by Lee Bacon
My heart skips a few beats when I realize…it’s a dragon.
There’s so much more to take in. But my attention is snapped away from the incredible scenery by a sudden realization. The balcony has only one exit: the door we just walked through.
I turn to the group. “I thought we were going to get ready for the ball?”
Francesca’s nasty gaze narrows on me. “You’re not going to the ball.”
“What’re you talking about?” I take a step toward the door, but Francesca’s groupies block the way. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because.” Francesca flits a strand of her perfect hair out of her perfect face. “I don’t appreciate some backwater nobody attempting to move in on my fiancé.”
I tilt my head. Now I’m really confused. “Your fiancé?”
“Prince Frederick,” Francesca snaps. “We’re going to be married someday.”
“Married? But you’re only kids!”
Francesca lets out a very unladylike snort. “You can’t possibly be that stupid? Even a nobody from Stonk must surely be aware that my family has a strategic connection to Prince Frederick’s family. It makes perfect sense to solidify that alliance with a marriage.”
I retrace Francesca’s words in my mind. “Strategic.” “Alliance.” “But that’s no reason to get married—”
“Just cut the Little Miss Innocent act already!” Francesca jabs a manicured finger in my face. “We both know that a coalition with my family is the only way Prince Frederick will hold on to the crown. Especially now, with Grand Duke Sturmenburg consolidating power. He wants the throne. The only way that Prince Frederick can hold power is by marrying me, by making me his queen.”
My brain feels like it’s buffering, trying to keep up with Francesca’s claims. Grand Duke Sturmenburg. That was the tall, hunched guy we met earlier. The one sporting all the diamonds. He’s planning a takeover?
Everything’s moving too quickly. Francesca’s already talking again.
“So don’t get any ideas about stealing the prince away from me,” she snaps.
I shake my head. “I’m not trying to steal anyone.”
“She’s lying,” spits one of the groupies.
Francesca’s friends stalk forward. They might have the dainty bodies of ballerinas, but they’re staring me down like wrestlers before a cage match. The nearest girl forces me backward until my spine is pressed against the stone railing of the balcony.
I peek over the edge and instantly regret it. It’s a looooong way down.
“Wouldn’t want to accidentally fall,” one of the groupies purrs. “From this far up, you’d leave quite a mess for the servants to clean. Not that anyone else would mind. After all, you’re just a little nobody from Stonk.”
A gust of wind blows my hair into my eyes, but I’m too nervous about letting go of the railing to brush it away. “Y-you can’t do this.”
“Actually, you’re mistaken.” An arrogant smile appears on Francesca’s face. “We can do whatever we want. Leave my fiancé alone. Or else next time, we won’t be so polite.” She gestures to her groupies. “Let’s go. I’m sure Kira would like a little time alone to think.”
The girls spin and make their exit. The metal door slams shut behind them.
As soon as I’m alone, my entire body dissolves into a fit of shivering. The mean girls at Shady Pines Middle School are nothing compared to Francesca and her friends. I don’t care what she said; I need to talk to the prince. To tell him about the Grand Duke Sturmenburg. But when I try to open the door, it won’t budge. I rattle the handle. Still nothing.
I’m locked out.
By the time I reach the Royal Ballroom, the place is crammed with dignitaries from every corner of Heldstone. Visiting nobles, elven ambassadors, representatives from the Intercontinental Wizards Guild. All of them dressed in their finest attire. Servants weave between guests, carrying food and drinks on silver platters. Children giggle and point at the jesters on stilts who lurch like giants throughout the room. Dancers twirl across the floor, accompanied by music from a sixty-piece orchestra. Glowing fairies drift through the air like twinkling, pinwheeling stars.
But no sign of Kara.
I scan the crowd, hoping for a glimpse of her face. She’s nowhere to be found. She must still be in the Grand Drawing Room. Most likely, Countess Francesca and her friends are taking extra time to prepare for the ball.
What other explanation could there be?
