The Shrine of Avooblis Read online

  Dagdron, reaching the anger climax of months of unanswered questions, wielded his dagger and stabbed it into the table. “Tell us what you mean!”

  “Only a few of the enchanters in the entire land even knew about the arch crystals. That’s why, when old Gwidy put out the reward last year for the recovery of the Arch of Avooblis, no one could find any information on it. The Arches of Avooblis have always been a carefully guarded secret. It was just by sheer chance that the arches ended up Coastdale. Your father never asked to be involved, he was just caught in the unsuspecting crossfire.”

  “Oh my goodness,” Earl said, casting a compassionate glance at Dagdron.

  Dagdron kept his face blank and asked, “What do you mean that the arch crystals ended up in Coastdale by chance? Weren’t they created here?”

  “No,” Wendahl answered. “Why would you think that?”

  Dagdron took out the piece of parchment that said the Arches of Avooblis had been created in Coastdale. He explained how Chesna had given it to them as he handed it to the enchanter. Wendahl shook his head as he read it.

  “No,” he said. “The arches weren’t created in Coastdale. A wizened wizard discovered how to create them, and he definitely wasn’t in Coastdale when he did it.”

  Earl’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Why would someone say they had been created in Coastdale then?”

  “Now that’s a question I don’t know the answer to. But it would be very nice to know.”

  “Do you know where the third crystal is?” Dagdron asked. Now that they had a chance, he was going to get all the answers he wanted.

  “No. And as far as I know, no one else does.”

  “Then how did my dad end up with one of the arches?”

  “I believe this will answer that question,” Wendahl said, lifting up the blue sphere he had taken from the cuckoo clock.

  As the old enchanter extended his arms, cupping the orb in his hands, all of the cuckoo clocks on the wall suddenly chimed, sending their little birds out in alarm. Wendahl yanked his hands back, glancing around the room in concern.

  “Did you mention Rance, Kas, and Wally earlier?” Wendahl asked, standing from the table.

  “Yes,” Earl said. “You said you weren’t hiding from them.”

  “Well, I’m not. But that doesn’t mean you two shouldn’t be. And it doesn’t bode well for Coastdale, either. We’d best run get your things.”

  Earl and Dagdron raced out the door after Wendahl. Dagdron used the run back to the guesthouse to let Earl know how much easier it would have been if he didn’t have so much equipment to go back for.

  Back in Earl’s bedroom, Dagdron helped him throw everything in his backpack. When they returned to the kitchen, Wendahl was standing at the table, rubbing his hands together and chanting. Dagdron and Earl, for the slightest moment, thought the enchanter was about to attack them, but then he motioned them urgently forward.

  “Quickly. Stand there,” Wendahl said, pointing to the side of the table. Earl and Dagdron looked at the frazzled hair of the wild-looking old man, but when he beckoned them more fervently, the warrior and the rogue moved to the indicated position.

  Wendahl chanted louder as he waved his hands toward the rogue and the warrior. A light emanated from the enchanter’s hands, bathing Dagdron and Earl in magenta. After a couple of minutes, the light went out and Wendahl hunched over, placing his hands on the table as he gasped for breath.

  “Run down the beach toward my house,” he said, taking in a deep breath. “I’ll make sure you have no uninvited followers. Stay along the coast until you’re outside of Coastdale, and then cut back to the main road and make your way to Lordavia. You’ll be safe there.”

  Dagdron, still wanting to know more about the Arches of Avooblis, hesitated, but Earl grabbed his arm and pulled him to the door. The rogue let himself be led outside, and he and Earl ran along the beach toward Wendahl’s house.

  “What did he do to us?” Dagdron asked as they ran.

  “Couldn’t you feel it?” Earl said. “He put a cloak of protection around us.”

  “I don’t want magic around me.”

  “We’ll be protected!” Earl exclaimed even though he was breathing hard from the run. “Rance won’t be able to track us, and we can reach Lordavia in safety.”

  When they passed where Wendahl’s house should have been, they could no longer see it. Dagdron glanced over his shoulder, wondering if he would see a spell fight going on, but he only saw a blue light zooming toward them.

