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  No one objected.

  “Once the Projector is dead,” continued Fazendiin, “we simply need to collect the last remaining copy of Magicante. With this book safely in our hands, there will be nothing left that can stop us!”

  The eight listeners roared in agreement, at the same time eyeing each other in distrust. If what Freyne had told them was true, the meager trust they had kept in each other all these long years was now at an end.

  “Soon, my friends,” Fazendiin added, “we will control all magic, and will no longer hide but rule side by side, as equals.” Fazendiin stared directly into the eyes of Freyne Rothrock, as he spoke, as if daring him to counter his claim.

  Fazendiin’s face then dissolved into mist, leaving behind an empty mirror. The remaining Grosvenor followed, each mirror returning to its empty state.

  Freyne Rothrock’s face was the last to dissolve. As it did so, he echoed a warning:

  “And once we come out of hiding, the real war will begin…”

  11

  Colin Jacoby came to an abrupt stop.

  48

  He hoped he was out of sight from any wandering eyes of Svoda that might happen to be peering into the valley.

  He needed to figure out where he was. He dug into his backpack and took out Corny’s map, and even though it was clearly a map of the E Valley, Colin could not figure out where he was. He turned it this way and that, trying to find something that made sense.

  Caught off guard, Colin shouted as something yanked the map from his hands, and he watched it soar into the air. He grabbed for it, but it was just out of reach.

  “I haven’t even gotten started yet!” he yelled in frustration. This trip is not starting well…

  Just then, a face he did not expect to see again peered over the maps edge.

  “You! So you did follow us from Grimble,” Colin exclaimed, immediately feeling relieved.

  It was the bird-human, flapping its wings and holding the map in its beak.

  “Can I have it back, please?” he asked nicely.

  The bird chirped and lowered the map in front of Colin’s face, so that light could filter through it. Colin was enthralled as the map changed before his eyes. The path he was currently standing on glimmered, continuing before him. The bird-human flew backwards, encouraging him forward. With each step, the map changed. Colin stopped when a rock formation blocked his path. On the map the glimmering path ended and words appeared that stated, turn right.

  Colin obliged, along with the bird-human. The path glimmered again, showing Colin he was heading in the right direction, but also indicated a warning: Do not touch any plants found along this particular path. Doing so would cost you greatly!

  “Wow,” said Colin. “I think I get it now. I was reading it completely wrong.” The bird dropped the map back into Colin’s hands. He studied it for moment longer, realizing that his current path went on for some distance, and then put the map away.

  “Thanks,” Colin told the bird. “We are going to have to figure out some way to repay you.” The bird perched onto a nearby rock, nodding its beak and squawking in reply.

  Colin followed the path and was delighted when the bird-human followed him. Perhaps he would not be alone after all. When his current path suddenly veered off into two directions, he consulted the map again. He held it in front of him and the light filtered through, pointing out which way to go. He continued in this manner until late afternoon, when upon looking at the map again, a warning message appeared.

  “You must get to a safe spot before dark!”

  Colin’s heart sped up. The closest safe spot shimmered red on the map. It was not far, but he would need to hurry to make it in time. The bird-human chirped aggressively, encouraging Colin to move faster.

  Finding his way through the Goblin like formations would have been impossible without the aid of Corny’s map. He took one last look through the failing daylight. His safe spot was close. He lowered the map and with his actual eyes, saw the entrance to a cave. He took off running as fast as he could, with the sun light fading behind his heels.

  49

  Colin leapt into the cave alongside the low flying bird-human, as the final rays of light disappeared fully. After catching his breath, he could not help but peek into the darkening night.

  A mixture of bizarre and eerie noises resonated outside the cave. As it leaked inside, bouncing off smoothed walls, it gave the impression that something alive was in the cave, with them. Colin’s heart pounded as he listened to the grinding, groaning and crashing of rocks that rippled its way into the cave.