My eyes are drawn to an elegant couple near the center of the room. The tall man with eyes the color of the sky on a clear summer day. And the woman with long golden hair. Each wears a sparkling crown of jewels and gold.
My mother and father. King and Queen of Heldstone.
As I make my way toward them, the crowd parts like a wave. Reverent whispers, respectful bows. When Mother spots me, her face breaks into a relieved smile.
“My dearest son! At last, you’re here.” She clasps me in a hug. Then she eyes me more closely. “Is it true?”
My stomach twists. “Is what true?”
“That you’ve been busy helping in the preparations?”
“Ah, of course.” My eyes drop to the floor. That’s better than lying to my parents’ faces. “I’ve been quite busy with the preparations.”
“I’m proud of you, Frederick.” Father runs a hand through my hair. “A true ruler puts the interests of the kingdom before his own. With all the commotion here in the palace, you stepped forward to help.”
Mother’s delighted gaze shines down on me. “You’ll make a wonderful king someday!”
I wish I could tell them about the quest I’m about to embark on. But they’d never allow me to venture out of the palace on such a risky mission. Not in a million years.
And so instead of admitting the truth, I wrap my arms around Father. “Thank you for showing me how to be a real king.”
Next I hug Mother. “I love you. I always will.”
“We love you, too, Frederick.” Mother gives me a closer look. “Are you all right?”
“Of course.” My eyes drop to the floor. “I just wanted to let you know how I feel.”
In case I never get another chance.
“That’s very nice of you, son.” Father pats me on the shoulder. The lights of twirling fairies glisten across the rings on his fingers. “Now get out there and enjoy the ball before it’s over!”
I take a deep breath and do as he instructs. But before my parents are swallowed by the crowd, I wave back at them one last time.
I just hope it’s not the last time I ever see them.
As the sun vanishes behind the tall mountains, an extraordinary sight appears in the darkening sky. There isn’t just a single moon. There are seven of them. Pale silver spheres floating in space. A couple of them are enormous. Others are much smaller than the moon you see from my world.
For a few seconds, all I can do is stand there and stare out at the foreign sky. Then reality comes crashing back into my life.
Hours have gone by.
And I’m still here.
Abandoned by Francesca and her evil entourage.
Stuck on the balcony.
I’ve tried pounding on the metal door, but nobody ever responds. I’ve looked out over the railing, waving my arms and screaming at the top of my lungs, but the people far below don’t notice. Everyone else is way too busy with the ball.
The ball I’m supposed to be attending.
It’s not like I care about missing some stupid dance. It’s what comes after the stupid dance that I’m more interested in. That’s when Prince Fred and I are setting out to find my dad.
But not if I’m stuck on this balcony.
I need to figure out a way inside the palace. The question is…how? Glancing to my right, I feel my stomach plummet. There’s nothing out there but an ugly gargoyle and a two-hundred-foot drop. In the other direction, a narrow ledge runs along the stone wall, leading to another balcony. It looks like the balcony I’m standing
on. Except for one difference.
On the other balcony, the door is wide open.
It might be my only way back inside. But getting there won’t be easy. The ledge is very narrow. One false step could result in a deadly fall.
I back away from the railing. I can’t do it. I’m too afraid.
My gaze lands on the purse. It’s been clenched in my hand ever since Fred and I left the laundry room. Opening it just enough to reach inside, I grasp the necklace.
The little silver owl immediately bursts into the air. But it doesn’t get far. Not while I’m holding its chain like a leash. The light of seven moons traces its features. The bird’s wings flap persistently. Its beak points toward the mountain ranges in the distance.
Dad gave me the necklace three years ago, the day before he disappeared from my life. All this time, I’ve kept it close. A reminder of him. Of the way he smiled when he gave it to me. Of the words he spoke. If you keep this necklace with you, he said, it’ll bring you closer to me.
At the time, I had no idea what he was really trying to tell me. Now I do. The silver owl necklace is a Chasing Charm. Which basically means it’s a magical GPS navigator. With only one objective.
