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

having become totally depleted.
    “ That’s a bit of a mystery though!  Tallion we could maybe explain by saying that the curse drained his energy, but Zak…?”
    Sir Philip was pretty sure he knew what had happened and looked at the headmaster with raised eyebrows.  The headmaster nodded, but said nothing.  Nurse Salvae, however, was a very clever mediwitch, and glanced up at Sir Philip as she spoke.
    “It’s almost as if Zak shared his magical power with Tallion, but that would require some kind of magical bond if I’m not mistaken?”
    “No-one must know Honor, please,” said the baronet quietly, glancing round to see if any of the other students might have overheard, but they were all magically asleep courtesy of some restful sleep potions.
    The school nurse nodded, several things were now slotting into place in her mind.  “Well, be that as it may, I still don’t understand how Tallion survived.  Orion, have you any ideas?”
    The headmaster appeared to be deep in thought, staring at the injuries on Tallion’s back.  The scar, which had been a faint pink line when they first saw it, had already grown more vivid just in the last few minutes.  Sir Philip was looking lovingly at his injured son, and shook his head slowly.
    “Magical theory states that the Libra Mortis drains all the life energy from the victim,” said the headmaster thoughtfully, “and that’s why they die.  It is possible, I suppose, that it only drains a certain amount of energy, and that if you have more than that amount then you’ll live.  Because no one else has ever been hit by the curse and lived, that theory has never been seriously advanced or investigated.  It’s not exactly something that you can test.  We seem to have decided that Zak supplied all his magical energy to Tallion, so maybe between them they had enough for Tallion to survive?”
    Nurse Salvae wasn’t aware of just how overwhelmingly powerful the two eleven-year-old wizards were, so it seemed like a rather fanciful explanation to her, but Sir Philip and Professor Trell knew, and were pretty much convinced that the theory must be right.  A magical first!
    “Honor, it’s very important for the boy’s safety that it does not become known that Tallion was hit by a Libra Mortis.” 
    The headmaster was looking at the school nurse in a very penetrating manner, and she almost flinched as she nodded in response. 
    “That absolutely must remain a secret between the three of us, and the boys of course, but I’ll leave you to tell them Philip.”
    The baronet just nodded. 
    Nurse Salvae looked enquiringly at the headmaster, and asked, “Do you want me to try and heal him?  We need to revive them both very soon if they are to attend the Banquet?”
    “Yes please, do your best Honor.”

 
    3.  Welcome To Mhonarr !
     
     
    Nurse Salvae treated Tallion as well as she could, but the flesh injuries were very stubborn, and didn’t really respond to her magic.  It was almost as if the skin around the scar was cursed!  A lot of research was going to be needed to work out how to heal this injury.
    Professor Trell then revived the two boys, along with the other students who’d been seriously injured, and by six o’clock, the infirmary was empty, and everyone’s attention focussed on the Banqueting Hall for the new first years house selection ceremony.
    Nurse Salvae took Zak, Tallion, and the other injured first year, Tommy Smith, into one of the ante-rooms next to the Banqueting Hall.  Tommy had been going down the stairs when the Kirkstall Portal exploded, and had been crushed by people falling on top of him.  The other first years were already waiting in the ante-room, and turned to stare at the three newcomers as they walked in. 
    The first-years from Upper Nettleton recognised Zak and Tallion, and smiled at them.  Robert, who was standing next to Sartrina, looked particularly pleased to see them, and Sartrina grinned as she surreptitiously waved