“Oh, this is my friend Max,” Moki said. Tiny leaned down and shook Max’s hand.
“Glad to meet you. Any friend of Moki’s is a friend of mine.”
“Thanks,” Max said, glad his hand hadn’t been crushed. “You haven’t seen a black case around here, have you?” Max asked. “It’s got something of mine inside of it.”
“Black case,” Tiny repeated, thinking it over. “Sure have.”
“You have?” Max asked, surprised.
“Yeah. Just finished processing it and was getting ready to send it to the vaults. But it’s yours?”
“Inside there’s a book and it’s mine,” Max answered. “But the king took it from me. It wasn’t really his fault, because the dwarfs were supposed to guard it a long time ago. But I really need to get it back.”
Tiny considered it for a moment and then said in his deep voice, “Follow me.” He led Max and Moki through a virtual maze of shelves until they came to the black chest. Max ran to it and tried to open the lock, but it was shut tight.
“Oh, sorry about your friend,” Tiny said. “I had to defend myself.”
“It’s okay,” Max said as he continued to tug at the lock. “He respawns and stuff.”
“I bet respawning is fun,” Moki added.
Max kept tugging at the lock on the chest. “I can’t open it.”
“Here,” Tiny offered. He grabbed hold of the lock and pulled. Huge muscles rippled across Tiny’s arms as the lock groaned in protest and then finally snapped in two.
Max made his way to the chest, pausing at the sight of the Codex of Infinite Knowability inside. He took a breath and reached for it, hoping it wouldn’t shock him. It didn’t, and he quickly secured the book in the leather satchel that he wore at his side.
“I think we should get out of here,” Max announced.
Tiny looked at the broken lock. “Wizards will come to teleport the chest into the vaults,” he said. “I can misplace the chest, but they’ll find it before long. Maybe buy you a day before they come after you—and they will.”
Max nodded. “Thank you, Tiny.”
“Are you coming with us?” Moki asked. “I’m sure it will be okay with the others.”
Tiny grinned, rubbing his chin. “That’s a kind offer, Moki, but I’d still like to make my way to Schil. Nice and warm in the winter, and plenty of ways to make a living.”
“We’ll come and visit you then,” Moki said.
“That would be nice. And I hope you have success, Max Spencer,” Tiny said to Max. After saying their good-byes, Max and Moki backtracked through the door rooms and found the others waiting for them. Max explained what had happened, and they all agreed they needed to make a run for it.
Back at their guest rooms, they debated what to do about Dwight. Despite the risk, they decided they owed it to their friend to let him know what was going on. They stood around the dwarf’s bed, their gear packed and ready to go.
“Dwight,” Sarah said, tapping him on the shoulder as his eyes fluttered open. “Dwight, wake up.”
“What’s going on?” Dwight said, squinting against a massive headache.
“Dwight, we got the Codex back,” Max said. “And now we’re leaving.”
Dwight looked confused. “What do you mean you got it back?”
“Yeah, man,” Dirk answered. “Max here went down into the vaults and got it back.”
“That’s impossible,” Dwight grumbled, turning over on his side. “I’m obviously dreaming.”
Max carefully withdrew the Codex from his side and held it in front of Dwight. Dwight blinked several times and then sat up. “I don’t believe it,” he finally said.
Max shrugged and put the Codex away. “So we’re going, and you can come with us if you want,” he said.
“Go with you?” Dwight replied. “Do you know what they’ll think of me if I go with you? They’ll think I was behind it all—that on the night they celebrated the return of their honor we were robbing them blind. No, I can’t go with you.”
“Then we have to go on without you,” Max said.
Dwight nodded. “I know, Max. You go and do what you need to. But you have to know that that king will come after you—and probably with everything he’s got. You’ll need to make for Mor Luin as fast as you can; the king might not risk crossing the border with an army in tow.”
“I’m sure Conall can help us there,” Sarah said.
