The Traitor of Belltroll

  Leroy nudged Albert. “You good, man?”

  Albert nodded. He’d figure it out. After fighting Festus, he was sure they’d at least allow him to pick another Tile from the Waterfall of Fate.

  Right?

  Next, Professor Bigglesby came up and read off Lucinda’s crimes.

  She was charged with fraternizing with the enemy Festus, tampering with crucial Core devices such as Albert’s Counter and the countdown clock in the Main Chamber, and attacking a Balance Keeper without just cause.

  “Forgive me,” Lucinda said, weeping. “I was under the spell of love.”

  “I’m going to puke,” Hoyt said beside Albert.

  The crowd glared at Lucinda, and some called out their disappointment.

  “We trusted you!”

  “I let my children play in your Library!”

  “I want back all the Medallions I’ve spent in your Canteen!”

  Albert knew at least a little how they felt. The Path Hider had always been there behind the scenes, but Lucinda had walked among them. She’d attended meals with them and cheered them on in the Pit. He had thought of her as a friend, just like Petra and so many other people in the Core had.

  Lucinda was crying harder now, begging the Core to forgive her. Festus wouldn’t stop staring at Albert with his strange, hungry expression, which was making that fuzzy feeling from the hospital wing come back. Albert did his best to shake it off as the Professors calmed the crowd. He needed to pay attention.

  “The prisoner Festus has declined speaking at today’s trial,” Professor Asante said. “But his accomplice Lucinda has agreed to enlighten us as to how everything happened.”

  “What a coward,” Birdie hissed under her breath. “He can’t even speak for himself?”

  “I’ll pummel him,” Hoyt said.

  It struck Albert suddenly how alike the two of them were. Maybe that was why they’d always been at odds.

  “Lucinda,” Professor Asante said, “you may proceed.” Albert leaned his elbows on his knees.

  “Years ago,” Lucinda began, “Festus and I started meeting in secret. He was so alone, stuck in that prison of pipes and steam.”

  Festus just stared at his hands as she spoke.

  “At first, we simply meant for Festus to leave the Core for good and get to the surface world. But when Albert Flynn arrived in the Core and plucked a Master Tile from the Waterfall of Fate . . .” She looked toward Albert but turned away before meeting his eyes. If he wasn’t mistaken, Lucinda was afraid of him.

  “When Albert got the Master Tile, our plans changed. Festus didn’t want to simply be free.” Lucinda looked sideways at Festus, her eyes lighting up. She lowered her voice. “He wanted to rule.”

  “Oh, I’ll show you who rules,” Birdie growled, and Hoyt leaned past Albert and bumped her fist in agreement. Festus continued to just sit there, head hanging. Was he even listening?

  “How did you do it?” Professor Asante asked. “Honesty, Lucinda, is most advised.”

  Lucinda sniffled and continued. “We knew that Festus’s father on the surface had one Master Tile, and we knew that Bob Flynn had the one that had been taken from Festus.”

  Whispers broke out around Albert. Apparently, most of the Core didn’t know that Professor Flynn had watched over Festus’s Master Tile after Festus had been banished. That made sense—Albert himself hadn’t known until a few days ago.

  “Hey,” Birdie said. “What’s Trey doing?”

  Trey was approaching the stage carrying a chair, which he placed next to Lucinda and Festus.

  “Who’s that for?” Albert whispered. Was there another accomplice? He heard similar questions from the crowd buzzing around him.

  Albert looked to his dad, who had stood up from his place next to Professor Bigglesby. Professor Flynn glanced at Albert.

  Then he walked across the stage . . . and sat down in the third chair.

  Trey fastened handcuffs on Professor Flynn’s wrists. Professor Flynn didn’t even flinch.

  Albert leaped to his feet. “NO!” Birdie and Leroy held him back from rushing onto the stage. “No! What are you doing? He didn’t do anything wrong!”

  He felt sick.

  How could this be happening?

  Albert tried to pull away from Birdie and Leroy, but another hand pressed down onto his shoulder. And then another, and another, until Slink, Mo, and Hoyt were all holding him back, too.

