The Stolen Chapters by James Riley Page A

herself—”
    â€œActually—”
    â€œEven if she’s far too proud to admit how much help she needs,” Kiel continued. “I’ll just have to soldier on and hope that my natural talent and intelligence is enough to keep me from turning into Dr. Verity.”
    The Magister smiled. “I have the utmost faith in your . . . talent and intelligence.”
    â€œOf course you do,” Kiel said, shrugging. “We all do.”
    Charm clenched her fists and slowly took several deep breaths. “If we don’t leave now , I swear I will ray gun you.”
    â€œShe has trouble admitting her feelings for me,” Kiel whispered to the Magister, who nodded, still smiling. Kiel walked over to stand next to Charm and made an impatient gesture. “Uh, let’s go already.”
    Charm’s eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to scream at him just as they both disappeared in a flash of light.
    The Magister smiled, dropping into his chair. So Kiel Gnomenfoot had finally learned he was a clone of Dr. Verity. The day the Magister had dreaded for so long had now come, and the boy was taking it about as well as anyone could, finding out that he was the creation of a madman.
    But would the boy take the truth about the Source of Magic quite so well?
    To be continued in Kiel Gnomenfoot and the School for Wizardry , book five of the Kiel Gnomenfoot saga.
    â€œMagi?” said a soft voice from behind him, and the Magister turned around in his chair to find Kiel looking at him strangely, Charm standing just behind him. Oddly, Charm was giving the Magister a look of almost palpable hatred. Usually those looks were directed more at Kiel than himself.
    â€œBack so soon, my boy?” the Magister asked.
    â€œI, uh, forgot my spell book,” Kiel said, and held out a hand toward the still-floating, still-angry apprentice spell book. The book floated over to him in a sulking sort of way, then shrank down to the size of a coin, and Kiel slipped it into a pouch on his belt.
    â€œI thought you had moved beyond the need for it?” the Magister asked. “You didn’t need it to find the Fourth Key, after all.”
    â€œCan’t hurt to have a backup,” Kiel said, then slowly took a step back.
    â€œKiel,” the Magister said slowly, “I know why you’re here.”
    Kiel froze. “You do?”
    â€œBecause it occurred to you that if you’re a clone, then I have misled you about your parents,” the Magister said.
    Kiel paused. “That’s it. You’re right. But just hearing you admit it, that’s really enough. I should get back to things—”
    â€œI couldn’t tell you the truth, my boy,” the Magister said, his voice dropping low. “I cannot apologize enough, but you had to find out on your own, when you were ready.”
    â€œI’m not sure I was ever ready for some truths,” Kiel said.
    The Magister nodded. “I understand, believe me. Truth is a sword with no hilt. We grab for it at our own peril, at times.”
    â€œThe truth, like how you’re secretly planning on destroying Quanterium?” Charm mumbled, and the Magister blinked. He must have misheard her.
    â€œI’m sorry, what did you say?” he asked the glaring girl.
    â€œNothing,” Kiel said, throwing Charm an annoyed look. “We really should get going. Keys to find, crazy madmen to fight, that sort of thing . . .”
    â€œKiel,” the Magister said, and opened his arms. “Please tell me you forgive me.”
    Kiel’s eyes widened slightly, and oddly, he looked up at the ceiling. “Seriously?” he whispered to no one in particular.
    â€œOf course I am serious,” the Magister responded, a bit confused. He gestured for Kiel to hug him. “Please, my boy. I can’t tell you how sorry I am to have deceived you.”
    Kiel gritted his teeth, then stepped forward and hugged