PathFinder (World of Septimus Heap) by Angie Sage

Author:Angie Sage
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2014-10-14T07:00:00+00:00

SNOW GLOBE

Tod, Septimus and Marcia ran out of Way VII into the Hub and found themselves in a snowstorm. They stumbled forward, half deafened by a tumult of terrified whinnying and piercing shrieks, and suddenly Marcia found herself nose to nose with a set of tombstone horse teeth. Marcia leaped back, the horse reared up and Septimus lunged for the bridle and grabbed it. Through the blizzard he caught the shimmer of sparkling blue reins and a white, shining figure seated on the horse.

A sudden shout filled the Hub. “Garmin! Garmin!” yelled Tod.

Septimus spun around and briefly, through the blizzard he saw the unmistakable shape of a Garmin come leaping into the Hub. He saw it stop and crouch down, confused by the swirling snow, and he saw another spring from an arch and join it—then another. A cloud of snow whirled in front of his eyes and Septimus could see no more.

He did the only thing he could. Trusting Marcia’s quick reactions, Septimus threw up his arms and yelled, “Freezer!” A rush of white crystals tinged with purple streamed from his open palms, swirled around horse and rider and then spiraled out into the rest of the Hub, popping and snapping as they went.

Inside the blizzard, Marcia heard Septimus’s Freezer. She grabbed hold of Tod, held on to her tight and began muttering the AntiFreeze. Tod saw the crackling tide of ice rolling toward her, she felt coldness surround her and then the AntiFreeze kicked in. A rush of warmth spread through her and the crystal wave rolled harmlessly by.

With the Freezing of the horse and rider, the snow began to subside. Across the Hub Tod saw the three Garmin, almost invisible, white against the snow. At the same time, they saw her. There was a long, seemingly endless moment when the Garmin launched themselves toward her and then the river of ice engulfed the creatures and they were frozen in midleap. One immediately toppled over. There was the sound of shattering, tinkling glass as it broke into thousands of sparkling crystalline shards, shining like diamonds in the light of the Hub torches. Another Garmin was held upright by one back leg welded into the ice that covered the snow. But as they watched, the ice gave way under the weight of the creature above and the second Garmin fell in another shower of crystals. The third lay Frozen, crouched as if to pounce.

“Stop Freezer!” Septimus’s command echoed around the Hub. He dropped his hands to his side, the light from his palms faded and the crystal wave—which was now heading around the Hub for a second circuit—stopped.

“Goodness, Septimus—that was a bit dramatic,” Marcia said, raising her voice above the background crackle of settling ice.

“But necessary,” Septimus replied.

“Oh, yes. Totally,” Marcia said hurriedly, not wanting Septimus to think she was criticizing. A Freezer was a rapid-reflex spell—indiscriminate but very effective, it was the kind of spell that was looked down upon by purists. But Marcia was no purist. She knew that when more than one danger must be disabled at once, such a spell was an essential tool.

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