  A monstrous silhouette slithered by, leaving a foreboding shadow in its path. Colin was not sure his heart could beat any harder.

  Nevertheless, he had to look. He needed to know what was out there. He crept as close to the exit of the cave as possible, staying hidden in the shadows.

  Colin’s heart stopped and he forgot to breath. His jaw fell open, but he could not speak. His eyes fluttered and then shut completely, as his body fell limp to the ground.

  Meghan dragged behind the fast-paced Ivan. Not on purpose. She tried her hardest to catch up, but her pack weighed her down. For the first few hours, they did not speak. However, Meghan could feel Ivan’s brazen satisfaction whenever she stumbled.

  They took short breaks, only long enough for Ivan to consult his map. He insisted they eat while walking. As the first evening approached, Ivan directed Meghan toward a cave.

  “This is where we will camp for the night. As soon as we get settled I need you to try and see.”

  These were words Meghan had prepared for, but still dreaded hearing.

  “You know I’ll do my best, Ivan,” she replied.

  “Actually, I know you will,” he said, with almost an air of approval. “I’m going to study the map and make us some dinner. We’ll get some sleep and rise early tomorrow.” Meghan had no strength to argue and just nodded as she stumbled yet again. So badly this time, that Ivan had to grab her before she fell completely. Meghan huffed as Ivan let go.

  They arrived at the cave and Meghan gratefully sank to the ground escaping from her pack.

  The light faded, throwing the cave into near darkness. While Ivan prepared some cheese and meat pies for dinner, Meghan decided to peek outside the cave.

  She heard strange sounds, like shuffling, grinding and crashing rocks.

  Meghan’s jaw dropped to the ground. She was speechless. Her thoughts instantly strayed to Colin.

  “Sure am glad he’s not out here with me,” she muttered softly. “He would pass out for sure if he saw this!” Meghan jumped as Ivan scooted beside her. His eyes gaped, clearly caught off guard by the scene manifesting before them.

  Outside of their cave, the darker it became, the more the valley sprung to life. The rock formations that resembled Goblins during the day became real living Goblins after dark. The Goblin’s bodies appeared cumbersome, as they shifted and slithered across the ground, crashing into each other, as if they had no care that something was in the way.

  50

  Before long, the valley in front of their cave was barren. Where were they all going?

  Would they all be back before morning?

  Though fascinated, Ivan made a sign for them to move further inside the cave.

  “Was one of those things Eidolon?” asked Meghan in a whisper.

  “I don’t think so,” replied Ivan. “From what the Banon has told me, he is larger and bolder than any of his minions.”

  “Those things are his minions?”

  “Yes. Eidolon is the Goblin King.”

  “I had absolutely no idea that Goblins were real, never mind the fact that they would have a king,” said Meghan, adding, “So you knew those things were out there?”

  “Yes. The Banon explained it to me, but I have to admit, seeing them and knowing about them, are two completely different things. I have never seen a Goblin before,” he said with newfound reverence.

  “And Eidolon, the Goblin Ki
ng, is bigger,” Meghan confirmed.

  “From what I hear, yes. No worries, though, it is not a part of our task to make contact with any Goblins. Besides, once the daylight returns, they will go to sleep. They don’t like the daylight.”

  “Seems odd they would choose to live in a really sunny place, then.”

  “Everyone has to sleep sometime,” said Ivan, handing Meghan a meat pie.

  After eating, Meghan set in to her duties. Her nerves got the best of her right away. She saw Ivan about to say something and shushed him. He frowned but backed off. After a few more tries, she successfully created a small, controlled fire in the palm of her hand.

  “Now for the hard part,” she whispered. She tried to focus on what she wanted to see…

  The path ahead of them and their destination, but she saw nothing but flames.

  “Anything?” questioned Ivan.

