Free The Cornerstone by Nick Spalding

the city. We can say you were in the commerce square again. Once we’re out, we can send this one back to where he comes from.’
    ‘But I haven’t told him everything yet! He needs to understand if he’s going to help!’  Merelie’s voice had risen to an octave range that was bordering on painful. Max had heard the same tone from both his mother and sister at one time or another – usually when they thought he’d done something wrong.
    ‘We don’t have time to discuss this!’ the Arma roared and took Merelie’s arm, pulling her to her feet. ‘Come on both of you!’
    Borne marched Merelie away and Max - still frustrated that he understood so little - gathered up The Cornerstone and followed them out of the chamber.

    All three walked at a brisk pace towards the stairs leading to the large hall below. The Arma looked in every direction as he went, as if on the look-out for an ambush.
    Max was feeling decidedly put out at this juncture.
    Considering he hadn’t asked to get caught up in this mess, he’d been led around by the nose and kept in the dark about proceedings for far too long now.  It was really starting to grate.
    About the only thing Max was sure about was that he was so far out of his depth he was bumping into giant squid and angler fish.
    Thinking things through caused his pace to slow.
    Borne noticed the drop in speed and glared at him.
    ‘Keep up boy!’ he ordered, between clenched teeth.
    Right, that’s bloody it!

    The Arma continued up the corridor a few steps dragging Merelie along, before he realised Max had stopped.
    ‘What are you doing, boy?!’ he hissed.
    ‘Max?’ Merelie said, in a small voice.
    ‘You know what?’ Max said in a matter-of-fact tone. ‘I don’t like being confused… and I really don’t like being scared. Especially when I’ve got no idea what I’m supposed to be scared of .’ He warmed up the pointy finger. ‘I’m also not keen on running around like a headless chicken in a place I’ve never been before, having no idea where I’m going!’ The finger not only pointed now, it waggled a bit too. ‘But most of all, I really, really don’t like being ordered around by people I’ve only just met !’
    Borne looked surprised, like he’d just been attacked by a wet flannel. Merelie looked half way between shocked and amused.
    ‘I can see why The Cornerstone likes him,’ Borne said. ‘They’ve got the same temperament.’
    ‘They have, haven’t they?’ Merelie agreed, smiling despite herself.
    ‘Oh, I’m glad you’re both finding this funny,’ Max said, his temper now at boiling point. ‘Let’s laugh at the idiot from another dimension shall we?’
    ‘I’m sorry, Max’ Merelie apologised.
    ‘Are you really? Well then Merelie, if Captain Steroid Abuse will let you, could you please tell me why the hell you brought me here?’
    ‘Because my daughter thinks she knows better than her elders, boy,’ said a calm, clear voice from behind him.

- 5 -

    Ten minutes later, Max found himself in a large, book-lined study.
    The room was dominated by a large, highly polished marble desk in a deep sea green colour, with a high backed chair in the same shade behind it.
    Embossed on the front of the desk and back of the chair was a large circular symbol. To Max it looked like a pair of antlers crossed with one of those tribal tattoos people have. He supposed it must be a coat of arms for Merelie’s family.
    All four walls of the room were covered in book cases, carrying on the love affair these people had with the written word. It reminded Max of his grandfather Charlie’s front room.
    It was just as well the study was large, as it had to contain a lot of people this morning.
    Max and Merelie sat in front of the massive desk, like school children called to the headmaster’s office for letting off stink bombs. Borne stood between them - arms crossed and looking slightly ashamed of himself.
    The Cornerstone sat on the desk, having been taken away from