Tara Duncan and the Forbidden Book by HRH Princess Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian Read Free Book Online Page A

Sheeba, and even Gallant, whose body wasn’t really designed for bowing. Then they stepped aside, leaving room for Cal and the telepaths.
    The Truth Tellers appeared a few moments later and Fabrice whistled with surprise. They didn’t have any mouths! Their bright, intelligent eyes lit on people and things with interest and patience. Wrapped in long white tunics, they moved slowly, gliding gracefully over the ground. Their heads were covered with big black helmets that ended in a point at the back.
    Glul Buglul, the gnome, followed them, accompanied by Cal, Blondin, and Angelica. Tara was startled to see the tall brunette, having completely forgotten that she had also been charged. As she passed, Angelica shot Tara a look of hatred.
    Well, there never was much friendship between them to begin with.
    A fat, balding man and a skinny woman whose hair was much too black to be natural accompanied Angelica, whispering advice and suggestions. Given their haughty and scornful looks, they were probably her parents. Cal was accompanied by a slim, nervous-looking man and a pretty woman with gray eyes, who carefully observed everything around her. Tara knew that Cal’s mother was a licensed thief, a kind of super spy in the Lancovit government. From the way she was studying the hall, Tara felt she had already spotted all the emergency exits, estimated the number of guards, and had chosen several ways to eliminate any possible opponents.
    Angelica’s parents went to stand next to Master Dragosh and Cal’s parents near Master Sardoin.
    Facing them on a floating silver disc stood a man with a woman who was weeping into a handkerchief: the unfortunate parents of the boy who’d been sucked into the vortex.
    Under the scoops’ watchful lenses, everyone stood, sat, lay down, floated, or hovered, and the trial began.
    Master Buglul recited the facts. How during the apprentices’ competition two candidates had opened a Transfer Portal. How a loud scream had broken the young spellbinders’ concentration, causing them to lose control of their magic. How for some reason the vortex grew to enormous size and swallowed a familiar—Angelica’s flying lizard Kimi—and Brandis T’al Miga Ab Chantu, one of the boys who had materialized the portal. Finally, how a charge of murder had been brought by the boy’s parents. As soon as the gnome was finished, he gestured to the Tellers. Leaving Angelica aside for the time being, they formed a circle around Cal, who was very pale and seemed to be having trouble breathing. A heavy silence fell on the hall, intermittently broken by Master Chem’s persistent hiccups.
    Manitou stirred restlessly. As the Truth Tellers began their work, the dog felt a sort of mental tendril brushing his brain. It was completely abnormal, and he knew he should be concerned, since the Tellers were probing only Cal, but a heavy lethargy clouded his mind. The tendril continued to probe and press, its pressure now extending to his entire body—including his bladder.
    The uncomfortable feeling roused him and promptly ended the mental investigation. The Lab shook his silky black head and looked around the hall.
    Raising a leg and peeing on one of the thrones in the middle of the trial probably isn’t a great idea, Manitou thought. Better to find some place more appropriate. He discreetly backed toward a door and went out.
    Once in the hallway, he raced to the part of the interior park reserved for this kind of urgent business and gave a silent sigh as he relieved himself on a big tree. He’d felt the pressure lift the moment he left the hall, which also seemed odd. If he’d had eyebrows, he would’ve frowned.
    The Lab had just finished when he heard approaching footsteps. His dog nose recognized the person’s scent.
    â€œFabrice! What are you doing here?”
    â€œI saw you go out, and I was concerned,” said the boy. “Are you all