The cold of the ground bit into his hands but Samuel barely felt it. Stars danced in his field of vision but his eyes were fixed to the scene by the lake. Most of the other boys were retreating, but McMullen and Reymund still stood their ground—a matter of pride, no less, but so stupid. What was their endgame? Threaten Lyra into silence? They didn't understand what she was about, if they saw any chance of success with that.
This was getting tricky. His confusion charm was gone and both of them could attack any moment. Alright. He willed his pounding head to cooperate and waited. Then he saw McMullen make a step forward and in that moment, he hexed his feet. His shoes, to be precise. At once, they became immovable, like glued to the ground. McMullen stumbled. His wand slipped through his fingers, and with a gust of wind, summoned by the hidden boy in the bushes, it trundled into the deep waters of the lake.
He about lost his mind. "Who's messing with me?" he shouted, wild-eyed. He looked accusingly at Lyra, then at Reymund. Then he seemed to remember something. He looked towards the forest. "What if it's—"
"Shut up!" hissed Reymund. Perhaps they feared if the prefect was confronted with the fact they had almost cracked the skull of another student tonight, she would have them expelled. Their air of superiority was gone. Now fear stood in their eyes that their advantage had been illusory. Two to one, down to one to two.
This was getting tricky. His confusion charm was gone and both of them could attack any moment. Alright. He willed his pounding head to cooperate and waited. Then he saw McMullen make a step forward and in that moment, he hexed his feet. His shoes, to be precise. At once, they became immovable, like glued to the ground. McMullen stumbled. His wand slipped through his fingers, and with a gust of wind, summoned by the hidden boy in the bushes, it trundled into the deep waters of the lake.
He about lost his mind. "Who's messing with me?" he shouted, wild-eyed. He looked accusingly at Lyra, then at Reymund. Then he seemed to remember something. He looked towards the forest. "What if it's—"
"Shut up!" hissed Reymund. Perhaps they feared if the prefect was confronted with the fact they had almost cracked the skull of another student tonight, she would have them expelled. Their air of superiority was gone. Now fear stood in their eyes that their advantage had been illusory. Two to one, down to one to two.