  “Run faster,” Dagdron said. “A spell’s coming after us.”

  Earl looked back as well and then picked up his speed. After a minute of sprinting, his foot hit a dip in the sand and he sprawled to the ground. Dagdron went to help him up, but noticed that the blue ball was catching up too quickly. He prepared to dodge but the blue orb, once in arms’ reach, stopped suddenly. Dagdron, realizing that it was the blue sphere Wendahl had taken out of the cuckoo clock, grabbed it in his hand, and he and Earl took off running along the beach again.

  Chapter 5: The Solloughbys

  Dagdron and Earl’s journey to Central Crossing and then on to Lordavia was uneventful. Earl rehashed all their questions en route, wondering where the third arch crystal could be, what they might really do, and why Rance, Kas, and Wally were after them. Dagdron added to the conversation occasionally, mostly when he wanted a respite from Earl’s voice. He much preferred to ponder things internally, though he was also inclined to forget all about he Arches of Avooblis now that he knew his dad’s involvement was purely by chance.

  Earl danced a little jig when they saw the first orchards of Lordavia. The vegetation grew denser and more tropical the closer they got to the city. The trees of cherries, oranges, mangoes, bananas, and other tropical fruits extended in every direction as far as the eye could see. Earl had always raved about Lordavia’s fruit crops, Dagdron remembered, but he hadn’t visualized quite the expanse of orchards.

  “Don’t worry, Dagdron,” Earl said when they walked through the gates of Lordavia that led through the sand-colored walls encircling the city. “We’ll be well protected from Rance and the others here. King Loftloomburg has plenty of enchanters who protect the noble families.”

  Dagdron, normally inclined to make a quip about rich people, didn’t respond as he scanned the streets of Lordavia. Lush plant life was present along the narrow streets also. Wells and canals had been built in different locations to supply the water to the inhabitants and vegetation alike. There were also more people than Dagdron had ever been around in his life, going about their business and shopping. Most people in the street weren’t dressed like Earl. The majority wore robes and acted in a more intellectual manner, much like Dagdron had observed of the magic users at the academy. Regardless, Dagdron realized, more people meant plenty of opportunities for a rogue.

  Earl, catching Dagdron eyeing the commerce, steered him away from the market section of Lordavia and along narrow residential streets. The houses were all built extremely close to one other, most adorned with different plants or weavings the citizens had grown or sewn.

  Earl only slowed when they reached the center of the city where the royal residences were located. The entrance to this area was a sand-colored pyramid with multiple levels, decorated with fruit trees and other tropical vegetation. A flowing stream ran from the top section, slowing in pools on each level, before coming to the grand fountain at the base. Two staircases led upward on each side of the stream. There were doorways on each section, and Earl led Dagdron through one of the bottom doorways that took them through a tunnel into a courtyard with a round fountain in the center and lemon trees encircling it. From there, Dagdron could see the stone bridges above that connected the different levels of the hanging gardens in front, to the other sections of the castle, allowing private walkways for the higher-ranking nobles. The other structures in the interior were similar in pyramid shape, though smaller in size. Dagdron saw the most luxurious building straight ahead
, feeling sure that was where Elloriana and her family resided. Corridors led off the courtyard to the right and left, leading to the dwellings of the other noble families.

  “You should’ve told me Lordavia was so nice,” Dagdron said. “I never planned to visit you before.”

  “Dagdron, I’ve told you about Lordavia so many times. I’m really starting to think that you don’t listen to me,” Earl said, though looking pleased as he saw the rogue looking around the plaza and at the Loftloomburg’s pyramid.

  “Of course, there is too much vegetation and way too many people,” Dagdron said. “But, other than that, it’s not half bad.”

  “Wow,” Earl said. “That’s high praise from you!”

  Earl led Dagdron across the courtyard, explaining to him where each of the tunnels led as if it was Dagdron’s deepest desire to know. When they were in the middle of the plaza, footsteps echoed from one of the tunnels straight ahead, and a group of sentries appeared, each wearing a dark blue robe and a light-weight dagger in their belts. The guards spread out against the walls, and Earl grabbed Dagdron and pulled him toward the left side. Dagdron, curious, freed his arm and turned back around.

