The Search for Truth (17 page)

Discouraged, he walked back outside, then around to where he had started. That's when he got a shock.

Standing where he had originally started, he saw himself.

For a moment he thought it was a shadow demon that looked exactly like him. But he quickly realized that he was looking at himself in the future. That explained why this was the spot he started from each time he opened the shades. It was odd looking into his own face. His eyes looked glazed, staring at the castle falling down.

Then he saw what was in his hand. And why he had been feeling that mad rush of power.

He was holding a scepter.

 

Erec sat with Bethany in the castle gardens. “I'll be too late,” he said. “I could see that I'll manage to get the scepter to stop Balor, but I must not get it in time.”

“I wonder how you'll get the scepter,” Bethany said. “I guess the more you learn now, then the next time things might be
different. Maybe you will get there in time. The future is changeable, remember?”

“I know. I think that the reason I even have the scepter at all then is because of what I've found out so far. I bet it's because I'll figure out what to do. I just need to do it faster, I guess.”

He was worried that the castle was still crashing down in his vision, but glad to see things were heading in the right direction. He'd have the scepter in his hands! “Maybe I could just fix the castle again after it gets crushed. Put everything back how it was.” That was it! He relaxed. Things would be fine after all.

Then another feeling overtook him. Hunger for the scepter. And he'd have it! Even the little hints when he looked into the future of how it would feel in his hands, the power it would bring him, had been enough to make him crave it more. He wanted it. Needed it now. What amazing things he could do with it! No more Balor, Baskania, or anyone who had gotten in his way…

A cold wave of revulsion hit him. Look how it was affecting him already. He had to face reality. Holding the scepter again was the worst thing that could happen. He knew what the thing did to him. He would never let it go after that. This was exactly what he had been afraid of, why he had not wanted to compete to become king. And now it was going to happen soon! He would
have
to find another way to stop Balor. No question.

A swirl of green and orange appeared in the dirt before them. As it grew larger, two stemlike eyes popped out and looked at him. It was a snail, and it bore his name.

Erec picked it up and pulled a letter out.

 

Erec,

I can never even begin to express how sorry I am. I wish I had never written you before. This is all my fault. I said that I hoped you'd write back.
If you are still alive (I hope), then please find it in your heart to forgive me.

I just didn't know. I thought if you wrote to me, but you did not say where you were, then nobody would find out. But right after I read your letter from Nemea, a group of sorcerers appeared and snatched it from me. And guess who was there? Rosco Kroc. My worst enemy. I can't believe he'd show his face after all he's done to me. Rosco grabbed the letter. He just pointed at me and tore it from my hands using magic. Then one of them put it through a tracer and they knew you were in Nemea, right in front of some dragon cave.

So it's my fault that Balor Stain even found out about that quest and won it. And when I heard you “dropped out” I figured I knew what happened. Every day I hope and pray you are at least alive. If you are captured somewhere, some day I will find you and set you free. If I ever learn that they killed you because of my stupidity than I will find whoever did it and get revenge for you.

I guess I don't need to stay in hiding anymore, to keep away from you. You won't be running into me by accident, wherever you are. But I may take cover a little longer until I figure out how to find and capture Rosco.

I guess I can't help you now, if you are alive. And please don't write back, for your safety. But I'll always be on your side.

Your friend,

Oscar

 

Erec read the letter twice. Poor Oscar. “I wish we could let him know we're okay. And that he still has to keep away from us.”

A twinkle lit up in Bethany's eyes. “I think there's a way….”

O
N THEIR WAY
back into the castle, a voice rang out, “Hey, Bethany! Erec! You're back!” Jack Hare ran up to them with a grin, waving. “When did you guys get here? I was just coming to check in and see if anyone's heard from you.”

Bethany and Erec looked at each other in a panic. “Jack…” Bethany's voice shook. “You found us.”

Baskania was nowhere in sight…yet. Erec wondered if he would appear in a minute.

“Listen, Jack.” Erec grabbed Jack's shirt. “This is extremely important. Can I trust you?”

“Of course.” Jack nodded. “Shoot.” He dusted Erec's hands off.

“You
cannot
tell Oscar you've seen us here. Do not mention us to him at all. Is this clear?”

Jack sighed. “Not that again. Listen, I'm telling you, I know Oscar. He's a good kid.”

Bethany swung around. “Jack. There are things you don't know. We are trying to tell you. Oscar understands what's going on. He doesn't want to know where we are. His mind is getting read by Rosco. It's not Oscar's fault. They're using him to hunt us down.”

They showed Jack the letter Oscar had written, and he let out a low whistle. “I can't believe Rosco is doing that to him,” he said. “This is so unfair. Oscar's dad just died, and now he has to deal with this?”

“Guess how Oscar's dad died?” Bethany said. “Rosco killed him.”

Jack's eyes widened. “No way.”

Erec nodded. “Oscar says he's going to get revenge on Rosco. I'm sure he couldn't do it, even if he tried. He's not nearly powerful enough, plus Rosco can read his mind. But that's all he can think about.”

“Do you understand now?” Bethany asked him. “Can we be sure you won't breathe a word to Oscar that we're here? Because if you ever do, Baskania will be here in one minute.”

