Read Online Rise of Allies (The Gryphon Chronicles, Book 4) by E.G. Foley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: E.G. Foley
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keep you in mind,” he said in amusement, and many in the audience chuckled at a mere boy’s dreams of becoming a great hero.
“To be sure,” Sir Peter continued, “two gifts must keep you very busy. When did your powers first begin to show? Do tell. Everyone’s very curious about you, Jake.”
“They are?”
“Charming.” Sir Peter chuckled, and the crowd followed suit, which Jake found a trifle bewildering.
“Well, um, the Kinderveil wore off about a year ago, a few weeks before my twelfth birthday.”
“Did both your gifts emerge at the same time?”
“Yes, sir. I didn’t know what to make of it. I was on my own at the time. Thought I was going mad.”
“No doubt. Then Guardian Stone found you, didn’t he?” he narrated for the benefit of the audience, many of whom were craning their necks to gawk at Jake or watching him through field glasses. “Rescued you, I believe, when your Uncle Waldrick tried to kill you in his wicked conspiracy with that odious sea-witch, Fionnula Coralbroom.”
The mere mention of that name brought a visceral reaction from many of the Elders. It was clear she was still very much hated and feared.
Jake nodded.
“You are lucky to be alive with enemies like that, young man. Fortunately, ladies and gentlemen, Fionnula Coralbroom is well contained in her cell at the bottom of the North Atlantic. Ah, what’s the matter?” the Elder asked Jake, looking askance at him with a smile. “Does she still make you nervous? She would me.”
“No, sir. I just didn’t…realize the world knew about all that.”
“Are you jesting?” he exclaimed. “Your story was front page news in the Clairvoyant for weeks last summer. Oh, yes, my lad, we read all about you. And now, finally, here you are among us, in the flesh. On that note, perhaps we should get started with the ghosts now. What say you?”
He nodded resolutely. “I’m ready.”
“That’s the spirit! Ha—spirit, ghosts, get it?”
The whole crowd groaned at Sir Peter’s bad pun. He sent around a scowl of mock indignation at the bleachers, then beckoned to one of his colleagues before turning back to Jake. “I now leave you in the capable hands of Dame Oriel, one of our top mediums, who will conduct this portion of your Assessment. I cannot do it myself, for alas, I do not share that gift. Best of luck to you, young man.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jake answered in a tight voice.
Dry-mouthed with knowing his Assessment was about to begin, Jake noticed several ghosts materializing here and there on the Field of Challenge.
Sir Peter handed off his speaking trumpet to Dame Oriel as he returned to his chair. She was a trim, older woman with a serious demeanor, her elegant figure draped in the satin teal robe of an Elder psychic. She had piercing gray eyes and short, silvery-pink hair.
Jake promptly learned that Dame Oriel was all business, with none of Sir Peter’s chitchat.
“How do you do, Jacob. I am Lady Oriel,” she said. “Let us begin.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She lifted the speaking trumpet to her lips and explained: “We enlist Merlin Hall’s resident ghosts to assist in our young mediums’ Assessments. This helps us gauge how clearly the candidates are able to see and hear those on the other side of the Veil.” She addressed her next words toward the field. “Any spirits present are now asked to proceed as we previously discussed.”
The crowd looked on, intrigued.
Lady Oriel turned back to Jake. “Your goal is to learn each ghost’s name. In addition, several of them will give you either a message to convey or some small task to carry out. If you repeat the correct words and perform the correct actions, then we’ll know beyond all doubt that your powers are authentic.”
Jake nodded. It sounded simple enough.
“Any questions?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Good luck, then. They’re all yours.” Lady Oriel handed him the speaking trumpet and marched back to her seat.
Heart pounding, Jake turned
“To be sure,” Sir Peter continued, “two gifts must keep you very busy. When did your powers first begin to show? Do tell. Everyone’s very curious about you, Jake.”
“They are?”
“Charming.” Sir Peter chuckled, and the crowd followed suit, which Jake found a trifle bewildering.
“Well, um, the Kinderveil wore off about a year ago, a few weeks before my twelfth birthday.”
“Did both your gifts emerge at the same time?”
“Yes, sir. I didn’t know what to make of it. I was on my own at the time. Thought I was going mad.”
“No doubt. Then Guardian Stone found you, didn’t he?” he narrated for the benefit of the audience, many of whom were craning their necks to gawk at Jake or watching him through field glasses. “Rescued you, I believe, when your Uncle Waldrick tried to kill you in his wicked conspiracy with that odious sea-witch, Fionnula Coralbroom.”
The mere mention of that name brought a visceral reaction from many of the Elders. It was clear she was still very much hated and feared.
Jake nodded.
“You are lucky to be alive with enemies like that, young man. Fortunately, ladies and gentlemen, Fionnula Coralbroom is well contained in her cell at the bottom of the North Atlantic. Ah, what’s the matter?” the Elder asked Jake, looking askance at him with a smile. “Does she still make you nervous? She would me.”
“No, sir. I just didn’t…realize the world knew about all that.”
“Are you jesting?” he exclaimed. “Your story was front page news in the Clairvoyant for weeks last summer. Oh, yes, my lad, we read all about you. And now, finally, here you are among us, in the flesh. On that note, perhaps we should get started with the ghosts now. What say you?”
He nodded resolutely. “I’m ready.”
“That’s the spirit! Ha—spirit, ghosts, get it?”
The whole crowd groaned at Sir Peter’s bad pun. He sent around a scowl of mock indignation at the bleachers, then beckoned to one of his colleagues before turning back to Jake. “I now leave you in the capable hands of Dame Oriel, one of our top mediums, who will conduct this portion of your Assessment. I cannot do it myself, for alas, I do not share that gift. Best of luck to you, young man.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jake answered in a tight voice.
Dry-mouthed with knowing his Assessment was about to begin, Jake noticed several ghosts materializing here and there on the Field of Challenge.
Sir Peter handed off his speaking trumpet to Dame Oriel as he returned to his chair. She was a trim, older woman with a serious demeanor, her elegant figure draped in the satin teal robe of an Elder psychic. She had piercing gray eyes and short, silvery-pink hair.
Jake promptly learned that Dame Oriel was all business, with none of Sir Peter’s chitchat.
“How do you do, Jacob. I am Lady Oriel,” she said. “Let us begin.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She lifted the speaking trumpet to her lips and explained: “We enlist Merlin Hall’s resident ghosts to assist in our young mediums’ Assessments. This helps us gauge how clearly the candidates are able to see and hear those on the other side of the Veil.” She addressed her next words toward the field. “Any spirits present are now asked to proceed as we previously discussed.”
The crowd looked on, intrigued.
Lady Oriel turned back to Jake. “Your goal is to learn each ghost’s name. In addition, several of them will give you either a message to convey or some small task to carry out. If you repeat the correct words and perform the correct actions, then we’ll know beyond all doubt that your powers are authentic.”
Jake nodded. It sounded simple enough.
“Any questions?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Good luck, then. They’re all yours.” Lady Oriel handed him the speaking trumpet and marched back to her seat.
Heart pounding, Jake turned
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