To make its way back to my dad.
I cautiously return the necklace to the purse. One glimpse at the owl was enough to wash away the uncertainty. I knew this journey was going to be tough. And there’s a good chance it’s just going to get a lot tougher. But none of that can stop me.
I’m going to find my dad.
I’m going to rescue him.
And I’m going to bring him back home.
Clenching my jaw with determination, I step forward again. Fear swims inside my head, but instead of focusing on it, I train my concentration on the task in front of me. Swinging both legs over the railing, I carefully step onto the ledge. My back is pressed against the chilly stone wall. The tips of my feet stick out over the edge.
I shuffle sideways a step. Then another. Then—
A gust of wind barrels past. My hair flails everywhere. The bottom of my dress billows outward. And in my panic, I do the worst thing you can possibly do in a moment like this.
I look down.
A dizzying wave of terror sweeps across my entire body. My heartbeat thunders in my eardrums.
Deep breath. You’ve got this, Kara. The voice in my head is nearly lost in the rush of wind, but it’s enough.
Careful to keep from looking down again, I swing my focus back to the balcony. The open door. I start moving toward it again. One tiny, shuffling step after another. Wind whips all around me, but I keep moving. A little at a time. The balcony gets closer. And closer. And—
Next thing I know, my arms are hugging the railing like it’s my best friend. I lift myself over the stone barrier and my feet come to rest on the balcony floor.
I made it.
As I approach the open door, I hear a pair of voices. They’re coming from inside. Creeping forward as quietly as possible, I peek through the doorway. Standing in the center of the room are the two men I met hours earlier. Grand Duke Sturmenburg and his advisor, Gimothy Hudd.
“We’ve come so far,” says the grand duke. “We can’t give up now. Not when we’re so close.”
His hunched posture looms crookedly over the advisor’s short, round frame. A crackling fireplace sends its flickering light across the room. Shadows jump and dance, gathering in the corners.
“You deserve the crown,” replies Hudd. “You have the resources. You have the army—”
“It doesn’t matter how many diamonds we amass, or how many troops,” the grand duke growls. “The people are loyal to the king and queen. And their spoiled little son.”
“Then we abide by our original plan,” replies Hudd. “We kill them. And Prince Frederick.”
I inhale a sharp breath. Luckily, the wind on the balcony is too loud for anyone inside to hear. From the first moment I met these guys, I didn’t like them. But I had no idea just how terrible they truly are.
“We can’t kill them, you fool,” the grand duke snaps. “Not without her. Only she possesses enough dark power to sway the people.”
“Does anyone know what happened to her?”
The grand duke shakes his head. “Only that she hasn’t been seen since yesterday.”
“How can the Sorceress disappear at a time like this? I thought we had an agreement.”
A movement at the edge of the room pulls my attention away from the men. A shadow slides across the wall. At first, I don’t trust what I’ve just witnessed. It’s impossible. Must be a trick of the light. The blazing fireplace has a way of making you see things.
But then the shadow moves again. And this time, I’m sure…this isn’t just my imagination. This is real.
The dark shape drips down to the floor and shifts toward the two men. Soon it’s beside them. And I’m not the only one who’s noticed it, either. Sturmenburg and Hudd have gone silent. The two of them stare, wide-eyed, at the shadow near their feet.
Hudd points a chubby trembling finger. “Wh-what…is…that?”
The grand duke can only shake his head. All the color drains from his face as the shadow begins to rise. A human form ascending from the pool of darkness. The figure has no face, no features. Only darkness.
A living shadow.
Fear claws at my heart. The Sorceress is still alive.
My memory tumbles back to Legendtopia. Everything was engulfed in fire and smoke. And through the chaos I spotted the Sorceress. As the destruction closed in on her, she spread her arms. Her eyes closed and her lips moved. As if whispering a spell. And suddenly, she was gone. Replaced by a shadow of herself. A shadow that looked exactly like what I’m seeing now.
