“So, is everyone ready to go through the portal today?” Miss Templeton asked looking intently from Allison to Ben and back again.

  “Awesome! Can’t wait!” Denzel jumped in.

  “And you, Allison, are you ready?” Miss Templeton looked directly into Allison’s eyes.

  “Yes,” Allison smiled. “I’m ready. It’s great to know that this time I’ve been chosen, and it’s not just because I touched someone at the wrong time.”

  “I think the events that transpired, when you went to Zargon, proved that what we thought was bad timing was actually perfect,” Miss Templeton said.

  Allison nodded her head in agreement.

  “Moses be Chosen,” the brownie said. “I go with Allie. I be happy.”

  Miss Templeton turned towards Ben. “And you, Ben, are you ready to go with the others?”

  Ben looked at Miss Templeton and could see the concern on her face. “I’m ready,” he mumbled.

  “As I’ve already told you, Farne is a world of unknown dangers.” Miss Templeton paused to take a sip of tea from her cup. “No Chosen has gone there since a war nearly destroyed that world more than a thousand years ago. I do not know what dangers you will face. If there is anything still living it may have been dramatically altered from what it was. You will need to depend on one another and upon the Chosen who are coming from Zargon if you hope to survive.” Miss Templeton paused and stared at Ben and then Allison. “Your lives depend on the trust that you have for one another. If there is anything that will interfere with your working together, now is the time to speak of it.”

  Ben stared at Allison. She glanced at him and looked away.

  “Don’t worry, Miss Templeton,” Allison said, “we will all do our best and I have no doubt we can work together to rescue Ben’s grandfather.”

  “I hope so. Not every quest ends in success.” Miss Templeton took another sip of tea. “The ones that fail often do so because the Chosen were not able to work as a team. It is not just about doing your best, but it is about helping those who go with you also do their best. You need to use your gifts for the good of all. Speaking of gifts, it is time for them to be given. Denzel will receive the standard three gifts. I’m not sure how many Ben and Allison will receive, as they already have gifts that were especially given by the Guardian in the place beyond time and space. I am unsure as to whether the same rules will apply to a brownie or whether he will be given any gifts at all. As you know, a brownie has never been selected as a Chosen before.” Miss Templeton paused briefly and gave the brownie an uncertain look. Then she continued, “Allison would you like to go first?”

  Allison stood and moved to the metal chair. As soon as she sat down light shone through the Celtic knots. The light grew in intensity and wrapped around her and appeared to flow right through her. The others watched in awe as the light shimmered and danced over and around the chair. The light flared twice, the last time so brightly everyone closed their eyes. When they opened them again, they were astonished to see a rainbow of light shining around Allison.

  “Oh my,” Miss Templeton breathed. “That’s extraordinary.”

  They sat in silence and stared as the multi-colored light shone from Allison as if through a prism. The light gradually diminished and then it disappeared into Allison and into the Celtic knots on the chair.

  “I’ve never seen anything like that before.” Miss Templeton jumped to her feet and walked over to Allison where she laid her hands on Allison’s head.

  Allison’s skin began to change. Greenish-brown scales appeared everywhere her skin was exposed. A film covered her eyes. When she turned and looked at Ben her pupils were no longer round but were more like the eyes of a snake. A ridge grew all the way across her forehead directly above the eyes to provide even more protection.

  “Now, what was that extraordinary second gift that caused the bright light and rainbow?” Miss Templeton murmured. She waited for something to be revealed. The only thing that happened was that Allison began to glow with all the colors of the rainbow. Light shone forth from her and it was beautiful.

  “Wow!” Denzel said. “We have our own walking lantern.”

  “There is more to this gift than being your source of light Denzel, but I’m not sure what it is.” Miss Templeton said as she waited for a revelation of what the second gift was. It didn’t come.