“Then do it,” Dwight said, returning to his pillow. “This is where we say good-bye.”
Max hesitated as they stood around Dwight’s bed. They had been together for so long, leaving him seemed wrong. He’d always imagined the four of them returning to Madison: Dwight going back to running the Dragon’s Den game shop, and he, Dirk, and Sarah returning to Parkside Middle School. As long as they were together, it seemed possible. It was a hard thing to let go of.
“Come on, Max,” Sarah urged. “Dwight’s home now. Let’s finish what we started so we can go home too.”
Max nodded, casting a final glance at the dwarf. For a second it almost looked like a single tear was running down Dwight’s nose—but that was impossible.
They made their way from the chamber and through the city. Dawn was breaking outside, and they were the first through the gate. They found Conall and Sir Maron camped near the stables, and before long they were all saddled up and heading out.
“We were resupplied, but you never returned,” Sir Maron announced as they made their way down the main road, turning north toward Mor Luin when the path forked.
“We had a slight delay,” Max said.
“And picked up a couple of stragglers,” Prince Conall said, eyeing Loki and Moki. They had grown comfortable riding in Max’s backpack.
“Just fellow travelers,” Loki replied.
“Good for keeping tents warm, at least,” the big knight offered.
“That’s us, two portable space heaters at your service.”
Max went on to explain all that had happened and how it was very likely that an enraged dwarf king was coming after them. They considered this for a while before Conall spoke up. “Mor Luin is at least two days’ ride,” the prince said. “And another two or three days until we reach the first fortified city that can offer us any protection.”
“Then we will have to push hard,” Sir Maron said grimly. “You’ve only been in Jiilk less than a day and you’ve managed to anger an entire nation. Having gotten to know you, I’m surprised it took that long.”
Conall chuckled at that and drove his large war-horse forward. Max didn’t think it was very funny.
“Gone?!” the dwarf king raged. Dwight had been summoned to the throne later that afternoon, and he did his best not to let the lack of sky and fresh air betray just how panicked he was feeling. “And where is my high mage?”
“Also missing,” one of the king’s attendants said. The dwarf was bald and wore a long white beard braided into a large knot. “She left word that with the book’s return she needed to speak with the Tower’s regent at once.”
“Mages,” the king spat. “Always up to no good. Is it possible she took it?”
“I don’t think so,” the attendant continued. “The chest was found absent the magical book—she wouldn’t be able to touch it. And besides, it’s the disappearance of the humans that is most suspect.”
“Yes, what of that, Dwight?” the king said, glaring down at him.
“You saw them for yourself,” Dwight said, clearing his throat. “How could they pass into the vaults?”
“The one, this Max Spencer, who is the heir of Maximilian Sporazo,” the king replied. “Who knows what magic he has? But I tell you this, I will not suffer that the dwarfs lose the book twice!” The king jumped from the throne. “Call the army! Assemble my troops! Send scouts into the tent city and find witnesses—someone will have seen what direction they took!”
“My liege,” the attendant said with a bow, “we are at peace with Aaredt and Mor Luin, and have been for hu
ndreds of years. How do you think they will react if we raise our armies so close to their borders?”
“This is a matter of honor!” the king shouted, grabbing the attendant by his robe. “Wars have been fought for less. I will have the book returned to us and see that the thieves spend the rest of their lives rotting in our deepest mine.” The king let go and began shouting more orders. “Bring me my armor! Bring me my generals! I expect to be on the move before day’s end!” He then turned to Dwight, pointing a finger at him. “And we’ll chip away at the truth until we have it in hand, you can be sure of that.”
In the chaos of the activity surrounding the king, a lone dwarf peeled off, swiftly making his way from the royal palace to the small Wizard’s Tower on the outskirts of the city. Once inside, the dwarf stood before the human he had come to an understanding with, and dropped a bag of coins into the wizard’s hand. “Dispatch a pyro pigeon to Mor Luin. Tell the king that the dwarfs have raised an army and may soon be at the border.”
