Mage Prime (Book 2) Read Online Free

let forth a high-pitched alien scream, cruelly curved black claws gouging deep grooves in the flagstones as they writhed and thrashed in agony. Karryl immediately thrust himself to his feet, hauled himself round the half open door and leapt up the stairs two at a time. At the top he paused just long enough to expend the last of his power on slamming the door and setting a sealing spell on it. Leaving the light to burn out its own residual power… he ran.

CHAPTER FOUR
    Certain that there was a safe distance between himself and the creatures, Karryl stopped for breath in a long gallery hung with tapestries and portraits. Leaning his back against a wall, he slid slowly down, settling in a limp, ragged heap on the floor. Eyes closed, he let his head droop forward while he marshalled his thoughts and tried to decide what to do next. He fervently wished Symon had told him where he was going. It would be an hour or two at least before he had restored sufficient power to use the Summoning spell, and he was pretty certain he didn’t have that much time. He also realised he was very hungry, and the only way to deal with that problem was to return to the apartments at the far end of the palace buildings. Materialised food was a last resort. He’d tried it on a couple of occasions and it always seemed to him to have the taste and texture of wet paper. He scrambled to his feet and brushed at his tunic, wrinkling his nose at the foul stench which had permeated his clothes and now wafted up into his nostrils. About to cross the gallery to a side door which led into the grounds, he paused as the even tempo of busy footsteps reached his ears. He waited to see who was approaching. Greatly relieved, he watched Jobling enter the gallery, both arms wrapped firmly round a large framed painting.
    “Jobling! Am I glad to see you!”
    The major-domo looked mildly surprised. “Are you, sir? From that, am I to understand that you are in need of assistance?”
    Karryl gave him a wry smile. “You could say that. Do you happen to know where Master Symon is?”
    Jobling didn’t hesitate. “Indeed, sir. He is in discussion with His Majesty. If there is a matter of some urgency, I can request that he see you.”
    Karryl almost danced. “Lead on Jobling, quickly if you don’t mind. Somehow I don’t think ‘urgent’ covers it.
    Jobling lowered the picture to the floor then leaned it carefully against the wall. “If you would follow me sir, I happen to know a short cut.”
    Karryl looked dubious. “As long as it doesn’t go down any stairs.”
    Seemingly unperturbed by this somewhat cryptic remark, Jobling headed off towards the opposite end of the gallery. “Not at all sir. We shall go up one floor, but not down.” As they stepped into the adjoining corridor, Jobling slowed his pace and sniffed the air. “Do you happen to smell something rather unpleasant sir?”
    Karryl felt his face colouring. “Erm… I’m afraid it’s me, Jobling. I’ve had a bit of a set to with something, and the pong sort of clung to me.”
    As if it were a normal everyday occurrence, Jobling gave a brief nod. “Ah. I see.”
    Karryl dropped back a couple of paces as he followed the imperturbable major-domo through the sprawling palace. Leaving him to wait in a small ante-room, Jobling disappeared. A few minutes later he returned and ushered him into a large airy sitting room. Impatient for Symon to put in an appearance, Karryl paced up and down. Foremost in his mind loomed the possible scenario of those vile creatures breaking out of their temporary prison and wreaking terror and havoc throughout the palace.
    From behind him, the stern voice of Symon broke through his thoughts. “This had better be something that absolutely could NOT wait.”
    The young magician turned, his mouth set in a grim tight line. Without any preamble, he apprised Symon of the situation. “I’ve trapped two very nasty creatures in one of the lower level rooms, but I don’t think the