Read The Familiars #3: Circle of Heroes for Free Online

perhaps never to be seen again.”
    The curtain parted slightly and the balls moved through with strings still attached. From the tavern, Aldwyn could hear more boos and hisses.
    “Tough crowd,” said Gilbert. “I thought that was pretty neat.”
    Edgar scurried backstage, huffing and puffing. Naturally, he was surprised to see three animals standing in the closet.
    “This is an exclusive dressing room back here,” he said. “The only ones allowed are entertainers and kitchen staff.”
    “We’re old acquaintances of Galleon,” explained Skylar. “What’s happened to him? I know human magic was recently dispelled from the land, but he couldn’t have hit rock bottom that fast.”
    “Ha!” Edgar laughed. “Galleon hasn’t had magic in years.”
    “You’re wrong,” said Gilbert. “He sent letters, about slaying river dragons and battling sea trolls.”
    The chipmunk shook his head. “I don’t know what tall tales you’ve been hearing, but Galleon fell on hard times way before Paksahara started causing trouble.”
    “If you don’t mind me asking, where’s Banshee?” asked Skylar.
    “She left town years ago,” said Edgar.
    “Without Galleon? Impossible,” said Skylar. “A familiar and loyal stay together for life.”
    “Not this time,” said Edgar. “When Galleon first arrived in town, he was coming to replace an elder sorcerer who had protected Split River for half a century. The city was thriving, safe from ravaging monsters and plunderers. But then Galleon fell in love with a girl named Delilah, the daughter of the richest shipping baron on all of the Ebs. Problem was she had already been betrothed to a wizard named Coriander born to a spice fortune. He challenged Galleon to a disenchantment duel, and if you know Galleon, you know that he never backed down from a challenge.”
    Gilbert and Skylar nodded.
    “They fought the battle right here on the banks of the river.” Edgar took off his robe and began changing into his next costume. “Hundreds came to watch. Galleon threw everything he had at Coriander, but he never stood a chance. I’m sure black magic had something to do with it. Coriander seemed to have the spellcasting might of three magicians that day, and he had Galleon on his knees when it was over. Galleon’s powers were stripped from him and funneled into a glass vial. Coriander wears it on a chain around his neck as a trophy. And to add to the bitter sting of it all, Coriander forced Delilah, Galleon’s true love, to marry him. He keeps her trapped on a lavish yacht and Galleon is powerless to save her.”
    “That’s terrible,” said Gilbert, his voice sounding even croakier than usual.
    “Soon after, Galleon got a job here in exchange for room and board. He performs twice a day and washes dishes and cleans chamber pots in between.”
    “And Banshee?” asked Skylar.
    “They had a fight years ago and she returned to her monkey village,” said Edgar. “As for me, winters can get pretty cold around here. When I heard about this gig, I jumped at it.”
    “Like Grimslade said, the howler monkeys live in the Forest Under the Trees, high up in the canopies,” Skylar reminded Aldwyn and Gilbert, her voice filled with concern. “I was hoping we could avoid a trip into those dangerous treetops.”
    From beyond the velvet divide, a heckler could be heard shouting, “I got an idea. Why don’t you make yourself disappear?!”
    “Sir, could you at least stand up when you insult me,” Galleon snapped back. “Oh, you are standing up.”
    The next thing Aldwyn knew, a bar stool was flying through the curtain and over his head.
    “You might want to head for the exit,” advised Edgar. “This could be messy.”
    The familiars pushed aside the velvet curtain and reemerged into the cider hall. A pint-sized elvin pirate now had Galleon in a headlock.
    “Nobody ridicules me without paying dearly for it,” squealed the elf as he tried to squeeze the air out of the magician, who was