Summoner: Origins The Prequel by Taran Matharu Read Free Book Online Page B

and spooned some bacon onto his plate. Sacharissa installed herself beneath the table, searching the floor for food that might have fallen.
    â€˜Something reeks,’ Zacharias complained, shifting away from him. ‘Is it the Canid or the pleb?’
    â€˜Both,’ Charles said gleefully, pinching his nose with his fingers. ‘They smell exactly the same. Like wet dog.’
    â€˜Dogbreath. That’s what we should call him. Much better than Arcticunus, or whatever it was,’ Zacharias laughed, and Charles snorted, spraying the table with egg. Another boy joined in with them, a sallow-faced noble with lank black hair tied in a ponytail.
    â€˜Good one, Zach,’ the noble guffawed, slapping Zacharias on the back.
    â€˜Oh, leave him alone,’ Prince Harold moaned, rolling his eyes at the bullies. ‘Last time we went hawking together, you three smelled twice as ripe, especially after the hike back. Sweating like pigs you were.’
    Arcturus smiled gratefully at the prince, realising the young royal was very unlike his father. Harold gave him an apologetic shrug and went back to his meal. The three glowered at him, but Arcturus ignored them and began to eat, trying to stop himself from devouring it like a wild animal. It had been a while since he had last put food in his belly, and though he was used to hunger, he knew he needed to keep his strength up for the challenging days ahead.
    It was not long before the rest of the table began to talk amongst themselves. Arcturus was keenly aware of the fact that he still needed to wash, especially after the comments the others had made. He looked up from his food, wondering if there was time to go before the others had finished breakfast.
    A fair-skinned boy with scruffy black hair sat across from Arcturus. He noticed Arcturus’s gaze and leaned forward.
    â€˜Edmund Raleigh,’ the boy said, holding out his hand and giving Arcturus a firm handshake. ‘We’ve all known each other since we were toddlers, so don’t worry if some of the conversation goes over your head. Let me introduce you to everyone. You’ve already met Charles, Zach and Harold. The boy on the end with the long hair is Damian, but everyone calls him Rook. It’s his surname.’
    â€˜Like the chess piece, not the bird,’ Rook said, then wrinkled his nose. ‘You probably don’t know what chess is anyway.’
    Edmund pulled a face at him, then turned to two girls on his right. ‘This is Alice, and this is Josephine, from the Queensouth family. Don’t bother trying to tell the difference between them, you’ll just get confused.’
    â€˜Hello!’ the girls chorused. They were twins, with long blonde hair and large expressive eyes, giving them a doll-like appearance. Edmund was right, they were almost identical. But the one Edmund had introduced as Alice had given Arcturus a bright smile before going back to her meal. Edmund wrapped his arm around her and kissed her on the cheek.
    â€˜We’re sweethearts, so don’t get any ideas,’ he winked, before turning to the remaining students to his left.
    â€˜This is Baybars Saladin, the fiercest swordsman you’ll ever meet,’ Raleigh continued, pointing to a dark-skinned boy beside him. The boy gave him a polite nod before returning to his meal.
    â€˜As you’ve probably guessed, these four are the Lovetts. This is Fergus, Carter, Arthur—’
    â€˜And I’m Elaine!’ the girl piped up, beaming up at Arcturus. ‘I love your demon! Is it a boy or a girl?’
    â€˜A girl, her name is Sacharissa.’ Arcturus smiled at her. She looked far too young to be a summoner, thirteen at most. Perhaps her parents had sent her there early, to be with her brothers.
    â€˜She’s so cute!’ Elaine said, snatching some bacon from the table and holding it out for Sacharissa to eat. The greedy demon immediately forgot her animosity to everyone