The Ancient Ones (The Legacy Trilogy Book 3) by Michael Foster Read Free Book Online Page B

stopped its churning.
    ‘Strangely, I do,’ confirmed Samuel.
    The breeze kicked up from the west. The sail cracked and the little boat jerked, setting ahead once more with vigour.
     
    ****
     
    They travelled in silence, with Leopold continuing them on their course. He had spent much of his life on the sea and could easily manage their vessel, although, it was not an elegant craft: larger and clumsier than the agile fishing boats he was accustomed to, and much too small to be making the sea crossing they were attempting. He grew nervous as they passed the tiny, familiar isles, one by one. They went beyond the last lonesome rock that stuck out from the sea, covered with mournful, huddled shags, their wings outstretched to dry.
    The water here was alien to him. It felt cold, deep and dangerous. He imagined gigantic sinewy leviathans intertwining in its depths and wished he could turn back. Whenever he looked towards home, he found the magician, his black cloak fluttering in the wind, sternly blocking his view.
    Toby played about the boat while Salu ignored everything around them, muttering impatiently with their voyage. The old man did not respond when Leopold called to him. It was a strange assemblage, worsened by the knot of sadness in his chest.
    His father had been killed by this accursed magician and he had been sent to accompany him against his will. His mother had told him not to return until the magician’s quest was fulfilled, which caused him more angst. It was only his mother’s adamant instruction that kept Leopold from leaping overboard in those initial hours. He had considered swimming back home, but every time the thought occurred to him, he felt the magician’s gaze boring through the back of his head. Daring to turn and see, the man was glaring at him. Under that gaze, Leopold remained firm in his seat.
    His spirits raised as he mused upon the idea of killing the magician and returning home with the boat. That was easier than swimming away, for he had been relishing the idea of murdering Samuel since first grabbing his mother’s knife. He would not mind taking the old man and the boy with him. They seemed harmless and they would surely rather avoid the accursed mainland.
    Yes, that was it. He would lie to his mother and tell her everything had gone well and the mission—whatever it entailed—had been accomplished. Leopold smiled, deciding to have his revenge at the first opportunity—as soon as he figured out how.
    At that very moment the magician spoke, interrupting Leopold from his dark thoughts and wiping the grin from his lips.
    ‘The water is calm, boy, but your stormy mood could sink this little boat. I hope the outlook changes before we are sent to the bottom of the sea. We have much to do before this is over, so you are set for a miserable time if you keep this up.’
    Leopold would not answer the man. He spiralled deeper into morbid thought. His smile did not return, and he continued his plotting.
    They skipped across the waves. Leopold fell further into his dark mood, wishing that a storm should sink them, so the magician would get what he deserved. However, the sky remained calm. The wind stayed brisk at their back and the sea smooth until well into the afternoon, when the long dark line of the Amandian coast came within sight. Leopold cursed his bad luck and thought of other ways to have his revenge, scanning the waters for any jagged rocks he could run them upon.
    ‘South,’ the voice of the magician called and with a sigh Leopold adjusted the ropes to follow the shoreline.
    He brought them perpendicular to land, but their simple rigging was only efficient when going with the wind and they lost speed immediately. Within moments—rather too quickly for Leopold’s liking—the breeze shifted around to blow at their backs once more. The ocean jiggled and bobbed in response to the change, and Leopold steered their vessel across the unsettled wave tops.
    In sight of land, the magician