Free The Warlock's Gambit by David Alastair Hayden, Pepper Thorn

scent, kind of like orange blossoms. It smelled a bit salty, too. Valet must’ve put something in it to help loosen his muscles, because as soon as he settled in, he felt himself start to relax.
    He never would have imagined — had it really been less than a week? – that he would go from the verge of being sent to a military school run by sadistic Coach Connors to finding his home, his first real friends, and his destiny. All because of a fight with Derek that broke the weird device over his heart. Derek … he didn’t know what had happened to Derek … they might have just burned him on their way past. Arthur was the one they wanted after all.
    Arthur might not ever know what had happened to Derek. He might not ever see Rockville again. It took a while for that to sink in, and he felt weird once it did. He might never see Grandma Nelson … Derek … Aunt Carolyn … Principal Dickinson … or Dr. Tetris again. In theory, he supposed, if they managed to survive this fight and free the Manse from the warlock, then the Manse ought to be able to take him back, if he asked it to. But only for a visit. He would never live with Grandma Nelson or go to Rockville Middle again. His parents had visited there several times at least, and once they were gone someone — Kjor, maybe — had taken Arthur back to his grandparents. But the thing was, Arthur wasn’t certain he ever wanted to go back, even for a visit. And what would he say if he did go back? That he’d run away? That he was back for some of Grandma Nelson’s peach cobbler and to let her know he was okay but he’d be leaving again in the morning? And poor Derek … if he wasn't fine … if they had found him out there … dead … Arthur would get blamed. And there was no way he could explain what had actually happened; they would never believe him.
    Arthur could admit now that he'd always been jealous of Derek. Clearly the Manse felt it; otherwise, why put a giant TV and all the video games that Derek always had but Arthur didn't in his room? Grandma Nelson and Aunt Carolyn had always thought Derek was smart and perfect; they all loved him more. Arthur was just the boy who nobody wanted. And Derek had rubbed it in; he'd been a bully. But he didn't deserve to die, especially not like … Arthur flinched away from the thought.
    Arthur probably shouldn't go back, even if he wanted to. But what about Morgan? She didn’t want to go back to her old life, of course, but this wasn’t fair to her family; her dad, at least, who would be worried sick about her. Arthur knew what it felt like to always wonder if someone you loved was ever coming back. They needed to know she was okay. But then, what caring parent would let their kid leave again, with no explanation? Maybe Morgan had a plan, but Arthur wasn’t brave enough to ask something sensitive like that.
    Morgan … she reminded him of something Grandma Nelson said about some people: crazier than a bag of cats. Just when he thought he had a handle on her, she said or did something that completely threw him for a loop. But he was glad it was her with him. Arthur chuckled to himself as he imagined Morgan meeting Grandma Nelson, leaned his head back, and closed his eyes.
    Valet woke him later. Arthur dried off with two of the biggest, fluffiest white towels ever, and again wondered where the servitors went to do the laundry. He combed his hair and brushed his teeth — of course, the Manse had provided everything that he needed. There was even a tray in the bathroom that had Morgan’s stuff on it. Valet must’ve brought it in, knowing she wasn’t going to go to her room.
    Valet led him into an area between the entrance and the sinks. There he found new clothes waiting for him, on a heated rack, no less. No more threadbare gray hoodies, worn-out jeans, and scuffed up shoes for him. He had a uniform now — and it looked awesome.
    The tan pants were made of canvas with red leather kneepads and a crimson stripe down the side