“Uh, Hoyt?” Slink asked.
“Shut up, Slink! I’m busy here.”
Albert watched as Jadar tapped Hoyt on the shoulder. Albert’s grin widened as Hoyt turned around and let out a high-pitched whimper. “Better be nice to my friend’s bird,” Leroy said. “He’s very protective.”
But it was too late. Jadar leaped into the air and picked up Hoyt with his claws, grabbing Hoyt by the back of his shirt like a mouse that had been caught. Hoyt screamed as Jadar carried him around the Main Chamber and dropped him into one of the silvery streams.
The Core erupted with laughter.
“Balance has been restored to Calderon!” Trey yelled, beside Professor Flynn. “Hydra has done it!”
Farnsworth barked.
“And Farnsworth!”
Albert, Leroy, and Birdie never endured so many backslaps and high fives as they did that afternoon. It was the best day of Albert’s life. They told the stories over and over again, ate until they were bursting, laughed endlessly. They’d saved the world and lived to tell about it.
Did it get any better than that?
A couple of days later, Albert and Leroy met Birdie and Jadar at the door to Cedarfell. Birdie turned to Jadar and stroked the feathers on his black head. She ran her hand along his black beak and the Guildacker closed his eyes.
“I will miss you, too,” she said. “Every single day, until I return.”
They all watched Jadar fly off, high over the cedars, already howling Birdie’s name to the wind.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
“I knew deep down you were a softy,” Leroy said.
Birdie couldn’t help herself. She burst into laughter, and soon all three of them were laughing as they headed toward the Main Chamber, just like old times.
It was true what Professor Flynn had said: time was short. That morning, just two days after they restored Balance to Calderon, Albert, Birdie, and Leroy had stepped on the Libryam scale. It had said the same thing for each of them: they were down to only a few hours before they’d have to return home. If they stayed any longer, they could never leave the Core again.
“Maybe one day we’ll decide to stay,” Leroy had said when he stepped off the Libryam. “And then we can live in the Core forever.”
“But not today,” Professor Flynn said. “Today you’re going home, and so are we.”
He had put an arm around Albert and they both smiled.
Now the three friends were standing on the same bridge they had crossed on their first day in the Core.
“When do we get to come back again?” Birdie asked.
“Trey said next summer,” Leroy replied, tossing a pebble into the river below.
“And you’ll be taking our spots,” Grey said, coming up beside them at the railing, with Aria in tow.
All of their cuts and bruises were gone. Albert noticed, too, that they were holding hands. They both smiled at Hydra like they had never been prouder.
“It’s time we left this place and didn’t come back,” Aria said. “That trip into Calderon was our last mission. At least we ended on a high note.”
“I’ll say,” Albert agreed. “But won’t you miss it?”
“Won’t you miss us?” Birdie chimed in.
Grey looked at Aria and smiled. “We’ve had our time and done our part. If we come back again, it will have to be for good, as Professors or Core workers. That’s how it is when you get a bit older. You’ll see. In a couple of years, you’ll have to decide, too.”
“We’re deciding it’s time to be together,” Aria said. “Up there.”
Albert felt a small pang in his heart. Was it because he had started to like Aria, and Grey, too? Or was it because he knew that somewhere in the not-so-distant future, he, too, would have to decide where to spend the rest of his life?
“You three are going to make a great Calderon First Unit,” Grey said. “To be honest, I don’t think we’re needed like we used to be. You’ve given us the confidence to leave.”
“Wait,” Albert piped up. “I thought we were going to train for another Realm next term.”
“Yeah,” Leroy said, adjusting his cap. “Second Terms can’t be First Units. That’s not how it works.”
“Leroy . . . ,” Birdie whined, “has anything been normal since we got here?” She turned to Aria. “We’ll train for another Realm and be First Unit for Calderon?”
Aria nodded. “It will be double the work, double the action. But you can do it. You guys are going to be great.”
“Obviously,” Birdie said. She was so pumped she was bouncing up and down.
“Thanks, guys,” Leroy said, and offered Grey and Aria low fives. Albert gave them quick hugs. He couldn’t believe they were going to be First Unit.
Grey and Aria lingered a little longer, and then they had a nice send-off from everyone in the Main Chamber, including Professor Flynn and Trey. Eventually, they exited through the same double doors through which Albert, Birdie, and Leroy had arrived seventy-four days earlier.
Professor Flynn turned toward Team Hydra. “You three are next.”
“What about you?” Albert asked his dad.
“I’ll follow along in another day or two,” Professor Flynn said, looking at Albert. “Then we’ll grab your Pap and have a barbecue. We’ll have plenty of time to talk about your Tile, kiddo. I’ve got lots of questions. Oh, and Albert? Farnsworth will be lonely here. He can go with you to the surface, as long as he promises to keep his eyes turned off.”
“Really?” Albert beamed. He was going to have a real live piece of the Core with him, until he returned again. Farnsworth thumped his tail across Albert’s ankles. He let out a yip, and his eyes faded to a normal-dog blue.
“Dad?” Albert asked. “How much time do we have left before we absolutely have to go?”
“About forty-five minutes. Why?”
