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Authors: Peter Howe

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E
ddie's coronation produced much excitement and celebration in the Kingdom. There were parties in the streets, with music and dancing, and everything in Nebula seemed to glow brighter. So much happened in such a short time that it all became a jumble of memories in Walker's head. He remembered walking up the avenue next to Eddie, with Frankie on his other side, then mounting a tall platform with his friends and placing a crown on Eddie's head. He remembered watching spectacular fireworks burst in the ever-dark sky and the parties and dances that went on for several cycles. One night not long after the coronation, he was watching a party in the Palace courtyard when he suddenly realized that Eddie was standing by his side.

“Let's get away from here for a while,” the young king whispered in his ear.

As quietly as possible they left the courtyard and went up into the Royal Apartments. The rooms leading to the king's bedroom were empty now; all of the Lightkeepers were celebrating below.

“I need to stand in front of the Source,” said Eddie. “We've never been together. Why don't we do it now?”

Walker agreed, and the two friends made their way down the winding passages that led to the Sanctuary. This time it was Eddie who put the mark on his cheek next to the eye that would release the final panel to allow them access. As it slid open they were bathed in the intense light. Eddie took Walker's hand and together they ascended the steps toward the brilliant globe. Like before, Walker lost all sense of time. He had no idea how long they remained there, or why they both decided at the same moment it was time to leave. It was as if the Source itself determined how long they should stay. When the panel in the king's bedroom closed behind them they stood looking at each other.

“You have to go back to the Outerworld, don't you?” Eddie said.

“Yes,” Walker replied. “It's where I belong, in the same way that this is where you belong.”

“You're right,” said Eddie. “It's destiny, I guess. There's some things you just can't avoid, and even if you could, you wouldn't be happy.” He paused for a moment. “I'll miss you.”

“Me too,” Walker agreed. “But you can still come and get me.”

“I will,” Eddie assured him. “Believe me, I will, especially when things get a bit tricky, as they're bound to.”

Walker smiled. “Maybe you could get me when they're going along fine as well.”

“Now what would be the point of that?” Eddie said with his wicked grin across his face.

They looked at each other silently, as if they both realized that this moment was a turning point in their friendship, and that nothing would be the same after it.

“I want to be a really good king,” Eddie said.

“And you will be,” Walker assured him.

“But I have to do it by myself,” Eddie continued.

“I know that, too,” Walker agreed.

“Yes, well, that's the problem with you,” Eddie retorted, smiling at his friend. “You know too much. It's all those books you read.”

“Do you know that I haven't read a book for Eons?” said Walker. “You're a bad influence on me.”

“Not just me,” protested Eddie. “Frankie as well.”

“You're probably right,” Walker agreed. “There's just one thing I still don't understand.”

“And what's that?”

“Why didn't King Leukos use the Ancient Cry of Peril when you were out there with him in Diabolonia?” Walker asked.

“It only works when the Chosen One has no alternative but to cry for help. As long as there's another way it's the Chosen One's duty to fight on,” Eddie explained. “Besides, Leukos was a trained soldier. It was second nature for him to fight.”

The two boys began to make their way back to the king's bedroom that was Eddie's now. Eddie sat on the bed, took off his crown, and furiously scratched his head.

“You know, that's a fine piece of work, but it itches like crazy.”

“Yeah,” said Walker, “I kind of miss the fedora.”

“Me too,” replied Eddie, “only don't tell Lumina.”

“You're a bit scared of her, aren't you?” Walker said.

“Meâscared of Lumina? Never! Well, maybe a little bit,” Eddie confessed. “She reminds me of the governess I had many Eons ago.”

“Well,” said Walker, “I suppose I'd better find Frankie and get back to the Outerworld.”

“That's right, I keep forgetting King Leukos told you how to return,” said Eddie. “You can pop in anytime you like.”

“Providing my dad hasn't filled in the hole in the yard,” Walker pointed out.

“Actually, you don't need the hole,” Eddie assured him. “It's just a way of focusing your energy. Besides, you've got the unicorn now.”

“What do you mean?” asked Walker.

“She can take you back and forth easy as anything,” Eddie told him. “All you have to do is sit on her and think of where you're going.”

“A unicorn can take you to the Outerworld?” asked Walker in amazement.

“A Silverstreak can,” Eddie replied. “They can go everywhere.”

Just then the drapes that separated the bedroom from the antechamber opened and Jevon peered in.

“The Lightkeepers are assembled, Your Majesty,” he said.

“I'll be right there, Lord Jevon,” said Eddie.

“Very well, Your Majesty,” said Jevon, and backed away, allowing the curtains to fall back into place.

“Did you see my decree?” Eddie asked Walker.

“The one about Jevon becoming Master of the Royal Household?”

“Yes,” said Eddie, “and also Lord Protector of the Realm. I've also decided I'm going to forgive Astrodor. After all, he was only following orders, and it's good to have a few people who do. You and I don't seem to be too good at it. I'm going to make him a Knight Apprentice. If he does well, he'll become a Lightkeeper, and we know he'll do well. He so wants to be one.”

