Stormchaser Read Free Page A

interested,” he added slyly.
    ‘The Professor of Darkness was interested. Very interested. The presence of sourmist particles could presage the arrival of a Great Storm. “I must consult with the windtouchers and cloudwatchers,” he said, “to determine whether they have also identified signs of an approaching Great Storm. Good work, my boy.”

    ‘Vilnix's eyes gleamed; his heart missed a beat. Things were going better than he had hoped. Taking care not to arouse his suspicions, he drew the old professor on. “A Great Storm?” he said, innocently. “Does this mean that a Knight Academic will be sent in search of more stormphrax?”
    ‘The professor confirmed that it did. He tapped the papers in front of him. “And not before time, either, if these figures are correct,” he said. “The great rock which Sanctaphrax stands upon is still growing – larger andlarger, more and more buoyant…” His voice trailed away. He shook his head in despair.
    ‘Vilnix watched him out of the corner of his eye. “And you need more stormphrax in the treasury to weigh it down – to … to…”
    ‘The professor nodded vigorously. “To preserve the equilibrium,” he said, and sighed. “It is so long since a Knight Academic returned with fresh supplies of stormphrax.”
    ‘A smile played over Vilnix's curled lips. “And which knight is to be sent on this occasion?” he asked.
    ‘The professor snorted. “The Professor of Light's protégé. Quintinius…” He frowned. “Quintinius … oh, what's his name?”
    ‘Vilnix winced. “Quintinius Verginix ,” he said.’
    ‘My father!’ Twig exclaimed, unable to keep quiet a moment longer. ‘I didn’t realize he knew the Most High Academe. Nor that he was ever in the Knights’ Academy…’ He paused thoughtfully. ‘But then there's much I don’t know about his life before he became a sky pirate,’ he added.

    ‘If you’d just hold your tongue for a moment,’ the caterbird said impatiently, ‘then perhaps…’ It was cut short by the sound of frantic yelping which came from inside the shop.
    The next moment, Flabsweat appeared at the doorway, white as a sheet and babbling on about how a vulpoon – a straggly bird of prey with a viciously serrated beak and razor-sharp talons – had just slipped its tether and laid into a hapless lapmuffler.

    ‘Is it all right?’ asked Twig.
    ‘All right?’ Flabsweat wheezed. ‘The lapmuffler? No it's not all right. Guts everywhere, there are. And you can get good money for a lapmuffler. I’ll have to fetch the animal-quack,’ he muttered. ‘Get it stitched up again.’ He looked at Twig, as if seeing him for the first time. ‘Are you trustworthy?’ he asked.
    Twig nodded.
    ‘Hmm,’ Flabsweat mumbled. ‘Well, since you’re still here, would you mind watching the shop while I’m gone? There could be something in it for you.’
    ‘That's fine,’ said Twig, trying not to sound too eager.
    The moment Flabsweat was out of earshot, the caterbird immediately asked once more to be set free. But Twig was adamant. ‘All in good time,’ he said. ‘After all, there's nothing worse than a tale which ends half way through its telling.’
    The caterbird grumbled under its breath. ‘Where was I, then? Ah, yes. Vilnix and your father … The pair of them entered the Knights’ Academy on the very same morning and yet, from that first day, Quintinius Verginix outshone all the other young hopefuls – Vilnix included. In swordplay, archery and unarmed combat, he was unmatched; in the sailing of the stormchasers – the sky ships especially designed to chase the Great Storms – he was peerless.’
    Twig beamed proudly, and imagined himself chasing a Great Storm. Pitching and rolling as the ship locked on to the whirling wind and then breaking through to the stillness within…
    ‘Pay attention!’ hissed the caterbird.
    Twig looked up guiltily. ‘I am!’ he protested.
    ‘Humph!’ said the caterbird dubiously, its neck