The Silver Dwarf (Royal Institute of Magic, Book 4) (22 page)

Charlie was taken aback by the intensity of Natalie’s reply. “It wouldn’t be right,” he said, going slightly red.

“Why?” Natalie narrowed her eyes, and Charlie took a little shuffle backwards. “Is it because I’m a girl?”

“No,” Charlie said, trying but failing to sound convincing. “Well, maybe. I don’t know – it just seems wrong. I don’t want you risking your life.”

If Charlie was hoping that would mollify Natalie, he couldn’t have been more wrong. Her eyes flashed, and she rammed a finger into his chest. “I can’t risk
my life, but you can risk yours? I’m the one who decides what I do, not you.”

This was getting out of hand. Ben was about to step in, when the shaman intervened by clearing his throat. The three of them turned back to the shaman with
contrasting emotions. Natalie was still furious, Ben annoyed, and Charlie clearly relieved.

“As enjoyable as it is watching you decide who gets to die in the void, I have business to attend to. So I’m going to have to ask you to pay up or leave.”

Ben was almost glad for the shaman’s intervention, as it silenced Charlie and Natalie. He paid the thousand pounds, slapping the money into the shaman’s
hand with more force than necessary. The shaman counted the money, and then slipped it into one of his desk drawers, under lock and key. Once he was
satisfied the money was safe, he stood up and walked over to one of the shelves. He unlocked a couple of boxes, and returned with two spell pellets and a
couple of silver brooches, engraved quite delicately with a goblin’s head.

“These spells will get you in,” the shaman said. “They are level-four spells, and you will have only one chance to cast them. I do not issue refunds if you
fail.”

“Fine. And how do we get out?”

The shaman held up the brooches. “These will travel with you to the void. If you cover them with a hand and focus on your body at home, you will return.
But be warned, they only work for twenty-four hours. After that, you’re on your own.”

“Twenty-four hours? Is that it?”

“I could have given you ones that last a week,” the shaman said with a smile. “But you were two thousand pounds short.”

Ben had to resist the urge to throttle the shaman. He took a calming breath, and muttered quietly, “Twenty-four hours isn’t enough time.”

The shaman’s ears were sharp. “Twenty-four hours is plenty in the void. I doubt you will last more than thirty minutes, so it’s really not an issue.”

The shaman laughed at his own joke. Ben decided now was a good time to leave the shop, before he lost his temper and did something he might regret.

It was a relief to get back outside and feel the wind on their skin, after the stuffy feel of the dark magic room.

“Well, did you get what you were after?”

To Ben’s surprise, the young goblin was still waiting for them, as good as his word.

“Yes, thanks,” Ben said with a smile.

The goblin gave a knuckled salute, and bounded off, looking for his next hustle. Ben watched him go, a smile on his face. It was only then that he realised
Charlie and Natalie were staring at him expectantly.

“What is it?”

“The void,” Natalie said. “We agreed that you should decide who goes with you. Which of us do you choose?”

Ben cursed silently. He thought it might come down to this, and he knew someone was going to get hurt. Ben was silent, and considered both friends
carefully. Natalie’s strong points were obvious – she was a glass half-full type of person; whereas Charlie was the opposite. She was determined, never
gave up, smart and brave. She also had far more experience in the Unseen Kingdoms. But Ben had already decided who he should take the moment the shaman
said only one of them could join him.

“Charlie will come with me,” Ben said.

Charlie, wisely, showed no sign of elation. Natalie opened her mouth to protest, but emotion came over her. She nodded, and spun on her heel, stalking off
down Goblin Avenue.

Charlie made to follow, but Ben grabbed him.

“Let her go,” he said. “She needs to cool down.”

Charlie watched her until she disappeared out of sight, and then turned glumly back to Ben. “I wish you hadn’t chosen me, but I knew you would.”

“Of course you knew. We started this together, and we’ll finish it together.”

When they arrived back at the Institute, Natalie was nowhere to be found. They asked around, and discovered that William had seen her, but only briefly.

