast improvement over prison. At least here he was free.

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