  “Dagdron!” Earl whispered, trying to grab the rogue’s arm again. “It’s King and Queen Loftloomburg. We’re supposed to clear out of their way.”

  “I don’t move for richies,” Dagdron said, watching as, not only King and Queen Loftloomburg entered the courtyard, but King and Queen Fortigroff, the sovereigns of Broodavia, walked out as well. King Loftloomburg was stockier than King Fortigroff and wore a close-shaved brown beard and mustache. His fellow king was clean shaven with a warrior’s physique. The queens were similar in size, but Queen Loftloomburg wore the brighter colors of Lordavia while Queen Fortigroff’s dress was of the typical earth tone colors of Broodavia, matching her dark hair.

  Behind them, Elloriana Loftloomburg and Byron Fortigroff followed, chatting quietly. Elloriana had her arm linked with Byron’s. She was wearing one of her many regal gowns with her long brown hair royally arranged. Byron had dark brown hair like his father and was garbed in his noble warrior attire, even more impeccable than Earl kept his. Elloriana and Byron were in Dagdron and Earl’s year at the academy. While Elloriana had become an ally during their quest the previous year, Dagdron still thought she was too much of a richy. Byron, on the other hand, had always acted like a snob, and Dagdron had nothing but contempt for him.

  Earl, though trying not to attract any attention their way, still tugged Dagdron the rest of the way to the side of the courtyard as the royal procession walked past the fountain. The nobles were completely caught up in their own parade, Dagdron saw, so he wasn’t sure what Earl was worried about. But then, as Elloriana laughed at something Byron said, she looked away from him and then did a double take as she caught sight of the cloaked boy standing inside the castle grounds.

  Dagdron, for once, whipped his own hood off. “Wench,” he said slowly, letting his mouth form the word so Elloriana could read his lips.

  Elloriana scowled at him and then stumbled, not watching where she was going. Byron quickly steadied her, using it as an excuse to put his arm around her. King Loftloomburg looked back to see what the slight commotion had been, so Earl clutched onto Dagdron’s arm and pulled him into the nearest corridor.

  “You didn’t tell me the wench was officially dating Byron,” Dagdron said.

  “I didn’t even know the Fortigroffs were going to be in Lordavia,” Earl said. “Elloriana’s parents must have invited them during their visit to Broodavia. We really need to warn her about Rance. If he’s trying to get revenge on us, her life could be in danger as well.”

  “I know, then she could get thirty more guards to surround her even in her own castle.”

  “I really need to warn Lita too,” Earl said, ignoring Dagdron’s comment. “Do you think it would be safe to send a scroll to Thornrim? Lordavia’s post is usually very reliable, especially if one of the noble family’s crests is on it.”

  “Earl,” Dagdron said, seeing his friend’s worried expression. “If Lita’s family is as big as she is, I don’t think Lita needs to worry. Rance is coming after us anyway.”

  “You’re right,” Earl said. “Thanks for putting it in perspective for me.”

  Earl patted Dagdron’s shoulder and then continued leading him through the castle hallways until they reached his front door. While Dagdron had expected to see a richy residence, he was surprised that he hadn’t even realized they were passing homes. The Valorington house was off a common corridor on the ground floor where the lower-ranking earl’s lived. There was a short private entry leading to his door, which was adorned with a dark red tapestry with the family crest on it.

  Earl grabbed the door handle and then hesitated. “Dagdron, don’t you dare steal anything from my house. If any of my mom’s vases, urns, or even her flowers goes missing, I am going to teach you a lesson in honor that you will never forget.”

  Dagdron, as he always enjoyed doing, kept his face completely expressionless as he looked at Earl. The young warrior, determined to drill how serious he was into his friend’s brain, maintained the stare until he couldn’t take it anymore.

  “Do not take anything,” Earl repeated, and then opened the door.

