Free The Flight of the Griffin by C.M. Gray

that being tracked by Matheus Hawk meant you should live what little remained of your life in absolute terror.
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    Chapter 5
    Set Course F or ‘The Isle of Skulls’
    The book was now starting to fill, and each of the boys spent time reading through it. The fifth page after the introduction was now visible and c ausing much heated discussion.

     
    Pardigan looked over at Mahra. ‘Well, what does it mean?’
    ‘You can’t need my help already surely?’ she purred. Lifting her hand to her mouth, she began to lick it, then remembered that she wasn’t in cat but human form and frowned. ‘It means my little group of heroes that the first challenge is to get yourselves to the Isle of Skulls and find the…skull that…’ She waved her hands in the air absently. ‘...that it links to Magician Pew...somehow. Listen, I don’t pretend to understand everything that you’re supposed to do,’ she added in an irritated tone. ‘Magician Pew was never the clearest person with his language. And apparently, for some reason known only to himself, he decided that he had to write your instructions in rhyme. This, remember, was all conceived over a thousand years ago and was probably necessary for the spell...I don’t know!’
    The boys glanced at one another and Tarent shrugged. ‘Mahra, we’re not asking you to know everything, just to help us as much as you can. How far is this island? I don’t think it’s on the charts, and have you any idea what we can expect when we get there?’
    ‘It’s not on your charts for the same reason that the next page isn’t in the book before it’s meant to be read. Simply sail north-east and after a day or two I’m sure we’ll find it.’
    ‘Sure we’ll find it?’ echoed Quint. ‘You don’t know?’

‘No,’ said Mahra. ‘I don’t know. I also don’t know what to expect when we get there, but I seem to be remembering things when the need arises. My mind has probably been affected in the same way as the book and the island. Which means the spell is still active and extremely powerful.’ She paused for a moment. ‘When we get to the island, either I’ll know a little more, or we’ll just have to follow our instincts. I’m sorry but that’s all I can tell you for the moment.’
    They realised that although thin, it was all they had. As for the agent of Chaos that followed; not much could be done except stay ahead of him and act with the best of their new abilities, if and when he did show up.
    The next morning Quint and Pardigan went ashore to buy provisions and have a last look around the town of Sterling. Quint reluctantly left his bow and sword on the boat, but both boys carried knives.
    ‘I’ve never carried a blade before,’ said Pardigan. ‘It’s strange, I’d feel quite naked now if I didn’t have one with me,’ he felt the knife under his cloak and sighed. ‘A wise man once told me never to carry a blade. He said there would always come a time when you’d cross paths with a person that has a greater ability, who’d take it away from you and… ’ He left the sentence unfinished, drawing a finger across his throat theatrically, and then shrugged his shoulders.
    ‘Do you really feel different?’ asked Quint. ‘I mean me, personally, I feel…strange. I know I’m me, but I’m not the me that I recognise…do you know what I’m talking about or am I babbling?’
    ‘Yeah, I feel the same as you. I guess we all do, but I think we’ll get used to it; I hope so anyhow. I do like feeling a little special. My only worry is whoever’s following us. Knife thrower or not, and I don’t care if I can go invisible, he scares me. I’m not sure why exactly, but he does.’ They continued to walk into town chatting in low voices, so as not to be overheard.
    By mid morning, they were back on the boat and The Griffin got underway, heading once more for open sea.
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    Matheus Hawk sat huddled in concentration over a cast-iron brazier – the hot coals