  “This is a gift I’ve never seen before. I doubt any of the Watchers have. I can’t tell you what it is. Hopefully, you will know what to do with it when the time is right. I look forward to learning what this gift is, that caused you to shine with the Guardian’s own light.” Miss Templeton paused and then went on. “Allison, you will go from Earth with four gifts, which is, in itself, amazing. You will take with you the gift of healing and the gift of being able to discern the truth of who someone is and make it manifest for others to see. You may not need either of those two gifts, but they are permanently yours. You will also take with you the gift of armor and whatever the last gift is that made you shine so brightly.”

  Miss Templeton helped Allison up from the chair and then asked. “Who’s next?”

  Denzel and Moses both stepped forward, but Denzel was quicker. He sat in the special chair and the light came forth from the Celtic knots. The first gift given was the same gift that Allison had received. He was given the special armor and protection for his eyes. The second gift was strength. Muscles bulged all over his body. His legs and arms became thick and his chest barreled out. The third gift did not reveal itself to the human and brownie eyes watching, but Miss Templeton knew what it was. In her mind’s eye she could see Denzel winning every race. “You will be strong and fast,” she said.

  “Cool! Really cool! I would love to keep these gifts when I come back.” Denzel laid his left hand on the muscles in his right arm as he flexed them.

  “Sorry Denzel,” Miss Templeton said. “The only gifts that are permanent are the ones you are born with unless you meet the Guardian in the place beyond time and space.”

  Moses was the next one to sit in the chair. At first it seemed that the light was not going to respond. When it did, it flared as brightly as it had over Allison. Ben closed his eyes, but opened them in time to see the light break into the colors of the rainbow and dance happily over Moses’ head.

  Miss Templeton stared at Moses with a rapt look on her face. “My word,” she said as she pushed her glasses further up her nose. “This is the most extraordinary day.”

  A finger of light went from Moses and touched the wall behind Miss Templeton’s desk. The dancing came to a stop with the light pointing at the wall.

  “Yes, I understand,” Miss Templeton said to no one in particular and the light drew back from the wall and continued its dance over Moses. The light flared once more and withdrew into the etchings on the chair.

  “Moses last gift makes him a wizard. Earth, wind, fire and water will respond to his command. He has also been given the same mysterious gift that was given to Allison. Perhaps this mysterious gift is linked to their ability as healers.”

  Moses moved and Ben took his turn. He felt the cold metal chair against his back. As Ben sat down, he thought about the gifts he wanted to receive. He really wanted to be a wizard and control the elements. Strength and speed were his second and third choices. He thought it would be really cool to get all three gifts. Those gifts added to what he already had would make him a real super hero unlike anything the worlds had seen before. No one could stop a strong fast wizard with the ability to transform into a dragon and move great distances just with a thought. Ben held his breath waiting for at least one of the hoped for gifts to manifest itself. He knew that three was the normal number and he already had two gifts, but Allison had just been given two additional gifts even though she already had two, and as he sat on the chair, he believed the same thing was about to happen to him.

  The light did not respond instantly and when it did come it was understated. Light slowly seeped out of the Celtic knots and flowed in and around Ben before gently withdrawing and disappearing back into the chair. Miss Templeton came and laid her hands on Ben and closed her eyes. “Ben has been given the ability to see in the dark,” she finally said after an extended period of silence.

  Ben’s heart sank. “That’s it? Seeing in the dark is the only gift I get?”

  “What more do you want?” Miss Templeton asked. “You are already able to transform into a dragon and move yourself and others from one spot to another. Isn’t that enough for you? The Guardian seems to think it’s enough!”

  Ben was stunned into silence by the harsh tone in Miss Templeton’s voice. “Yes, it’s enough,” Ben finally said, trying to hide how disappointed he felt by this one rather insignificant gift. It felt like a big hole had opened in his stomach, akin to hunger.

  “The rest of you can go on to the room of portals. I want to have a word with Moses before we join you,” Miss Templeton instructed.

  Ben, Denzel and Allison were waiting for Miss Templeton when she arrived with Moses. She went to the door directly across from the one they had come through and opened it to reveal a brick wall.

