Zak Turner - A Twist In Time (13 page)

It was all Zak could do to stop himself saying, “Yes Father,” at the same time as Tallion, but he managed to change it into a “Yes F-sir,” at the last moment.  He saw the corner of Sir Philip’s mouth twitch as he realised what had happened.

“Very well.  Your headmaster would like you both to spend the afternoon away from school, recovering at home, so I guess that’s the end of your first week at Netherdale Academy!  Zak, I’ve spoken with your mum, and because she’s on her way back from Broughton at the moment, and you’re going to be staying with us this weekend anyway, she accepted my offer to bring you home rather than come and collect you herself.  We’ll call in at your house on the way past.”

The headmaster raised his eyebrows.  Strictly speaking he shouldn’t allow the baronet to take Zak without his parents’ written permission, but Sir Philip was Sir Philip! 

Regardless, he was determined to ring Mrs Turner before they left just to confirm it.  He turned round to catch the attention of the school secretary who was hovering behind them in the corridor.  She’d already guessed his intention, and was holding her hand to the side of her head, mimicking the shape of a telephone with her little finger and thumb, and looking at him with a questioning expression.  He nodded and smiled his thanks.  She was an excellent school secretary!

He was also very surprised that Zak appeared to be such a close friend that he was staying at the Middlehams!  The apparent reclusiveness of the family was well known, and this was the first time he’d ever heard of anyone else knowing
anything
about them, let alone visiting their house! 

Sir Philip, who’d deliberately let the information slip so that Zak would be treated in the same way as Tallion, was also smart enough to realise that the school secretary had been despatched to phone Mrs Turner.  He therefore took his time ensuring that the boys had gathered all their things before walking slowly to the front of the school.  They were just heading outside when the secretary reappeared and nodded to the relieved headmaster, who apologised for what had happened all over again, on behalf of God it seemed! 

A minute later Zak and Tallion were safely in the car and with a final wave of thanks to the headmaster, Sir Philip drove out of the car park.

* * *

“Zak, thanks to you, we managed to capture your attacker,” said Sir Philip the moment the car started moving.  “It was a Firmus followed by a Revertur wasn’t it?”

“Yes sir.”

“Well done!  You manage to defeat a well-known and wanted murderer called Niall Donoghue.  We know he’s one of Antares Malchus’ closest associates, although no-one has ever seen them together!  Malchus is adept at keeping his nose clean.”

“I hadn’t told you this, but on Tuesday afternoon when you were attacked at Kirkstall Abbey, I was also attacked as I went to a Wizard Council meeting in London.  By rights, all three of us should be dead, but we’re not.  Fate stepped in.  The appearance of Niall Donoghue today strengthens our view that Antares Malchus is behind the attacks, and we need to think very carefully about the future for both of you.” 

“As you already know, Barty was with you today during football, but Niall Donoghue still managed to get a shot at you!  I don’t blame Barty for that, Donoghue’s an assassin and knows how to hide himself.  I’m surprised he revealed himself at all, and that either of you saw him before he fired his curses.  Barty didn’t!”

There was a pause in the conversation as Sir Philip piloted the Range Rover through some traffic, and then he continued. 

“Did you tell your parents about the attack on Tuesday Zak?”

“No sir, nothing.”

“Okay.  I know I advised you not to, but in some ways it would now make things easier.  I think we need to explain the truth to them about today too.  They’re in danger themselves and, as from now, the Wizard Council will be providing twenty-four hour protection for them.  We’ve thwarted Malchus three times, and he will be furious.  He won’t rest until he kills someone.” 

“Tallion, I don’t know if you’ve worked it out, but we were most likely the chosen targets because of our close association with the non-magical folk here in the dale.  That situation hasn’t changed so I expect we’re still top of his list.  You going to Netherdale Academy will be like red rag to a bull in his eyes; he’ll see it as a betrayal.”

There was another pause in the conversation as Sir Philip cautiously negotiated the sharp corner and narrow bridge by the old water mill on the road up the dale.

“This evening we need to spend some time together going over both events, so that I can get a clear picture of what happened.”

“Yes Father,” replied the boys simultaneously.

“I’d like you to stay at The Copse this afternoon to do your homework and finish off your non-magical week, and then I’ll come to collect you about five o’clock as planned.  We’ll have a talk after dinner, but for most of this evening I want you to have a rest.”

Sir Philip glanced at Tallion in the rear view mirror and saw that he was looking intently at Zak.  He realised that he’d have to wait a few seconds for an answer because they boys were clearly talking to each other telepathically!

Tallion, if they’re putting in protection for my family, maybe they should put in protection for Steven’s family too?

Let’s ask.  You or me?

You ask.

Okay.

“Father, Steven saw what happened today, and knows that someone tried to kill us.  I’m sure he’ll keep it secret, but I expect he’s a bit scared.  I know I would be if
my
two best friends had just survived a murder attempt!”

That bit of news caught Sir Philip by surprise, and he glanced quickly in the rear view mirror again at the two wizards sitting in the back of his Range Rover.

“Does he know about Tuesday too?” he asked in a tone that clearly indicated he was not going to be impressed if the answer was ‘yes’.  Zak answered quickly before Tallion got chance.

“Yes sir.  Sorry.  We only told him today while we were sitting in the medical room in the academy.  It just sort of came out.  He was a bit horrified. 
I’m
a bit horrified,” he finished quietly.

The baronet looked carefully at Zak in the mirror and could see that the boy’s ever-cheerful expression was missing, hidden behind a worried frown.  He sighed.  He couldn’t expect children to be as rigorous as he was at knowing when to talk and when to be silent, especially Zak.