“Trying to start a war, are we?” the man replied, weighing the gold in his hand. It had been a profitable relationship between himself and his associate at the Wizard’s Tower in Ledluin, capital of Mor Luin. A few sensitive messages were sent back and forth, and the wizard’s pockets got heavier in the process.
“Just send the message,” the dwarf said. The human shrugged.
“You’re in luck—the high mage is gone. I’ll send it right away.” The dwarf nodded and turned, hurrying to return to the palace. Things were about to get very messy across the Seven Kingdoms.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
KINGS AND THEIR PAWNS
BY NIGHTFALL SIR MARON HAD studied the horizon behind them, taking note of a faint orange hue in the distance. “The dwarf army is on the move,” he said. “And in large enough numbers that their fires can be seen from here.” Any thought of resting for the night vanished at the news and the group pressed on. Dirk recounted more of the specifics involving the probability locks and the arrival of Ratticus. Sir Maron snorted a few times as if the whole thing were completely unbelievable.
“And so with an army at their backs, a magical unicorn on their trail, and the Tower ahead of them, the band of adventurers continue on their quest to reset the Codex of Infinite Knowability and defeat Rezormoor Dreadbringer,” Dirk concluded.
“And save the dragons,” Puff added.
“Oh yeah, and keep their promise to Obsikar the dragon king and save the dragons,” Dirk said. “This is no longer just a quest. We are now on an epic quest.”
“And what waits for you at the end of this epic quest?” Conall asked.
“Fame, fortune, and statues,” Dirk said with a smile.
“I just want to go home,” Sarah admitted. “I miss my family. I even miss school.” Dirk shuddered at the thought.
“School? Oh man, that’s the last thing I miss,” he said, to nobody’s surprise.
“I just miss being normal,” Max said. “You know, before I was the kid everyone was after.”
“I think you underestimate yourselves,” Conall said after thinking it over. “You are already heroes. Not only did you save myself and Sir Maron from the dragon, but you returned with your magical book safely in hand. There is no need to go to the Tower alone. Come to Mor Luin—my father will honor you. Who knows, he might even grant you titles and land. Perhaps even a castle.”
“A castle?” Dirk said. “Oh man, I totally want a castle.”
Max tried to picture Dirk running around as a castle lord.
“I’ve already told you what I’m doing,” Max said in a tone that made it clear he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. They rode in silence as they continued north, and Max practiced running through the fifteen Prime Spells in his head. He was determined that he’d be ready to use them when the time came.
They pressed themselves hard, riding the rest of the following day and finally making camp that night. Sir Maron climbed a small embankment and scanned the horizon. The rest were gathered around the fire and looking forward to a cooked meal.
“I suppose we should get started,” Dirk said to Conall with a sigh. The prince blinked several times before responding.
“Get started?”
“Yeah,” Dirk said. “As a prince, you’ve been taught how to use a sword your whole life. Probably had master instructors and all that.”
“Yes.”
“Thought so. And now you’re journeying with a bunch of other heroes who need to learn just enough sword-fighting so they don’t get themselves killed.”
“I’m not following,” Conall admitted.
“Whenever you get a group together like this, the tough sword guy always teaches the nice nonsword people a few tricks—usually to a music montage while dinner’s cooking.”
Conall turned to Sarah. “I really have no idea what he’s talking about.”
“It’s not that we’re expected to be, like, experts or anything,” Dirk said. “We just have to know enough to survive is all. This is commonsense epic quest logic.”
Sarah shrugged. “It’s not the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” Conall ran his fingers through his long curly hair, flipping it back.
“Some exercise would be a nice change of pace,” he said, standing and offering Sarah his hand. “You can use my sword—I’d be happy to show you the basics.”
Sarah smiled and accepted Conall’s offer. Dirk got up as well, brushing himself off. “Hey, I did say us, you know.”
“Yes, you did,” Conall said, motioning him to join them.
