Free Jake's Justice, Book Three of Wizards by John Booth Page A

quickly.]
    “This cave is almost as bad as the Palace as a place for a fight. We need to go somewhere where we can see what’s going on.”
    [There is a lot of room outside.]
    “While a magical battle in the mountains of Wales is not without precedent, I’d rather not be a rolling item on the news channels.”
    [Somewhere in Salice?]
    I pondered that one. There were lots of places in Salice where locals were unlikely to get involved or get hurt if our watcher proved hostile. But then, I could never predict what Esmeralda might do when she was told where we were. And she would be told very quickly.
    “How about that amphitheatre on the Dragon World?]
    [They will not be there. It is only used for gatherings and they are rare. In any event, they would not help us.]
    “Why ever would we need any help?” I grinned at my dragon and he grinned back.
    [It is a long way to glim. Will you hop us there?]
    Rather than answer, I put my hand on him and we appeared in the centre of the stage or whatever it was. A clear sky and bright sunlight greeted us. It was like being in the center of an ancient volcano with caves studding the walls. Apart from the sound of a breeze softly whistling among the rocks this world was eerily silent. I’d never seen any evidence of life in my visits, apart from the visiting dragons. The circular stone stage stretched well over a hundred yards in all directions. I felt exposed, but at least our watcher would be too, assuming they ever made an appearance.
    Fluffy sat down and I joined him. using his flank as a back rest.
    “When did you first notice you were being watched?”
    [About three minutes before I came to you.]
    “This could be a long wait then.”
    [I do not think so. I have never felt so unnerved. My feeling is that the danger is imminent.]
    I looked at my watch. It was already gone eleven.
    “Let’s hope they get on with it. I have an appointment at two this afternoon.”
    Fluffy laughed and flames danced across the stage. [You are the only creature in the universe who would hurry up an apocalypse because you had arranged a haircut for later that day.]
    “Priorities, my scaly friend. It’s all down to priorities.”
    Fluffy stood and I tumbled as my back rest disappeared. [Make ready, Jake. Something is coming.]
     
    Fluffy took the north and I watched the south side of the amphitheater. Nothing moved and apart from my own quickened breathing and Fluffy’s claws scratching on stone there was nothing to hear.
    Then a hundred or more Knights of Justice appeared from nowhere. They formed a perfect circle around us, their swords pointing in at us, held two handed as though they expected to keep up the stance for some time.
    A knight appeared facing me, well inside the circle and perhaps thirty-five feet away. As soon as he started talking I recognized the voice and style. God, these knights were pompous.
    “Be it known that Wizard Jake Morrissey and his dragon Retnor are thrice condemned to death,” Sir Grendon said as he read from a scroll, “for revealing our worlds to the Valhallans, for resisting Justice delivered by a Knight of Justice, and for threatening the stability of the legal system of the Diamond Worlds by successfully resisting a Knight carrying out his duty.”
    I had to rise to that. “Aren’t two of those the same thing? And on what basis do you involve my dragon in all this?”
    [I am not YOUR dragon.]
    “Technicalities, you know what I mean.”
    [Humph.]
    Sir Grendon was not amused by our witty banter. “Be quiet, criminals. You must be expunged from the multiverse before you are able to spread your method of defiance. When we finish here, we will execute your relatives and friends to limit the chances of contamination. The dragon extermination program will be accelerated.”
    I raised my hand and willed him driven to his knees. It didn’t work of course. The dampening field all those swords were putting out stopped my magic dead at my skin. Still, verbal