Charlie Bone And The Red Knight (Children Of The Red King, Book 8) by Jenny Nimmo Read Free Book Online

faintly.
    "Go, then! And stop hanging about!"
    Gabriel was about to turn away when he saw two figures coming down the hall behind Manfred. One of them was limping, the other lurching. Gabriel's eyes widened in surprise, for the limping man bore a strong resemblance to the man in the portrait: Ashkelan Kapaldi.
    The surprise in Gabriel's eyes caused Manfred to whirl around. "Go!" he shouted at Gabriel. "This instant!"
    Gabriel walked away quickly, but not so quickly that he didn't hear the talents master say, "It's not wise, sir, for you to leave the west wing during the day. Pupils will recognize you... and wonder."
    "Let them wonder." The stranger's voice had a foreign lilt. "Let them be amazed."
    "It's not the time, Ashkelan." This second voice had a cavernous, echoing sound. Something in the ebb and flow of it reminded Gabriel of Dagbert Endless.
    He hastened into the hall, which was full of children on their way to different classrooms. Occasionally someone would whisper to a companion, while glancing anxiously about in case a prefect was watching. Silence in the hall was the rule.
    Gabriel spotted Charlie's wild mop of hair. He wore a slight frown and his thoughts were obviously miles away. Gabriel waved, trying to get Charlie's attention, but Charlie didn't see him. And then Dagbert Endless walked between them. He followed Charlie doggedly across the hall and into another one that led to Señor Alvaro's music room. Gabriel pursued them.
    Safely out of the main hall, Gabriel called, "Charlie!"
    Dagbert swung around and snapped, "What do you want?"
    Gabriel was momentarily taken aback by Dagbert's sharp tone. "I want to speak to Charlie," he said.
    "Hi, Gabe!" Charlie had noticed Gabriel at last. "What is it?"
    Gabriel saw that Dagbert wasn't going to leave them. "It's nothing," he murmured. "I'll catch you later."
    Charlie watched Gabriel slouch away, his shoulders hunched and his hands in his pockets. Obviously he didn't want Dagbert to hear what he had to tell Charlie.
    "Why do you keep following me?" Charlie demanded. "Shouldn't you be in a lesson?"
    Dagbert shrugged. "I've lost my flute. I thought Señor Alvaro might have it."
    "Why? Mr. Paltry teaches flute." Charlie walked faster, trying to shake Dagbert off.
    Dagbert caught up with him. "OK. The truth is... my father's here."
    "I know," said Charlie irritably. "We've been through that. What do you want me to do about it?"
    "I want you to keep my sea-gold creatures for a while."
    "What?" Charlie stopped dead in his tracks. He could hardly believe his ears. "Are you seriously asking me to keep something that you almost k--" He quickly corrected himself, "Something that you drowned Tancred for taking."
    "I've told you," Dagbert said desperately, "I didn't mean to drown him. It was an accident." He dug into his pocket and brought out a handful of tiny charms: five golden crabs, a fish, and a miniature sea urchin. "Please, keep them safe for me." He held the charms out to Charlie. "My father's looking for them."
    "Why?"
    "I can't explain right now." Dagbert pushed the charms at Charlie.
    Charlie stepped back. "Why me?"
    "You're the only person I can trust."
    Charlie found this hard to believe. "What about your friends: Joshua, Dorcas, the twins? What about Manfred?"
    Dagbert vigorously shook his head. "No, no, no." He grabbed Charlie's wrist and attempted to press the charms into his hand. "PLEASE!"
    "No." Charlie snatched his hand away and the sea-gold creatures spilled onto the floor. The sea urchin rolled toward Señor Alvaro's door, which at that very instant began to open.
    Señor Alvaro stood in the doorway regarding the sea urchin at his feet. He gave it a small kick.
    "No!" Dagbert pounced on the charm as it rolled across the floor. "You could have broken it." He hastily gathered up the five crabs and the golden fish as well and shoved them into his pocket.
    "What's going on?" Señor Alvaro frowned at the wall behind the boys. It was now a rippling bluish-green;