The Three Furies (Erec Rex) (14 page)

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trembling, close to Danen's throat. "Kind sir, would you please use your magnet for us now?"

Some laughter filled the air--people who saw Jam seemed not to think that he amounted to any danger at all. Erec almost laughed thinking of Jam at large. Nonetheless, Mike and Zeke arrived in a moment and Jam was disarmed.

Erec saw Danen make a signal to Mike, and then the knife was back in Jam's hand. A space was cleared around Danen, and they all moved slowly toward through the crowds and down a long hallway.

Two guards stood against a tall carved wooden door, long spearlike pikes and machine guns crossed in front of their chests. "I get the best soldiers and guards from all over the world," Danen whispered. He nodded to the guards, and then said, as if he were reciting from a boring textbook, "Stand aside, men. I am in danger of being killed if I don't listen to these hoodlums." Erec was sure he saw him wink, and Mike was shaking his head.

The guards looked confused, and Danen had to repeat himself, this time with an edge of warning in his voice. Mike motioned the guards to step away from the door, and they finally did. Erec and Jam followed Danen through. "I can't believe I'm doing this," he whispered. "If Baskania ends up finding out, I'll have to hand the girl straight back to him when she gets here. I'm not going to die for this, guys."

"If Baskania does show up here again, sir, he might know about this whole conversation."

"I know. If he gets suspicious, then he could read more heavily into my mind and see this whole ruse. But he trusts me. I should be able to get away with thinking about your knife at my throat. Of course, my cooperating with him will be the final proof in the end."

Danen opened a large safe, then two smaller ones inside it. He removed a rusty metal bar about the size of a finger and then nodded

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for Jam to bring the knife closer to him. "Tell me the girl's name, and her parents' names if you know them. Also one distinguishing feature that makes her stand out."

"Okay. Her name is Bethany Cleary. Her parents were Ruth and Tre Cleary, and they died . . ."

"Her parents died ten years ago," Jam said.

"She is really good at math."

"Good at math?" Danen raised an eyebrow. "Can't you think of anything better than that?"

"No, she's
really
good at math. It's her magical gift. She could be a seer someday because of it."

"Okay." Danen closed his eyes and concentrated. "Bring to me Bethany Cleary, daughter of the late Ruth and Tre Cleary, who is magically gifted with math skills." He waggled his eyebrows at Erec and Jam. "Get a load of this. It's pretty awesome. Watch out, now. Oh, you better put the knife away."

The room seemed to ripple. Suddenly, Erec was yanked off his feet by a force so strong that it slammed him into Danen. Jam, Mike, and Zeke followed, crashing into them at full force. The magnet seemed to be sucking them in like a black hole in space. Just when Erec thought that the magnet was pulling the wrong people to it, a spark shot out of the small piece of rusted metal and sailed out of the window and into the sky. The five of them were released, tripping backward across the floor.

"I forgot how that happens when there are other people in the room with me." Danen laughed. "Usually I just stick to the thing for a minute. Well," he said louder, "I've done what you asked, so please release me and let me live." He put the back of his hand dramatically to his forehead, and Erec and Jam darted out of the room.

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CHAPTER TEN Little Erec

IKE FOLLOWED THEM down the hall. "You two better go find your princess now."

"She's not a princess, actually," Erec explained. "She's just my friend."

"Okay, your girlfriend, whatever." Mike pushed them through the crowded atrium, where the party continued as if nothing had happened. "I'm not going to call you, give you our number, or anything else that might implicate Mr. Danen more. If your

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girlfriend shows up here, I'm sure he'll take the magnet off her and she'll be free to go find you. Unless he gets in trouble for this, and then all bets are off."

"Thank you so much, kind sir."

Mike winked. "You better scram out of here quick. It's supposed to rain soon, so everyone will be going outside. You don't want to be conspicuous." He led them back through the huge party room.

"People go outside in the rain?" Erec said. "Why would they do that?"