“Well, I’m not surprised you told him, and even though it makes life even more complicated, you probably had no choice.  I’ll see if we can get some protection for them too, and I’ll put more alerting charms around their farm.  I think it’s very unlikely that they’ll be targeted though, because hardly anyone knows that Steven is magical!”

“They know he’s our friend father, and they might think getting him is an easy way of getting at us?”

“I understand what you’re saying Tallion, but I don’t think that Malchus’ primary purpose is getting at
us
.  He’s trying to terrorise everyone, either to make them support him, or to make them leave him alone.  We are a very good high profile target, and killing us would have sent a very strong message.  However, he’s failed three times now, so he may decide to look elsewhere.  It will most likely be other wizards though, not non-magical folk.  He wants to cause maximum fear in
our
world.  Wiping out a non- magical family will not help his cause.  Only when he has all the witches and wizards scared will he make his next move to grab more power.”

There was silence in the car for the rest of the short journey to The Copse.  Sir Philip’s mind was working hard about how to keep his two sons - natural and adopted - safe.  Zak and Tallion were simply sharing each other’s thoughts.  Zak was worried about his family, the fear of losing any of them was very real for him, and Tallion felt it very keenly over their bond.

I can’t say don’t worry Zak, because we’re all worried, but remember that Father and the shadow-wizards have been here before.  They know what they’re doing.

I know, but Mum and Dad can’t defend themselves against magic, they wouldn’t even sense it or see it until they were hit by it.  If he nearly got us, then getting them would be so easy.

He doesn’t want to kill non-magical folk Zak, and you probably still don’t even figure in his thoughts!  It’s me he was after…

Is that supposed to cheer me up?  I’m just as worried about losing you as I am about losing my family!

It worries me too Zak, terribly, but we can’t let it take over our lives.  We have to keep it in the background and just get on with it!

After a few seconds thought, Zak turned and smiled at Tallion.

I know.  Only a Middleham could talk like that.  I’m glad we have this bond though, because I can feel your calmness like it’s my own emotion.  It’s helping me a lot.

You need me, but I need you too, because I’m way too serious by myself.

* * *

When the trio arrived at Zak’s house, his mum was at the door waiting for them, and she ran down the drive as they climbed out.  She threw her arms round Tallion first, because he was closest, and gave him a hug before repeating it with Zak as he came round the back of the car.

“I was so worried about you both!  I’m so relieved that you’re alright!” 

Jenny Turner was so pleased to see the boys that she didn’t notice Sir Philip’s surprise when she hugged Tallion as though he were her own son.  Her act confirmed the baronet’s own suspicions that the bond between the boys was affecting those around them too.  Anyone who felt any emotion towards either of them felt the same emotion towards both of them.  He suddenly understood his own fatherly feelings towards Zak much better, but couldn’t recall reading about anything like it ever before.

“Was it really lightning Zak?” asked his mum as they made their way to the house.

“No Mum, but let’s get inside first and then we’ll tell you what happened.”

“Of course!  Come on Tallion, I need another hug from you too!”

The boys were a little bit embarrassed, but felt very loved and cared for.  Neither of them thought it strange that Jenny treated them identically though.  Tallion saw his father’s wry smile and realised why he looked a bit put out, but he just shrugged.  Jenny was
his
mum too.

When they were all sitting down, Sir Philip apologised to Jenny for keeping some information back from her, explaining that he hadn’t wanted to worry her or John.  He then briefly related the attack on himself at the Wizard Council on Tuesday, and how he’d had only just escaped with his life.  He then looked expectantly at Zak, waiting for him to tell his mum about what happened to
them
on Tuesday. 

Tallion started the story though, and he and Zak shared the explanation of what had happened to them on the way to Mhonarr Castle, swapping the narrative seamlessly between them as though they were a single person.  Jenny and Sir Philip were both mesmerised by the double act, but Jenny was also looking increasingly worried about the danger they’d been in.

When the boys finished, Sir Philip then ran through the events of the morning at Netherdale Academy, and by the time
he’d
finished, he was rummaging in his pockets for a Steady Nerves potion!  Jenny was looking horrified at what had befallen her two boys over the last few days, and urgently needed something to calm her down!

“Oh Zak, Tallion, I can’t believe it!  You’ve nearly been killed twice this week and we didn’t even know!  Why did you keep it secret?”

“We didn’t want to worry you, Mum.  Being a wizard is much more dangerous than being non-magical, and we’re learning how to defend ourselves, but, well, we’re just going to have to get used to it I suppose.”

“What can we do Sir Philip?  We have to do something to keep them safe!”

“We are doing something, Jenny; lots of things, everything we can do short of locking them up inside Lofthouse Castle.  The boys will never be outside the castle without at least two bodyguards.  There’s also a shadow-wizard guarding your house here at The Copse twenty four hours a day.  When the boys are here that makes three bodyguards around the house.  I’m going to install a portal between The Copse and Lofthouse Castle so that the boys can get between the two buildings without needing to travel up and down the road.  It will be programmed so that it can only be used by our two families, but that means you’ll also an escape route if you’re attacked.”

“We’ve already put wards, enchantments, and charms around your house, around the academy, and around Lower Nettleton Primary School.  The wards are like defensive shields and repel attacking spells cast from outside.  They also stop magical people approaching and entering the buildings, except our two families.  Non-magical people can pass through freely, for now.  The charms are sensitive enough to detect a wizard walking past, so no-one should be able to sneak up to the buildings without the shadow-wizards knowing about it.  In short, these two boys are wrapped up in magical protection measures which have been extended to the rest of your family at home, and to Sophie, Bjarne, and Freya when they’re at school.”

“Zak and Tallion are also more than capable of defending themselves, as you’ve just heard.  They are outstanding for eleven-year-olds, I have never heard of anyone of their age coming close to them in terms of power and skill.  Their best protection is most likely their own magical prowess!”