Read Online The Spellbinder (Tom & Laura Series) by John Booth - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John Booth
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was burnt as waste. He yelled at her for half an hour over that. You should have heard him. ‘Belinda you are a halfwit’ he said and that was his mildest statement.” The little man giggled at the memory. Then he became serious.
“You must not attack her or Carter. He will be at the school too. This is the first time we have been able to get an agent into Hobsgate in a senior position and we must make it count. The Headmaster is a Spellbinder and is getting on in years. You could be his natural heir, if you act well.”
“So I can’t even punish her?”
“Oh, you can whip her to your heart’s content, especially if it makes her more malleable. Nevertheless, you must have a reason, Snood. Something you can tell the Headmaster to explain your actions. I’m sure you will think of appropriate reasons. However, do not damage her hands. She will need them if we turn her. And do not do anything that might kill her.”
Snood smiled as he considered the new situation. He was getting a promotion, well deserved, of course, and a chance to practice long-term torture on the Spellbinder. She was a girl too, maybe even pretty. This was going to be fun. He looked at Saunders and saw his ridiculous moustache poking through his pulled up collar and nodded. How could he imagine that Snood had not seen through his pathetic disguise at the outset? The man was a fool, but he did have his uses.
Chapter 9 The Journey
Of all the wars that have been fought using Spellbinders, none has been so dramatic or overwhelmingly effective as the war of 1850 between the Empire and the United States of America .
Some do not even regard it as a war as it was fought and lost in a single battle. The Battle of New York was a hopeless mismatch. 50,000 USA troops engaged with 5,000 British troops and one Class A Spellbinder. The USA were defeated, over 42,000 of their men killed with not a single casualties on the British side. All down to the efforts of one Class A Spellbinder, Albert Jones.
- from A Short History of Military Magics by Sir Anthony Barrett
Laura said goodbye to each of the servants in turn, shaking the hands of the men and boys while kissing each of the women and girls on the cheek. The servants had moved with them from the country to the city and she’d grown up with them all. She turned to her Mother and Father who stood stiffly beside the trunk she’d spend all the previous evening packing. It wasn’t done to show too much emotion in the New Victorian age and she took her Father’s hand and curtseyed before him.
“I will try to be as good as I usually am,” she said demurely.
“Then God help MM3,” her Father said vehemently. He then pulled her tight to him, trapping her in a bear hug.
“Not in the street,” his wife admonished quietly and he let Laura go, but not before giving her an extra hard squeeze.
“Don’t ever change,” he whispered as he put her down.
Laura heard the sound of hooves on cobbles and saw a hansom cab approach. The driver pulled up in front of her and two of the servants lugged her trunk onto the luggage rack at its rear. The driver of the cab looked remarkably well dressed for a London cabby. He caught her intent stair and made a small bow.
“Trelawney sends only the best to look after his special charges, Miss. Charles Drake at your service.”
Laura looked at the dark interior of the cab and made a decision. “May I sit up alongside you, sir? If this is to be my last sight of London I would like to make the most of it.”
“Laura…,” her mother said in an outraged tone before Drake could answer. Her Father laughed.
Drake considered her request for a few seconds.
“I don’t see why not. You’ll be no more vulnerable out here than in there. If you can climb up here in that skirt you are more than welcome to do so.”
Laura embraced her mother. “Got to go. I’m not sure they will let me write, but if they do, I will. Goodbye
“You must not attack her or Carter. He will be at the school too. This is the first time we have been able to get an agent into Hobsgate in a senior position and we must make it count. The Headmaster is a Spellbinder and is getting on in years. You could be his natural heir, if you act well.”
“So I can’t even punish her?”
“Oh, you can whip her to your heart’s content, especially if it makes her more malleable. Nevertheless, you must have a reason, Snood. Something you can tell the Headmaster to explain your actions. I’m sure you will think of appropriate reasons. However, do not damage her hands. She will need them if we turn her. And do not do anything that might kill her.”
Snood smiled as he considered the new situation. He was getting a promotion, well deserved, of course, and a chance to practice long-term torture on the Spellbinder. She was a girl too, maybe even pretty. This was going to be fun. He looked at Saunders and saw his ridiculous moustache poking through his pulled up collar and nodded. How could he imagine that Snood had not seen through his pathetic disguise at the outset? The man was a fool, but he did have his uses.
Chapter 9 The Journey
Of all the wars that have been fought using Spellbinders, none has been so dramatic or overwhelmingly effective as the war of 1850 between the Empire and the United States of America .
Some do not even regard it as a war as it was fought and lost in a single battle. The Battle of New York was a hopeless mismatch. 50,000 USA troops engaged with 5,000 British troops and one Class A Spellbinder. The USA were defeated, over 42,000 of their men killed with not a single casualties on the British side. All down to the efforts of one Class A Spellbinder, Albert Jones.
- from A Short History of Military Magics by Sir Anthony Barrett
Laura said goodbye to each of the servants in turn, shaking the hands of the men and boys while kissing each of the women and girls on the cheek. The servants had moved with them from the country to the city and she’d grown up with them all. She turned to her Mother and Father who stood stiffly beside the trunk she’d spend all the previous evening packing. It wasn’t done to show too much emotion in the New Victorian age and she took her Father’s hand and curtseyed before him.
“I will try to be as good as I usually am,” she said demurely.
“Then God help MM3,” her Father said vehemently. He then pulled her tight to him, trapping her in a bear hug.
“Not in the street,” his wife admonished quietly and he let Laura go, but not before giving her an extra hard squeeze.
“Don’t ever change,” he whispered as he put her down.
Laura heard the sound of hooves on cobbles and saw a hansom cab approach. The driver pulled up in front of her and two of the servants lugged her trunk onto the luggage rack at its rear. The driver of the cab looked remarkably well dressed for a London cabby. He caught her intent stair and made a small bow.
“Trelawney sends only the best to look after his special charges, Miss. Charles Drake at your service.”
Laura looked at the dark interior of the cab and made a decision. “May I sit up alongside you, sir? If this is to be my last sight of London I would like to make the most of it.”
“Laura…,” her mother said in an outraged tone before Drake could answer. Her Father laughed.
Drake considered her request for a few seconds.
“I don’t see why not. You’ll be no more vulnerable out here than in there. If you can climb up here in that skirt you are more than welcome to do so.”
Laura embraced her mother. “Got to go. I’m not sure they will let me write, but if they do, I will. Goodbye
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