  “Let me go,” Albert said. He yelled at the other Professors. “WHAT DID HE DO? HE HASN’T DONE ANYTHING WRONG!”

  A couple people around Albert shouted their agreement. Others were crying.

  But Professor Flynn just sat calmly in his chair, his hands folded in his lap, his emerald jacket sparkling.

  “Dad!” Albert shouted. “What’s happening? Tell them you didn’t do anything wrong!”

  Professor Flynn smiled sadly.

  The crowd hushed.

  “It’s okay, Albert,” Professor Flynn said. His voice was calm and steady. He looked away from Albert and addressed the crowd. “It’s time that I ’fess up to the entire Core about my mistakes.” He took a deep breath. “It is true that I had a Master Tile.”

  The crowd was silent.

  “After Festus was sent to become the Path Hider, the Tile was thrown back into the Waterfall of Fate. It was our hope that the waterfall would keep it safe. But I didn’t trust that, and so I went in myself that night and plucked the Tile back out.”

  No, Albert thought. Stop talking! You’re going to make it worse!

  His dad kept going. “I kept that Tile safe until just recently. I went to visit my brother in the Path Hider’s domain, and . . .”

  Festus started to laugh, slow at first, then rising to a cackle. “And he told me he’d kept the Tile safe! What a fool you are, brother!” His laughing made every hair on Albert’s neck stand on end. “I know my brother. And when he told me he would keep the Tile safe, I knew it meant that he’d removed it from the waterfall himself. Predictable, as always. Pathetic.” People booed and shouted at Festus, but he continued laughing until he started to cough.

  Professor Flynn’s face had gone white.

  Lucinda continued for them. “After Festus learned of this, he told me of a book that existed, one he’d kept hidden in the Library that would help lead me to the Master Tile that Professor Flynn had hidden.”

  The Book of Bad Tiles, Albert thought.

  “I used the book to find the Master Tile. I plucked it straight from Professor Flynn’s hiding place.”

  Professor Asante looked at the three prisoners. “Where was the Tile hidden?”

  Albert’s dad sighed deeply. “In my office.”

  “It was too easy,” Lucinda said. The tears were gone, now that she was telling her story, caught up in the excitement of it. “Once I delivered the Master Tile to Festus, he was free to move about his domain. There are tunnels hidden all throughout it. Tunnels that lead inside the Core. All it took was a little prodding from the Master Tile, and we were able to access the tunnels.”

  Everyone gasped.

  Even the Professors.

  Festus laughed again, delighted. “So mindless, so weak. All of you. You don’t even know the depth of this place. The mysteries that it holds.”

  “Enough!” Professor Asante yelled. She stood taller, like a proud soldier. “If you don’t silence yourself, Festus, we will do it for you.”

  He grimaced and nodded at Lucinda to continue on.

  “After some studying, Festus used his Master Tile to convince Professor Flynn to steal the second one from his dad, on the surface,” Lucinda said.

  Professor Flynn cut in. “I felt the need to go and get it, to keep it safe,” he explained. “It was like I couldn’t ignore it. I had to have it.”

  Albert shivered. Festus had controlled his dad’s mind, with only one Tile, and a very dark, dark symbol.

  “On the night of the Float Parade last term, Festus mixed up a sleeping potion that I could use,?
?? Lucinda said. “All I had to do was slip it into Professor Flynn’s drink. He fell asleep in his office, and it was too easy to sneak in, while everyone was in the Main Chamber partying, and take that second Tile, too.

  “Once I delivered that one to Festus, and he had two Master Tiles, his strength grew. We planned some more, to lure Albert into the Realms. We’d heard that when a Balance Keeper dies in a Realm, their Tile is given back to the Waterfall of Fate. If Albert died in a Realm, it would be the easiest way for us to get the third Master Tile.”

  Albert glared at Festus and Lucinda. They were two horrible, evil people, who didn’t think twice about killing Albert, all in the name of power.

  Lucinda went on. “So Festus went inside the Realms at night, created Imbalances, and Albert and his team blazed forth in the Pit, just like we expected. He had the third Master Tile, after all, and we know what happens when a Balance Keeper holds so much power. They will always succeed, eventually.”

