Read The Silver Dwarf (Royal Institute of Magic, Book 4) for Free Online

go!”
    Ben felt a stab of anger the moment he clocked the voice.
    Aaron turned as they entered the battleground, a smile plastered over his sickeningly flawless face.
    “Ah, Ben, William – there you are. I was told to expect you,” Aaron said.
    Ben quickened his pace, eager to impart some of his anger on Aaron, but William beat him to it.
    “What’s going on? We have the battleground booked for this time,” William said, squaring up to Aaron. They were a similar height, but William had the
advantage of countless hours at the gym, and it showed.
    “You’re quite right,” Aaron said, seemingly unfazed. “However, this week we booked it in. I felt my team needed to train in a different battleground. This
one might be small, but it gives us a different set of challenges to work with, don’t you agree?”
    “Whether I agree or not is irrelevant,” William said. “We had this battleground booked. I spent several hours convincing the Taecia management team to give
us this time. So I need you to leave – now .”
    Ben enjoyed the way William emphasised that last word. But still, Aaron remained unconcerned. He raised a finger.
    “You had an agreement,” Aaron said. “But that agreement has changed.”
    Aaron turned and called a name. A bald-headed, suited man stepped out of the shadows, looking slightly flustered.
    “Mr. Ackney,” Will said with surprise. “What’s going on here?”
    “Ah, William, my boy, I’m sorry,” Mr. Ackney said. He sounded anxious, and his eyes were lined with worry. “I received word this morning from the Taecia
spellstrike board – the deputy chairman no less. He instructed me to give Aaron’s spellstrike team this slotted time, effective immediately.”
    William frowned. It was a look that would have scared a braver man than Mr. Ackney, who flinched, and took a step back.
    “I am sorry, William; there was nothing I could do,” Mr. Ackney said.
    William maintained his stony stare. “You could have told them you had already made an agreement and you weren’t willing to break your word.”
    Mr. Ackney went red, and thrust out his chest, anger fuelling his courage. “Do not insult my integrity, William. It was only down to me that your misfit
team got to train here in the first place. You should be grateful.”
    “Oh, I am grateful,” William said, raising a fist. “Do you want to see how grateful I am?”
    Ben saw the danger and stepped in, just as Aaron did the same, pulling the two apart.
    “Let’s all take a deep breath,” Aaron said. “Will, think about it – we’re not training at my battleground anymore. It’s free, and I would be more than
happy to let you guys use it. Remember, that’s where we’re going to be playing, so it would be ideal for you to get a feel of the battleground.”
    From the corner of his eye, Ben saw the rest of his team perk up. William, though, wasn’t totally convinced.
    “You would let us do that?” William asked, doubting the offer.
    Aaron spread both his arms. “Of course. This isn’t a world cup final. It’s a friendly school game, and it’s only fair that we both get the same training
set-up, right?”
    William gave Aaron a long, hard look. Aaron stared back, all open honesty in those big, brown eyes.
    “How long will it take us to get there?”
    “From the Taecia Dragonway you can be there in less than ninety minutes,” Aaron said. “If you go now, there will still be time to get a good hour or two of
training in. I’ll send word that you’re expected.”
    After what seemed like an age, William gave a subtle nod. Without a word of thanks, he turned, and headed for the exit.
    “Come on, team; we’re leaving.”
    They stepped onto their darzels and were soon speeding back to Taecia, skimming along the pathway.
    Ben rode at the head of the group, alongside William, who was staring impassively ahead.
    “I was kind of hoping you’d hit him,” Ben said.
    “I considered it,” William admitted. “But it wouldn’t