Jack Shian and the Destiny Stone by Andrew Symon Read Free Book Online Page B

the benefit of the Sphere.”
    “Young man,” said Murkle quietly, “your role in that cave is to keep me on the right path. This is not something I ever expected to be asking of an apprentice; but your grandfather is correct: the powers we would normally use do not work well here.”
    “We can take you as far as the great cataract; we will wait for you there.” Grandpa smiled at Jack.
    “And Caskill will get us the flag from Balbegan, which means we can summon the Hebseelie Court?”
    “Yes,” said Murkle, becoming excited. “My first trip here. I’ll be the first one to waken Caskill in 100 years … Caskill – the only one who can get the flag because of …”
    Grandpa Sandy’s hand extended out and gripped Murkle’s arm. The tutor stopped abruptly, then swallowed hard.
    “Because of what?” Jack fought down a rising sense of panic. “What’s stopping anyone else from getting the flag?”
    “One task at a time, Jack. Just be true to what you know is right.” Grandpa looked Jack directly in the eyes, and smiled. “We’re relying on you.”
    Jack thought that Murkle was looking sheepish. Had he something to hide? And what did he mean – this was his first time here? Hadn’t Gilravage said his tutor had visited Nebula already?
    It was with a heavy heart that Jack made his way with the others to the foot of the great cataract. Thousands of gallons of water gushed between the two rock faces, falling 100 feet before crashing into the waters of Loch Lin. A fine spray met them as they got close.
    “Murkle will summon us if we are needed. You go and show him the way.”
    Jack looked at the waterfall. There seemed to be no point at which you could walk under it – it fell straight into the loch, with a noise that drowned out all conversation, and a force that ruled out any notion of swimming under it.
    “Come along, come along,” mouthed Murkle. “Let’s be getting in there.”
    He walked to the side of the great cataract, where a barely discernible path disappeared under the torrent of water. Unable to hear him, but taking his cue, Jack followed. Holding his sceptre forward, Murkle shouted,
    “ Obturamentum! ”
    It came out as a high-pitched shriek, and an inverted V-shape formed in the curtain of water, just three feet high. Murkle grabbed Jack’s arm and dragged him through. The moment they were on the other side, the V-shape disappeared.
    The cave was curiously quiet after the deafening noise on the outside; and almost pitch dark. Murkle struck his sceptre on the ground, and held it aloft. The crystal glowed brightly, throwing a dim circle of light around them. The circle didn’t extend very far, however, and Jack wished he’d been allowed to have his own sceptre.
    I don’t know why they’re so strict. I’ll be fourteen in a few months.
    He had no time to muse on these things, as Murkle was evidently keen to proceed.
    “Come along, young man. We need to find this giant.”
    Murkle started off on a narrow track. Even at Shian height, there was little room to either side.
    “Let me get the Sphere, and I’ll see what it shows,” cried Jack plaintively as his tutor disappeared into the gloom.
    It made little difference. As Jack unwound the Mapa Mundi from his neck, he only knew where Murkle was because of the tiny bobbing light from the tutor’s sceptre. Jack felt the flag turn into the Sphere, but it was too dark to make anything out.
    “Murkle! Wait for me!”
    He headed for the sceptre glow ahead, but the glow kept moving. Murkle hadn’t even stopped.
    Muttering under his breath, Jack edged forward as quickly as he dared. He hadn’t gone more than a few paces when his right leg plunged knee-deep into a freezing pool. Clutching the Sphere frantically, he clambered back onto the narrow path.
    A shout of pain from ahead suggested that Murkle had also come off the path. Jack made his way towards the glow of his tutor’s sceptre, and found Murkle sitting down, clutching his left ankle and