  “No. Nothing,” she answered. Nothing is better than visions I wasn’t trying to have, she added silently. “I’ll try again in the morning, before we head out,” she told him. Ivan agreed and then advised Meghan to get some rest. He would do so as well, once he had looked over the map, again.

  As exhausted as Meghan was, she found it hard to relax. There were actual, real, living Goblins wobbling around outside their cave. Moreover, leaning against a hard rock wall, with just a small blanket for cover, and a sweater for a pillow, did not condone a good nights rest. Sometime during the night, she did finally fall asleep, while listening to Ivan pace the cave floor.

  He awoke her early the next morning. It was still dark in the cave. Meghan wondered if Ivan had slept at all.

  “Get packed up. I want to get out of this cave and moving as soon as it’s safe to do so. It seems as though the Goblins are moving back into their day positions.” Meghan packed up, ready in just minutes. She wolfed down another meat pie and then set to seeing. She was about to give up, again thrilled that she had not seen any nightmarish 51

  visions, when she did see something: A figure, following a red rock path, and hiding in caves, watching the valley come to life, just as they had the previous night.

  “Oh no,” she whispered.

  Ivan knelt down beside her.

  “What?”

  “There’s someone else wandering through the valley, and they’re heading in the same direction we are,” she gulped. “We’re not alone!”

  She gazed into Ivan’s concerned eyes. He slumped down exhaling deeply. Meghan knew he was growing impatient, waiting to depart.

  “It’s not by chance some part of your Initiation is it? Competition perhaps?”

  “No. I’m confident its not. Banon Blackwell took me aside and… well, let’s just say the only people that know about this little jaunt of ours is us, and her.” The Goblin’s rock bodies groaned against the ground as they shifted into a comfortable position to sleep away the day.

  “We must get there first!” insisted Ivan.

  “Maybe this person I saw isn’t headed where we are, Ivan.”

  “We cannot take that chance. We will have to travel faster today!” Meghan frowned. Her feet were still sore from the previous day’s hike. However, she did not want to disappoint Juliska. She took a deep breath, digging deep, trying to find her determination.

  Minutes later light filtered into the cave. Ivan stepped out first, carefully, to check that the Goblins were rock formations once again.

  He took out his map and let the light filter through. Their pathway had changed. The Goblin formations were not the same as the previous day. It appeared they did not stay in the same place night after night.

  He motioned for Meghan to follow and the journey began again.

  The bird sat on Colin’s shoulder and together they gazed into the valley, watching the Goblins shift their way into the darkening distance. After Colin had come to, he could not help but watch, mesmerized by the creatures’ movements. Awhile later, Colin decided he had better go deeper into the cave to rest and eat. Colin talked aimlessly as he took out a meat pie, sliced off a piece for the bird, and ate the rest himself.

  “I know you can understand me, so I’ll just talk. I guess if you ever want me to know who you are, you’ll tell me, or show me. Thanks by the way, for coming with me. I hate to admit it, but I did not like the idea of doing this on my own. I just know I have to save Catrina.” He paused to finish his meat pie, and then dreamily continued.

  “She’s beautiful you know. Wait until you see her, you’ll agree.” Colin then looked at the bird. “I wish I knew what your name was.”

  The bird shrugged as if to say, sorry, but not today.

  52

  “Well, maybe I’ll give you a name, then,” decided Colin.

  Thinking of a name to call the bird took Colin’s mind off the frightening challenge that lay ahead, as well as the Goblins slithering raucously across the valley floor outside. He went through a list of names, none of which sounded right.

  “You know, I only know you as the bird or the bird-human, and no other name fits. So I’m just going call you Bird. But I won’t think of it like you’re a bird, more like the jazz musician, who was nicknamed Bird.”

  Colin wished that he had his I-Pod and could actually listen to music, what a pleasant distraction that would be.

  The bird nodded its acceptance and then squawked gently, as if laughing. It shook its feathers and stalked through the cave, acting silly. Bird had Colin laughing in no time. At one point, he was afraid he had laughed so hard that he had gained the unwanted attention of their outside captors.