Jam smiled. "Cinnalim is famous for it, young sir. It rains chocolate drops here. Quite good ones too. They sell them all over the Kingdoms of the Keepers."

People were squealing and pointing out the windows. Servants showed up with trays full of empty bags, which guests grabbed by the handful on their way out. The party was starting to spill through the doors.

Mike handed Erec an empty bag. "You might want to catch some rain on your way out." He winked. "Just be careful of the bugs."

The chocolate raindrops were light and delicious, with just a hint of cinnamon flavor. Erec found out the hard way, though, that Mike was right about bugs. After a few handfuls he ended up spitting out a chewy, wormlike thing.

Step one was done, and Erec was overwhelmed with relief. This part had seemed like it would be impossible: finding the right man who had the right magnet. But he had done it. The magnet was turned on to attract Bethany, just like the Fates said had to be done. Now all that was left was to complete most of his next quest, find Bethany, and make her drink dragon blood.

Erec's feet slowed in the sand as he and Jam crossed the beautiful beach of Cinnalim. The rainstorm was nearly over now, and only

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a few pieces of chocolate were sprinkling down. He picked up the Amulet of Virtues, which hung around his neck. Four of the twelve segments on its circular front glowed with colors for each of the four quests he had done so far. Although he had managed to complete them, they had been nearly impossible. And, if anything, the quests seemed to be getting harder and harder.

But this one would have to be easier. The Fates wouldn't let Bethany sit too long chained to that desk, would they?

But then Erec remembered. They didn't make all of the decisions. The Fates knew what might happen. They knew what his choices would be. But it was up to him and every person to decide their own course.

Jam studied his face and said little. He followed Erec to where their Port-O-Door was parked.

Erec said, "We have to go straight to Al's Well. I need to find out what this next quest is."

"Young sir, should we stop at my Aunt Salsa's on the way and let your family know your plans?"

"Let's go there afterward. I need to get this done." He remembered how he used to be worried about getting killed doing dangerous quests. What a luxury that seemed now. With Bethany in danger he only cared how long it would take him to get done so he could save her.

"And who will you take with you this time on your quest, may I ask?"

Erec remembered that he could bring two people along on his quests. He had been thinking that he would do this one by himself. Jam had gone with him on a quest before, as had Bethany and his good friend Jack. Maybe this time he would take his siblings Danny and Sammy. Since they were his siblings by birth, the true successors to the throne, they probably should go with him. The quests

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were meant for King Piter's three triplets to do together. Erec was so relieved that he had finally figured out who his real brother and sister were. How great to be a part of a team, and not the only one responsible anymore.

But then again, he thought, Danny and Sammy had never been in the Kingdoms of the Keepers before. He wondered if they would slow him down. Normally he wouldn't mind that, but with Bethany stuck . . . Or maybe Jack could go with him. He knew what Bethany would say if she was here--that he should let other people help him, and not try to do everything himself as usual.

Jam pressed the code into the Port-O-Door, and instantly they found themselves back inside King Piter's house. A wild barking echoed outside. Erec immediately recognized it as Wolfboy, his dog.

"Oh, dear. I'm sorry, sir. It looks like Ms. Frinley hasn't been able to come feed and train your dog today. Queen Posey's water wall must have kept her away. I never thought about that. I will take care of him and be right back."

"No, Jam. Let me do it." It had been too long since Erec had seen his pet wenwolf--a dog who changed into a huge wolflike creature when there was a full moon.

When he walked outside, a red shell poked through the grass. Erec picked up the snail and took a letter out.

Dear Erec,

I don't know what to think about this, but I don't like it. I was dusting and watering plants, my job in the Green House, and I was just outside the Inner Sanctum--that's Baskania's area. It has the biggest offices, right in the middle of the building. When President Inkle is in there it's obvious that Baskania is completely in charge of him.

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Anyway, I was eavesdropping on their conversations, and they started talking about me! Baskania was telling Rosco how great he was, and Rosco said, really loud, "Did you catch that, Oscar?" And they all laughed. Baskania said that my spying on them was good training, and they could start using me for missions soon. As if I'd even begin to help them!