  Dagdron’s expectation about the house had changed once he saw the outside, but they reverted just as quickly. And Dagdron realized why Earl had had so much motivation not to lose the staring contest for once. The interior of the house was one hundred percent a richy residence. Earl hadn’t just been talking about any old decorations that he was worried about Dagdron making off with. His mom had sparkling urns encrusted with gems as well as lavishly decorated vases of fine workmanship. Fancy paintings hung from the walls and the room was lit up by expensive candelabras. Comfortable furniture sat in the living area, which is where they found Earl’s parents. They both had blond hair and blue eyes like Earl. His father had a large frame like Earl as well, but his royal lifestyle had made his stomach grow. His mother, on the other hand, had a delicate figure. She was sitting stiffly as she read, and Earl’s father, his sword resting on his belly, was shining the unused weapon in between swigs from the golden goblet on the end table next to his chair.

  “Earl!” Count and Countess Valorington exclaimed as they entered. And then Count Valorington continued solo as his wife’s face dropped. “Dagdron!”

  Dagdron couldn’t help smiling as Earl’s father greeted him. He had only met Earl’s parents once before. Earl’s mother had treated him like most people did any rogue. But she couldn’t be blamed completely for that, Dagdron knew. He had stolen one of her rings after all. But Earl’s father had always treated him as an honored guest.

  “What happened to you?” Countess Valorington said, noticing how soiled Earl’s clothes were.

  “It’s a long story,” Earl said.

  “We can’t wait to hear it,” Count Valorington said, putting his arm around Dagdron. “I’ll send word to the royal kitchens that the Valoringtons will have two more at dinner tonight.”

  “I think they already know,” Dagdron said. “We saw the king and queen in the courtyard, and the we—”

  “Yes, Princess Elloriana did see us,” Earl interrupted before Dagdron could refer to her as “wench.” “But it is still proper to send official word.”

  “Both of you had better get cleaned up before then,” Countess Valorington said.

  “We will, Mom,” Earl said.

  “Take it easy on them,” Earl’s dad said. “They’ve had a long journey, I’m sure. Dagdron, we have a guestroom with your name on it.”

  “Actually, he’s going to be staying in my room,” Earl said, casting a distrustful look toward Dagdron. “We’re both so excited about the academy that we’d like to be roommates.”

  “Nonsense,” Countess Valorington said. “There’s only one bed in your room.”

  “I sleep on the floor,” Dagdron said. “I don’t need a bed.”

  Countess
Valorington looked appalled, and Count Valorington burst out laughing.

  “Dad, he’s serious,” Earl said. “We’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us.”

  “Really?” Earl’s dad asked.

  Dagdron nodded his head. “I haven’t slept in a bed a single night of my life.”

  “Goodness gracious,” Earl’s dad said, laughing. “No wonder you’re such a great adventurer.” He patted Dagdron on the back again before diving into a jumble of questions about their journey.

  Dagdron enjoyed his first evening in Lordavia much more than he expected. No matter how many times Earl pleaded with him not to wear his cloak to the royal banquet, and no matter how many times Countess Valorington gave his rogue fashion an appalled look, Dagdron refused to wear different clothes. When Earl insisted that his clothes were too filthy from sleeping on the ground during their travels, Dagdron shrugged, but later, he snuck into the bathroom and washed his cloak. Normally he wouldn’t have minded if the richies of Lordavia were bothered by his smell, but, since he wanted to scope out any possible theft opportunities, he didn’t want to be disallowed from the royal dinner.

  While Earl was washing up in the bathroom, Dagdron explored the Valorington household. Although the front of the house had been less than stellar in Dagdron’s opinion, the back of the house opened into a private patio where Earl’s mom maintained a rose garden. Earl’s parents’ private quarters were on the second floor, and even the rogue didn’t invade their privacy. But Dagdron was especially excited to see that Earl’s bedroom window looked out on the rose garden.

  Dagdron paid much more attention as he walked with the Valoringtons to the courtyard. From there, they headed into the tunneled corridors where they had seen the king and queen exit. These hallways took them into an inner courtyard with an elegant fountain and fruit trees scattered around. Across the square, a portcullis granted access to the living areas of the king and queen and other high-ranking royals. Dagdron observed everything from the variety of trees to the number of guards. Although Earl kept a watchful eye on his rogue friend, the fact that Dagdron’s hood was off gave the warrior little to be suspicious of.