She d been standing in the bathroom brushing her teeth when the entire house
had shaken. She d heard the rumbling crash of bricks, which had been followed
a heartbeat later by her brother s scream. It had ripped through the silent
house and was the most terrifying sound she had ever heard.
She was running down the corridor past Flamel s room when the door opened.
For a single instant she almost didn't recognize the confused-looking old man
standing in the doorway. The rings under his eyes were so dark they looked
like bruises, and his skin was an unhealthy yellowish hue. What s
happening? he mumbled, but Sophie hurried past: she had no answers for him.
All she knew was that her brother was downstairs.
And then the entire house shook again.
She felt the vibration through the floors and walls. All the pictures on the
wall to her left shifted and tilted off center.
Terrified, Sophie raced down the stairs to the first floor just as a bedroom
door opened and Joan appeared. One moment the small woman was wearing shiny
blue-green satin pajamas and the next she was clad in full metal armor, a
long broad-bladed sword in her gloved hands. Get back, Joan snapped, her
French accent pronounced.
No, Sophie shouted. It s Josh he s in trouble!
Joan fell into step beside her, armor clinking and rasping. OK then, but
stay behind me and to my right, so I always know where you are, Joan
commanded. Did you see Nicholas?
He s awake. But he looked sick.
Exhaustion. He daren t try any more magic in his condition. It could kill
him.
Where s Francis?
Probably in the attic. But the room is soundproofed and he ll have his
headphones on and the bass pumped up; I doubt he s heard anything.
I m sure he felt the house shake.
Probably thought it was a good bass line.
I don't know where Scatty is, Sophie said. She was fighting hard to keep
the bubbling panic inside from overwhelming her.
With any luck, she s downstairs in the kitchen with Josh. If she is, then
he s OK, Joan added. Now follow me. Holding the sword upright in both
hands, the woman moved cautiously down the last flight of stairs and stepped
into the broad marbled hallway at the front of the house. She stopped so
suddenly that Sophie almost walked into her. Joan pointed toward the front
door. Sophie spotted the ghostly white shape behind the stained-glass panels,
and then there was a crunching snap and the head of an axe appeared through
the door. Then, with a crack, the front door was smashed open in a shower of
wood and glass fragments.
Two figures stepped into the hallway.
In the light of the ornate crystal chandelier, Sophie saw that they were
young women in white chain-mail armor, their faces hidden behind helmets, one
wielding a sword and an axe, the other carrying a sword and a spear. She
reacted instinctively. Gripping her right wrist with her left hand, she
splayed open her fingers, palm outward. Crackling blue-green flames splashed
across the floor directly in front of the two girls, shooting upward in a
solid sheet of wavering emerald fire.
The women stepped through the flames without even pausing but stopped when
they spotted Joan in her armor. They looked at one another, obviously
confused. You re not the silver humani. Who are you? one demanded.
This is my house, and I think that s my question, Joan said grimly. She
turned sideways, left shoulder toward the women, holding her sword in both
hands, the point moving in a slow figure eight between the warriors.
Stand aside. We have no argument with you, one said.
Joan lifted the sword, bringing the hilt close to her face, the tip of the
longsword pointing straight up. You come into
aside, she said incredulously. Who are you
We are the Disir, the woman with the sword and spear said softly. We are
here for Scathach. Our argument is only with her. But do not stand in our way
or it will become your argument.
The Shadow is my friend, Joan said.
Then that makes you our enemy.
Without warning, the Valkyries attacked together, one lunging with sword and
spear, the other with sword and axe. Joan s heavy blade shifted, metal
clanging, the movement almost too fast to see as she blocked sword thrusts,
turned aside the axe and batted down the spear.
The Disir backed away and spread out until they were standing on either side
of Joan. She had to keep turning her head to be able to watch them both.
You fight well.
Joan s lips pulled away from her teeth in a savage smile. I was taught by
the best. Scathach herself trained me.
I thought I recognized the style, the second Disir said.
Only Joan s gray eyes moved as she tracked the two warriors. I didn't think
I had a style.
Neither has Scathach.
Who are you? the Disir on the right asked. In my lifetime I ve known only
a handful who could stand against us. And none of them were humani.
I am Joan of Arc, she replied simply.
Never heard of you, the Disir said, and while she was speaking, her sister,
standing to Joan s left, drew back her arm, poised to throw the spear
The weapon burst into white-hot flames.
With a savage howl, the Disir flung the spear to one side; by the time it hit
the ground, the wooden shaft was little more than ash and the wickedly
pointed metal head was melting into a bubbling puddle.
Standing on the bottom step, Sophie blinked in surprise. She hadn't known she
could do that.
The Disir to Joan s right darted forward, sword and axe weaving a deadly
humming pattern in the air before her, battering at Joan s sword, driving her
back under the vicious onslaught.
The second Disir rounded on Sophie.
Setting the spear shaft alight and melting the head had exhausted her, and
she slumped against the banister. But she needed to help Joan; she needed to
get to Josh. Pressing hard on the underside of her wrist, Sophie attempted to
call upon her Fire magic. Smoke curled from her hand, but there was no fire.
The Disir strode forward until she was standing directly in front of the
girl. Sophie was standing on a step, and the girls faces were almost level.
So, you are the silver humani the English Magician wants so desperately.