“I have something I want to show Birdie and Leroy,” Albert replied, hoping his dad was catching on.
“Go on, then, Albert.” His dad winked. “Just make sure you’re out of the Path Hider’s tree in forty-five minutes—I don’t want to have to explain to the post office why all the undeliverable mail has piled up if you get stuck down here.”
Then Professor Flynn and Trey left. Trey turned back and smiled encouragingly. This was one Apprentice who was very impressed with his team.
“Come on, you guys,” Albert said, grabbing Leroy and Birdie by the hands. “You have to see this before we go.”
In the Cave of Souls, Albert, Leroy, and Birdie were silent for several minutes. Albert eventually spoke up.
“There are three flames up there, one for each of us,” Albert explained. “I bet you they’re always floating around up there, together, causing trouble and stuff.”
“It’s nice to have real friends, for the first time ever.” Birdie laughed. “I don’t know if I’ve told you guys this, but I’ve always had trouble making friends. Apparently I intimidate some people.”
“Not really,” Leroy said with a smirk, nudging Birdie’s shoulder. “You’ve softened up a bit in here, I think.”
Birdie nodded. “I’m glad I have you guys.”
Albert thought he saw another tear in her eye. He nodded. “Me too. I’ve never had friends like you guys. Heck, I’ve never been a friend like I’ve been to you two. I don’t think I knew how.”
“You’re an amazing friend, Albert,” Leroy said. He wrapped his fingers around his Tile, and held it tight. “I don’t want to leave this place. I feel different here, braver than in the real world, you know? What if all that goes away up there?”
Birdie turned to face Leroy. “I don’t think that’s gonna happen, Leroy.”
She looked at Albert and winked. Albert caught on at once.
“Birdie’s right. I think it’s you who’s made yourself braver. Not your Tile.”
“Thanks, guys.” Leroy sighed.
They sat in silence for a few more minutes, watching the flames dance overhead, pro
of that there was an entire world full of people down here, and in turn, people on the earth above, whose lives had all been affected by the Core. “You guys going to be okay without me?” Birdie said. “Up there, on the surface?”
“I’ll text you if I need a bodyguard,” Leroy said with a smile. Albert nodded in agreement. They’d stay in touch aboveground. And soon enough, they’d be back for bigger, better adventures.
“Uh, guys,” Albert suddenly said, “we have to be out of the Path Hider’s tree in ten minutes!”
The three set off, leaving Balance Keeper souls blinking behind them.
Once back at the double doors, they pushed through and jumped in the gondola, Farnsworth hopping in behind them.
“Something tells me this is going to be the wildest ride of our lives,” Leroy said as the gondola jerked forward.
Seven minutes (and one upchucked Core meal) later, they passed through the secret Realm of the Path Hider and found themselves standing in the woods.
“Well, I guess this is it,” Birdie said. “See you goofballs next year.”
Then she ran forward and gave both boys a quick kiss on their cheeks.
“Okay, now you’re a little too soft,” Leroy joked, but he smiled anyway as Birdie headed into the trees.
“Albert,” Leroy said, holding a hand out. “You’re one righteous Balance Keeper. I’ll see you soon.” He, too, headed off into the woods.
Albert was surprised to feel a lump in his throat.
He began walking, looking back every few seconds and seeing his friends waving as they walked in different directions. The third time he looked back, they were gone, and it was just Albert and Farnsworth alone in the deep of the woods.
Just like old times.
“Well, now, haven’t seen you in quite a while,” Pap said. Albert stood on the steps and watched the old guys play Tiles. “It’s about time for you to get on home to New York, ain’t it?”
“Yeah, just a few more days,” Albert said, imagining his old Pap as a Balance Keeper and wondering what adventures he’d had long ago. “I wish I could stay. But I miss home, too.”
“I know just how you feel,” Pap said, a glimmer in his eye. He went back to playing his game and Albert watched as the Tiles stacked up. He thought of how great Leroy was at the game, and suddenly missed his buddy.
“I hear they’ve had clear skies over New York for days,” Pap said, playing a Tile as he uttered the words. “I wonder what could have caused that?”
Albert shrugged. He didn’t feel like telling Pap about everything just yet.
Pap moved the Tiles around in front of him, organizing them just so. “That’s a unique necklace you have there, son.”
Pap looked up from his Tiles and winked at Albert. Farnsworth growled playfully.
“Have you ever seen it before?” Albert asked.
“Wouldn’t remember if I had,” Pap said, but Albert saw, for the first time, that Pap had a cord around his neck. He guessed that Pap’s old Balance Keeper Tile was concealed just under his flannel shirt.
Later that week they would barbecue some burgers and play Tiles, all three Flynn men, while Farnsworth slept at Albert’s feet. Albert would also write a thank-you note addressed to the one friend he had had to leave behind in the Core. He might not have been here without Petra’s help.
But for now, for just that moment, Albert could be alone and walk and think about all that had happened. He touched the Master Tile around his neck. He might have discovered what it was, and what it could do. But it was still the strangest of them all. It made him wonder: Am I destined to live in the Core for the rest of my life?
