They watched one of the huge, boarlike Torc Alltas emerge from the long grass
behind Dee. Although it was still in its beast shape, it rose on its hind
legs, until it reached nearly three times the height of the man.
It s going to kill him, Josh murmured.
Dee s sword flared bright blue, and then the small man threw himself
backward,
The sudden movement seemed to surprise the creature, but it easily batted
aside the blade and then it froze. Where the blade had touched it, a thin
sheath of ice grew up the beast s arm, tiny crystals sparkling in the
early-morning sunshine. The ice coated the Torc Allta s chest and flowed down
its massive legs and up his shoulders and head. Within a matter of heartbeats
the creature was encased in a block of blue-veined ice. Dee picked himself up
off the ground, dusted off his coat and then, without warning, hammered on
the ice with the hilt of his sword. The block shattered into millions of
tinkling pieces, each one containing a fragment of the Torc Allta.
One of the elemental swords, Scatty remarked grimly, Excalibur, the Sword
of Ice. I thought it was lost ages past, thrown back into the lake when
Artorius died.
Looks like the doctor found it, Flamel murmured.
Josh discovered that he wasn't even surprised to hear that King Arthur had
been real, and he found himself wondering which other legendary figures had
really existed.
They watched as Dee hurried back into the undergrowth, heading for the other
side of the huge tree house, where the sounds of battle were loudest. The
smell of smoke was stronger now. Sharp and bitter, it curled and twisted
around the tree, carrying with it the reek of ancient places and
long-forgotten spices. Wood snapped and cracked, sap boiled and popped and
the deep bass thrumming was now strong enough to set the entire tree
vibrating.
I'll clear the way, Scatty said as she darted through the vines. Almost
immediately a trio of the birdmen came winging toward her, followed by two of
the cat-people, running on all fours.
we've got to help her! Josh said desperately, though he d no idea what he
could do.
She is Scathach; she doesn't need our help, Flamel'said. SHe'll lead them
away from us first .
Scathach raced into the undergrowth, running lightly, her heavy boots making
no sound on the soft earth. The birds and cats followed.
SHe'll back herself up against something, so that they can only come at her
from one side, then sHe'll turn to face them.
Josh watched as Scatty spun and faced her attackers, with her back to a
gnarled oak tree. The cat creatures reached her quickly, claws flashing, but
her short swords were quicker, and struck sparks from their claws. A
bird-creature swung in low, huge wings flapping, talons extended. Driving the
sword in her left hand into the ground, she caught the creature s extended
wrist and yanked it out of the air, then tossed it into the middle of the
snarling cats. The bird instinctively lashed out at the cats, and suddenly,
the animals were fighting among themselves. Two more bird-people immediately
dropped onto the cats with a hideous squalling. Scatty yanked her sword out
of the ground and used it to beckon to Flamel and Josh.
Flamel tapped Josh s shoulder. Go. Get to Scathach.
Josh turned to look at the Alchemyst. What about you?
I'll wait a moment, then follow and protect you.
And even though Josh knew Flamel had placed them in terrible danger, he had
no doubts that the Alchemyst would watch his back. He nodded, then turned and
burst through the curtain of vines and ran, clutching his sister tightly to
his chest. Away from the shelter of the tree, the noise of battle was
incredible, but he concentrated on the ground directly ahead of him, watching
for roots or other irregularities in the earth that could trip him. In his
arms, Sophie stirred; her eyes flickered, and she started to move. Josh
tightened his grip. Stay still, he said urgently, though he wasn't sure if
she could hear him. He shifted direction, moving to the right, away from the
struggling creatures, but he couldn t help noticing that when they were badly
injured, they reverted to their original bird and cat shapes. Two
bemused-looking cats and three ragged crows picked themselves out of the dirt
and watched him run past. Josh could hear Flamel running behind him, could
smell the mint on the morning air as the Alchemyst worked his magic. Another
ten or fifteen footsteps would take him to Scatty, and Josh knew that once he
was with her, he was safe. But when he reached Scatty, he was just in time to
see her eyes widen in horror. He looked over his shoulder and saw a tall
woman with the head and claws of a sleek feline, wearing the robes of ancient
Egypt, leap at least twenty feet and land squarely on Nicholas Flamel's back,
driving him into the ground. A curved, sicklelike claw shot out and sliced
his short staff neatly in two, then the creature threw back her head and
hissed and spat triumphantly.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
guards dressed entirely in black leather, their heads and faces concealed
behind motorcycle helmets. She wasn't entirely sure they were human certainly
she could detect no trace of an aura, a heartbeat or even breathing from the
figures. As they crowded around her, she caught the faintest hint of
something old and dead, like rotten eggs and overripe fruit. She thought they
might be simulacra, artificial creatures grown in vats of putrid bubbling
liquid. Perenelle knew that Dee had always been fascinated by the idea of
creating his own followers and had spent decades experimenting with Golems,
simulacra and homunculi.
Without saying a word, and with jerky gestures, the four figures ushered her
out of the cell and down a long, narrow, dimly lit corridor. Perenelle
deliberately moved slowly, giving herself time to gather her strength and
absorb impressions of the place. Jefferson Miller, the ghost of the security
guard, had told her that she was in the basement of Enoch Enterprises, west
of Telegraph Hill, close to the famous Coit Tower. She knew she was deep
underground: the walls ran with moisture, and the air was so cold that it
plumed in clouds before her face. Now that she was out of the cell and away
