“I know you,” Cernunnos said firmly. “But that’s a mystery we will solve later,” he added as Nicholas, followed by Palamedes and Shakespeare, hurried over to join the twins. The Horned God looked at each of them in turn, starting and finishing with the Alchemyst. Straightening, he heaved up his dinosaur club and pointed it at Flamel. “Dinner,” he said, and then the club moved to point to Palamedes. “Lunch.” The club moved back across the Alchemyst’s chest to point to Shakespeare. “A snack.”

“I feel I should take insult,” the Bard muttered.

The Horned God looked at him. “And your Gabriel Hounds will join with the Wild Hunt; the two ancient clans will be reunited.” He raised his club. There was movement in the gloom behind the Archon and suddenly the massed wolves surged forward, jaws gaping.

Sophie closed her eyes, focused, pressed her thumb against the circular tattoo and created a tiny flaming ball in the palm of her hand. Digging her fingers into Josh’s shoulders, she pulled him away from the edge of the moat as she dropped the burning golden globe into the thick black liquid.

It plopped onto the surface of the oil and floated for a second, then disappeared with a hiss of white steam.

“Oh,” she whispered. She felt as if all the air had rushed out of her lungs, leaving her breathless and gasping. Although she had learned the Magic of Fire only the previous day, it had already become a part of her. She had fought the Disir and the gargoyles with it, but she realized she knew little about its properties. There was so much more she needed to know.

The silent Wild Hunt raced toward the moat. Josh suddenly went to one knee and plunged Clarent into the thick liquid. It instantly exploded, roaring alight with a dull boom that sent sticky black flames shooting skyward. The force of the explosion sent both Josh and Sophie spinning backward into the mud-and on the other side of the moat, the Wild Hunt tumbled over one another as they tried to get away from the flames. Some continued to slide forward on the wet ground, while others were pushed into the fire by the press of bodies from behind. They instantly disappeared into gritty black cinders.

“You will pay for that!” Cernunnos stabbed at Josh with his club. “And you, boy… I will have my sword!”

“Let me try this again.” Sophie flicked her fingers and sent a thick stream of yellow fire across the Horned God’s huge club, which began to blaze with the appalling stench of burning bone. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you it’s rude to point?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE