“Yeah,” Albert said. “That sounds good. We’ll need to be rested if we’re going to beat Hoyt’s team tomorrow.”
“And with your Tile, you’ll need to study up, bro,” Leroy said, nudging Albert. “We can spend some time reading the Black Book.”
They turned a corner, passing the tunnel that led to the girls’ dorm. “I’ll see you guys bright and early,” Birdie said, waving. She patted Farnsworth on the head and disappeared down the dimly lit tunnel.
“She’s crazy,” Leroy said. “Spending time with a Guildacker!”
“Sometimes I think Birdie’s braver than anyone I’ve ever met.” Albert nodded.
They kept walking toward Cedarfell. There was a dip in the tunnel where a few of the blue torches had grown dim.
Albert felt a chill at the back of his neck as they walked. He thought he heard footsteps behind them, and when he turned, he was sure he saw someone quickly slink back into the shadows. But when he looked a little harder, there was no one there.
“Leroy,” Albert whispered, “I feel like someone’s watching us.”
“Ohhhh, creepy,” Leroy said, casting a glance behind them. “Naw. Nothing but darkness, bro.”
“I’m just tired, I guess,” Albert said. But he felt it. They kept walking, their footsteps echoing across the tunnel. Albert thought he heard a third pair of steps again, clacking along behind them.
At the last second, before they reached the door to Cedarfell, he whirled around.
Was that a person’s shadow, hanging on the edges of the darkness?
No, I guess not. Man, I need some sleep.
He blinked and looked a little closer, and there was no one there, just a bunch of flickering blue flames and an empty tunnel. And the lingering scent of mint and cloves?
“Albert?” Leroy asked. “Are you all right?”
Albert blinked. “Yeah, yeah. I’m good.”
Leroy turned the handle and kicked open the door. The familiar sounds of Cedarfell came pouring out, and Albert’s body relaxed. He shook off the feeling, and followed Leroy and Farnsworth inside.
CHAPTER 10
The Apprentice’s Secret
Cedarfell was all dressed up for the holiday season. There were bright, twinkling lights wrapped around the trunks of every tree, twisting up to the tops of the branches far overhead. A light dusting of snow danced down upon Albert’s nose, but it wasn’t cold. It was more for looks than anything, and it gave the entire forest a comforting feel.
“I missed these things,” Leroy said, scooping up a giant acorn from the forest floor. He broke it open across his knee and slurped down the fizzy cream-soda drink that was inside.
“Man,” Albert laughed, leaping over a fallen log. “You’re a bottomless pit.”
Leroy shrugged, and they sat down at a campfire where a few other guys were gathered.
Albert recognized two boys his age, both Pures who were training for Belltroll last term. One was redheaded with freckles all over his pale face. The other was tall and thin with a mop of dark brown hair. They kind of reminded Albert of himself and Leroy.
“I’m Pete.” The redheaded boy smiled. There was a large gap in between his two front teeth.
“Does it always look this way when it isn’t summer term?” Albert asked. He motioned to the lights in the trees.
Pete smiled. “Naw, this is just holiday stuff.” He scooped up a handful of the strange, noncold snow and let it fall through his fingers. “It’s cool, though, that you guys get to be here to see it.”
The dark-haired boy nodded. “Even cooler that you guys could make it here on such short notice.”
Albert shrugged. “Hey, that’s just what had to be done. Let’s hope my team can figure out the Pit. Ponderay’s training is tough.”
“I know you’ve heard this before,” said Pete with an encouraging look, “but it’ll get better.”
“Thanks,” Albert said.
A few more boys joined them, and someone pulled out a bag of marshmallows they’d purchased in Lucinda’s Core Canteen in the Library.
“Now that is what I call a good surprise,” Leroy said, stuffing his face.
They made s’mores, had a snowball fight, and when the red birds overhead started to sing their evening song, Albert knew it was time to retire for the night.
At first, his sleep was peaceful. But it didn’t last long. Soon, Albert was tossing and turning in his bed, not able to get comfortable, not able to shut down his mind. He wished it had an off switch like a video game console. Instead, he had more of his crazy dreams.
