Page 2 of His Greatest Treasure

Behind me, there was a charred little patch of grass where I’d nestled, but I hoped it was small enough that nobody would find it.

Now I was inside, I was safe. As long as nobody knew I was here.

Chapter 2

Alfie

My large room doubled as a schoolroom during the day. My door was propped open and I was made to sit at my desk, working at my books. I’d never minded before, but that was because I’d always been tutored with my brother. Now Morgan was gone and I was alone.

I hadn’t realised how much I relied on him until he wasn’t there.

Considering we spent large numbers of our hours together sitting in silence, I hadn’t realised that his absence would leave a yawning hole in my day. Still, it had been some comfort, to sit therewithsomeone. To know that he was nearby, that we were both waiting to be released from our duty,to be able to roll our eyes at each other if we were sure nobody was looking…

I missed feeling him there, with the little thread of bond we shared strung tightly between us, stronger than any other bond I had. Morgan might be two years older than me, but we were more like twins than brothers. We looked so alike that our previous tutor had often called me by his name, and I’d answered.

When Morgan had left two weeks ago, I’d been devastated. I’d felt something twitch inside me, like my stomach was cramping and I was about to be sick, even though I wasn’t. Or like my stomach had suddenly become independent from me and had decided it didn’t want to be separated from Morgan and was lurching after him.

I’d worried for a while that my insides would break out of me and spill all over the floor, just because I didn’t want Morgan to go.

In fact, I’d been so worried about the way my stomach behaved that I’d risked telling my mother about it, even though I didn’t want her to worry. She’d said something about growing pains, and that the feeling would subside. I wasn’t sure whatto think about that, since I’d never got those kind of growing pains before.

I wished I could talk to Morgan about it, but I didn’t want to bother him all the time and I really didn’t want him to worry about me. He had enough to do, learning to fight among thecuraidh.

I sighed, turning the page of my book, and then turning it back when I realised I hadn’t taken in any of the previous page and I’d have to re-read it anyway.

I was half-way down that page for the second time when I felt one of my bonds. They never hurt but there was always a part of me that was aware of them. One of them rose in my awareness, which usually meant that someone was near me. I focused on the bond, identifying which it was. There were many, one for each of my clan.

This one belonged to Glimmer. It shone with a particular vigour, some metallic brightness that glinted like a sword. Glimmer was the Guardian, and he protected us all. He wasn’t usually in the castle, though.

I turned to the doorway to see if he would walk past, but I didn’t see him.

Disappointed, I turned back to my book.

The afternoon dragged on. I expected my mother to come into the room to release me from my school work, as usual, but it was my father who swept in instead. The bond between us rose in my consciousness as he drew nearer and I used the time to sit up straighter. Father never liked to see me slouching.

“You’ll stay inside the castle tonight, Alphonse.”

It was so weird to hear him call me that. He was the only one who used my full name. Even Mother didn’t do that.

I knew better than to say anything about it. Lord Somerville would not call me Alfie.

Instead, I nodded.

When he turned to leave the room, as though that were all he’d come to say, I blurted out, “Why?”

He looked at me and I felt the bond between us stretch tight. It didn’t hurt but it was uncomfortable. There was something about it that twisted inside me, and I always felt better when I was way out of Father’s sight and the bond was sitting low inside me.

As he looked at me, it pulled tighter. It was a strong bond, one of the strongest, but it was pale silver, almost white, like my father’s eyes.

Those eyes fixed on me and I felt uncomfortable, wanting to squirm on the spot. His voice was cold and full of authority. “Because I command it.”

“Yes, sir.”

I really should have let it go. Anyone else would have. Morgan certainly would have had the sense not to ask any more questions when Father was in this kind of mood. However, I was not my brother and whereas he went tight-lipped and silent in the presence of our father, my tongue loosened and the more nervous I got the more I talked.

It was ahugefailing on my part and I hated that I did it, but I also simply couldn’t help it.

“Has something happened? Has the Guardian seen something dangerous? I can help you to defend the territory if you need me to. I know I haven’t worked any magic before but I’m sure I could, if it was to keep everyone safe. Morgan has a little bit of magic so maybe I’ve—”

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