Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs Read Free Book Online Page A

Stearne

    B ramley ducked behind Hazel’s ear just as a boy wearing a pea-green coat, velvet waistcoat and mud-spattered boots materialized out of the
darkness. He was striding up the stairs so quickly that he only just stopped in time to avoid knocking Hazel over.
    ‘Evening, miss,’ he said, touching the brim of his tricorne hat.
    Hazel guessed he was about fifteen – although never having seen a boy before it was hard to tell.
    ‘Er, good evening,’ she said, recovering from her surprise.
    ‘I’d get off the streets if I were you,’ the boy said. ‘It’s not safe for a young girl to be wandering about on her own.’ Doffing his hat again he dashed up
the steps and barged into Price’s office. ‘Now listen here ...’ he started. The door banged shut.
    Hazel backed down the stairs as a crescendo of shouts and crashes drifted through the windows.
    ‘Let’s get out of here, before
we
get involved,’ Bramley said.
    ‘But I want to see what’s going on.’
    ‘Stop being so reckless and—’
    Price, red-faced and furious, flung open the door and strode out of the gaol with the boy, sans hat, struggling under his arm. ‘The fine to release your master has just doubled,’
Price bellowed, hurling the boy down the stairs and kicking his hat after him. ‘And don’t come back until you have it.’
    Hazel stared slack-jawed as the boy jumped to his feet.
    ‘You great, fat
oaf
,’ he said, hopping from foot to foot. ‘That’s my best hat, and how
dare
you manhandle me? Don’t you know who I am? You’ll be
seeing me again and when you do, I’ll—’
    Price slammed the door and the boy deflated.
    ‘Hello again,’ Hazel said.
    The boy brushed himself down and tried to apply some shape back to his hat. ‘I apologize for the unseemly nature of our reacquaintance but, as you may have noticed, I have just had a
disagreement with Captain Lard-Bottom in there.’
    ‘Do you always have that effect on people?’ Hazel asked, strangely alert to the boy’s cheekbones.
    He gave her a lopsided grin. ‘I think I just caught him at a bad time.’
    Hazel took a step towards him. ‘Are you hurt? That was quite a fall.’
    ‘A mere stumble. I’m made of pretty stern stuff, you know. Allow me to introduce myself.’ He bowed and threw another smile, which, for reasons Hazel couldn’t quite
understand, made her heart flutter oddly in her chest.
    ‘Why are you blushing?’ Bramley whispered. ‘You don’t
like
him, do you?’
    Hazel ignored him, wishing he’d shut up and let her think.
    ‘My name is David Drake, apprentice to Mr Titus White,’ the boy continued, straightening up and jamming his hat back on his head. ‘And before you ask, yes,
the
Titus
White.’
    Hazel looked blank.
    ‘Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of him?’ David asked.
    ‘Who’s he talking about?’ Bramley whispered.
    ‘I’m afraid not,’ Hazel said to David. ‘Who is he?’
    David looked wounded. ‘Why, he’s only the most celebrated Witch Finder of his generation. I thought everyone had heard of him. I suppose his glory years may be behind him, but still
. . .’
    ‘Witch Finder?’ Bramley squeaked. ‘That’s trouble we don’t need. Make your excuses and get away. He’ll have your head on a spike as soon as he finds out
you’re a Wielder.’
    Hazel knew Bramley was right. This boy who seemed so handsome and charming could well be a killer. She glanced at the smouldering pyres and cold fear ran through her.
    ‘A Witch Finder?’ she said, forcing herself to sound enthusiastic. ‘How exciting!’
    ‘It can be,’ he said, hooking his thumbs into his belt and smiling complacently.
    ‘Travelling around seeking out witches must be very rewarding,’ she continued. ‘I bet you have loads of interesting tales to tell.’
    ‘Er, yes . . . loads.’ His smile wavered.
    ‘He’s hiding something,’ Bramley whispered.
    Hazel agreed. ‘Tell me what happened here,’ she said, sweeping her arm around the square.