The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 5 by Bella Forrest (book series for 10 year olds .TXT) 📕

apparently benevolent royals before, and he wouldn’t let himself be duped again.

“I’ve heard a fair bit about you too,” Alex replied carefully.

“All good, I hope?” Hadrian grinned, making it harder for Alex to maintain his cool exterior.

He shrugged. “I don’t really trust the words of others. I’d like to see for myself,” he said, scrutinizing the latest royal. There was something bugging him that he could not let go of. “I’m just wondering why you left my friend out there in the forest, to fend for himself. I’m pretty sure Aamir and Ellabell told you what happened—why didn’t you go and set him free?”

The two friends in question exchanged an awkward look, matched only by the discomfort that appeared on Hadrian’s face. Lintz turned to the royal, clearly wondering the same thing.

“I would have come to your f-friend’s aid, I assure you,” Hadrian began, tremulously. “The thing is… with so many soldiers around, and my haven under such close inspection by my uncle, J-Julius, I thought it best to keep up appearances. As much as it pains me to say it, I can’t just w-wander around, doing as I please, though I did have the idea of coming to fetch him after nightfall. I would not have left him there indefinitely,” he promised, a stutter emerging, as he scratched his beardless chin in what Alex presumed to be some sort of nervous tic.

Alex let the excuse sink in, and though he wasn’t completely satisfied, part of him could see things from the royal’s point of view. Julius was a terrifying man, and with his eyes and ears all over this haven, Alex could understand how the stakes might be higher.

Alex shrugged. “I suppose I’ll have to take your word for it, though you probably already know I don’t give much standing to the word of a royal.”

Hadrian twisted his hands together. “I did learn about your previous run-ins with my c-cousins. Your wariness is understandable, but you won’t find me quite as unpalatable as them, I hope,” he said, flashing a nervous smile. “I’m intrigued to learn more about you and your mission, but how about some coffee first?”

“Coffee?”

“Yes, would you like s-some?”

“I thought you were all obsessed with tea?” Alex chuckled, though he realized he was the only one laughing. “Sorry, private joke,” he added quickly.

“Laughter is the world’s panacea. Come, r-refresh yourself,” Hadrian replied, gesturing toward the low table, which was covered in a veritable feast of goodies that made Alex’s stomach grumble in anticipation. “Perhaps, you w-would like to change first?” the royal suggested, catching sight of Lintz’s ill-fitting scarlet uniform.

Flashing a glance at one another, Alex and Lintz nodded. They were eager to be out of the formal attire. With a polite bow, Hadrian led them to their separate chambers, showing them the wardrobes of clothes they might choose from, before leaving them to their selections. Alex chose plain black trousers and a pale t-shirt, while Lintz had gone for something a little more daring, emerging in taupe trousers and a mustard-yellow knitted sweater.

Dressed more comfortably, Alex and Lintz joined the others on the soft cushions dotted around the table. Unable to wait, Alex grabbed a handful of rice balls, shoving them into his mouth as fast as he could pick them up, until his cheeks were puffed out like a hamster’s. The morsels were sweet, with a sour berry filling that made him want to eat a thousand of them. Realizing just how ravenous he was, after prison meals and a day of no food, he scooped up eight more, gulping them down.

“Sorry… I’m just… so hungry… Sorry,” he said through mouthfuls, knowing he’d forgotten his table manners in his rush to stuff his face.

Hadrian laughed heartily, his stutter fading as his manner relaxed. “No, no, you eat your fill! We must n-nourish ourselves at any available opportunity, to keep mind and body in total harmony,” he said. “And when you’re satisfied, we shall settle down to the business of your presence here, and what I might do to assist in your future endeavors.”

Alex did just that, wolfing the food down, while the others stared on with mixed expressions of bemusement and horror. Only when his pace slowed did he get back to business.

“We’ve come for the book,” explained Alex, wiping his mouth.

“We have many books here,” Hadrian teased.

“You know the one I mean,” Alex said, not intending the words to come out as harshly as they did. He was still on edge after his encounter with Caius, and he wasn’t quite sure what to make of Hadrian yet. After all, he had thought Caius was a good guy, and he had turned out to be a psychopath with a hundred years of vengeance built up inside him. In all honesty, Hadrian reminded him an awful lot of Caius in the way he spoke, despite the nervous tics, and Alex had a feeling this had something to do with the hint of mistrust he felt toward Hadrian.

“Indeed, I d-do,” Hadrian responded curtly, his stutter returning. “Your f-friends here already told me.”

Alex sighed, knowing he was in the wrong. “I’m sorry, Hadrian, I didn’t mean to snap like that. I’ve been through a lot, and it’s going to be tough for me to trust another royal after what just happened,” he said, turning to the others as he began to relay the tale of what had taken place between himself and Caius, after they had gone through the portal.

They all looked at him in shock as he came to the end of the story, describing what had triggered Caius’s madness, Vincent’s selfless act with the specters, and his own escape on a Thunderbird. It was a hard story to recount, considering he still didn’t know the outcome of that otherworldly battle, but it had to be told for everyone to fully understand what had happened, Hadrian more than anyone.

“So, you’re a Spellbreaker?” Hadrian asked solemnly.

Alex nodded. “I am, and that’s why I need the book.”

“I did