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."He set off walking beside Sir Orizhan's horse, but glanced back a few feet farther on, of course, and sawthem looking, too.Both waved; then a turn of each path cut them off from sight.Matt stopped, and Sir Orizhan reined in they had insisted Mama and Papa take two of the horses, andthat Sir Orizhan ride the third.Sergeant Brock stopped, too."I was wondering whether or not you were going to tell them," said Sir Orizhan."No need for them to know what might upset them," Matt assured him, then raised his voice."Okay,Buckeye! You can come out now!"The bauchan stepped forth from the roadside trees, grinning."So, wizard! It seems you have a truefamily after all!""So I do," Matt admitted, "but you're only supposed to haunt my descendants, aren't you?"The bauchan lost his smile in consternation."I have never known a family where I began by hauntingthe son," he admitted."It's no time for innovation, with the country so stirred up," Matt advised, "and my adopted son is backat that convent.By the way, should I scold you or thank you?""Why, either one," said the bauchan, "or both, as it pleases you.""Shouting might do me more good," Matt told him, "and I ought to scold anyone who helped thosehunters stay on my trail but I have to thank someone who scared them away for me.Why'd you do it,anyway?"The bauchan grinned."It was great run.""Wonderful," Matt muttered."I'm fighting for my life and trying to save the kingdom, and he thinks it'sfun to bushwhack me.""Ah, but also to save you!" The bauchan held up a forefinger."I'm beginning to understand why your last family died of nervous prostration," Matt grumbled."Well, Iguess it's 'thank you' this time.""This time," the bauchan agreed.file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20krui.zard%20in%20Rhyme%2006%20-%20Haunted%20Wizard.html (227 of 329)20-2-2006 21:41:54 Stasheff, Christopher Wizard in Rhyme 6 Haunted WizardMatt thought of threatening, then thought better.Instead he frowned."Why didn't you pull out all thestops on your magic when I sicced those bedbugs on you the first time?""They were mere fly-bites," the bauchan said with a deprecating gesture, "no real threat."Matt wondered if he were better off being a pussycat "Well, we're off to Ireland.Guess you'll have toleave my son Dolan back there."The bauchan's face was a study in consternation."You're flitting?""I'm not a butterfly," Matt said, "but if that's what you call leaving a place, then yes, we're flitting.Butwe've been flitting the whole time you've known us.""Well, aye, but not across water and saltwater at that!"Hope sprang in Matt's breast."Don't be glum, chum we've got a good fifty miles to the seashore.""I should storm and rant and rave at you with every step!""Hey, that's no way to say good-bye." Matt was getting giddy with the thought of being rid of thebauchan.Buckeye narrowed his eyes to glints."Nay, neither a rant nor a rave I'll find a way to plague yourevery step!"But he didn't.Late that night, toward the end of his watch, Matt heard a distant sound that he firstthought was thunder, then realized was the shouting of men and screaming of horses.He found that veryinteresting, especially since it was coming from the direction of the convent.He decided it was none ofhis business, waited with interest until it had died away, then woke Sergeant Brock for his watch andwent to sleep.His last vagrant thought was a hope that Dolan would have sense enough to stay inside theconvent's walls.Two uneventful days later, as they were pitching camp for the night in a small clearing, screaming brokeout in the woods nearby, mixed with gloating laughter."He's back!" Matt leaped to his feet, feeling his heart sink."I thought we were rid of that bauchan!"Sir Orizhan and Sergeant Brock rose, too, to face the noise and a young girl burst from the trees,running in terror.Her gown was ripped and tattered, her face turned back toward whatever was chasingher.She turned to look forward just in time to slam into Sir Orizhan's chest.His arms closed about herautomatically, and she looked up, mouth opening for a scream that never came as she stared unbelievingfile:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20krui.zard%20in%20Rhyme%2006%20-%20Haunted%20Wizard.html (228 of 329)20-2-2006 21:41:54 Stasheff, Christopher Wizard in Rhyme 6 Haunted Wizardat his face."My princess!" Sir Orizhan cried.Then the hunters broke from the brush.Sir Orizhan stepped past the young woman, drawing his sword.Brock and Matt stepped up beside him,weapons out.The damsel shrank back behind them, eyes wide, hand to her lips.The hunters halted in consternation.They were half a dozen soldiers with a hound, but they hadn't beenexpecting resistance with swords.They stared at the three companions."Too much risk now, boys," Matt pointed out."Better retreat while you can.""We are six to your one, and have horses besides," the leader snarled."Sic him, Belle!"The name was hugely inappropriate the hound had to be one of the ugliest Matt had ever seen.But itsprang at his throat, snarling, and what choice did Matt have but to slash with his sword as he swungaside?The six riders fell on knight and sergeant, who pivoted back-to-back and thrust upward at unarmoredanatomy.Two soldiers screamed and fell off their horses.The young woman darted forward, snatched a sword from one writhing soldier, and sprang back, swordraised to guard.The hound fell, writhing and dying, even as the hunters shouted with anger and charged.But a luminousorange form rose from the dead body and threw itself at Matt again, snarling.He fell back, startled, butby force of habit the spell came to his lips even as he chopped at the spirit with his sword."Get ye hence to the pit that bred ye!Turn upon the one who sped ye!Ere day doth daw,Ere cock doth craw,Ere channering worm doth chide,'Gin ye must get back to your place!file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20krui.zard%20in%20Rhyme%2006%20-%20Haunted%20Wizard.html (229 of 329)20-2-2006 21:41:54 Stasheff, Christopher Wizard in Rhyme 6 Haunted WizardAgain ye there must bide!"The spirit howled in agony, and a jolt like an electric shock numbed Mart's whole arm, but he managedto hold onto the sword anyway.The spirit faded, transfixed on Mart's sword, and its howling faded to silence
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