  Before turning in for the night, Colin took out the map. As he did so, Magicante’s pages flipped open, stopping on a green and yellow shimmering leaf.

  “I think it would be wise,” the book spoke then, “for you to learn something new.”

  “New magic?” Colin could barely contain his eagerness.

  “Yes, I believe you will find this lesson prudent to the current situation.”

  “How so?” he asked the Magicante, curious.

  “I sense danger in this place. One can never be too careful,” the Magicante’s voice hissed.

  “Danger,” stuttered Colin. “More than what we’ve seen already?”

  “Ah. Not to worry, kid,” the book then spoke. “Nothing you cannot handle without proper training.”

  “Okay,” said Colin. “What do I do?”

  “Any real magician,” started the book, “knows the value of using a spell without having to speak it.” Magicante then paused, as if waiting for something.

  “And?” questioned Colin.

  “Well, why is it important?” asked the voice of Magicante.

  “Oh. Okay. Um, my guess would be secrecy. No one would know what kind of spell you’re using against them.”

  “Naturally,” agreed Magicante. “But here is what you do not know: Spells thought, and not spoken, use less energy to perform. Something many a fool that calls himself a magician does not know.”

  “Oh. Okay,” said Colin, again. “Kind of makes sense when you think about it.” Magicante then had Colin practice various spells, thinking them rather than speaking them. Colin was sure to use Abdo in order to hide the fact that he was doing magic. He took a stack of rocks and set in to hurling them deeper into the cave.

  “I did not think you’d have a problem with this bit of magic,” said the cranky voice of the book, after seeing Colin succeed easily. “But I decided it was time for you to know it! One of those little secrets apparently lost in magical teaching today.”

  “Any other helpful hints?” asked Colin.

  53

  “That is all for tonight.” The book then slammed itself shut and set into a soft snore.

  Colin decided it was time to do the same. He wanted to get an early start. Bird nestled into a crevice and curled its beak underneath its feathers. Colin dozed off and then woke with a start. He glanced around, but there was nothing there, except for Bird, sleeping soundly.

  Colin shook it off, glad of
Jae’s magic tunic. The air was chilly, but he was not cold at all.

  Before long, he was sleeping again.

  A few hours later, in the middle of the night, Bird then awoke with a start. Something was approaching the cave. He left the sleeping Colin and flew outside to have a look. The valley was empty as far as Bird could see, with the exception of an approaching Catawitch.

  Bird transformed into human form. There were no Goblins nearby and Colin was sleeping soundly inside.

  “Nona,” a male voice spoke. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you with Meghan?”

  “Well hello to you, too. Bird is it now?” She laughed a girlish cat laugh.

  “Very funny. Like I could tell him my name. Now back to my question.”

  “Meghan asked me to stay behind and watch Colin. She became afraid to leave him. Little did I know he had his own little journey planned,” she answered in her cat voice.

  “I’ve got Colin’s back. You should catch up with Meghan.”

  “I do wish greatly to be at her side, but how would I explain. No. I will stay and do as she asked.”

  Bird nodded.

  “Do you want to come into the cave then?”

  “There’s a few hours left until morning. I am going to hunt for some food and then snoop around. I’ll be following you tomorrow.”

  “Be safe then, Nona.”

  Bird transformed back and took flight, landing next to the still soundly sleeping Colin.

  12

  Light filtered its way into the cave. Colin opened his eyes, not believing he had slept so well. He jumped up and packed his shoulder bag.

  “Better get moving,” said Colin.

  Bird followed overhead as Colin stepped out into the daylight, extracting the map. His path had changed directions. He realized that the rock formations he was looking at were not the same as the previous night.

  54

  “What a map!” he said admiringly. “When this is all over, I need to do something really nice for Corny. But what do you get someone who is completely crazy?” he muttered to Bird, as their trek began again.