magic so potent that even an insubstantial spirit cannot get through it, then
we need to know what it is. She smiled. Have you never heard the saying
the enemy of my enemy is my friend ?
Come, then quickly, before the Morrigan arrives. Take me back into
Alcatraz.
CHAPTER FORTY
Everything was happening so fast, he didn't have time to be afraid. Josh saw
the flicker of movement and reacted instinctively, bringing Clarent up and
around, holding it horizontally over his head. The Disir s broadsword struck
the short stone blade and screamed along it in an explosion of sparks. They
rained down over Josh s hair, stinging where they touched his face. The pain
made him angry, but the force of the blow drove him to his knees, and then
the Disir stepped back and brought her weapon around in a wide sweeping cut.
It whined as it sliced through the air toward him and Josh knew with a
sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach that he would not be able to
avoid it.
Clarent trembled in Josh s palm.
Twitched.
A surge of tingling heat shot into his hand, shocking him, the spasm
tightening his fingers around the hilt. Then the sword jerked, shooting out
to meet the Disir s metal blade, turning it aside at the last moment in
another explosion of sparks.
Blue eyes wide with shock, the Disir danced away. No humani possesses such
skill, she wondered aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. Who are you?
Josh got shakily to his feet, not entirely sure what had just happened,
knowing only that it was something to do with the sword. It had taken
control; it had saved him. His eyes went to the terrifying warrior maid,
flickering between her masked face and her gleaming silver sword. He held
Clarent before him in both hands, trying to mimic the stance he d seen Joan
and Scatty use, but the sword kept shifting in his grip, moving and shivering
of its own accord. I am Josh Newman, he said simply.
Never heard of you, the woman said dismissively. She snapped a quick look
over her shoulder to where Nidhogg was crawling toward the water. Its tail
was now so heavily encrusted with black stone that it could barely move.
Maybe you've never heard of me, Josh said, but this he tilted the sword
blade upward is Clarent. He watched the woman s bright blue eyes widen
slightly. And I see you
Spinning her sword loosely in one hand, the Disir began to edge around Josh.
He kept turning to face her. He knew what she was doing moving him so that
his back would be to the monster but he didn't know how to prevent it from
happening. When his back was almost touching Nidhogg s stone skin, the Disir
stopped.
In the hands of a master, the sword might be dangerous, the Disir said.
I m no master, Josh said loudly, delighted that his voice didn't tremble.
But I don't need to be. Scathach told me that this weapon really could kill
her. I didn't understand what she meant, but now I do. And if it could kill
her, then I m guessing it could do the same to you. He jerked his thumb over
his shoulder. Look what I did to this monster with just a single cut. All I
have to do is to scratch you with it. The blade actually shivered in his
hands, humming in what almost sounded like agreement.
You could not even get close to me, the Disir mocked, swooping in, the
broadsword weaving before her in a mesmerizing pattern. She suddenly attacked
with a quick flurry of blows.
Josh didn't even have time to catch his breath. He managed to stop three of
them, Clarent moving to intercept each strike, the Disir s metal blade
slamming off his stone sword in a shower of sparks, each blow driving him
back, the force vibrating through his entire body. The Disir was just too
fast. The next swipe struck his bare arm between the shoulder and elbow.
Clarent managed to nudge the sword at the last instant, so it was only the
flat of the blade, rather than the razor-sharp edge, that hit him. Instantly,
his entire arm went numb from shoulder to fingertips and he felt a sudden
wash of nausea from the pain, the fear and the sudden realization that he was
going to die. Clarent fell from his grasp and clattered to the ground.
When the woman smiled, Josh saw that her teeth were thin needle points.
Easy. Too easy. A legendary sword does not make you a swordsman. Hefting
the broadsword, she advanced on the boy, driving him right up against
Nidhogg s stone-flesh. Josh squeezed his eyes shut as she raised her arms
high and screamed a hideous war cry.
Sophie, he whispered.
Josh!
Two blocks away, stuck in unmoving traffic, Sophie Newman sat bolt upright in
the backseat of the car, a sudden stomach-churning feeling of terror catching
her in her chest, setting her heart pounding madly.
Nicholas spun around and caught the girl s hand. Tell me!
Tears filled her eyes. Josh, she gasped, almost unable to speak with the
lump in her throat. Josh is in danger, terrible danger. The car filled with
the overpowering smell of rich vanilla as her aura blossomed. Tiny sparks
danced on the end of her blond hair, crackling like cellophane. We ve got to
get to him!
We re going nowhere, Joan said grimly. Traffic on the narrow street was at
a complete standstill.
A chill settled in Sophie s stomach: it was the appalling fear that her
brother was going to die.
Sidewalk, Nicholas said decisively. Take it.
But the pedestrians
Can get out of the way. Use your horn. He swiveled back around to Sophie.
We re minutes away, he said as Joan bumped the small car up off the
pavement and roared down the sidewalk, horn squeaking plaintively.
That s going to be too late. There must be something you can do? Sophie
pleaded desperately. Anything?
Looking old and tired, lines etched into his forehead and around his eyes,
Nicholas Flamel shook his head miserably. There is nothing I can do, he
