Read Online The Sphere (The Magi Series #2) by Kevin M. Turner - Free Book Online
Authors: Kevin M. Turner
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understatement. But leaving the safety of Savenridge and
waltzing back into an area heavy with Maliphists was something only Uncle Stan
would be excited about. Elijah looked at his uncle and thought that Uncle Stan
should be the one letting the horse groom him instead of the other way around.
Stan’s usual brownish stubble was practically long enough to be called a beard
at this point. There were a few more gray hairs than Elijah remembered seeing
during the summer, and his hair was wild and unkempt. A good brushing would do
wonders, but he knew better than to think Uncle Stan cared at all to take an
extra minute on his own appearance.
“What’s the plan?” Elijah asked.
“Well, I’m actually running a little behind,” said Uncle
Stan. “I need to finish getting your horse ready and then we need to get out
of here. It’ll be a while before the teachers have a chance to leave, but
it’ll also take us a while to escape and catch up with them. I guess “escape” isn’t
exactly the right word, but you know what I mean. The teachers will wait for
us at the first river crossing south of Savenridge. It shouldn’t take us more
than a few hours to get there if we hurry.” He grinned his usual mischievous
grin, which made Elijah chuckle in spite of himself.
Uncle Stan worked quickly. He secured the saddle to Elijah’s
horse and packed some food and water for the journey. Then he walked the tall
chestnut out the back way and onto the lawn. His uncle was tall and quite fit,
so the horse actually looked rather ordinary next to him, not towering over
like so many others.
Elijah put the hood from his overcloak onto his head to
shield himself from the rain.
Uncle Stan handed Elijah the reins. “This guy’s yours,” he
said. “He’s pretty docile, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble with him. You
learned to ride yet?”
“Yes,” Elijah answered. “Master Roddick gave me a few
lessons this summer. I should be okay.”
Uncle Stan gave him a short nod and then returned to the
stable, leaving Elijah with the horse. Elijah mounted and gathered the reins.
He waited, listening to the rain spraying the leaves of the trees around the
stable. Uncle Stan soon came out riding another chestnut. His horse was a
little taller than Elijah’s and had a white star on his forehead.
“Follow me,” said Uncle Stan, and he bolted north into the
plains toward the Northern
Forest. Elijah didn’t have time to think about the fact that he left Mrs.
Roddick and the two girls at the Southern Gates without saying anything to them.
They rode swiftly until they reached the hidden stables just
east of the Northern Gates. Not a soul was around the entire ride. Uncle Stan
led Elijah through the thick trees that were too thick for horses to run, inside
the secret stables, and out the same secret exit that Elijah used to break out
of Savenridge last year. He wondered if Uncle Stan knew about him using the
exit. Elijah never told him all the details about his escape from Savenridge and
the rescue from Malpetra. Uncle Stan never cared about details.
When they reached the first river crossing, the teachers
heading to Saint Phillip’s were all off their horses. Some were eating. Some
were resting. A few were reading. Master Roddick was alone, standing by his
horse, grooming its coat.
Uncle Stan hopped off his horse, so Elijah did the same.
They led their horses to the river to give them a drink. Master Roddick
approached Elijah and patted him on the shoulder.
“Glad to see you two. Did you have any trouble?”
“Easy as pie!” said Uncle Stan. “It was quite boring,
actually. Wish I could say we battled a few rabid Maliphists, but we didn’t
see nothin’.”
“I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” Roddick said with a
smirk. “Did everything go okay, Elijah?”
“I think so,” Elijah answered. “I hope Mrs. Roddick doesn’t
worry about me
waltzing back into an area heavy with Maliphists was something only Uncle Stan
would be excited about. Elijah looked at his uncle and thought that Uncle Stan
should be the one letting the horse groom him instead of the other way around.
Stan’s usual brownish stubble was practically long enough to be called a beard
at this point. There were a few more gray hairs than Elijah remembered seeing
during the summer, and his hair was wild and unkempt. A good brushing would do
wonders, but he knew better than to think Uncle Stan cared at all to take an
extra minute on his own appearance.
“What’s the plan?” Elijah asked.
“Well, I’m actually running a little behind,” said Uncle
Stan. “I need to finish getting your horse ready and then we need to get out
of here. It’ll be a while before the teachers have a chance to leave, but
it’ll also take us a while to escape and catch up with them. I guess “escape” isn’t
exactly the right word, but you know what I mean. The teachers will wait for
us at the first river crossing south of Savenridge. It shouldn’t take us more
than a few hours to get there if we hurry.” He grinned his usual mischievous
grin, which made Elijah chuckle in spite of himself.
Uncle Stan worked quickly. He secured the saddle to Elijah’s
horse and packed some food and water for the journey. Then he walked the tall
chestnut out the back way and onto the lawn. His uncle was tall and quite fit,
so the horse actually looked rather ordinary next to him, not towering over
like so many others.
Elijah put the hood from his overcloak onto his head to
shield himself from the rain.
Uncle Stan handed Elijah the reins. “This guy’s yours,” he
said. “He’s pretty docile, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble with him. You
learned to ride yet?”
“Yes,” Elijah answered. “Master Roddick gave me a few
lessons this summer. I should be okay.”
Uncle Stan gave him a short nod and then returned to the
stable, leaving Elijah with the horse. Elijah mounted and gathered the reins.
He waited, listening to the rain spraying the leaves of the trees around the
stable. Uncle Stan soon came out riding another chestnut. His horse was a
little taller than Elijah’s and had a white star on his forehead.
“Follow me,” said Uncle Stan, and he bolted north into the
plains toward the Northern
Forest. Elijah didn’t have time to think about the fact that he left Mrs.
Roddick and the two girls at the Southern Gates without saying anything to them.
They rode swiftly until they reached the hidden stables just
east of the Northern Gates. Not a soul was around the entire ride. Uncle Stan
led Elijah through the thick trees that were too thick for horses to run, inside
the secret stables, and out the same secret exit that Elijah used to break out
of Savenridge last year. He wondered if Uncle Stan knew about him using the
exit. Elijah never told him all the details about his escape from Savenridge and
the rescue from Malpetra. Uncle Stan never cared about details.
When they reached the first river crossing, the teachers
heading to Saint Phillip’s were all off their horses. Some were eating. Some
were resting. A few were reading. Master Roddick was alone, standing by his
horse, grooming its coat.
Uncle Stan hopped off his horse, so Elijah did the same.
They led their horses to the river to give them a drink. Master Roddick
approached Elijah and patted him on the shoulder.
“Glad to see you two. Did you have any trouble?”
“Easy as pie!” said Uncle Stan. “It was quite boring,
actually. Wish I could say we battled a few rabid Maliphists, but we didn’t
see nothin’.”
“I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” Roddick said with a
smirk. “Did everything go okay, Elijah?”
“I think so,” Elijah answered. “I hope Mrs. Roddick doesn’t
worry about me
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