Jake's War, Book Two of Wizards Read Free Page A

how disappointed I would be. [I take it she has fled Salice?]
    “Banished by Esmeralda,” I said and Fluffy telepathed the equivalent of a whistle.
    “Meep.” [That woman is something special. You should marry her.]
    “Leaving Jenny for you?” I didn't mean to sound bitter, but I knew I did. Though Jenny and Fluffy have only known each other a few months they're bonded together in a way I don't understand. I hatched Fluffy from an egg and looked after him when he was small. It's not fair.
    “Meep, meep, meep.” [Jenny is my rider. We bonded when I first carried her. That's why I know where she is. You are my friend and a powerful wizard. You should marry both women for the good of your species.]
    That was Esmeralda's answer too, but Jenny was a girl from the valleys and I knew neither she nor her parents would wear that idea for a second. I wasn't sure I could cope with it either. Being bossed about by one woman is bad enough, but two? There'd be three of them if you counted my Mam.
    Fluffy stretched his neck and nudged me with his head.
    “Meeeeep.” [You don't have a choice anyway.]
    Fluffy grinned, showing razor sharp teeth capable of ripping a sheep into pieces, bones and all.
    “What do you mean?”
    Fluffy hunched his shoulders up and down, a sure sign he was laughing at me, and said nothing.
    “Are you coming to Salice?”
    “Meep.” [Later.]
    I hopped from the cave into Esmeralda's bedroom.
     
    On reflection, this was certainly a mistake. I'd been hoping Fluffy might have gained powers to allow him to track Bronwyn through hop-space. Since he hadn't, it was up to me to do it and I was running out of time. It was the need to get on with it that led me to hop to Esmeralda's room. I should have known how she would react.
    She woke the instant I arrived, lifting her head from her pillow as if I had just goosed her.
    Her eyes widened and then narrowed, a half smile turning into a scowl before I was sure I'd seen it.
    “Is My Lord Wizard in need of urgent relief? You have taken it unasked before.”
    She flung the sheets from her bed and inched up her nightgown. This was damnably unfair as both of us had been willing participants that awful night.
    “Stop doing that. I just need you to…”
    She spun on to all fours and looked back at me.
    “Or did you bring the hairbrush again? I am my Lord Wizard's long suffering betrothed and will submit willingly to your hand.” Her hand went to the hem of her nightdress and began to lift it.
    “Will you stop doing that?”
    Esmeralda slumped back onto the bed and rolled over to gaze at me.
    “I know I have failed you by letting Grimaldi die,” she said, and I saw her eyes well up with tears. “I should have made Bronwyn heal him. Beat me, my Lord Wizard, for I surely deserve it.”
    She had taken on the pain and guilt I felt as if it was her own. I struggled to avoid bursting into tears.
    “It wasn't your fault, it was mine,” I said, turning away. How did this woman always get the better of me? I was supposed to be the powerful one.
    She left her bed, put her arms around my shoulders and held me tight.
    “Grimaldi was a good man. You freed him from his pain and that was the only gift you had left to give.”
    I struggled to find my voice. I knew I'd start blubbing if she continued to hold me so I pushed her away. As usual, she took my actions the wrong way.
    “As my Lord Wizard desires.”
    “I have to stop Bronwyn before she kills anybody else. I might be able to track her through her hopscotch court assuming it's still there.”
    Esmeralda sniffed disdainfully. “Contrary to your beliefs, I don't know everything that happens in the Palace. Our discussion was out in the cloisters. The court may still be there.”
    I hopped to the cloisters. I think Esmeralda may have said something as I hopped, but my mission was too urgent to go back and check.
    A maid was attacking one edge of the court with a mop. I shooed her away. She must have recognized me because