Keeper of the Phoenix by Aleesah Darlison Read Free Book Online Page B

Taine,” Ash said. “You don’t really want to be a soldier.”
    Taine grimaced. “I guess you’re right. But I’d go if you went.”
    “You might not be old enough to fight, but you’re smart,” Rhyll said. “You’ve got a good brain, Ash. I say use it. Accept Lady Belgrave’s challenge and prove to everyone what we’re really worth.”
    Ash wanted to say yes. He wanted to show Morgan – show everyone – that he was strong and brave like his father and brother. But he knew what they would want him to do. “Who’s going to look after Ma and the cattle if I go?” he said.
    “Gwaam will sleep now,” the phoenix said.
    Ash sighed. “We’d better go. Ma will be wondering what happened to me.” He scooped Gwaam up in his basket and strode out of the kitchen, closely followed by Rhyll.
    Taine took longer, shoving food into his pockets as he went. When he caught up to the others he said, “I probably won’t be much use, Ash, but if you do decide to go, I’ll come with you.”
    “Me too,” agreed Rhyll.
    “Thanks.” Ash knew he was lucky to have friends to rely on. “But I’m not going. I can’t leave Ma on her own, so forget about it.”

7

BLACK SNOW
    The three friends were barely out of the village, treading the path towards home, when Rhyll let out a shout. “Look! What’s that?” She pointed to the sky.
    Ash glanced up and frowned. The light from the day had suddenly disappeared. Dark clouds billowed across the sky and a chill wind whirled around them. “I didn’t realise it was so late.”
    “That’s not night coming,” Rhyll said. “That’s something else.”
    Then they heard it. A heavy drone like the swarming of bees filled the air. Next came the slithering of thousands of leathery wings: a sound so dreadful it seemed to send ice through Ash’s veins. Beside him, Rhyll shuddered.
    “We must find shelter.
Now
,” Gwaam said.
    Rhyll covered her ears against the noise. “What is it?”
    “Birds,” Taine said. “Loads of birds.”
    “They are not birds,” Gwaam said. “They’re stone gargoyles from Wizard Zadoc’s castle brought to life by his evil magic. He has sent the swarm here to trap us. Soon he will send his Seekers, giant griffins, half-eagle, half-lion.”
    “Ah, can you repeat that?” Taine asked, confused. “Half-eagle, half-lion, did you say?”
    “Yes,” Gwaam replied.
    “Who is Wizard Zadoc?” Ash said.
    “You’ve never heard of him?” Gwaam looked surprised.
    “No.” Ash shook his head. “Should we have?”
    “Zadoc is an evil man who uses black magic. He lives in far north Krell,” Gwaam said. “I don’t have time to explain more now. We must find shelter, I beg you.”
    Ash glanced up at the sky. “It looks like those things are heading straight for Icamore,” Ash said. “We’ve got to warn everybody.”
    “Yes, we must,” Rhyll agreed. “Papa is there delivering pork to Fyodor Carver. We have to save him. And the others.”
    The air began to thicken and pulse as snow, dark as night, rained down from the wings of the creatures that swooped across the sky.
    “There is no time,” Gwaam said. “The black snow will freeze you. Hide now, children, or we will all be doomed. Quick!”
    “Ouch! It hurts!” Ash batted at his arm. A flake of black snow had landed on his sleeve, searing through the material and burning him with its stinging, wintry tentacles. The pain was incredible, but worse than that was the fear and dread that spread through Ash at the thought of being frozen by the black snow. One look at Taine and Rhyll and he knew they were scared too.
    Keep it together, Ash told himself. Help the others. Help Gwaam.
    “Gwaam’s right,” Ash said, looking around. He spotted an embankment. “Down there,” he said.
    The three friends scrambled down the embankment and threw themselves under the stone bridge that stretched across the river. Huddling together, they beat the black snow off each other, shivering and shuddering in the