  Albert had walked right into their plan.

  And his friends had been in danger the entire time, just for being near him.

  “I’m sorry,” Albert whispered.

  But Birdie and Leroy sat tall beside him. “It’s not your fault, Albert,” Leroy said.

  “When Albert kept solving the Imbalances, despite all of Festus’s efforts,” Lucinda said, an air of annoyance finally reaching her voice, “Festus had no choice but to enter Belltroll and create the greatest Imbalance ever known.”

  “And the note?” Professor Bigglesby spoke up. “Why give Albert the single striker, and the note, if you wanted him to fail in the Realm?”

  Festus chuckled. “Fun and games,” he said. “All fun and games. You locked me in that maze of pipes for thirty years. Thirty years, without seeing the sun or another human being save for the annoying children arriving as new Balance Keepers a few times a year. And it was always the same. I had to watch while the Balance Keepers came through, calling themselves the defenders of this world.” He swallowed and looked at the crowd. “You are not worthy. You will never be worthy of the titles you have been given.”

  “That is enough!” Professor Asante said. “You will only answer the questions we ask of you, understand?”

  Festus looked at her with a sly smile.

  Lucinda told the rest of the story quickly. She described how easy it was for Festus to enter the Realms, for him to tamper with the creatures. She described how annoying it was when Birdie and Leroy proved to be stronger than she and Festus had originally hoped.

  The crowd pressed closer together, as if that would help keep the chill of Festus’s words away.

  When Lucinda was done, Professor Asante cleared her throat again. “Festus, Lucinda, do you have anything else to add?”

  “No, Professor,” Festus said with a smirk. Lucinda just shook her head.

  “Very well,” Professor Asante said. “Professor Bigglesby?” She sat down and Bigglesby took her place at the podium. The MegaHorn squealed as it always did.

  Farnsworth didn’t howl this time. Instead, he glared at Festus, a growl ripping through him.

  Bigglesby pulled out a third scroll. He cleared his throat and spoke slowly, as if he didn’t want to say the words. “I will now read the crimes of Professor Bob Flynn.”

  Albert wanted to scream and shout. Professor Flynn had made a mistake, taking the two Master Tiles and losing both of them. But that was all it was.

  A mistake.

  And Lucinda herself had admitted that Festus had used the first Master Tile’s power to trick Professor Flynn into taking the second Master Tile from Pap.

  Please, Albert thought. Let them go easy on my dad.

  “Professor Bob Flynn,” Bigglesby read. His beady eyes flitted to Albert’s, but instead of menace, they held pity. “You are charged with the crime of harboring two hidden Master Tiles and losing track of them, therefore placing the entire Core and the entire surface world in danger. There is an amount of leniency, for Lucinda’s admittance to Festus controlling you for the second Tile. But the first was your own choice, and you endangered the Core by choosing to remove your brother’s Tile from the Waterfall of Fate yourself.” He sighed and shook his head. “Bob Flynn, how do you plead?”

  Professor Flynn looked up. His eyes scanned the room and fell on Albert. He swallowed, hard.

  “Guilty,” he said. “I plead . . . guilty to the crimes.”

  CHAPTER 35

  The Punishments Given

  Everyone was quiet.

  Albert’s heartbeat pulsed in his ears, and he held his breath as he waited for the punishments to be dealt.

  “Lucinda Lore,” Professor Asante said. She held a small copper hammer, much like the kind that judges always had in shows Albert’s mom watched.

  Lucinda looked up, fresh tears in her eyes.

  “You are hereby banished from the Core,” Professor Asante said. “You are never to return, and your memory will be taken care of by the Memory Wipers. From here on out, you are a member of the surface world.”

  She banged the hammer, and Lucinda flinched.

  Then she began to sob silently while Professor Asante turned to Festus.

  “Festus Flynn,” she said, her voice full of authority. “We made a mistake, keeping you here the last time around. If it weren’t for Albert Flynn and his extreme show of bravery . . .”

  Professor Asante looked to Albert and gave him an approving nod.

  “Festus, you are hereby banished from the Core, never to return. Never to harm these Realms or their Balance again.”