The thought of it saddened him then, because he did so love the town of Herman, Wyoming. He brightened at the thought of Guildackers and King Fireflies and besting Hoyt’s team, though. He didn’t have to make a decision now. Albert looked down at Farnsworth and smiled.
“What do you say we go have some fruitcake, huh, boy?”
As Albert returned home to his mom in New York City, two figures were meeting in the shadows of the Core. One was a man who wore a long, black cloak. No one had seen him in a very long time. The mere mention of his name was cause for concern, and so he was rarely mentioned at all, even in the highest ranks of the Core. The other was a person who everyone in the Core was aware of. The fact that this person was there, speaking to the most notorious man who had ever entered the Core, was a mystery.
The man in the black cloak spoke first.
“You were right to inform me of the Master Tile’s appearance after all these years.”
“Thank you, your grace.”
“The boy is strong,” the one in the black cloak said. “Stronger than I expected.”
“He’s not so special.”
“And yet he made short order of all my work in Calderon. He orchestrated quite a save.”
“I suppose he did.”
The two moved farther back in the shadows, near the door to an unseen Realm of the Core.
The cloaked man continued: “The longer Albert Flynn has the Master Tile, the more powerful he becomes. And you and I both know the only way we can control the Master Tile is if the boy dies in one of the Realms.”
“Timing must be perfect, your grace,” the other voice said. “Or the power will not transfer from him to you.”
“Let’s see how he does when the Ponderay Realm is in chaos and his First Unit has fled.”
“That will take some time and planning.”
A gruesome smile appeared on the cloaked man’s face.
“So start planning.”
The cloaked man began walking toward the entry to the Realm of Ponderay, and as he went he pulled his own Tile out and observed its shiny black surface.
The Core fell silent but for an echoing laughter that rang through the night, which ended with the sound of a slamming door.
Acknowledgments
I’ve dreamed about writing an acknowledgments section in a book since I was a little girl. Now it’s here, and it’s actually REAL, and there are so many people I have to thank for it. Thank you to my stupid years of illness, which led me to writing. Here’s to you, chronic fatigue: I WIN. YOU LOSE. HAHAHA!
To my lord and savior Jesus Christ, who gave me the drive to never, never quit.
A million thanks and hugs to my amazing editors, Katie Bignell and Katherine Tegen, who changed my life and made my dreams come true when they said YES to Albert’s story. You both have put so much love and care into this, and into my writing career. Working with you has been above and beyond RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME.
To my dear friend, author Patrick Carman, whose genius goes without saying, who looked at a little “nobody” like me and decided to give me a chance. You are my Yoda, my Mr. Miyagi, my Magic 8 ball with all the right answers.
To my agent, Louise Fury, who is a book goddess as well as a book rock star. You are the dream agent—an answer to many prayers, and I’ll forever consider you a part of my family! You are the BEST agent in the entire world!
To Peter Rubie, who helped make this all happen. Thank you!
To the cover designers, Joel Tippie and Tom Forget at Katherine Tegen Books, who are amazing. To the illustrator, Kevin Keele, for being ridiculously talented.
The entire team at Katherine Tegen books, who made this book SHINY.
To my best friend, Cherie Stewart, who helps keep me sane and reads all my early drafts. To my husband, Josh Price, who listens to my ramblings about the publishing world for hours without interrupting. To Abby Haxel and Landon Davies, for being beautiful book nerds. To Karen, Lauren, and Don Cummings, for all of your endless love and support. To the Ryan family, aka the in-laws, for more love and support! To my extended family for all the prayer and support. Thanks to Jen Gray, who is my soul sister and Mini-Me. I love you, girly! To my dogs Hurley, Kai, and Kimber, who were the inspiration behind Farnsworth.
Many thanks to the ladies at my Tuesday bible study, for praying for me for so many years. To DFWc
on, my Texas bookish group (you ladies rock), the YA Valentines, and the YA Rebels. The Burleson family, for being so supportive of my dreams. The book-blogging community, for rocking at life. And special thanks to my army of #Booknerdigans. You know who you are, and you’ve made this journey a blast!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
About the Author
LINDSAY CUMMINGS is a book blogger and the author of the teen series the Murder Complex. She lives in Texas with two German shepherds, one wolf cub who isn’t very smart, a horse named Dan the Man, and a husband named Josh. She eats too many hot Cheetos and can’t stop dyeing her hair crazy colors. You can visit her online at www.lindsaycummingsbooks.com.
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Credits
Cover art © 2014 by Kevin Keele
Logo art © 2014 by Jason Cook/début art
Cover design by Tom Forget
Copyright
Katherine Tegen Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
BALANCE KEEPERS #1: THE FIRES OF CALDERON
Copyright © 2014 by PC Studio, Inc.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
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* * *
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cummings, Lindsay.
The fires of Calderon / Lindsay Cummings.—First edition.
pages cm.—(Balance keepers ; #1)
Summary: “Eleven-year-old Albert Flynn is trained to restore balance to the hidden earthly realms that have fallen into chaos and threaten to destroy the world”—Provided by publisher.
Balance Keepers #1: The Fires of Calderon Page 23