  “Denzel, because you are strong and fast, and I don’t know what’s waiting for you on Farne, I’m going to send you first,” Miss Templeton said. “Close your eyes and walk toward the wall. The portal will open and you should fall into a pool of water.”

  Ben had always hated being in water over his head. The first time he went through a portal he would have died if a mermaid hadn’t found him. He wasn’t looking forward to falling into the water this time either, but at least he’d learned to swim, and understood its importance. The water had magical properties and insured that nothing harmful went from one world to another.

  Ben watched as Denzel took one step and then another towards the wall. He’d never watched someone else go through a portal before. He had always been the one with his eyes closed walking through what appeared to be a solid brick wall. The bricks never disappeared, but Denzel seemed to walk right through them. After a few moments Allison and Moses walked towards the wall holding hands. Ben couldn’t help but wish he was holding Allison’s hand. As soon as they disappeared Ben stepped forward. When he got close to the wall he reached out and touched it, thinking the bricks were an illusion, but they were solid. He closed his eyes and stepped toward the portal. He fell through the air, but not into the water he expected. He might have broken an ankle if the Watcher of Farne had not sent a current of air to cushion his fall.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “D” DAY ON ZARGON

  Mack sat across the desk from Zoey Zanderson as they waited for Zinc to appear. As was often the case, he was late. Zinc seemed to have a need to make the point that no one could tell him what to do. Mack wondered once again why the Guardian chose Zinc.

  How, Mack thought to himself. Is Zinc ever going to be able to work with the others? Out loud, he said, “How are you feeling about going off-world with Zinc? Have you two been getting along any better?”

  Anger flashed in the beautiful dragonborn girl’s brilliant green eyes. “He’s not worthy of being a Chosen.”

  “Why do you say that?” Mack asked, not letting on that he agreed with Zoey.

  “I know his secret.”

  “What secret is that?” Mack asked.

  Zoey looked at Mack in surprise. “Don’t you know he was the one who betrayed his father to Zork? King Zane wouldn’t be missing or dead if it weren’t for his son.” Her voice was tense and her nostrils flared as she glared at Mack. When her hands started to shake, she clasped them before her.

  Mack closed his eyes and was silent for a moment. Not for the first time, he wondered if the Guardian was wise to choose Zoey to go with Zinc to Farne. “The Guardian’s ways are higher than our ways,” he finally said. “The Guardian chose to give Zinc a second chance and who are we to argue?”

  “Zork killed my mother in the mines.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss, but Zinc was not the one who sent your mother to the mines. He was not there, and even if he had been, he could not have stopped your mother from dying.”

  “How could he betray his own father? It was not just his family he betrayed, but all the dragonborn clans.”

  “His mother and her family were behind him, pushing him in that direction,” Mack said.

  “That is no excuse,” Zoey gripped the arms of her chair. “He should have his own conscience that he listens to.”

  “Zinc regrets his actions and feels a deep sense of shame,” Mack wasn’t completely convinced that the words he spoke were true, but hoped they were.

  “I don’t like him and he doesn’t like me. Perhaps that’s why he hasn’t shown up today, he’s changed his mind about going to Farne with me. I hope so. I’ll feel better if I’m going without him.”

  “He will show up and you need to let go of the anger you feel towards him or it will be hard for the two of you to do what needs to be done.”

  Before Zoey could respond there was a knock at the door. Mack had been distracted by his conversation with Zoey and didn’t know how long Zinc had been standing outside listening. When he came in Zinc glanced at Zoey disdainfully, before pulling the empty chair beside her further away prior to sitting down.

  “So you’ve decided to go to Farne?” Mack asked.

  “Of course, who else is going to find my father and restore him to the throne?”

  “I am, with or without you, preferably without,” Zoey said.

  “The two of you are part of a team that has been called together to do the Guardian’s work.”

  “The others don’t care about my father as much as I do,” Zinc said.