  Festus kept silent, but he raised his head to Albert.

  There was so much hatred in him. So much disgust.

  “You can’t keep the Tiles locked up forever,” Festus said. “I will spend the rest of my days trying to get back here to them.”

  “Not if the Memory Wipers can help it,” Professor Asante said.

  Albert felt Festus staring at him, even as he looked away.

  “Professor Bob Flynn,” Professor Asante began.

  Albert closed his eyes.

  Please, he thought. Please don’t banish my dad. He belongs here.

  “You have been a dear friend to the Core for many, many years,” Professor Asante said. Her voice was stern, but not harsh. “You and I used to work alongside each other, training to become Apprentices, and finally, Professors. I consider you a dear friend.”

  “And I you,” Professor Flynn said. His face was grim.

  “We have had our differences,” Professor Bigglesby spoke up in his squeaky voice. “But I have seen a good heart in you, Bob.”

  It seemed that the entire Core was holding their breath, not just Albert.

  Birdie grabbed his hand and held on. Even Trey, who hardly showed emotion, looked as if he was going to faint.

  “Due to your admittance to your mistake,” Professor Asante said, “and your complete willingness to cooperate during this trial, we have come to a unanimous decision on your punishment.”

  Albert could hardly bear this. He squeezed Birdie’s hand tighter. Farnsworth hid behind Albert’s legs.

  “Bob Flynn,” Professor Asante said. “It is our belief that, in any other case, you would be banished.”

  Birdie’s nails dug into Albert’s skin.

  “But . . .”

  But? Albert thought. That was a good word. That had hope mixed in with it.

  “Because you were tricked, and because you have come forth of your own accord, Professor Bigglesby and the Core Watchers and I have decided that you will remain in the Core. You will take your brother’s place, as the new Path Hider, where you will remain for the next two years, one for each Tile lost. During that time, you will protect the Core, hiding the paths at all cost. Meals will be delivered to you, and you are allotted one companion creature by your side. Twice a year, until your punishment ends, you will be given a six-hour leave to return to the surface world. After your two years are up, you are free to do as you please.” She stopped and gave a qu
ick wink to Professor Flynn. “Perhaps maybe even take on a job as our new Pit Supervisor, a position we could possibly create for you, given your obvious talents in the Core. For the time being . . . may you guard and protect the Core with all your worth, Path Hider.”

  She banged the hammer. Professor Bigglesby motioned for Trey to stand, and Trey helped remove Professor Flynn’s emerald coat.

  The Library fell silent.

  Professor Flynn’s face was wet with soundless tears. “Thank you,” he said. His voice carried gently across the room. “Thank you for showing me mercy.”

  Albert’s face was wet, too.

  His dad, his hero, was no longer a Professor. At least, not for the next two years. It was a brutal blow, stealing the one thing from Professor Flynn that he’d worked his entire life to get. Albert was furious for a moment.

  But really, two years was nothing. And his dad would get to stay in the Core, and after that? He was free to do as he pleased. It was the best possible outcome when all was said and done.

  Albert’s dad had done something wrong. He was facing that now, his head held high like a true Balance Keeper. Bravery wasn’t always about doing the best thing. It was about doing the right thing, even if it meant it would cost you something.

  And in that way, Albert knew his dad was the bravest man in this room.

  CHAPTER 36

  The Heart of the Core

  Albert didn’t go to see Festus and Lucinda off, but he heard their shouts coming from the Main Chamber as the Professors hauled them away, using Jadar as backup should they try to escape.

  “I WILL FIND THEM!” Festus shouted. “I WILL FIND MY TILES!”

  Jadar’s roar blocked out the sound, but Festus’s words remained in Albert’s mind, even as he made his way back to Cedarfell.

  But when he crawled into his bed, and Farnsworth curled up beside him, Albert closed his eyes and slept the words away.

  It took two days for the Balance Keepers to haul all the Core creatures back into their individual Realms, and another three days for the Core workers to repair the broken doors to the Realms and put the arched bridges back up over the streams. Albert helped with every step, and with each creature he ushered back into a Realm and every board he helped nail back in place, he felt a little lighter, a little less broken.