Read Online The Adventures of Benjamin Skyhammer by Nicole Sheldrake - Free Book Online
Authors: Nicole Sheldrake
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult
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Skyhammer realized. He wondered how that made her feel. The King's Wizard supposedly protected the King, but now an unknown, more powerful human was out there - a Sorcerer level magician. One who had the gall to change the King's Retrograph right under Polygon's nose. That had to make her pretty nervous.
Higgins rose from the table and walked over to Polygon. The two women embraced, holding each other a few seconds longer than necessary, Skyhammer noted. He shook his head. Higgins still carried that torch?
"We've got a lot to discuss," the King called. "Let's get going."
Polygon and Higgins joined Skyhammer and the King at the table.
A guard entered and whispered in the King's ear.
The King sighed. "A small crowd is gathering outside the Palace. They want us to give them Skyhammer." He paused, eyes flicking briefly to Skyhammer. "They think if Skyhammer dies they can find another Keeper who can do magic and protect them from the Retrograph Sorcerer."
Skyhammer, chewing on a hunk of cheese, halted mid-bite and stared at the King, wide-eyed. He swallowed. "Do they know how much time it'll take to find a replacement?" Exasperated, he shook his head.
"I don't think they care," Poly said, looking at him coolly.
Eyes narrowing, Higgins laid a hand on Skyhammer's arm. "They can't have him. And they can't get to him through the King's defences. The sooner we get through this meeting, the sooner we can get out of the Circle."
The King nodded to the guard. "Keep us updated."
The guard saluted and left. But not before throwing a furious glance at Skyhammer, who slumped back in his chair, stunned. He looked around. The King and Higgins focused on Polygon. What if the guards felt the same way as the mob outside? He pushed the thought away. He needed to concentrate on this conversation.
"Polygon, give them the details."
"Yes, your Majesty." Polygon faced Higgins and Skyhammer. "You know about the ceremony already. The drawings the Byndari made of the wall Relic have been circulated to all six countries. Here in Quasianti, we've seen them in the newspapers at least once a week since we received them."
Skyhammer rubbed his heel against the leg of his chair. Thinking about the changes to the drawings in his Snapshots made him anxious. The Sorcerer possessed a scary amount of power.
"The Byndari told us about the Relic and the ceremony seven weeks ago," Polygon continued. "Three weeks ago, the King opened his Retrograph Whorl and discovered--"
"An outrage!" The King leaned forward. Flecks of spittle flew from his lips as he spoke. "The morning of the alterations, the Byndari ambassador had dropped by for a chat. We sat at this exact table and looked over the drawings." He shook his head. "That evening when I went back to review my Retrographs, the Byndari ambassador had a sword from my display thrust through his chest and so did I!"
That was certainly more frightening than having a couple of drawings turned over in a Retrograph. Skyhammer couldn't think of anything to say.
"I'm sorry to hear that, your Majesty," Higgins said. "Was anything else changed?"
"Oh yes. Every page of every drawing of the wall that I have in my Retrographs has been turned over. And the one that isn't turned is always the last one showing all the species with their magic powers all over the world. That drawing has a sword through it as well!" The King's face grew redder and redder as he spoke.
Polygon signalled a servant to get the King a drink.
"I've been King for forty years and these last seven weeks will be the death of me." He downed his wine in one gulp and held out his glass for more.
"Your Majesty, is the Sorcerer threatening you or the ceremony or the Byndari?" Higgins asked.
Polygon answered. "We have no idea. Of course, we thought the Sorcerer was Skyhammer at first. No one else has access to the Vault. But since he has no magic and was away Relic hunting when the Retrographs were changed, we didn't think it was probable."
The King and
Higgins rose from the table and walked over to Polygon. The two women embraced, holding each other a few seconds longer than necessary, Skyhammer noted. He shook his head. Higgins still carried that torch?
"We've got a lot to discuss," the King called. "Let's get going."
Polygon and Higgins joined Skyhammer and the King at the table.
A guard entered and whispered in the King's ear.
The King sighed. "A small crowd is gathering outside the Palace. They want us to give them Skyhammer." He paused, eyes flicking briefly to Skyhammer. "They think if Skyhammer dies they can find another Keeper who can do magic and protect them from the Retrograph Sorcerer."
Skyhammer, chewing on a hunk of cheese, halted mid-bite and stared at the King, wide-eyed. He swallowed. "Do they know how much time it'll take to find a replacement?" Exasperated, he shook his head.
"I don't think they care," Poly said, looking at him coolly.
Eyes narrowing, Higgins laid a hand on Skyhammer's arm. "They can't have him. And they can't get to him through the King's defences. The sooner we get through this meeting, the sooner we can get out of the Circle."
The King nodded to the guard. "Keep us updated."
The guard saluted and left. But not before throwing a furious glance at Skyhammer, who slumped back in his chair, stunned. He looked around. The King and Higgins focused on Polygon. What if the guards felt the same way as the mob outside? He pushed the thought away. He needed to concentrate on this conversation.
"Polygon, give them the details."
"Yes, your Majesty." Polygon faced Higgins and Skyhammer. "You know about the ceremony already. The drawings the Byndari made of the wall Relic have been circulated to all six countries. Here in Quasianti, we've seen them in the newspapers at least once a week since we received them."
Skyhammer rubbed his heel against the leg of his chair. Thinking about the changes to the drawings in his Snapshots made him anxious. The Sorcerer possessed a scary amount of power.
"The Byndari told us about the Relic and the ceremony seven weeks ago," Polygon continued. "Three weeks ago, the King opened his Retrograph Whorl and discovered--"
"An outrage!" The King leaned forward. Flecks of spittle flew from his lips as he spoke. "The morning of the alterations, the Byndari ambassador had dropped by for a chat. We sat at this exact table and looked over the drawings." He shook his head. "That evening when I went back to review my Retrographs, the Byndari ambassador had a sword from my display thrust through his chest and so did I!"
That was certainly more frightening than having a couple of drawings turned over in a Retrograph. Skyhammer couldn't think of anything to say.
"I'm sorry to hear that, your Majesty," Higgins said. "Was anything else changed?"
"Oh yes. Every page of every drawing of the wall that I have in my Retrographs has been turned over. And the one that isn't turned is always the last one showing all the species with their magic powers all over the world. That drawing has a sword through it as well!" The King's face grew redder and redder as he spoke.
Polygon signalled a servant to get the King a drink.
"I've been King for forty years and these last seven weeks will be the death of me." He downed his wine in one gulp and held out his glass for more.
"Your Majesty, is the Sorcerer threatening you or the ceremony or the Byndari?" Higgins asked.
Polygon answered. "We have no idea. Of course, we thought the Sorcerer was Skyhammer at first. No one else has access to the Vault. But since he has no magic and was away Relic hunting when the Retrographs were changed, we didn't think it was probable."
The King and
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