Read Online The Warlock's Gambit by David Alastair Hayden, Pepper Thorn - Free Book Online Page B

dear girl. You merely surprised me. No harm done.”
    Morgan glared at Arthur. “Was that really necessary?”
    “All I did was ask you what time it was … softly, too.”
    Lexi nodded. “Really, that’s all he did.”
    Morgan fumbled into her pocket for her busted iPhone. “Oh … it’s almost 4:30.”
    “So what now?”
    “Why don’t we go back to the Paladin’s Office, and check out the computer some more?”
    “What more can you learn? There’s no information on it. Besides, I can’t help you with it.”
    “Fine then. What do you want to do? The Library?”
    “I’m not ready for another battle,” Arthur replied. It wasn’t so much that he was physically tired, though he was exhausted. It was that he was emotionally drained from the lows and highs of seeing family portraits in the Office to seeing his very own, awesome suite and experiencing the Observatory. “Let’s do the Library after dinner … or tomorrow, maybe. We really need a little more rest, I think.”
    “You do have access to a proper bathroom now,” suggested Vassalus. “Perhaps it is time to wash more than your hands and faces?”
    “Smashing idea!” Lexi wrinkled her nose. “You both stink.”
    “Okay, then,” Morgan said. “Arthur, you take the first bath. Then we’ll switch out. Take your time, you're really filthy.”
    “Thanks. But you don't have to wait on me, you know. I’m sure you have a bathroom of your own, too.”
    “Eh, yours is fine. And I can work on the computer while you bathe.”
    Arthur didn’t even bother protesting; Morgan was so weird.
    When Arthur got off the elevator on the second floor, Morgan continued on down. He walked into the bathroom, stripped off his dirty, torn, and bloodstained clothes, and stepped into the shower. Before he could turn the water on, Valet marched in, snatched the pile of clothes off the floor, and hurried away with them held at arm’s length.
    “Hey!” He scurried after Valet, but stopped at the door to the bedroom, just in case Morgan had come back up. Peering around the doorframe, he saw he was too late anyway. The servitor had already disappeared down the elevator. Arthur shrugged. Maybe he was going to clean them; that was something a valet did, wasn't it? Though he had no idea where the servitors would take clothes to have them cleaned. If nothing else, there was an armoire full of clothes he could wear.
    On his way back to the shower, Arthur paused and looked at himself in the mirror. For the first time in his life, the shock white hair, the gold eyes, and the bronze skin didn’t seem so strange or different. He’d found his place in the world; he’d discovered his destiny. He also, it seemed to him, looked a lot older now. He certainly felt more mature, more grown up than he had just a few days ago. He had always felt really young before, even though he was a year older than everyone in his class — maybe because everyone always told him that he was immature … undisciplined and unfocused. Well, he certainly wasn't anymore. He had faced things most adults would never have to face — and he had survived. So far.
    Arthur stepped back into the shower, pressed a button, and the jets showered water down onto him. He pressed another, and water sprayed out of the sides. A third button paused the shower and made hot, soapy, berry-scented foam shoot out at him from every direction. He accidentally pushed another button while trying to get the unexpected soap out of his eyes — at least it didn't sting — and a panel slid open to display a wide variety of things Arthur assumed were for scrubbing yourself clean. He pick one and got to work.
    When he finally stepped out, Valet stood waiting for him, holding a towel over one arm and gesturing toward the whirlpool tub which he had filled up.
    Arthur passed on the towel and eased into the tub. “Valet, tell me when it's been half an hour. Morgan needs a turn, too.”
    The steaming water was amazing; it had a flowery