RHIDAUNA, The Shadow of the Revenaunt, Book 1

CHAPTER 6 - DEADLY NIGHT (Part Three)

Pale with fury, Illgram watched his ambush fail. He'd devised the trap at the ruins for three helpless boys, easily overwhelmed. But the firebrat and that awful Gray bitch spoiled all. His face contorted with a terrible, powerless rage as he saw from the forest's edge how the neophyte Urkais threw his lightning at Hardingraud. Just as they had planned and without the neophyte showing the smallest glimmer of understanding the changed circumstances. A dolt, like all of them; useless fools.

He saw his prey fall sideways, while Urkais' bolt burst behind him in the grass. That red-clothed brat retaliated and the power of the fireball that took Urkais' life had appalled Illgram. All was lost. Without the will of their sorcerer, the golems had been unable to win the battle. Stamping in frustration, he had seen the mountain lion – Pardoc's mountain lion! – rescue that damned brat at the last moment and claw his golems open as it had that stupid routewatcher.

All at once, a deadly fear engulfed him. This was the end. His promises to the Master had proved empty. Hardingraud lived. He had failed. All his golems were destroyed, his minions dead. He was alone. In blind panic, the once proud practicus ran to his horse and threw himself into the saddle. He had to get away! Away from that accursed Hardingraud. He fumbled for the black spot in his mind that was his link with Central. Done with it! He did the unthinkable and broke contact. This would trigger the alarm bells at the Master's house. Let them be alarmed, he thought in wild abandon. Let them! Then he spurred his horse and galloped away from the ruins.

Bo's childhood home was a considerable estate in the modern style, without battlements or towers. The House was a large white mansion surrounded by flowering fire blossoms. Grouped around a large courtyard were several other buildings; stores, workrooms, a cluster of cottages and a small farm. Past the buildings were the fields, many with foreign-looking plants.

When the party walked up to the steps, the front door swung open as if by an invisible hand. The hall was empty and Ghyll wondered if Bo was the only Lusindral fond of dramatic effects.

'Bo!' A sturdy boy of about eight came bolting down the stairs. 'Have you been kicked out of school again?'

'My brother Dolinder. Hi, Lin,' said the young mage. 'Say hello to everyone, little monkey.'

'Pooh.' His brother stuck his tongue out. Then he saw Ghyll and Olle. 'Ooh, you're knights? I'll be a knight, too, a fire knight! And I'll have great adventures, and everyone'll sing how brave I am.'

'Well,' Ghyll said with a smile. 'Should we find a dragon, we'll send it here so you can fight it, all right?'

'Yes! A real dragon!' Shrieking with laughter the boy ran back upstairs.

Bo raised his eyes to the heavens and sighed. 'And that's my little brother? How embarrassing.'

'Well met, friends.' A stately lady in a dark red dress stepped into the hall. 'Bo, were you sent down again? A pity about your studies, I would say. But come; tell me who your friends are.'

Bo bowed his head. 'May I present you to my mother, the magistra Semelda Lusindral? Semelda, this is Ghyll Baron Halwyrd with his foster brother Lord Olle thu Maubyn, and Damion Luyon-DeAsharte. Oh, and the wikke Uwella.'

The magistra frowned. 'Be nice, Bo. Greetings, Uwella; the Gray Order is ever welcome in our house.' For a moment, she looked thoughtfully at Ghyll; then she smiled. 'Greetings, Ghyll, Olle, and Damion. I feel that this time my wayward son got some help with his habit of being expelled from school.'