Tara Duncan and the Spellbinders Read Online Free PDF Page B

through the Transfer Portal to contact him, and I don’t dare leave you here all alone.”
    â€œBut Grandma can’t stay here like this! And you said that the person who attacked her was burned, so he isn’t going to come back right away. If you hurry, you can call your High Wizard Chem-thingamabob and get back in a few minutes. Is the Portal in the Besois-Giron castle?”
    Deria shot her a piercing glance.
    â€œYou’re a very smart girl, you know that? Yes, you’re right, that’s where the Portal is located. You sure this is what you want to do?”
    Tara took a deep breath.
    â€œListen, I don’t understand half of what’s going on. How can you expect me to make good decisions? I don’t have any choice. Grandma has to wake up! Please go, Deria, and fast. I’m not afraid.”
    â€œOkay darling, I obey,” said Deria with a bow. “It will take me five minutes to get to the castle, and about ten to go through the Portal, call Chemnashaovirodaintrachivu, and bring him back. Come downstairs with me. We’re going to close all the manor’s windows and shutters. I’ll leave instructions for Tachil and Mangus. As soon as they wake up, they’ll go to the front room and keep any visitors from getting into the house.”
    â€œHow are they?” asked Tara, a little ashamed that she had forgotten the two faithful servants.
    â€œThey’ll wake up with splitting headaches,” said Deria, smiling, “and they won’t be able to cast any spells for a few hours. Aside from that, they’ll be fine.”
    Tara would’ve preferred Tachil and Mangus to be in better shape, but she couldn’t do anything about that.
    â€œAll right, let’s go.”
    Tara obediently followed Deria downstairs. The young woman went to stand in front of the front door, and said: “By Lockus doors and windows close, and keep them barred against all foes.”
    With a dull rumble, the manor’s windows and doors slammed shut and the shutters came rattling down.
    â€œThe house is secure now,” said Deria, “except for the front door, which you will lock behind me. The spell will activate as soon as the bolt slides home, and nobody will be able to come in without your permission. Don’t worry, I’ll be quick.”
    Tara nodded bravely. She turned the key the moment Deria went out, then went upstairs and did the same thing in the bedroom. Now she was alone in the big manor house—or at least the only person who was conscious—and she felt completely abandoned. She’d been showing off when she told Deria she wasn’t afraid. Actually, she was scared to death.
    And at night, everything seemed so . . . different. Outside, the moon cast a harsh silvery light, illuminating the dark forest whose trees stood like silent skeletons. Tara shivered, feeling like the star of a low-budget horror movie.
    Suddenly she froze, gripped by the terrifying sensation of a presence just behind her left shoulder. She felt—no, she knew —that something was creeping toward her. Her heart started pounding faster. She was so scared it felt like her heart might burst out of her chest. Holding her breath, Tara very, very slowly turned around. Suddenly, a black shape jumped on her, and she screamed with terror. She leaped onto the bed to get away, roughly sending her grandmother crashing onto the dresser. For a second she couldn’t identify her attacker, but then she yelled: “Manitou! You stupid dog! You mangy moron! You can’t go jumping on people like that! You almost gave me a heart attack! I mean, how dumb can you be? You idiot!”
    Awaked by Tara’s conversation with Deria, the dog barked joyfully, happy to be playing a new game. Then he went to a corner of the room and put his paw on the blue-green carpet. To Tara’s great surprise, a big hole opened up in the carpet. Before she could stop him, Manitou jumped