I can't believe that they knew I was there all along. You were right about that. Rosco knows everything. Don't think that will stop me from my revenge, though. I'll get him if it's the last thing I do.

Your friend,

Oscar

Erec shook his head. If only Oscar could move on and let things go. He was going to get into big trouble if everyone knew he was spying on them. How far would they let that go?

He wished Oscar was able go on his quest with him. He wanted to go on a quest with Erec more than anyone else. Of course, that was impossible now.

As soon as Erec was in sight, Wolfboy yelped and dove on him, knocking him flat on the ground and licking huge drooly kisses all over his face. The dog's tail wagged so hard that it smacked into his own sides with thuds echoing against his ribs, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Down, boy." Erec laughed. "Let's find some food for you."

The dog's house was more of a mansion, he thought. There were rooms of toys, a kitchen full of dog food. Its walls were lined with

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a thick rubber padding for times when the moon became full, so he didn't hurt himself.

On his way back into the house he heard someone calling from a distance. A woman in a long skirt waved from the other side of the water wall. That must be Ms. Frinley. Around her were more people milling around the water wall, staring at his house. He was sure some of them had come from the Green House and were just waiting to arrest him. How would he get past them all to go to Al's Well? It was located in the middle of Alypium, attached to the Labor Society building. Even when he did get to the well, pulling his next quest out would not be easy. It was guarded by flying Harpies on the lookout for him.

Erec found Jam inside. "It's too bad Oscar can't come to do my quest with me. I really miss him."

"Are you sure Oscar is still . . . unsafe?"

"Positive. I'll probably never see him again. It's really sad."

"I'm afraid you may be right, young sir." He cleared his throat, pointing at the crowds gaping at them through the window. A few of the people waved from behind the water wall. "Word may get back to Baskania that we are here. We should hurry. And next time we're here, we'll have to stay away from the windows. Right, young sir?"

"Right," Erec agreed. "Then nobody will know we're back. I'll bring Wolfboy into the house so we don't have to go out and feed him." A possible problem came to his mind. "Is it close to a full moon?" He hoped not, thinking about how his dog could destroy a room.

"We have a week or two, sir."

Erec brought the dog inside along with giant bags of dog food. Wolfboy sniffed around for a few minutes, then found a cozy spot to curl up on a couch.

"I don't think these people outside the water wall are going to let

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me just walk past them and go get my quest. They're probably waiting to arrest us." He jabbed a thumb toward the window. "Could you think of a way we could sneak past them? Maybe if I throw a cape on with a big hood they might not know who I am."

"I'm afraid they would probably guess. I don't think it's safe for you to cross through Alypium on foot."

Erec smiled with relief. "The Port-O-Door! That can take us right where we need to go."

"Yes, young sir." Jam refilled his vest pockets with a few more items, and the two of them entered the Port-O-Door vestibule again. In moments Erec found a tree on a map of the Labor Society's lawn that was a few feet away from the side door that led to Al's Well. Perfect.

But when he opened the door and stepped outside, a branch exploded next to him. Fiery splinters drifted through the air in front of his face. Erec froze, confused.

"There he is!" A group of Alypium army soldiers standing with saber rifles in front of the Labor Society raced toward him. A few shots rang out, and Erec tripped backward. He fell on top of Jam back in the vestibule and slammed the Port-O-Door shut. Erec stumbled back into the hallway of King Piter's house, panting. Discouraged, he slid down the wall until he was sitting with his head between his knees.

"Are you okay, young sir?" Jam pulled out a water bottle and a handkerchief from his vest pocket.

No. Erec was not okay. His voice was gone and he was shaking. He managed to nod to Jam and wave away the water bottle. How would he get that quest? He didn't know how much time he had, but it couldn't be too long. After Baskania had sorted through all of Bethany's memories he was going to kill her. Erec thought about the way Bethany looked, chained to that chair with little metal cones in her head, and hoped it was not too late already.

What had he been thinking? That he could just waltz into the