“She checked into the Spellsword Department,” he said. He had cast a weight spell on his spellshooter and was using it to work out his biceps. “I think she
was looking for someone. She didn’t look too happy. Is everything okay with you guys?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. If you see her again, can you tell her we’re in the library?”

William gave a little smile. “You like that place, don’t you? I never figured you for a bookworm.”

Ben smiled. “It’s not that – there are some great places to nap, if you know where to go.”

William smiled. “Ah, I see. That makes more sense. Well, have a nice siesta.”

Charlie gave Ben a disapproving look as they headed back down the grand staircase.

“Why did you lie to him? There’s nothing wrong with being a bookworm.”

Ben shrugged, feeling awkward. “I don’t know. I’m just not used to people thinking of me like that.”

Charlie didn’t reply, but Ben could tell he wasn’t happy. Ben didn’t feel good about the lie either. Charlie was right – what was wrong with being a
bookworm? He had never cared about his reputation at school – why should he now? Ben shook the thought from his head. He had more important things to worry
about. Now that they had a way into the void, Ben was eager to get going. Time was critical, with the dwarf mage stuck in such a perilous place. But
Charlie wasn’t ready.

“I want to do more research,” he explained, as they entered the library. Ben hadn’t realised it, but he was starting to get a familiar, almost comforting
feeling whenever he entered the library, with its spacious reading room, long tables and rows of books. What was going on with him?

“What further research is there to do?” Ben asked, trying to hold back his exasperation. “We don’t have much time, especially if we want to find the dwarf
mage alive.”

“I’m more concerned about us staying alive. So far, my main research has been focused on how to get in and out of the void, but now we need to know how to
survive in there – kind of important, as most people seem to think we’ll be dead within an hour.”

Ben conceded that point, and reluctantly joined Charlie in his search. They spent the remainder of the day looking, with Ben taking occasional breaks to
pop out and search for Natalie, but without success. When they left the Institute that evening, Ben couldn’t help noticing that Charlie was looking
surprisingly upbeat, whereas he was still feeling guilty about Natalie.

“I never thought I’d see you this happy researching the void,” Ben said, giving Charlie a sidelong look.

“I found some good stuff,” Charlie said.

Ben perked up a little. “Like what?”

“I don’t want to say too much. I want to finish the research first, and then commit it all to memory, as we’re not going to be able to take anything with
us,” Charlie said.

Ben pressed him further, but Charlie wouldn’t relent, and Ben went to bed that night wondering exactly what Charlie had found that had turned his mood
around.

It wasn’t until muster the following morning when Ben saw Natalie again. To his great relief, she made eye contact with him as they lined up, though the
usual smile was absent. As soon as muster had finished and the apprentices started filing out, Ben made a beeline for her.

“Can we talk?” he asked, opting for the soft, contrite voice.

Natalie nodded. “Just you, though, not Charlie.”

Ben frowned, but he didn’t argue. They slipped into an empty exam room, and the noise from the busy apprentices receded, leaving the two of them alone. Ben
suddenly felt strangely awkward and uncomfortable. His gaze threatened to drop to his feet, and he had to force himself to look her in the eye. Natalie had
her arms folded and, likewise, seemed to be battling with some inner demon. She took a deep breath, to compose herself.

“I will go first. Don’t interrupt me until I’m done,” she said, breaking the silence.

Ben nodded, a little too vigorously.

“I know why you picked Charlie, even if I don’t agree with it. You two are close friends, and you want those closest to you by your side when you’re in a
place like the void. What am I? We’ve known each other only a few months. I’m almost a stranger by comparison.”

Ben made to intervene, but Natalie raised a finger.

“I’m not done. What I got upset about, and what scares me, is that you are making a decision based on your heart, not your head. I love Charlie dearly, but
the void is not a place for him. From what I’ve read, it’s scary, harsh, and dangerous.” She paused, and her voice became soft. “Ben, you might not come
back, and I don’t want it to be just because you picked Charlie over me. I don’t want to lose you – or Charlie.”

Ben frowned. Was there a pause there? Did she add Charlie as an afterthought, or was he imagining it? Natalie seemed to go a slight shade of red, but she
kept talking.