Albert and his team were failing in the Pit.
Birdie was on the floor, clutching a broken arm. Across from him, Leroy was busy battling a creature that looked like it was half shark, half monkey. The creature gnashed sharp, lethal jaws at Leroy’s head. He was barely able to fight him off.
“Albert!” Birdie cried out. “Help me!”
“No, Albert!” Leroy shouted. “Help ME!”
Albert didn’t know what to do.
Argon was crushing Hydra. Hoyt stood on top of a pillar, snickering as he held an armload of Tiles. And in the background, sitting on the stands, Professor Flynn shook his head in disapproval at Albert. “You’re just not cut out for the Core this year, kiddo. Better luck next time.”
“No!” Albert shouted. “Give me a chance!”
He could do this, he could fix things and help Hydra win. He reached down, ready to use his Master Tile.
But his fingers clutched at an empty cord.
In the morning, after a full meal in Cedarfell (two full meals for Leroy), Albert and Leroy met Birdie at the entrance to the Pit.
Her hair was up in a messy bun today, the streaks of pink showing through like yarn in a blond bird’s nest. She had a huge grin on her face.
“We got new beds in Treefare,” she said, holding open the door for the boys. Farnsworth scurried through and raced up the jagged path to the Pit. “I slept ah-mazingly. How ’bout you guys?”
“Like a newborn baby.” Leroy yawned, stretching his long arms over his head.
Albert yawned, too, but it wasn’t because he felt rested.
“We have to win today, guys,” he said over his shoulder as he jogged up the path. “I was awake all night thinking about it.”
“We’ll win,” Birdie said from behind him. “Right, Leroy?”
“The odds are actually pretty even, bros,” Leroy shouted from the rear.
That made Albert feel a little bit better.
They rode the platform up, wind whipping them in the face. Birdie chatted on and on about the Pure girls in Treefare, how she felt like they were all incredibly talented.
When they reached the top, the doors swung open.
Professor Flynn stood on the other side.
“Dad?” Albert’s voice squeaked like one of Farnsworth’s chew toys. “What are you doing here?”
Professor Flynn waved them in, then escorted them to the edge of the Pit. “I’m here to give you a quick lesson on Ponderay, as a favor to Professor Asante. You’ll get more info in a classroom session later, but for now, this will have to do. Professor Asante would do it herself, of course, but she’s in the Realm searching for the Means to Restore Balance.”
“Well, that’s cool with me,” Albert said.
Professor Flynn chuckled. “And afterward, can’t a father watch his son kick some tail in the training Pit?”
Albert laughed. “I don’t think people say kick some tail anymore, Dad.”
Professor Flynn straightened his emerald jacket. “In that case, go team!”
Birdie muffled a laugh as Professor Flynn marched off and took his place in front of the stands. Trey was on the top row, scribbling furiously into a notebook, his hair messier than usual, his clothing a little rumpled. What was up with that guy lately? Team Argon marched in late, as always, and sat on the far left of the stands, while Albert, Birdie, and Leroy sat on the far right.
“Professor Asante want
ed me to fill you in on how Ponderay would act during a typical day, without an Imbalance,” Professor Flynn said.
He paced back and forth, totally in his element. Albert smiled. How had he not known, all these years, that his dad was a part of something bigger and better than delivering mail in Herman, Wyoming?
Professor Flynn began his lesson. “In Balance, Ponderay is an incredible Realm. As you already know, the Ten Pillars stand in the middle of what we call the Silver Sea, a massive expanse of water in the center of the Realm. Usually, those Pillars stand steady and strong. From our Core records, we also know that each Pillar has a Tile on top. We’re assuming those Tiles have something to do with maintaining Balance—hence all the climbing and grabbing of Tiles you’ve been doing. Last night, during a journey to the Silver Sea, Professor Asante also learned that there are slots on top of the Pillars that hold the Tiles. Today, you’ll be collecting Tiles from slots as well as putting Tiles into slots.”
Birdie raised her hand and spoke. “Professor, you’ve been to Ponderay?”
Professor Flynn laughed. “I have, a few times. Every Professor must enter and complete a small task in all of the Realms, before they are chosen to lead one. But that’s another story for another time.”