“Are you sure teaching Dirk to swing a sword is a good idea?” Loki asked.
“It just might save a life,” Conall answered. “And by that I mean one of us. You don’t want to be near an amateur in a sword fight, even if they’re on your side.”
“Hey!” Dirk protested.
“And what about you, Max?” Conall asked. “Would you like to join us?”
“Don’t worry about him,” Dirk jumped in. “He’s a magic user. He doesn’t need to fight with a sword. Maybe a dagger, but they only do, like, four damage.”
“You’ve obviously never seen a mage,” Puff said as he got up and shifted to a new spot beside the fire. He had to be careful that small embers didn’t get picked up by the night air and dropped in his fluff.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Max finally answered. He watched as Sarah and Dirk began practicing with Conall. Moki ran off to get a closer look as well.
“It’s really getting colder,” Max said to Puff and Loki. “I think we’re running out of time.”
“Just ignore the prince and keep making for the Tower,” Loki said. “That’s what’s important.”
Sir Maron suddenly appeared, and Max wondered how the big knight managed to move so quietly. “The dwarfs are gaining on us,” he said, sounding none too pleased about it. “These Dwarven ponies of yours are too slow.”
“But faster than walking,” Puff added. He, for one, liked riding in the small supply wagon.
“Maybe,” the big knight said. “I’ll take the first watch. After supper, put the fire out—and there’ll be no more fires from here on out. A tracking party may be on our heels.”
Max retired to his tent early, Puff curled up near his head and Moki at his feet. The little fire kitten really was like a portable furnace, and the tent was soon warm. Sheer exhaustion allowed him to sleep, even though he dreamed of monstrous shadows that danced around his tent in the moonlight.
They continued for several more days, sleeping only a few hours at night and making for the borders of Mor Luin as quickly as possible. Without cooking fires, they suffered through hardened rations and felt generally miserable. They were greeted with early-morning frost as they packed their things and began each day’s push, breaking free of the mountains and following the road into more rolling hills and grasslands. It was midday when she found them.
The girl stood in the middle of the road, holding a wand. A wizard stood next to her, wrapped in heavy robes and a tall,
floppy hat. There was something odd about the way they were just standing there, and something familiar as well.
Suddenly Max recognized them. Although the last time he’d seen Princess the Unicorn in person she was a metallic monster and Magar was a robotic floating head. But the way she stared at them was familiar—it was hard to forget being looked at like an appetizer.
“I suggest you make way,” Sir Maron said coldly, as they came to a stop. Princess ignored him, looking the group over.
“Which one of you is Max Spencer?” she asked.
Sarah, Dirk, Puff, Loki, and Moki all turned to look at Max before they realized maybe it wasn’t the best of ideas. Princess smiled. “I see,” she continued. “Not exactly what I was expecting for the heir of Maximilian Sporazo.”
“We’ve met before,” Dirk said, sitting up in his saddle. “You don’t remember because technically it hasn’t happened yet. But we did, and Max here kicked your butt.”
“He did, did he?” Princess asked, raising an eyebrow.
“One of the Prime Spells is capable of such a thing,” Magar said. “As far as the time travel bit,” he added, hurrying to clarify. That one of the Prime Spells could defeat Princess was also a distinct possibility, but not something the wizard would vocalize.
“Oh, hi again!” Moki waved. Loki grabbed his companion by the scruff of his neck and pulled him down into the backpack.
“Well, imagine that,” Princess said. “That’s what I get for letting things live, I suppose.
“So,” Princess said, returning her attention to Max. “You are a caster of Prime Spells, are you?”
“Like Futurity?” Max blurted out before he could take it back. He’d been going over the Prime Spells so often in his head that the word seemed to jump off his tongue of its own accord.
“Well, that’s certainly not a name many know,” Magar said.
“Hmm. So it appears our little friend has been reading from the Codex,” Princess remarked. “Does this make him dangerous or just dumb?”
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