The Shadowseeker - Victor Kloss Page 0,65

“Where did you get them from?”

Ben sighed and slumped back down on his bed. “I got them from the Guardians’ common room. They are my dad's.”

“Well, that helps explain why you could cast such powerful spells,” Natalie said. “The family connection can make it easier, though I still can't believe how powerful they were.”

“Not powerful enough, though,” Ben said, feeling quite bitter.

A sullen silence fell between the three of them. For Ben, the magnitude of what they had done was starting to sink in. He felt like being swallowed up by the ground.

“I owe you an apology, Ben.”

Ben looked up in surprise and saw Charlie looking at him. “Why?”

“I questioned the logic of coming here. If we hadn't, we would never have found out that your parents went to Lornor and failed to learn anything.”

Ben smiled ruefully. “That's true. On the other hand, if we had followed your logic, we wouldn't be in this mess.”

“I guess that makes us even,” Charlie said, looking a little more like his old self.

“Good, can we move on now?” Natalie asked. Her voice was impatient, but Ben thought she was suppressing a smile. “Let's talk about what we learned from Lornor.”

Charlie stuck a thumb out, and started itemising. “We know Ben's parents were looking for forrecks and any potential weakness they might have, but went away none the wiser.”

Natalie nodded. “Right. We also know that the last remaining forreck was owned by Charlotte Rowe, and may still be living beneath the Institute. That forreck may be protecting Elizabeth's Boots, which were entrusted to Charlotte Rowe.”

Ben roused himself from his morbid state. “According to Lornor, the forreck's only weakness may be a solar eclipse, which happens to occur next week.” He grabbed the thin sheet on his bed and squeezed it in frustration. “Given that my parents failed to find out anything from Lornor, we are the only ones with any chance of getting those boots.”

“Our chances aren't much better than theirs while we're stuck in here,” Charlie said.

There was little else they could do but wait for dinner and hope someone turned up. Ben spent the time thinking up plans for escape, each one wilder than the next. Charlie tried to rest, his body clearly still hurting, while Natalie sat on her bed, fiddling with her hair, lost in thought.

By the time six o'clock came, Ben's body had recovered a great deal, but his stomach was rumbling with hunger pains.

“They should be here soon,” Natalie said, glancing at her watch. “SpellWorks is known for its punctuality, even when it comes to serving prisoners.”

Sure enough, the moment six o'clock struck, Ben heard the faint sound of voices, followed by footsteps. For a second, Ben had visions of another mad escape, but he cast it from his mind, cursing himself for an idiot; would he ever learn? Probably not.

“I hope they serve good food here,” Charlie said, patting his stomach.

The voices became louder, and it soon became obvious there was an argument going on. One voice was an incoherent rant, while the other was calm and collected.

“That's Lornor,” Charlie said of the angry voice, perking up suddenly.

“So it is,” Ben said. “He's probably angry because they haven't sent any cleaners to tidy up his room.”

“I don't think that's the reason,” Natalie said, with a sudden smile. Her elf ears were sharper than Ben’s and Charlie's. “Listen!”

The voices and footsteps were almost at the door by the time Ben could clearly make out what was being said.

“I demand to know who has such authority!” Lornor said.

“You may demand all you like,” the calm voice replied.

“A trial! They must sit through a trial; our law demands it. I will stand witness and testify!”

“Not necessary, I'm afraid,” the same voice said, with equal measure.

Ben felt a rush of hope, mirrored in Charlie’s and Natalie's eyes. Before they could say a word, the door opened, and two very contrasting elves stood in the doorway.

Lornor was in a dishevelled state, his thinning hair a mess, his eyes red with fury. The other elf was small and as relaxed as Lornor was fired up. He wore a fine green coat, embellished with emeralds, that flowed down to his ankles.

“Follow me, please,” the elf said, in a voice that was gentle yet firm.

Ignoring his pains and strains, Ben jumped out of bed, quickly followed by Charlie and Natalie. Lornor gave them looks of pure hatred, baring his teeth, before following hard on their heels.

“I will take this to the chairman himself,” Lornor said.