Zak Turner - A Twist In Time by Noel Pogson Read Free Book Online

revealed, and he too was magically dragged from the rubble, together with his wand.  The workmen laid him next to his fellow assassin, and his wand joined its compatriot inside the headmaster’s robes.  Both would be regressed by experts at the Wizard Council to identify the crimes these men had committed not just that day, but during their whole adult lives.
    The restoration was almost complete when the headmaster sent a messenger to the clerk of the Wizard Council asking him to convene a special meeting that night at eleven p.m. to discuss the events of the day.
    “That’s it Professor Trell,” announced a satisfied looking Remus Pollard, the leader of the team of construction wizards.  “It’s as good as new, well, as good as newly ruined!”
    “Thank you Remus, it certainly looks as decrepit as before!  I’ll recreate the portal and the false wall into the hidden cellar.  The bodies of these two will be taken away by the shadow-wizards, who will be on guard until we’ve left.”
    “Right you are Professor, we’ll be off then.  Come on lads, time for a pint an’ a bite at the Howling Hound in London.” 
    Before they left, the construction wizards lined up and bowed their heads once more towards the body of Ross Burns, a few tears leaking down the cheeks of those who were parents.  Then with a final nod towards the professor, they ported away with a series of whooshes.
     
    * * *
    Nurse Salvae checked over Zak and Tallion at about five thirty, and the pleased look on her face told Sir Philip, even before she opened her mouth, that they were already recovering.
    “Normally I’d have left them here overnight Sir Philip, however, we want them to go through the selection process, and no doubt it will be politically expedient for them to show their faces at the Banquet?  Before I revive them though, I want to do a thorough inspection of Tallion’s back.  He got the full blast of the Libra Mortis, and I’m at a bit of a loss to know how he survived.”
    Professor Trell arrived just in time to see Nurse Salvae cast a skilful levitation spell on Tallion, lifting and turning him over so that he was lying on his front.  She then pulled down the bed sheet and lifted up his shirt.
    All three adults made a sharp intake of breath as they saw that Tallion’s back was now raw and blackened, with a jagged scar developing between his shoulder blades.  It was obvious now that the curse had definitely hit him, but somehow he’d survived!
    “Good heavens!” exclaimed Nurse Salvae.  “Why didn’t these injuries show up when we used the Revelio charms earlier?”
    “It’s the first time anyone has survived a Libra Mortis, Honor, therefore it may well be the first time anyone has ever had such injuries.” 
    The headmaster leaned forward and cast some more Revelio charms over Tallion’s back, and sure enough, the charms revealed nothing!
    “Extraordinary...” muttered the headmaster.  “Did you look at his back when he came in Honor?”
    “Yes Orion, and there was nothing visible at all, this has all developed in the last hour!” exclaimed the nurse, in quite a flap about it.
    “We should check Zak too,” said Sir Philip turning to the next bed.  “I understand that he was close to fireplace too.”
    Nurse Salvae nodded, quickly performed the same levitation spell on Zak.  She pulled down the sheet, and lifted his shirt as they all held their breath.  There was some mild inflammation, and some flash burns, but there was no blackness or scar.
    “Well, I guess he was only hit by the magic from the exploding portal, which must have been free from the more lethal elements of the curse.  I think I can heal this with normal magic,” affirmed the nurse, and proceeded to wave her wand over Zak’s back.  Sure enough, the inflammation and the burns faded away, leaving no sign of injury.  After a few more Revelio charms, she pronounced herself satisfied that Zak was fine, apart from his magical energy