“You're rightâhe does,” Walker agreed. “Okay, you're busy with all those meetings with the Lightkeepers and stuff. We'd better be going.”

“Oh, spare me the meetings,” Eddie growled. “If I'd have known being king involved so many of them I'd have thought twice about taking the job in the first place.”

“No, you wouldn't,” said Walker. “You love it.”

“Well, I suppose you're right,” Eddie admitted, “but I also need some action.”

“I know. âAction, my friend, is the secret of success in this life, not book learning.'” Walker quoted him. “That was one of the things you told me when we first met.”

“And it's still true,” Eddie assured him.

“Maybe,” said Walker. “But the action I'm going to take now is to find Frankie and Lightning and get back home.”

“Wait,” said Eddie. “We can't just let you disappear. We've got to give you a proper send-off. I'm going to postpone this stupid meeting. I am the king, after all.”

“Yes.” Walker smiled. “You really are.”

Shortly after Eddie made this decision, a large crowd gathered along the wide avenue leading to the gates. Jevon, Lumina, Astrodor, and all the Lightkeepers were there along with many hundreds of citizens. Some of the refugees they had rescued were also in the gathering. The energy they got from the Source had so restored them to health that it was difficult to believe they were the same sad individuals who had shuffled into the Kingdom.

Frankie was still dancing when Walker and Eddie found her, and now she and Lightning stood ready to make the return journey to the Outerworld. Walker was just about to give Eddie a hug and jump on his unicorn when a herald blew a loud series of notes on an instrument that looked like a metal cow horn.

“Now hear this!” the herald shouted in her loudest voice. “It is hereby decreed by His Majesty King Edward the Wise that the Chosen One named Walker is made Knight Permanent of the Court of Nebula and Royal Brother to the King. He will be accorded all the rights and entitlements of a Prince of the Realm. Further to this, the Outerworlder Frances Livonia Hayes is named Royal Friend to the King and Privileged Citizen of the Kingdom of Nebula.”

Cheering and applause broke out at this announcement.

“He didn't make me a princess?” whispered Frankie to Walker.

“He didn't have to,” Walker whispered back. “You already were one.”

Frankie stuck out her tongue at him.

When the applause died down Eddie went up to Walker and put his arms on his shoulders.

“You're a good friend,” he said, “and wiser than I am for all the many hundreds of your years I've been around. Come back and see us often, and remember that you are a Chosen One, not only here, but in the Outerworld as well.”

“I will,” Walker promised, and Eddie gave him an enormous bear hug that left him gasping for air. It started a flurry of hugging, and even Lumina joined in. Frankie threw her arms around Eddie's neck.

“Well, old king thing,” she said, “don't forget to have fun while you're doing all this ruling stuff, because you do take yourself a bit too seriously at times.”

“I suppose,” Eddie said, “that there's no chance of you being deferential in my royal presence.”

“None whatsoever,” she agreed.

And so they mounted Lightning.

“How on earth am I going to explain to my parents that I'm the proud owner of a unicorn?” Walker asked Eddie.

“Don't worry,” Eddie told him. “When you get back to the Outerworld she'll turn into a horse. Just tell them you're looking after it for a friend or something. Now get out of here.”

Eddie gently slapped Lightning on her rear and she began to gallop toward the gates. Just when it appeared she would crash into them, Lightning unfolded her wings and began to soar up into the air. She circled around the Kingdom so that Walker and Frankie could see the people looking up and waving. Then she spiraled higher and higher and Nebula got smaller and smaller until it looked like a sparkling jewel on a black velvet cushion.

“Okay, Chosen One,” Frankie said as she clung tightly to his waist, “it's time to start concentrating on where we want to land, and try not to hit the barn this time.”

And with that, they disappeared into the darkness that would bring them home.

About the Author

PETER HOWE
was born in London, lived in New York for more than thirty years, and currently resides in Connecticut with his wife and two dogs. He is a former
New York Times Magazine
and
Life
magazine picture editor and the author of two books on photography,
SHOOTING UNDER FIRE
and
PAPARAZZI
. He is also the author of the Waggit's Tale series, about an abandoned dog and his pack who live in Central Park. You can learn more about
WARRIORS OF THE BLACK SHROUD
at www.warriorsoftheblackshroud.com. You can also visit Peter, Waggit, and the dog pack at www.waggitstale.com.

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www.AuthorTracker.com
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Also by Peter Howe

Waggit's Tale

Waggit Again

Waggit Forever

Credits

Jacket design by Erin Fitzsimmons

Warriors of the Black Shroud

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Howe, Peter.

Warriors of the black shroud / by Peter Howe. â 1st ed.

Â Â Â Â p. cm.

Summary: A shy, bookish boy is pulled into an underground land called Nebula and asked to lead a kingdom in its fight against darkness.

ISBN 978-0-06-172987-4

[1. Fantasy.] I. Title.

PZ7.H8377War 2012

[Fic]âdc23

2011026147

CIP