Free Revenge by Fiona McIntosh Page A

was very cold comfort.
    Don’t struggle any more, Cloot. It will just weaken you. Let’s wait and see what they want, Tor cautioned, sounding braver than he felt at this moment, remembering his body so far away.
    They felt their combined hopes sink as they realised what their fate at the hands of Quist and his pirate gang was to be. They shared distress as they heard the pirate give the order to remove Saxon andwatched helplessly as the Kloek was dragged off down the street.
    Now all Cloot could think of was their own precarious situation and the dire need to ensure Tor’s escape.
    Forget me, you fool! Cloot spat at him. We have no time to waste on anything but you…getting you away from them.
    I will not— Tor began but was cut off fiercely by his friend. He could feel the anger coursing through Cloot’s fragile web of light bones and feathers.
    You will not put yourself in any further danger than you already have. Now use that powerful mind of yours and conjure up a solution, Tor. There is no more time. Quist is about to stuff me into a sack; I’ll lose all sense of direction and then we’ll find ourselves on a boat to somewhere in the Exotic Isles and that will be that. You’ll die inside me and I’ll die of a broken heart and of my failure to fulfil my task as the Second. You cannot do this to me. You will do as I say…NOW!
    What do you expect me to do? Tor yelled, feeling the stirring of real fear.
    Something that will magic you away, Tor! Now think. Think hard on everything you know. The answer is within you. Lys has always told you that you have the answers. You just have to know how to ask the right questions. Do it now. Save yourself.
    Save us, he added softly before falling silent.
    For a moment Tor felt lost, helpless. Growing up, it was not just the love and support of his parentswhich had made him feel safe; it was knowing he possessed a power way beyond anything anyone else understood. There had never been anything he could not do. Even when Merkhud had suggested the Spiriting, Tor had trusted he could achieve it. But now, many years later, he felt doubt creep in. His own life was his to lose…if he so chose. But with Cloot it was different. Cloot was his closest, most beloved friend; he knew the falcon would die without a second’s hesitation if he thought it might save Tor. He steeled his resolved. He would not lose Cloot. He would not let a drug-intoxicated bully, a scheming woman and a one-eyed pirate beat them. He remembered how, years ago when they were children, Alyssa had taught him to turn shame into strength, misery into determination and fear into anger. Now he would display that same courage.
    Tor withdrew and summoned the Colours. Cloot seemed distant now. The Colours roared and instantly he felt connected to where his body lay with Solyana and Arabella keeping vigil over it. He needed no guiding star to find it. He had only hours left before his body would die and then Cloot would surely be lost—and so would the Trinity. His anger swelled and the Colours roared brightly in answer to his call.
    Trust yourself. Who had spoken? Tor did not know but he repeated it in his mind. Trust yourself.
    He leapt.
    Cloot called across the link, brave as always. Travel safely, child. Don’t forget me.
    Cloot, Tor whispered, I love you.
    I know.
    The link snapped shut and he was travelling alone. Speed was all he could grasp. He felt nothing else. Emptiness enveloped him and he hurtled through the blank. Where were his Colours? Did they blaze behind him? Perhaps he had become the Colours. Faster, faster. No sound.
    How long had he been travelling before it happened?
    Cold hit him like a slap. He slowed. He was confused. What was it? A sense of foreboding permeated his consciousness; at the same time he sensed that whatever was reaching for him must not be allowed to touch him in the depths of his haven.
    Travel! called voices. They were urgent.
    He thought he recognised them but recognition