Albert wanted to know that story now. But he had to focus on learning about Ponderay, if he and his team were going to end up going into the Realm at the end of the six days they now had left.
Professor Flynn went on. “The Realm has its own magnificent creatures, ones that you’ll soon encounter in class under the supervision of Professor Asante. Those creatures work in perfect harmony with one another, each creature doing its own job to help keep the Realm in Balance. Typically, they’re peaceful creatures. But when the Balance is off and they can’t do their jobs, they might not be so peaceful,” Professor Flynn said, with a serious tone sliding into his voice. “And I’m afraid that’s where we’re at now, because as of last night, the Imbalance has progressed to what we’re calling Phase Two.”
Albert put his head in his hands. Across the bleachers, Argon stopped their whispering.
Professor Flynn continued. “The Pillars have begun to rotate at breakneck speeds. The creatures have become predictably hostile.”
Albert exchanged a look with Leroy—he didn’t know what creatures lived in Ponderay, but he definitely didn’t like the word hostile.
“Unfortunately,” Professor Flynn went on, “if the Pillars continue spinning like this, the tremors off the coast of California will get worse.” His eyes met Albert’s, and he swallowed hard before continuing. “The Core Watchers—the people responsible for monitoring Imbalances—believe that this will soon lead to tidal waves on the surface. Hurricanes, strong winds, raging storms.”
“That sounds terrible,” Birdie whispered.
“But what about my family?” Albert asked. His voice cracked as he spoke the words, and he couldn’t help but picture his mom and siblings, caught in the middle of an angry, roiling sea. What were they doing right now? Albert’s great-aunt Suze lived about thirty minutes from the coast, but from what Albert knew about hurricanes, half an hour was nothing in terms of safety.
Professor Flynn seemed to notice the look on Albert’s face. “We have to trust the process, Balance Keepers, and train hard. Professor Asante and the Core Watchers are working around the clock to discover the Means to Restore Balance. I have faith that we may still be able to solve this. But in case, we must be ready. Should we come upon a Phase Three, the Core will be facing one of the worst Imbalances in history.”
Just then, the door to the Pit sprang open. Tussy marched inside with a look of pure determination on her face. As always, she had fresh cuts, and she looked like she’d just gotten done rolling in the dirt. Albert knew she’d been going into the Realm with Professor Asante. Apprentices were bound to the Core, which meant that if they did enter the Realms, it sapped their strength twice as fast as it would a normal Balance Keeper’s. No wonder Tussy always looked so ragged.
“A quick word, Professor Flynn?” Tussy asked.
Professor Flynn nodded, and the two of them stepped to the side of the bleachers to speak in hushed voices. Albert leaned in, wishing he knew of a symbol that could give him super hearing.
“You scared, Hydra?” Hoyt hissed from across the bleachers. “I can smell your fear from here!”
“Ignore him,” Birdie said.
“He’s just trying to rile us up before competition,” Leroy added.
Albert sighed and focused on his dad and Tussy.
As Tussy spoke, Professor Flynn’s smile slipped away. He nodded once, put a hand on Tussy’s shoulder, and whispered something into her ear. She sighed and shook her head before she turned back to the stands to go sit with Trey.
“What are you six doing, just sitting there?” Tussy shouted suddenly. She motioned to a stack of fresh Pit clothing that was piled on the lowest bleacher. “Get dressed and ready! This isn’t playtime, Balance Keepers!”
Albert wanted to ask his dad what was going on. Instead, he grabbed a stack of clothes and headed to the dressing area to prepare for competition.
“All right, teams!” Tussy called out. She was already standing on the edge of the Pit, MegaHorn in hand. She also had a camera set up on a tripod, ready to record the day’s events. “Let’s get moving! Today, we’ve got an exciting challenge set up for you. And Professor Asante will be watching the recording when she gets back from Ponderay tonight.” She chewed on her bottom lip and glanced sideways at Professor Flynn in the stands.
“They know something we don’t,” Albert whispered to his friends. “What do you think is going on?”
“No idea,” Leroy groaned. “But I’m not good with cameras. No pressure, right dudes?”
