aloft. It felt alive, not like any kind of metal. Probing its surface I discovered it was being held in its current shape by a strong transformation spell. The work involved in creating it was incredible and well beyond any magic I could formulate. That was when I knew what it was.
I looked up towards the balcony to see Jeram cheerfully salute me and vanish. That meant I didn’t have much time. Bob and Lana had recovered their keys and found they were cut into pieces. It wouldn’t take them long to figure it out either. When I looked up to where I’d left her, I couldn’t see Estan in the sky, which meant that all of my opponents were back in the race.
I dissolved the ice in the lake, mixing water temperatures so it wouldn’t endanger the crocoshark. It and I had a destiny together. Lifting my body to eight feet above the water I waited for the inevitable attack.
There was only a split second in which to act. As the beast flew out of the water, I hopped to what I hoped was its blind side. The gaping maw of the creature missed me by inches as it sped upwards, but then, it was essential to be close.
Dodging a flailing croc leg I touched the key to the flank of the beast and then threw it away. Only just in time as the mouth forming from the key snapped viciously at me.
The crocoshark restored from its transformation as a key toppled backwards into the water and I reached for the key which was all that remained of its doppelganger. The key was still rising and I nearly missed it.
Hopping to the balcony I stumbled into the Chancellor, key in hand with Estan and Jeram arriving only milliseconds behind me with their keys.
Lana and Bob arrived with their broken keys a few seconds later. Once the whole keys had been grabbed they had no other choice but to come back with what they had.
The Chancellor took my key from me with a look of distain on his face.
“The murderer has arrived back first. Scores will be announced later.
The crowd booed, which I thought was distinctly unsporting of them. I gave them a bow, which raised the noise even louder.
18. Reward
Jeram patted me on the back in a friendly way, while Lana and Bob looked angry, but resigned. Estan was giving me a look I couldn’t completely fathom. There was anguish in it as though I had done a great wrong in saving her life, but there was also something else, possibly resolve.
The crowd had become subdued, though hushed conversations hissed around us. Estan was still staring at me so I gave her a broad wink. That didn’t seem to help and she retreated as far away from me as she could get. I wondered if she was annoyed that I had discovered that she was a girl, or even if she knew. Not everybody knows how healing magic works.
There was a tug at my shirt and I turned to find Harlan had crept up on me. He didn’t look particularly happy and I assumed he’d lost his bet. Served him right for not betting on me, I have a track record.
“Wizard Morrissey, we need to leave at once.”
I looked around and saw individuals attempting to lead the others away. We each had our own minder by the look of it. A stern faced girl was trying to get Lana to leave with little success. The young man minding Estan was trying to stop her reaching the Chancellor, who was in a huddle with the other judges. I guessed she wanted to complain about my interference. Bob and Jeram, on the other hand, were not putting up any resistance and I decided to follow their lead.
“Lead on, Harlan. What’s next on the agenda?”
Harlan ignored my question and hurried off in the direction of the door we had come in by. I guessed each applicant had their own door, corridor, eating places and cell. Though it seemed like overkill to me. Why would they want to stop us talking to each other? It was not like we could cheat.
I ran after him until I caught up and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Why are we in such a hurry?”
Harlan looked flustered. “The
I looked up towards the balcony to see Jeram cheerfully salute me and vanish. That meant I didn’t have much time. Bob and Lana had recovered their keys and found they were cut into pieces. It wouldn’t take them long to figure it out either. When I looked up to where I’d left her, I couldn’t see Estan in the sky, which meant that all of my opponents were back in the race.
I dissolved the ice in the lake, mixing water temperatures so it wouldn’t endanger the crocoshark. It and I had a destiny together. Lifting my body to eight feet above the water I waited for the inevitable attack.
There was only a split second in which to act. As the beast flew out of the water, I hopped to what I hoped was its blind side. The gaping maw of the creature missed me by inches as it sped upwards, but then, it was essential to be close.
Dodging a flailing croc leg I touched the key to the flank of the beast and then threw it away. Only just in time as the mouth forming from the key snapped viciously at me.
The crocoshark restored from its transformation as a key toppled backwards into the water and I reached for the key which was all that remained of its doppelganger. The key was still rising and I nearly missed it.
Hopping to the balcony I stumbled into the Chancellor, key in hand with Estan and Jeram arriving only milliseconds behind me with their keys.
Lana and Bob arrived with their broken keys a few seconds later. Once the whole keys had been grabbed they had no other choice but to come back with what they had.
The Chancellor took my key from me with a look of distain on his face.
“The murderer has arrived back first. Scores will be announced later.
The crowd booed, which I thought was distinctly unsporting of them. I gave them a bow, which raised the noise even louder.
18. Reward
Jeram patted me on the back in a friendly way, while Lana and Bob looked angry, but resigned. Estan was giving me a look I couldn’t completely fathom. There was anguish in it as though I had done a great wrong in saving her life, but there was also something else, possibly resolve.
The crowd had become subdued, though hushed conversations hissed around us. Estan was still staring at me so I gave her a broad wink. That didn’t seem to help and she retreated as far away from me as she could get. I wondered if she was annoyed that I had discovered that she was a girl, or even if she knew. Not everybody knows how healing magic works.
There was a tug at my shirt and I turned to find Harlan had crept up on me. He didn’t look particularly happy and I assumed he’d lost his bet. Served him right for not betting on me, I have a track record.
“Wizard Morrissey, we need to leave at once.”
I looked around and saw individuals attempting to lead the others away. We each had our own minder by the look of it. A stern faced girl was trying to get Lana to leave with little success. The young man minding Estan was trying to stop her reaching the Chancellor, who was in a huddle with the other judges. I guessed she wanted to complain about my interference. Bob and Jeram, on the other hand, were not putting up any resistance and I decided to follow their lead.
“Lead on, Harlan. What’s next on the agenda?”
Harlan ignored my question and hurried off in the direction of the door we had come in by. I guessed each applicant had their own door, corridor, eating places and cell. Though it seemed like overkill to me. Why would they want to stop us talking to each other? It was not like we could cheat.
I ran after him until I caught up and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Why are we in such a hurry?”
Harlan looked flustered. “The
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