The Book of Lies (38 page)

“Where’s Fergus?” Nicola asked all of a sudden, looking about her. He hadn’t come down from the palace as he’d said he would. “He should have come to say goodbye; we might not see Bea again for a long time,” she complained in a forthright tone.

Marcel had heard her speak firmly like this a number of times in the past two days. He quietly hoped that he would not come to resent it in the years ahead.

Mind you,
he
was annoyed with Fergus too.

A commotion in the courtyard made him spin round and
angry voices erupted from the stables away to his left. That was Old Belch’s voice, surely. Then the clatter of hooves on the paving stones signalled the appearance of a horse and rider. As they broke free of the stables, Marcel saw that it wasn’t just any horse, but Gadfly. And on her back was not some insolent soldier, but Fergus himself, with a sword hanging from his belt!

“What are you doing?” Marcel yelled as he ran towards Fergus, aghast.

Fergus ignored Marcel as he leaned forward over the restless horse’s mane. He had looped something around Gadfly’s neck and now he was tying it into a hasty knot.

Marcel knew instantly what it was. Already the magic was at work on the mare’s flanks. Before anyone could stop him, Fergus urged Gadfly forward into a canter, then a steady gallop, and when her wings were free, a wild and desperate charge. The horse launched herself into the air, Fergus afraid but grimly determined as he grasped at her mane. Up and over the palace wall they climbed, towards the grey clouds, growing smaller in the distance with every beat of those wings.

“Stop him, Marcel!” cried the King.

Perhaps Marcel’s magic
could
have done it. But he kept his hands by his side.

“Where’s he going?” Pelham demanded.

“After Damon,” Marcel answered immediately.

“But why? I have half an army searching for him. What can Fergus do?”

Marcel didn’t want to reply. He didn’t even want to guess, though he could hardly stop his mind from jumping ahead. “The Book of Lies,” he mouthed under his breath. It was gone, a puff of ashes scattered on the wind, but as he watched Fergus finally disappear towards the high country, Marcel couldn’t stop the whisper in his mind.

We’re not free of it yet.

I would like to thank my wife, Kate, other family members and friends, and particularly Margaret Connolly, all of whom have given me valuable advice and support during the long gestation of The Book of Lies. I would also like to acknowledge the hard-working team at HarperCollins, especially Emma Kelso, who has helped to guide this story for so long.

James Moloney

First published in Australia by Angus&Robertson, an imprint of HarperCollins
Publishers
2004 HarperCollins
Children’s Books
is an imprint of HarperCollins
Publishers
Ltd, 77–85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 8JB

The HarperCollins
Children’s Books
website address is www.harpercollinschildrensbooks.co.uk

Text © James Moloney 2004

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