Dragon Seeker by Anne Forbes

of extreme disgust flashed across Vassili’s face; for Gra’els were the vultures of the world of magic. Scavenging on the flesh of dead dragons, they were huge, black, ugly birds with long necks and cruel, curved beaks. “You can’t possibly use a Gra’el to kidnap Clara,” he said forcefully. “Not a Gra’el! There are lots of other ways! I mean …”
    Lord Jezail leapt to his feet, looking furious. “You forget yourself, Count Vassili,” he snarled angrily. “Kindly leave us! Now! At once!”
    The sword hissed softly with pleasure. It knew that the count hated it and smiled inwardly. How wonderful it would be to call up a Gra’el again; for one of its greatest pleasures had been the sight of the dreadful bird, beak agape, swooping hungrily overthe carcasses of dead dragons.
    The count, rather white about the lips, bowed low to the magician and to the sword and left the room, his mind in turmoil as his growing suspicions suddenly became certainties. It was the sword’s doing! Lord Jezail had many faults but he knew his master of old. In days gone by, he’d never have dreamt of calling up such a monster to catch a child!
    The maid saw him as he passed the kitchen door. “Count Vassili,” she asked nervously seeing the grim set of his lips, “is the master alright? I mean, he hasn’t been ill again, has he?”
    “Lord Jezail’s fine,” he answered sourly. “I’m just a bit fed up at the moment.”
    “The sword?” she queried.
    He nodded grimly. “I’m sorry to have dragged you into all this, Maria,” he said wearily. “Things aren’t turning out quite the way I expected!”
    “Isn’t the girl coming?” she asked in surprise.
    “She’ll be here soon, by the sound of things,” he replied, forcing a smile. “Clara’s a nice girl,” he added. “If … if, by any chance, I’m not around, you must look after her well. Do you understand?”
    “But … why wouldn’t you be here?” she looked alarmed. “I don’t want to be alone with the master,” she whispered. “He … frightens me with his bad temper.”
    “I’m not going anywhere, Maria,” he assured her. “I just wanted you to know in case … well, in case anything happens.”
    She smiled and nodded, only partly reassured. It had seemed like a great adventure when the count had asked her to travel with them to Scotland to look after a young girl. Now she was starting to wish she hadn’t agreed to it. Count Vassili, too, was nervous and that worried her more than anything.

8. The Gra’el
    The country road that ran between stretches of woodland and fields of ripening wheat was deserted apart from two children in riding kit who walked along casually, enjoying the summer sun. Wild flowers waved in a gentle breeze and the hedgerows on either side were covered in a sprinkling of wild roses.
    Neil stopped suddenly in the shade of some trees and glanced around. Ever since they’d left Blackriggs Farm where they’d been riding, he and Clara had been deep in conversation , talking non-stop about the sword, the tournament and the MacArthurs. Now, for some reason, he felt uneasy.
    â€œWhat’s the matter, Neil?” Clara asked idly, following his glance back along the long stretch of winding road that dipped and curved between woods and fields. It would have been hard to imagine a more peaceful scene. The cornfields, swaying gently in the breeze, seemed to stretch for miles under a sky of azure blue.
    â€œSomething funny’s going on,” Neil said, shaking his head. “Don’t you feel it?”
    Clara looked suddenly anxious. “Now that you mention it,” she whispered, “yes, I do!”
    â€œMagic …” Neil said, his voice trailing off.
    â€œLook, Neil! Over there! Do you think it could be them?” Clara said uneasily as a movement in the sky caught her eye.
    Neil screwed up his eyes against the sun. “Earth witches — and a full coven, at that,” he remarked,