Read Bookworm II: The Very Ugly Duckling for Free Online

knowing that the Inquisitor was used to controlling himself. But even he had been unable to master the modified spell.
    “I may have you try to teach one or two new students,” Light Spinner mused. “Because we are critically short of personnel.”
    Elaine scowled at the reminder. It was her duty to try, even if she didn’t know if she would succeed. But then, that was true of just about everyone these days.
    “I’ll do my best,” she promised. “When do you want me to start?”
    “We are currently combing the countryside for new recruits,” Light Spinner said. “But many of the more promising ones will have a great deal to unlearn.”
    Elaine nodded, then stopped as she sensed a sudden change in the magic field. For a moment, she thought that Light Spinner was calling on her magic, before she realised that the source was outside the Palace’s wards. A second later, there was a sudden pulse of magic ...
    ... And then nothing. The field just seemed to snap back to normal.
    She found her voice. “What ... what was that ?”
    “I don’t know,” Light Spinner said. She sounded as disturbed as Elaine felt. “But I think we had better find out.”

 

    Chapter Four
    “I think I’d better run,” Charity said. “That Inquisitor is here because of me.”
    Johan blinked. He could easily imagine an Inquisitor coming for Jamal – his older brother was an asshole, plain and simple – but Charity? His sister was sweet, innocent and determined to do well at her studies. And, unlike most of his other siblings, she hardly ever played magical pranks on her powerless brother.
    “You?”
    “Father gave me a spell to help me study,” Charity said, as she stood up and headed towards the door. “But I think I want to give father time to cool down before I face him.”
    “I’ll come with you,” Johan said, picking up his coat. He’d hoped to talk to Charity, even if she didn’t really understand what he went through on a daily basis. But now ... maybe he could spend some time away from home too. “Where are we going?”
    “I thought I’d go see my boyfriend,” Charity said. She gave him an understanding look as he flushed, brightly. “But I’ll help you get out of the house.”
    Johan scowled inwardly as they walked downstairs and stopped in front of the door, just long enough for Charity to cast the charm that unlocked it and allowed them to leave the house. A mundane – or a powerless – would be trapped without a magician to open the door; Johan knew, no matter what his father said, that he was effectively a prisoner. Outside, hardly anyone knew of his existence. The family rarely mentioned him to any of their friends, even their closest allies. It would be an admission of weakness in the family bloodline that they could ill afford.
    Outside, it was chillier than he had expected, but he couldn’t help feeling a sensation of freedom that more than compensated for the cold. Away from the house, he told himself, he could just blend into the mundane population. They would never know that he was a Conidian – and neither would anyone else. He would just be another teenage boy wandering the streets.
    “Here,” Charity said. She passed him a handful of silver coins. “I’ll be expecting them repaid, sooner or later.”
    “Thank you,” Johan said, genuinely touched. He was given an allowance by his father, but – unlike the rest of his siblings – he was unable to look after it for himself. The one time he had, it had been stolen by Jamal and spent on sweets. “I’ll pay you back tonight.”
    Charity waved as she walked off in one direction; Johan hesitated, then walked in the opposite direction, heading away from her. If their father decided to use tracking spells to find them, at least they wouldn’t be together. And it was more likely that he would go after Charity first. Johan had no idea what spell their father might have given her, but if an Inquisitor had turned up it had to be bad.
    The sense