“Remember, this is about Elizabeth’s Armour, and ultimately taking down Suktar. If you don’t make it, the Unseen Kingdoms, and possibly even the Seen
Kingdoms, might fall to the dark elves.” She gave a weak smile. “Okay, now I’m done.”

Ben ran a hand through his ruffled hair, trying to compose the thoughts rattling around his head. She had said something about the dark elves that Ben knew
was important, but the only thing he could really remember was the way she said she didn’t want to lose him. Had she emphasised his name over Charlie’s? He
thought she had, but he couldn’t be certain. Did she like him? Really like him? Ben wasn’t sure what his feelings were. She was definitely the most
attractive girl he knew, and he really enjoyed her company. She was funny, too. By all accounts, and under normal circumstances, he would have asked her
out by now. But these were not normal circumstances; he wasn’t living your ordinary teenage life. Normal had disappeared the moment he discovered the Royal
Institute of Magic. Natalie was part elf, which shouldn’t matter, but Ben had never really thought about going out with someone who wasn’t entirely human
before. Far more importantly, there was Charlie. He was almost certain Charlie had a crush on her, and so Ben had made a firm decision not to get involved,
knowing how it might affect his best friend. But if she liked him, that changed matters. Did he have feelings for her? It was ridiculous to even be
thinking of this on the eve of trying to enter the void.

Natalie cleared her throat, and Ben became aware that he was just staring at her without actually talking.

“Sorry,” he said.
Focus on what’s important right now.
“You’re right: my decision to pick Charlie was largely based on my heart, not my head. I’m
like that. We are lifelong friends and know each other inside out.”

Natalie nodded, but was clearly unconvinced.

Ben raised a finger and smiled. “I’m not done. You are right – Charlie is not exactly suited to the void, but one thing you don’t know is the way the void
works. Remember, we are there in spirit, and though we display a physical manifestation of our bodies, Charlie explained to me that we are not limited to
the normal physical universe limitations.”

“What does that mean?” Natalie asked, frowning.

Ben scratched his head. “To be honest, I’m not quite sure. Charlie hasn’t really explained it yet. But I get the idea that Charlie’s disadvantage of being
small, chubby and, let’s face it, rather unfit may not be as much of an issue in the void.”

This seemed to mollify Natalie somewhat. The furrowed brow finally disappeared, and she relaxed a little. Ben knew he should have ended the conversation
there, but he remembered her opening comment about friendship, and it bugged him, because it simply wasn’t true.

“I know we’ve known each other only a few months, but we’ve hung out together pretty much every day. You are most definitely not a stranger. Quite the
opposite actually.”

Natalie gave him a dazzling smile that almost knocked him over.
Shit.
Had he overdone it? Was he leading her on? He cursed inwardly, quickly
realising the possible implications of his statement. He tried fumbling for some clarifying words, but stopped in his tracks when she stepped forwards and
gave him a hug. Ben returned it, trying desperately to work out if she was giving him a friend hug or something more. It felt different, but he couldn’t be
sure. She eventually stepped back, and they stared at each other in an awkward silence. She expected him to speak, but what was he supposed to say? Natalie
gave an embarrassed smile, and fiddled with her hair.

“I should go and make up with Charlie,” she said. “I said some nasty things that I regret.”

“Good idea,” Ben said far too enthusiastically.

“See you in the common room?”

Ben nodded, and she left, leaving him alone.

Ben smacked his head against the wall repeatedly, cursing his own stupidity.

When Ben caught up with Charlie, he was surprised to find a glowing smile on his face.

“Natalie will meet us in the library,” he said, as they headed upstairs.

“Did she speak with you?”

There! The flush definitely reddened when he mentioned Natalie, but Charlie attempted a casual shrug.

“Yeah, we smoothed things over. How about you?”

Ben nodded. “Same.”

For a second the two of them looked at each other, each trying to scope out what had happened with the other. Ben was tempted to ask, but Charlie
purposefully changed the subject.

“I think we should enter the void tomorrow,” he said. “I’ve done most of my research, and I don’t think there’s much left that I haven’t read in the
library.”

The moment passed, and Ben realised it was best to let the matter drop, for now. With some difficulty, he turned his attention back to the void.