The Flight of the Griffin by C. M. Gray

Author:C. M. Gray
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Sword & Sorcery, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Teen & Young Adult, Epic, Literature & Fiction
ISBN: 1471750353
Publisher: C.M.Gray
Published: 2012-04-11T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Finding The Hidden

The moon had long risen, bathing the island in a soft magical light, the harbour and streets long deserted. Even the band at the Acorn had gone home before The Griffin’s crew finally chanced to walk into town.

Mahra flew ahead, ready to warn of any late-night wanderers, as Pardigan practised his invisibility, from time to time flickering into view with a curse as he struggled to hold the spell. So it was three, then sometimes four people that headed past the Acorn and on towards the gated path.

The gate, when they reached it, was over twice the height of any of them and was inevitably made of wood. Wrapped around the two central poles was a thick metal chain and padlock with a sign that none of them could read. A small black and white house stood close by, a lamp burning in an upstairs window.

‘He’s still awake,’ hissed Tarent.

Pardigan peered up at the window. ‘No problem, I’ll see you later.’ He blinked out of sight and crossed the road. The others crouched down in the shade of a tree, out of the bright moonlight, watched over by a large owl, its eyes blinking and its head swivelling as it peered all around.

Pardigan skirted the house and saw his way in almost immediately; a downstairs window had been left slightly ajar allowing air into the pantry. He pushed up the latch with his knife and slipped over the sill.

Landing softly he stopped, listening, every sense tingling as he waited for sound, but the house was silent. He allowed himself to relax a little, stood and looked around the small pantry. A large cheese sat under a mesh dome and Pardigan cut a slice and stuffed it into his mouth as he moved to the door. It creaked as he opened it and he froze. A ginger cat had lifted its head and was staring at him. His last encounter with a cat had turned out to be Mahra, so he didn’t take this one’s presence for granted, especially when it followed his invisible progress across the kitchen as if it could see him. The kitchen opened out onto a small hallway with a staircase going up to bedrooms above and two other doors, one of which he carefully opened and slipped through.

A writing desk covered with papers stood centrally with two cabinets to either side. Glancing out of the window, he could just make out the shapes of his friends by the tree opposite and he stifled the impulse to hold back the curtain and wave. He had been hoping the key would be lying on a desk or hung on a wall, but after a brief search, it was obvious that there were no keys in the study at all. The next room, a small sitting room was quickly searched and no keys found; it must be upstairs.

Mahra returned from a short flight and landed on a branch above the boys’ heads. ‘Have you seen him yet?’ Her voice was strange and hooting as an owl.

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