Read Online Stormchaser by Paul Stewart, Chris Riddell - Free Book Online Page B

is an integral part of all our lives,’ she snapped. ‘Its scholars are the weather-diviners, the map-makers, the sifters of mists and phantasms that come in from beyond the Edge. It is they who read the patterns which bring order from chaos. Without them,Undertown itself could not exist. You, of all people, Wolfie, should understand this.’
    ‘I know only that Sanctaphrax stole the years of my prime and then cast me out,’ Cloud Wolf said.
    Mother Horsefeather's eyes sparkled. ‘You felt cheated – you still do,’ she said. ‘And rightly so.’ She paused. ‘That is why I offer you now the possibility to avenge yourself on the usurpers.’
    Cloud Wolf stared back at her, as it finally occurred to him what the devious bird-woman was after. ‘You mean you want me to sail to the Twilight Woods in search of fresh stormphrax,’ he said.
    ‘I mean ,’ said Mother Horsefeather, ‘that I am giving you a second chance. You will be able to utilize all that training you were given in the Knights’ Academy; you will show that Cloud Wolf is more than a mere cut-throat and outlaw. At long last,’ she said as she puffed out her breast feathers, ‘the magnificent Stormchaser will be used for the purpose it was originally built. Not lugging ironwood around like some glorified tug-ship. But stormchasing!’
    Twig's heart thrilled at the sound of the word. Stooorm-cha-sing! he whispered, savouring every syllable. He smiled excitedly. Stooooooorrm-cha-sing .

    The next moment, any dreams he might have had were shattered. ‘Out of the question,’ Cloud Wolf snapped.
    ‘Oh, but Wolfie,’ Mother Horsefeather wheedled, ‘think of the acclaim that will be heaped upon your head when you arrive back triumphant, with enough stormphrax to weigh down the floating rock of Sanctaphrax for a thousand years. Think of the glory – think of the power ,’ she added softly.
    Twig willed his father to agree. Cloud Wolf shook his head.
    ‘For, of course, with the treasury weighted down once again,’ Mother Horsefeather went on, ‘the accursed link between the raintasters and the leaguesmen will at last be broken.’ Her eyes glinted. ‘New alliances will have to be forged – a new hierarchy established. Think how high in the pecking-order you could find yourself. You and me, Wolfie. Just you and me, up there at the top.’
    But still Cloud Wolf remained unmoved. ‘Many long years have gone by since I left the Academy,’ he said. ‘And the Stormchaser is not the sky ship she once was…’
    ‘Wolfie! Wolfie!’ Mother Horsefeather chided him. ‘Such false modesty! Quintinius Verginix was the most outstanding knight the Academy had ever seen, and the skills you learned there have been honed to razor sharpness as Cloud Wolf, the finest sky pirate captain ever.’ Twig heard his father snort. ‘And as for the Stormchaser ,’ she went on, ‘we will have it repaired, realigned, refurbished – the works. She will fly as she has never flown before.’
    For a moment, Twig thought this would sway it. Surely his father would be unable to resist such an offer. Cloud Wolf smiled and played with his waxed side-whiskers.
    ‘No,’ he said. He scraped the chair noisily backwards and stood up from the table. ‘And now if you’ll excuse me…’
    Mother Horsefeather began scratching at the floor in a sudden fury. ‘Excuse you?’ she screeched. ‘No I will not excuse you.’ Her voice grew more and more shrill. ‘You have no choice! I have something you need – and you have something I need. You will do what I say!’
    Cloud Wolf merely chuckled to himself as he made for the door. In an uncontrollable rage, Mother Horsefeather flapped and thrashed about. The table tipped over. The chairs went flying. Twig, dodging back out of her way, caught sight of Forficule. He was staring intently at the door, ears quivering and a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.

    ‘You’re finished!’ Mother Horsefeather was screaming. ‘Finished!