“No way.” Jack looked bewildered. “I'll never tell him. Oscar's been gone anyway, since right after you guys disappeared. I've been worried about him, and you, too.”

“If you want to come with us,” Bethany said, “we're going to send Oscar a message.”

“Wait.” Jack put a hand up. “I thought he can't know where you two are.”

“He can't.” Bethany smiled.

 

Dear Oscar,

Bethany and I just had to write you back and let you know we are
alive and well. Baskania has not captured us. We realize now that we shouldn't have let on that we had to sleep in the dragon's cave for the quest. Luckily, by the time Balor got there we were gone. This time we'll be much more careful.

The quest we are doing now is very strange. We have to spend time in the coldest place on the planet. And then, right after, we have to do something really dangerous in the hottest place on the planet. (Or should I say, “in” the planet.) It's exciting but scary, and it might keep us away for a while.

Of course, I won't tell you where we are or where we are heading, so don't worry if anyone sees this letter. I just wanted you to know that we are fine, we are still your friends, and that you better still stay in hiding, and try to keep away from us, until this problem with Rosco is solved.

Erec

 

Jack, Bethany, and Erec laughed and high-fived on the way to the Port-O-Door. In moments, the annoyed-looking snail was tossed into the arctic snow of the South Pole.

This was perfect. Nothing like sending Baskania and his followers on a search to the freezing tundra and then to some insanely hot places. Erec flipped his pen in the air and caught it, picturing Baskania and the Stains freezing, teeth chattering in Antarctica, and then boiling hot. He started thinking about all the worst places in the world they could go. Soon he was whistling while he walked.

 

Jack joined them for dinner in the west wing dining hall that night. When King Piter showed up holding his scepter, Erec had a harder time taking his eyes off it. Seeing the scepter and feeling its power when he looked into the future with his dragon eyes was giving him even more of a taste for it now. For a while he had thought its grasp on him was finally weakening. But not anymore.
Could knowing his future, alone, change his future? he wondered.

The king seemed troubled and kept looking at Erec with a puzzled expression.

“Is everything okay?” Bethany asked him. “Are you worried about the Substance?”

He stroked his beard. “Maybe I've been too worried about the Substance. Things are happening right here, and I need to be more aware of them.”

Erec nodded. “Like the parades in Alypium for the Stain brothers, and the lies going around that they're winning all the quests.”

The king nodded. “My plants in Alypium told me about that. There's not much we can do about it, though. They can pretend whatever they want. But the scepters shouldn't go to them if they fake doing the quests.”

Erec hoped the king was right. He had been able to use the scepters, though, before he finished any quests. He looked at the scepter again, hungrily. The king slid it to the other side of his chair, out of Erec's view.

“I'm concerned about the castle,” he said to Erec. “Balthazar Ugry, my AdviSeer, spoke to me again. He seems to think we'd all be much safer if you were locked up somewhere out of harm's way.”

“What?” Erec didn't understand. “How would that make everyone safer?”

Then he remembered that Ugry had told the king that “it was of the utmost importance that we contain him.” So Ugry had been talking about
him
? That was ridiculous. “I'm not going to hurt anyone. I'm working to try to stop Balor Stain from blowing up the castle.”

“Balor Stain? That's who is behind this?” The king was relieved. “Look, Balthazar has me a little concerned. Can you tell me what you've been seeing in the future?”

“Yes. I've been walking around the castle from different angles,
trying to figure out what happened. And I saw Balor Stain laughing and holding his bronze whistle. He's the one that blew up the Under Mine during the contests last summer.” Erec decided not to mention seeing himself holding a scepter. But he was going to make sure that changed, anyway. He knew he shouldn't have one.

King Piter tapped his chin. “I think I know what Balor's using that bronze whistle for. They can be made to call bronze ghosts.”

Erec dropped his fork. “There were bronze ghosts there. Tons of them, tearing the castle apart. Balor must have called them. He always has that whistle around his neck. It would explain the bronze ghosts that were there when he exploded the Under Mine, too.”

The king was smiling now, relaxed. “Balor Stain, huh? And I thought…” He shook his head. “Well, I suppose I can leave it to you to prevent, if the Hermit thinks that's a good idea. I'll be around to help if there's a problem.”

He was amazed that the king seemed happier the more they talked about it. Erec certainly felt more upset. “So, you're not going to lock me up somewhere, then?” he asked.

“No. I think that would be an overreaction, especially based on what you're seeing and the Hermit's confidence in you. I'll reassure Balthazar that it will be okay. Just let me know if you find out anything else.” King Piter waved his hand airily. “You have quests to do, young man. I'm going to figure out a way to get you to Al's Well to draw your next one.”

As Erec listened to the king, he remained acutely aware of the scepter at his side. He had the feeling that the king was hiding something from him again. Why had he been about to imprison him “somewhere safe” a minute ago, and now he was fine letting him do another quest?

Erec felt angrier the more he thought about it. He was risking his life doing quests that he didn't want to do just to protect Alypium
from Baskania, and the king wouldn't even be straight with him.

