Chaos Storm (The Flight of the Griffin Book 2) by C.M. Gray Page A

a happy smile. In the centre of its forehead was a black mark in the shape of a hawk.

    Pardigan turned to Quint, visibly shocked. 'It was him wasn't it, and he knew we were here, I'm beginning to wonder who's hunting who?' They backed towards the Inn looking around at the dark, misty night uncertainly. Mahra clicked her fingers and the glow globe disappeared with a small pop and murmurs of annoyance from the soldiers as the dark of the night rushed in to reclaim the street.
    Quint motioned to the others. 'Let's get back to the room, I think the rules have suddenly changed, and no one thought to warn us.' Returning to the Inn, they ran back up to their room somewhat shaken.
    'He saw us, but walked on. He knew we were there, but didn't attack us, just that poor stupid howler… why? Why would he do that?' Pardigan rechecked the bolts on the door before slumping down on the end of his bed. Mahra stood silently by the window, gazing out into the night.
    'I don't know, Pardigan, I really don't know, but that was Matheus Hawk and he's up to something, that's for sure, and the strangest thing of all was that he knew we were here.
    * * *

Chapter 6 
The Black Ship
    While
The Jenny
battled through more rough seas, below decks, the shaking and groaning of the ship went mostly unnoticed by Tarent, his brow creasing in concentration as words appeared magically in the book he held close to the swinging lantern. That Matheus Hawk was in Barnham Bolt was a shock, but that the hunter had been aware of his friend's presence was downright unsettling. Quint was obviously worried, and if Quint was worried, then Pardigan was bound to be even worse. Here they were, chasing the Hawk, only to discover that he was toying with them. Quint had requested some direction, but Tarent was no wiser to what was going on than he was. He picked up the book and began to write:
     
    …I can't work out what's happening either, just be careful!
I'll meditate on this.
We're two days from putting ashore then will look to meet you on Morgasta's coast.
Nothing to report here except rough sea and bad weather.
Good luck over the mountain,
    Tarent.
     
    He tapped the pencil against his teeth, thinking. If Matheus Hawk was flaunting his presence like this, what was going to be waiting for them once they landed in the northern territory?
    '
Sail! Sail to port!
' Tarent heard the cry above the sounds of the storm lashed boat and folded the book before stowing it in his bag. Climbing carefully from his bunk he saw that Loras had already dashed out, and Magician Falk was replacing the books the two had been studying.
    'Unfortunately, I don't think I'm much of a sailor,' grumbled the old man as he stood up bracing himself against the movement of the boat. 'I feel awful, you go on ahead young man, don't worry about me, I'll be along presently.' Tarent smiled at the old Magician and made his way up on deck.
    Reaching the top of the ladder, he had to pull hard to open the hatchway, when it finally shifted it swung back with a bang, the force of the gale immediately taking his breath away. He clambered out and glanced up. Below the grey boiling mass of clouds, the wind was howling through the rigging, tearing at the straining canvases - one of the huge sails had ripped and was flapping wildly. Tarent watched entranced for a moment as two sailors edged along a spar, the wet rigging treacherous as the sail cracked violently below them, risking their lives as they tried to catch hold of it. Gathering his cloak about him, Tarent staggered across the deck to where Loras was standing with two of the ships' crew clutching the handrail looking out to sea. Loras turned to him as he came alongside and shouted over the howl of the wind.
    '
She's over there,
' he pointed towards a grey horizon filled with turbulent clouds. Lightning flickered, and thunder rumbled as the boat was buffeted by yet another huge wave that hit with a 'boom' and sent foaming water washing across the deck. At first,