Rise of Allies (The Gryphon Chronicles, Book 4) Read Online Free PDF

Tension was giving him a headache, so he was grateful for the shade the towering shrubbery walls cast as they followed the flow of the crowd.
    The grassy aisles inside the maze were so broad that there was room for eight or ten people walking abreast. Of course, this depended on what sort of people.
    Dani discreetly held her nose when they found themselves downwind of the horsetail end of a few centaurs. Archie elbowed her and gave the carrot-head a scolding look.
    “What?” Dani retorted while Isabelle fought a giggle and hid her face behind the striped pink parasol she was using to protect her milky complexion from the sun.
    “Behave,” Henry warned from behind them. He was bringing up the rear to make sure they did not lose anybody along the way.
    Jake was grateful for that. It would have been very easy to get lost in the maze if one wandered off; his nervousness had quickly left him disoriented as the paths twisted this way and that.
    Fortunately, Aunt Ramona knew the way well. Of course, if they had got separated from her, the small, wizened gnomes posted at the intersections were helping to guide people, blocking them from going the wrong way.
    As their group turned a corner into another aisle that looked exactly like the last one, Aunt Ramona explained how the maze had helped to keep the Old Yew safe for many years. Even if someone with ill intents managed to penetrate the labyrinth, the intruder was not likely to get out alive.
    While she went on describing the various magical and mechanical devices designed to protect the old father tree and his eldest tree children who lived in the center, it dawned on Jake that she never talked this much—and when he heard a thunderous cheer erupt from somewhere beyond the green walls ahead, he realized, aghast, that she was merely trying to distract him.
    The noise got louder with every step. Jake’s stomach promptly clenched with dread. Obviously, the audience today was larger than he had anticipated, judging by the roar of the crowd.
    A cold sweat broke out across his forehead. For a second, he felt like a gladiator waiting to be sent up into the Coliseum to fight a wild boar. Blimey, it sounded like a small stadium full of spectators in there.
    And, in fact, it was.
    Sure enough, to Jake’s surprise (or perhaps, horror), the next turn revealed a huge, grassy lawn in the center of the maze, its borders clearly marked with thick chalk lines. Inside the Field of Challenge, an elaborate magical obstacle course had been set up.
    This took him greatly by surprise and brought a fresh surge of anxiety, but he let his gaze travel on. Bleachers lined the long ends of the field. The seats were packed with cheering people—parents, family, friends of the poor souls facing their Assessments.
    The side of the field nearest the entrance—where Jake and his companions currently stood—was left clear of seating, so that spectators could have some room to mill about, and more easily come and go.
    But on the far end, the Elders in their long, ceremonial robes were seated with the VIPs in the shade on both sides of the towering Old Yew.
    Jake realized they had built the Field of Challenge around the “Father Tree” so he could watch all the goings-on. When Jake spotted Queen Victoria and her entourage arrayed in a place of particular honor right next to the Old Yew, he felt the blood drain from his face.
    Great. The Queen herself, along with her court followers, would be watching his every move. He slowly scanned the sea of faces.
    He was not a shy lad, per se, nor did he lack confidence on the whole. But by Jove’s elbow, he had not expected an audience anywhere near this large, and no one had said anything to him about this insane obstacle course.
    It took everything in him not to turn around and flee.
    Of course, he’d probably end up getting lost in the maze, with his luck, he thought, his pulse pounding. Well, he refused to disgrace his parents’ memory with a show of