Free Pete McGee and the Master of Darkness by Adam Wallace

stuff. After that he could do whatever he wanted. Right now, in this moment, he needed to be Sir Pete McGee, the brave and noble knight. He needed to be a great man, a righter of wrongs, and a rescuer of fair maidens. Pete smiled. There were none fairer than his mum.
    He closed the Green Book and put it on the ground. He would pick it up and pack it away later. Then he stood up and strode over to where Smithers and Molloy were training. It had started out as sparring but was starting to get serious. Pete didn’t want to be left out of that, so he leapt in with a battle cry, knocking Molloy to the ground and then facing Smithers, a huge grin on his face. It was time to get physical!

    â€˜You idiot!’ Syra screamed. ‘It’s on back to front!’
    Bob chuckled his posh English chuckle.
    â€˜I know, by Jove! Oh, this is fantastic. I am so evil! You know, Syra, I am actually enjoying putting you through pain. Soon I will be ready to face Pete McGee.’
    â€˜This is fantastic news,’ Syra said through gritted teeth. ‘For now, sew my leg back on properly please, you overstuffed beanbag!’
    â€˜It would be my pleasure,’ Bob said with an evil grin, unpicking the stitches and singing a song. ‘My absolute pleasure.’
    The sun had almost set, and darkness was taking over. Come morning, Syra Tanooth would have two legs once more.

    The gang finished breakfast and started walking again. The new day had dawned bright and clear, with barely a cloud in the sky. This was good. The less darkness around the less influence there was from the Darkness Master .
    Everyone was in good spirits. Smithers and Molloy were taking turns pulling faces, trying to get the better of each other. Ashlyn walked alone, deep in thoughts of Marloynne.
    Pete walked with Tahnee. Neither of them spoke, but both enjoyed being near the other. Every now and again Pete would sneak a glance at Tahnee, and would marvel at how strong she looked as she walked, so proud. Her long hair was tied back in a braid, and she wore clothes with the insignia of Bandragon woven into them.
    Tahnee looked at Pete and smiled. Embarrassed at being caught out, Pete glanced away, blushing.
    â€˜So,’ he said, his heart pounding. ‘Nice day.’
    He mentally slapped himself on the forehead. Nice day? He could only have got more boring if he had invited Tahnee to wash some dishes with him. She didn’t seem to mind though.
    â€˜Sure is, Pete. What’s going on with those two?’
    She nodded towards Molloy and Smithers, who were still having a go at each other. Pete shrugged.
    â€˜No idea. They don’t seem to like each other though.’
    Tahnee laughed.
    â€˜Ha ha, you don’t get it, do you?’
    â€˜Get what?’
    â€˜They both want to be your best friend. They are trying to top each other. They want you to choose between them.’
    â€˜Well it’s a pretty stupid way to go about it.’
    â€˜They’re boys, Pete, they’re stupid … well, you know, you aren’t, but most boys are.’
    Pete blushed again and looked away. Why did his heart have to start pounding every time Tahnee said something like that?
    â€˜Well, I hope they sort themselves out soon. We need to be a team to take on Syra Tanooth and his blobby blob. We can’t be fighting each other if we want to save Mum and Marloynne.’
    â€˜Well,’ Tahnee said, flashing one of her killer smiles, ‘I think it’s going to be up to you to make them see sense, Sir Pete McGee.’
    With that she bowed low, laughing, before running off to walk with Ashlyn, leaving Pete watching her go with a dazed look on his face. A picture flashed into his mind of Marloynne and Ashlyn’s wedding, only it was him and Tahnee taking their place. Pete shook his head clear. Wedding fantasies? They were not the thoughts of a knight! He needed to focus, and he needed to focus now.
    He shook his head