  “Is that why you betrayed him to Zork?” The scorn could be clearly heard in Zoey’s voice. “Although you didn’t get what you wanted. Your mother isn’t on the throne and neither are you. Zanderella is and she is proving herself worthy of being a Queen of the Dragonborn.”

  “My father will take the throne back when I rescue him.”

  Zoey was going to say something more, but Mack ended the conversation, “King Zane must be found and brought back to Zargon before we can address the question of who will rule. Both of you have been chosen for this task. If one person alone could do it, only one of you would have been chosen. Instead, five people and a brownie are going. I repeat, differences need to be laid aside for King Zane to have any chance of returning to Zargon.”

  Zinc and Zoey both silently stared at Mack.

  “Well, what do you say? Will you work with each other and the Chosen from Earth?”

  “Yes,” Zoey mumbled, while Zinc gave a brief nod.

  “Let’s find out what gifts the Guardian has for you.” Mack stood up and walked to the gold chair covered in Celtic knots that sat in the corner. It matched the one on Earth. Zinc was heading for the chair when Zoey darted ahead of him and sat down. Zinc frowned and looked like he was about to say something, but closed his mouth and backed away instead.

  “What,” Zoey said, glaring at Zinc. “Did you think you should be first because you’re a Prince?”

  Shortly after Zoey sat down light streamed from the center of each knot. The light flared three times before disappearing. Mack laid his hands on Zoey’s head. “Your gift is healing. It is a gift that has always been within you waiting to be discovered. The Guardian has enhanced your natural abilities and made them stronger. The good news about this gift is that you will not lose it when you come back. We will be glad to have another healer on Zargon. Your second gift is one I don’t recognize and since I’ve been given the memories of past Watchers it means none of the previous Watchers ever encountered it. Perhaps because the Guardian has only enhanced a gift already there, you’ve been given a third gift. You have the gift of invisibility.”

  Zoey wore a broad and happy smile that added to her beauty as she got up from the golden chair. Zinc scowled at her as he moved to take his turn.

  The light came forth from the chair and flared twice after Zinc sat on it. Mack put his hands on Zinc’s head. “Zinc, you have become a dowser.”

  “What in the world is a dowser?” Zinc asked.

  “On Earth it is someone who can find water with a forked stick.”

  “You’re joking. Who needs a gift like that?”

  “You will not live long if you can’t find water,” Mack said. “Neither will those who travel with you. It’s an important gift.”

  “What is my second gift?” Zinc asked impatiently, dismissing the first as being of little consequence.

  “It is also a gift related to seeking and finding. You will know when you move in a direction if it takes you closer to your father or further away.”

  Zinc looked like he was about to complain about this gift too, but then he smiled slightly, closed his eyes, and leaned back against the chair. “I will find my father,” he whispered. “I will find him.” Then he opened his eyes and turned to Mack. “Will I need a forked stick?”

  “No, I don’t believe so; however, the memories given to me reveal that this gift has never been given to another Chosen from Zargon. And there is no memory of anyone acting as a dowser on this world, which makes sense as there is water everywhere.”

  “I’d like to take one with me, just in case. I’ll be back in a minute.” Zinc walked toward the door.

  “I’m sure you don’t need...” Zinc slammed the door behind him before Mack could finish his sentence. Mack stared at the door with an annoyed look on his face. “I guess it won’t hurt for Zinc to take a stick.”

  Zinc was back in a short time with a forked branch from a fruit tree growing in the valley below Stonehaven. Mack led him and Zoey to the room of portals where Zinc pushed ahead of Zoey and stepped through the portal first. Zachery cushioned Zinc’s fall and then Zoey’s with currents of air.

  “Welcome to Farne. I’m this world’s Watcher. My name is Zachery Zaltzburg.” Zachery wore a broad smile and his words were punctuated with joyous laughter. He was literally dancing with excitement.

  Zinc raised his eyebrows and his mouth fell open as he watched one of his ancestor’s brothers prancing and laughing. He then frowned and looked across to Zoey who was staring at Zachery with narrowed eyes, a grimace on her normally attractive face.

 

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