Read Jake's War, Book Two of Wizards for Free Online

to remember.
    “You can't have a dragon as your Best Man. Besides, Retnor wouldn't want to do it.”
    That was a feeble come-back and we both knew it.
    “We'll leave it up to him then?” I said, and smiled broadly.
    Jenny sighed. She knew my dragon better than I did. He would kill to do it. She rubbed out a name she'd penciled in and wrote 'RETNOR' in big letters next to the words Best Man.
    “I don't know what my parents are going to think.”
    “He's been Glimming them to Salice and back.”
    “Yes, but they think of him as a strange looking horse.”
    “Time they learned better then. I bet Esmeralda will be all for it.”
    Jenny frowned and hit her pencil hard against the pad. It made a surprisingly loud noise.
    “And don't think either of us are going to let you touch us before the wedding. We might not have been pure before, but we've made a vow of chastity to each other.”
    “What happens on the wedding night?” Okay, I will admit to grinning broadly after I spoke.
    “If you're very lucky, we might let you live.”
    Judging by the look in Jenny's eyes it was going to be a close thing.
     
    The doctors told Jenny that the earliest I could be discharged was in two days' time. Within an hour of her leaving I decided I couldn't wait that long. Bronwyn was a major threat to my wives-to-be and she'd had four months to study those damned books. 'Wives-to-be' , it was funny how easily I'd accepted that idea. The thought of the wedding and appearing before all those guests with two brides scared the life out of me, but the idea of being married to them felt strangely comfortable, as though it was the right and natural thing to do.
    Then there were the pregnancies. I've never wanted children. At eighteen I can assure you it was the last thing on my mind. But I knew we'd cope, and if parenthood got too much I could always hop to a sunny beach while the wives got the situation under control. After all, a man's acknowledged as being pretty useless in the nappy changing department. It would all work out, I was sure.
    I pressed the alarm button by my bed and a nurse came hurrying over.
    “I want to discharge myself.”
    “You can't do that.”
    “I want to discharge myself right now.” The second time it was a command.
    “I'll go and get the forms.”
     
    Twenty minutes later I stepped out of the ward, one hand pressing against the wall to keep me upright.
    “I thought you'd be leaving tonight.”
    It was a familiar voice behind me. I didn't turn.
    “You weren't thinking of arresting me again, were you Sergeant Jones?”
    His hand dropped onto my shoulder and squeezed. The pain was intense and my knees wobbled.
    “On what charge would that be, Jake?”
    “Not having a valid charge has never stopped you before.”
    The Sergeant walked around me using my shoulder as a pivot. I felt a white hot surge of rage run through me, and it was all I could do not to vaporize him where he stood. I didn't need this right now. The Sergeant was oblivious as to how close he'd come to death.
    “Look boyo, it's like this. Nearly all child murders are committed by the family or a close friend. In this case that's Bronwyn's parents or you. She didn't have any friends at school. She was always bunking off somewhere. We'd be derelict in our duty if we didn't investigate you. You and Bronwyn are like peas in a pod. You could swap your school reports and not spot the difference.”
    “There are big differences between me and her,” I said through gritted teeth.
    The Sergeant let go of my shoulder and shrugged.
    “Perhaps. Then there's the fact that you and her parents were assaulted and nearly died before making miraculous recoveries. Not one of you saw the person who did it. It's all very peculiar and Inspector Thomas doesn't like peculiar. And there's still a missing eleven year old to worry about.”
    “Twelve,” I corrected without thinking.
    “You see, Jake. How do you know that?”
    “Her parents mentioned it yesterday.”
    I