Dragon Assassin 7: Hidden Powers by Arthur Slade

Author:Arthur Slade [Slade, Arthur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dava Enterprises
Published: 2020-04-27T16:00:00+00:00

9

Not a Reptile

Thord had his sword out first, and Megan drew back, lifting my dagger in one hand. I could only stand there in shock, my mouth agape.

It was Brax who reacted faster than all of us. He leapt forward and shot an arm between Megan and me, aiming directly at Corwin, his talons out. I wasn’t certain whether he was meaning to kill him there and then.

And I didn’t find out, for in that moment Corwin threw a small glass ball skyward that burst with brightness, and he vanished as if he hadn’t been standing there at all.

“That was a very curious display of sudden violence.” Red’s voice was hard and angry, her eyes narrowed so they were half hidden by wrinkles. Her staff glowed with energy. The other wizards and witches had brought their own staffs and wands to bear, and the air crackled with so much magic my hair rose.

“Yes,” said Goran, the wizard who had been talking books with Brax only moments earlier. He hadn’t lifted a finger. “That was a very, very curious display. It is almost as if you know my apprentice.”

“Your apprentice?” Megan said. “Why would you have a snake as an apprentice?”

I slowly looked left and right, expecting Corwin to come out of the darkness, blade in hand. I even glanced up, in case he somehow had risen above us and was dropping right now. But he was gone.

“Snake,” Goran said. “That is an interesting choice of words. It suggests an evil aspect to him. A darkness. A slipperiness. Assuming one believes the stories about snakes and does not see them as another of nature’s wondrous creatures.”

“Yes, he’s a snake!” Thord spat the words. “Times ten.”

“Well,” Goran said, calmly. “He is no snake, nor is he a reptile of any sort. I see him as a lamb.”

The wizard had been fooled. Only moments ago I’d thought he was intelligent, now I looked for signs of him being a simpleton—but wisdom gleamed in his eyes.

“Where is he?” I asked. I had sheathed my dagger but kept my hands on the hilt.

“Yes, show us the mortal,” Brax demanded. “Show his face.” Brax was right beside me, his nostrils flared as he sniffed for a scent of Corwin. I felt a lot more powerful when he was backing me up.

“Do you promise not to skewer, burn or strike him with blunt objects?” Goran asked.

“That’s a lot to ask,” Brax said. “We have a nasty history with that one.”

“Then first, let us explore that history,” Goran said. “Since he is my apprentice, I promise your safety from him and from me and all around us.” He glanced around to be certain of this and Red nodded. “Do you promise not to harm him until after we have discussed this so-called nasty history?”

“Yes,” Megan said. “We promise that.” Thord, Brax and I nodded.

“Then, apprentice, show thyself,” Goran said with obvious pride in his student and a bit of flourish. Every wizard was a showman at heart.

Corwin appeared before us in exactly the place he’d been standing only moments before.

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