There were too many things he had wanted to know for too long, and he was sure the king had all the answers. It must be stubbornness that he wouldn't tell things to Erec. Or maybe he just thought Erec was a baby. Neither answer was good enough. The more he thought about it, the worse he felt. For a moment he considered grabbing the scepter and making the king talk, but then he realized that was not a wise thing to do.

But there was nothing wrong with bringing it up. He cleared his throat. “King Piter? I think it's time that you answered a few questions for me.”

The king looked concerned. “Yes, Erec?”

“I want to know, for starters, who my father is. Aoquesth told me my father was a good man, but nobody will tell me more. I want to meet him. I think he's still alive.” His voice took on a more urgent tone. “And I want to know if he has anything to do with why I'm supposed to be the next king.”

King Piter's brow furrowed. “Erec, I know you must be curious. But you need to take my word for it that you cannot know this yet.”

Erec took a sharp breath. “Why do I have to take your word for it? I am ready to know now, okay? No matter who my father is. Even if it's someone awful, like Baskania.” He thought about the Stain triplets. At least they knew.

“No, Erec, you are not ready yet.” The king gazed into the distance, lost in his thoughts. “Not yet.”

“But I
am
ready. I've managed three quests now, and each has gotten harder. I risked my life…” He held his breath, trying to slow down. “So something as simple as this is not a big deal. I assure you.”

“It is a big deal, Erec.” The king closed his eyes. “You must trust me.”

“Trust you?” Erec heard his voice rising. “What about you trusting me? You were about to lock me up a minute ago.”

“Really, Erec, I'm sorry.” King Piter's lips were drawn into a tight line.

Erec stood. “Well, I'm going to search for the truth, and I'll find out. With or without you. I don't need you to tell me. There are other ways.”

“Then I
will
have to lock you up!” the king roared, slamming his hand on the table. Everyone jumped.

King Piter stood and glared down at Erec. “You're not giving me a choice. I told you that you weren't ready yet. Erec,
I'm
not ready for you to know yet either. It would be dangerous now, terrible, if you knew. More has to be done first.”

Bethany looked like she was about to cry. She ran around the table and stood between the king and Erec, not sure what else to do.

Seeing how shocked everyone was, the king began to calm down. He patted Bethany's head. “Promise me that you won't try to find out, Erec. You don't even
want
to know. Please. I beg you.”

Erec knew he had pushed the issue too far. “Okay, sorry.”

Bethany and the king sat down, and everyone stared at their plates awkwardly.

 

“What
was
that?” Erec paced. “It's ridiculous that he can't tell me such a small thing.”

“You might as well forget about it,” Bethany said. “You promised him you'd forget about it. He said that you wouldn't even want to know.”

“Of course I want to know. And I didn't promise anything. I just agreed so he wouldn't lock me up.” Erec kicked a pillow, then sat down in the living room in Bethany's mansion.

Jack was entertaining himself by producing cake slices on the
Serving Tray. “Erec didn't have much choice, did he? He kind of had to promise that to the king so he didn't get thrown in jail.”

After a knock on the door, Jam Crinklecut stuck his head in. “May I come in, modom?” He carried a tray of fresh brownies which the kids helped themselves to, even though they had just finished eating cake. “I'm sending word to young sir from the king that he has arranged for you to meet with Janus and go to Al's Well to collect your fourth quest.”

“He did?” Erec handed a brownie to Jam, who took it with a bow.

“He did, young sir. He inquired and found that the Fates are indeed ready for you. You are to show up tomorrow at noon at the Labor Society, and Janus will let you through.”

“Thanks, Jam.” Erec wasn't sure he was ready for another quest after that last one. “Maybe I should just hang out here and figure out how to stop Balor from blowing up the castle, instead.”

Bethany glared at him. “Don't even think about it.”

 

Janus peeked out when Erec tapped on the door. His bony knees were knocking together under his shaggy tunic. He looked pale, dark bags layered under his eyes. “C-come in.” He stepped back to let Erec, Jack, and Bethany in the room and quickly locked the door behind them.

All of them looked around the shop furtively, waiting for Baskania to pop into view. After a few minutes it seemed that they might be safe.

Janus, his long matted gray hair and beard covered with dust, still looked nervous. “I'm not happy with this arrangement,” he said. “Someone's going to find out. And it'll be my job, or worse.”

“Did anything bad happen to you last time with Baskania?”

“No.” As he shook his head, dust flew off like water from a sprinkler. “I told him that John Arrete and Gog Magnon touched something they shouldn't have, and it froze them. He was suspicious that I made it happen, but Arrete remembered I told them to leave it alone. Baskania said I need to report to him if I see you again. If he finds out that I'm sneaking you in…” He wrung his hands together.

“We won't tell, Janus,” Bethany said. “If anyone realizes that Erec went to Al's Well again, we'll say we snuck him in ourselves, without your help.”

That made Janus relax a bit. He pulled out the quill pen and notepad. “I suppose I don't have to say it, but only those may come in here, blah, blah, blah.” He pushed the paper forward, his voice a harsh whisper. “Now, sign it and get going. Take the elevator straight down and out the back. Try to stay hidden.”