Birdie shouldered him. “Suck it up, Memory Boy. I love being on camera. Makes me feel like a movie star!”
“Yeah, it’ll be good,” Albert said. “Maybe we can watch it later and see what we can improve on.”
Leroy nodded as Hydra and Argon lined up on their platforms. They sank to the bottom. Just like yesterday, the Pit was empty.
“Today’s goal is similar to what we’ve already done,” Tussy shouted from above. “But there will be some added dangers. As you know, in Ponderay, you’ll be dealing with the Silver Sea. It’s no summer vacation. There are strange creatures in the water, and with an Imbalance, they’ll turn against whoever enters their domain. They’ll try to stop you from reaching the top.” She grinned, like she knew some sort of evil secret. “Watch your backs. Work as a team, not as individuals. And for the love of Ponderay, don’t drown.”
She blew her whistle, and in an instant, water started to pour from the sides of the Pit, rushing out of four giant holes like waterfalls.
“YES!” Birdie clapped her hands. “My Tile will help us win today for sure.”
Leroy nodded. “It increases our odds by 76.7 percent. But Slink has a Water Tile, too. Don’t forget that, guys.”
Albert smiled. Water was always good news for Hydra, with Birdie on their side.
Tussy blew the whistle again, and the same pillars as the day before rose from the ground, rushing high into the air as tall as the trees in Cedarfell. Water was already pooling around Albert’s knees. It was cold. So cold his teeth chattered and his body started to shake.
“There are ten Tiles on the pillars again, but this time they are tucked into slots as they are in the Realm. The first team to collect the most will win this round,” Tussy shouted. “There’s no time limit! We’ll compete until all Tiles are collected. Then we’ll start Round Two. I don’t care how tired you get. Balance Keepers, are you ready?”
Albert, Birdie, and Leroy exchanged glances. “READY!”
Across from them, Hoyt, Slink, and Mo shouted their answer, too.
“Good luck.” Tussy grinned. She flipped a switch on the camera overhead, then blew her whistle. “BEGIN!”
Hydra circled up at once, and Albert started shouting out commands
. “Leroy, go ahead and start climbing. Get a good vantage point. See if you can figure out what secret stuff Tussy was warning us about in Lake Hall yesterday. And get some Tiles, if you’re able!”
“Aye, aye, Captain!” Leroy shouted. He flipped his hat backward and waded away into the now waist-deep water.
Birdie looked at Albert. “I can sense something in the water.”
“Go check it out,” Albert said. “I’ll just start collecting Tiles.”
“Good luck!” she shouted. She turned and dove into the water, disappearing beneath the silver surface.
“Here goes nothing,” Albert said to no one.
The nearest pillar was about ten feet away. He was naturally a good swimmer, but with such cold water, Albert felt like he couldn’t breathe. Even with the thick neoprene outfit Tussy had given them, all of Albert’s limbs were starting to go numb, and he was sure he was going to turn into a giant Albertsicle any second now. The water had grown chest-deep. Just as Albert was about to dive under, something in the water touched his ankle. “Ouch!”
It felt like an electric pop! Almost like that time his younger half brother had shocked Albert after rubbing his fuzzy socks on the carpet for too long. He looked down, trying to see what was beneath the silver waves, but the water was too choppy.
The feeling left Albert’s foot a little numb. Still, Albert swam faster. He reached the closest pillar and started to climb. It was difficult, soaking wet and trembling, and a few times, Albert’s hand slipped.
He pictured a giant hair dryer blowing all the water away and warming him back up. Wasn’t there some kind of heat symbol he’d learned about in the Black Book? It was a Warming symbol. Like a flame.
Albert focused hard, and sure enough, the chill eased up a little. The pillars were made of a softer rubbery substance today, which made them slippery. He found all the right hand and footholds, and didn’t waste time on the climb. He knew the holds would disappear in seconds like they had last time.
It was almost too easy when Albert reached the top. He found the Tile sticking up from the slot—it reminded him of his mom making toast for breakfast—and grabbed it. He waved it in the air and there was a CLANG! signaling the point for Hydra.