Charlie Bone and the Wilderness Wolf (Children of the Red King, Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page B

announced. No one could tell them apart. They both had pale, doll-like faces and shiny black hair. Their bangs ended in a sharp line just above their eyes, dark eyes that never showed a trace of emotion. "Who are you?" the same twin asked.
    "I am a boy whose name is as endless as the ocean." Dagbert smiled at them. "My name is Dagbert."
    The twins gaped at him. Neither of them asked any more questions.
    Charlie felt uncomfortable alone in the room with four children who had made no secret of being his enemies, and a fifth who certainly couldn't be described as a friend. He heaved a sigh of relief when Tancred and Lysander appeared.
    Tancred was in a particularly boisterous mood; his green cape billowed around him like a cloud, his blond hair stood up in spikes, and books kept fluttering out of his hands. As he placed his homework on the table, a gust of wind whistled around the room carrying loose paper into the air and rolling pens and pencils across the table.
    "For goodness' sake, can't you learn to control yourself, Tancred Torsson?" Dorcas grumbled as she bent to retrieve a book.
    Before Tancred could reply, Dagbert cried, "A storm boy! Good to meet you. I'm Dagbert Endless." He walked over to the two older boys and shook their hands. "And you must be Lysander Sage, the spirit-caller."
    Lysander, who had African ancestors, gave Dagbert a cool smile.
    Dagbert ignored the last three children to arrive. Avoiding Charlie, Emma took a seat close to Tancred, and Gabriel sat on his other side. Only Billy chose to sit beside Charlie. For this he received one of the new boy's chilly stares.
    There should have been a twelfth member of the group, but Asa Pike had not been seen for several weeks. Charlie found that he missed the weedy sixth year with his wispy red hair and the wolfish yellow eyes that gave away his terrible endowment.
    Lysander was now the oldest member of the endowed, and so he had been put in charge of the homework room. He had inherited a natural air of authority from his father, the famous Judge Sage. Joshua, Dorcas, and the twins might try to test Lysander's position, but they were a little in awe of the tall spirit-caller and, so far, no one had openly defied him.
    "Where's our number twelve?" asked Dagbert. "I was told there is a wolf boy."
    "Was," said Lysander quietly. "He's no longer with us. Get on with your work now."
    Dagbert meekly opened one of his books and began to read.
    Charlie couldn't concentrate. He gazed up at the Red King's portrait and then at the clock on the wall. When Manfred had presided over the King's room, he would command Charlie to look away from the painting and concentrate on his homework.
    Charlie had always longed to travel into the painting to talk to the king, but it was impossible. Behind the king stood Harken the Enchanter, a shadowy figure who blocked Charlie's every attempt to reach his ancestor.
    Once, the shadow had escaped, but now he was trapped again, an angry, brooding presence whom Charlie could almost feel watching him. But I don't need to reach the king anymore, he silently told the shadow, because I've found my father and there's nothing you can do about it.
    Someone else was watching Charlie. Dagbert's aquamarine eyes were fixed on him. Charlie quickly dropped his gaze and tried to concentrate on his homework.
    At eight o'clock everyone closed their books and began to file out of the King's room.
    Before Dagbert could catch up with them, Charlie whispered to Billy, "Want to come home with me this weekend?"
    "Yes, please," said Billy. "I've got so much to..."
    "Hey! Wait for me!" Dagbert's voice came ringing after them. "You're supposed to show me the dorms, Charlie Bone."
    "I thought Matron would have shown you," said Charlie.
    "She did, but I've forgotten." Dagbert grinned as he came up to Charlie with his peculiar lurching and pitching motion.
    Billy Raven slipped away.
    "That boy gives me the creeps." Dagbert remarked as he watched the retreating