I’d hoped it was an illusion. A trick of the fire and smoke. But now I know—it was real. The Sorceress didn’t die in Legendtopia. She transformed herself into a shadow, escaped with us through the miniature doorway…
And now she’s here in Heldstone.
She’s looming right before my eyes.
The shadow turns its dark head from Hudd to Sturmenburg. When it speaks, the voice seems to be nowhere and everywhere at once. Echoing through the room and whispering into my ear. The only thing I know for sure is…the voice belongs to the Sorceress.
“You speak of me as though I’m not here,” she says.
Sturmenburg stares at the dark shape with fear and awe. “Sorceress. What happened?”
“That doesn’t concern you.” Her voice hangs heavy in the air. “All you need to know is that I have taken a new form. And though I may lack a body, my powers have grown beyond belief.”
Hudd’s eyes narrow. “How can we be certain it’s really you? What if this is some trick?”
In a heartbeat, the shadow sweeps toward Hudd. The dark shape crackles with unseen power. I can feel it from across the room, like a storm cloud about to burst.
“I do not play tricks,” the Sorceress growls. “And if you doubt me again, I will make you pay.”
“Pardon my advisor’s idiocy.” The grand duke does his best to act like his usual arrogant self, but I can hear the dread behind his words. “It’s just…your appearance is…not what we expected.”
“Appearance matters not. My current form may have changed, but my intentions haven’t. We must kill the king and queen.” The shadow clenches its dark hands with fury. “And Prince Frederick.”
“How do you propose we do that?” Sturmenburg asks.
“With Malinwrought.”
The grand duke and his advisor exchange a glance. It’s obvious they know as much about this Malin-whatever stuff as I do. Nothing.
“Malinwrought is a poison. Colorless, odorless,” the Sorceress says. “And completely untraceable. One sip causes the victim to become ill. But not all at once. Like most illnesses, it begins slowly. Steadily worsening. Until eventually, the victim falls into a sleep from which there is no waking. Anyone who drinks it will be dead in three days.”
Hudd sha
kes his head. “If this poison is so effective, why have I never heard of it?”
“Because all traces of Malinwrought vanished from Heldstone five centuries ago.”
“Well, that’s just wonderful!” Hudd throws up his hands in frustration. “We’re taking orders from a shadow. Who commands us to kill the Royal Family. With a poison that doesn’t exist.”
“Hudd, watch your tongue,” the grand duke warns.
But the advisor isn’t done complaining yet. “We had a plan! We were supposed to meet here at the appointed time with the Sorceress! But look who shows up instead! A ghoulish monstrosity! This is an insult, and I won’t stand for it any—”
Hudd’s words choke to a halt when the Sorceress presses her shadow finger against his forehead. Eyes bulging, his hands clasp his throat as he drops to his knees.
“I told you already.” The Sorceress’s dark finger never leaves Hudd’s forehead. “If you doubt me again, I will make you pay.”
The advisor tries to reply, but the only sound he can make is a weak gurgle. His round face goes from blue to purple. With a final gasp, he falls face-first onto the floor.
He doesn’t move again.
The shadow turns its faceless face toward the grand duke. When the Sorceress begins speaking again, it’s as if nothing’s happened. As if there isn’t a dead guy lying at her dark feet.
“As I was saying, Malinwrought disappeared from the world five hundred years ago. That is the common belief, at least. However, there remains one last vial. Preserved all this time. I have it hidden in the Chamber of Wizardry. It’s more than enough to eliminate the Royal Family.”
The shadow takes a silent step toward Sturmenburg.
“I will show you where to find the Malinwrought,” says the Sorceress. “And you will put it into the drinks of the king, queen, and prince. Is that understood?”
The grand duke’s unsteady gaze hangs on Hudd’s body for a long moment. Then he nods.
“Excellent. As the poison does its work, I will use my enchantment to ensure that fate follows a suitable path. The Royal Family will die. Everyone will assume it was illness. You will be named their successor. And together we will rule the kingdom.”