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

one long before we met.]
    “Is that part of the prophesy?”
    Some time ago I took Fluffy back to the world I stole his egg from and we met his parents. They told me I could never have taken his egg if they hadn't wanted me to. Dragons are into prophesy in a big way and they believed it was vital that Fluffy and I grew up together, for the good of the multiverse no less. That was when we found out his given name was Retnor. Jenny's never called him anything else since.
    Fluffy looked at me bleakly. [There are many prophesies. Not all of them are favorable.]
    “I have to go to Salice,” I said to break the silence that had followed.
    “Meep.” [You said that last time we met and look what happened.]
    “I'm not planning any encounters with Bronwyn until I know at least as much as she knows.”
    Fluffy put a massive wing over me in a comforting way.
    [But does she plan any encounters with you?]
    We held onto each other for a while and then I hopped.
     
    Esmeralda and her parents had done their best to keep me out of the royal library after I became their wizard. But I knew its location well enough to hop directly there.
    Salice and Wales are in similar time zones and it was late in the night when I arrived. Lanterns flickered, hanging from dark stained oak beams. This was not the kind of place you have naked flames as the books were far too precious. Centuries of accumulated knowledge stood to attention on the shelves around me. I felt distinctly intimidated as I have never been one for reading books. Not even fiction.
    The person I hoped to find peered into an ancient tome. A lantern on either side of the book shone light onto the pages via a lens arrangement. She looked up at me and then looked quickly away.
    “It is good to see you well enough to hop, mi'Lord Wizard.”
    I wasn't having any of that kind of talk and two could play at that game.
    “And it's good to see you too, mi'Lady Wizard.”
    Urda rose from her chair and knelt in front of me.
    “Only a wizard since you made me into one last night.”
    I took her gently by her arms and raised her to her feet. I staggered under the strain and she steadied me, staring at me with anxious eyes.
    “Only alive because you saved me. And thanks for stopping me falling down just then.”
    “You should be in bed. I will take you to mine.”
    I resisted as she began to drag me from the library.
    “Urda, Bronwyn has pledged to take this kingdom and make everyone her slaves. I need your help, not your bed.” Though I will admit that a lie down sounded like a very good idea just then.
    Urda looked up at me and her pupils dilated making her eyes look huge.
    “I will do anything for you, mi'Lord. Anything .”
    There was something a little unsettling about the way she said that so I decided to ignore it.
    “Well, you can start by calling me, Jake. Every time you say mi'Lord I keep looking behind me to see who you're talking too.”
    “As mi'… you wish, Jake.”
    “Urda, you've been reading all these books on magic and you did a brilliant job of healing me.”
    I lifted her chin because her head had dropped to gaze at the floor as soon as I spoke. The girl was blushing again. I never used to have this effect on women. It felt more than a little weird.
    “I can absorb anything you've learned if we both put a hand on the book and you will me to know. Have you read any of the books Bronwyn took?”
    Urda looked downcast and I knew her answer before she spoke.
    “I sought healing. Bronwyn took books on using magic to fight.”
    My legs were getting unsteady again so I directed us to a table where we could talk sitting down.
    “Healing might be useful. Did you study it specifically to heal me?”
    “I studied it before Bronwyn attacked you. It was what gave Princess Esmeralda the idea. Some of those you brought here from Barren have trouble sleeping and often wake up screaming.”
    I had rescued a load of children from a world where girls and boys were regularly accused of