The Pillars of Ponderay (23 page)

T
hat afternoon, Albert, Birdie, and Leroy sat atop Petra's float, hidden in the shadows of a tunnel. In front of them, five more student floats were waiting.

“I think we might win,” Albert said to Birdie and Leroy. All three of them had squeezed in quick naps after the morning's excitement. Now they were ready to kick some butt at the Float Parade.

Petra was inside of the Guildacker's belly, running the gears. He opened up the hatch on its back and peered up at his friends.

“You guys ready? Big smiles. Lots of waves.”

“We'll steal the show,” Albert promised.

Somewhere out in the Main Chamber, Trey addressed the crowd with the MegaHorn. He sounded like a real
sports announcer, even giving the floats their own names.

From the back of the line, Albert could hear the crowd erupt into cheers as the first float rolled into view.

“Created by the Girls of Belltroll!” Trey shouted into the horn, his voice carrying back into the tunnel.

The floats rolled out, one after the other. The crowd went wild. As the Guildacker float neared the front of the tunnel, Petra, somewhere inside the belly, revved the engine. The Guildacker rolled out into the Main Chamber.

People ooh and aahed, and some even backed away. Petra revved it again, and this time, blue flames shot out!

“Amazing!” Trey shouted, and the crowd went nuts.

The Professors came with their floats next. First came Calderon. Professor Flynn stood atop an incredible replica of the Realm. It had all the rings, Calderon Peak in the center, and a metal King Firefly that spit real orange flames.

“A tough competitor, as always!” Trey announced.

From his spot atop the float, Albert saw Hoyt's face in the crowd. Hoyt didn't look smug. He just looked sad. Albert wanted to feel sorry for the guy. But he couldn't. Not after what Hoyt did in the Realm.

After all the Professors rode their floats out, the judging began. Petra came out of the belly of the float, his face white from nerves as he sat beside his friends, waiting for an answer.

“We've got this,” Birdie assured him. “The people were terrified when he roared! It was
awesome
.”

Petra nodded, looking like he was about to pass out. Trey, Tussy, and Fox moved up and down the line of floats, tallying points on clipboards. When they stopped to look at the Guildacker, Albert tried to read the expressions on their faces, but they were solid as stone.

Albert leaned over to Petra and said, “Even if we don't win, you know ours is definitely the coolest-looking float out here, right?”

Petra chuckled under his breath. “I can't argue with that.”

Albert crossed his fingers and waited. Petra deserved to win something. He'd wanted, all his life, to be a hero.
Please
, Albert thought,
just let him win.

He didn't need to be worried at all. The Apprentices lined up side by side. Trey took the MegaHorn from Tussy.

“First runner up—the Belltroll Professor's float!”

Professor Bigglesby looked three feet taller than he was.
It
was
an impressive float
, Albert thought. He'd never seen so much weaponry in one place before.

“And the grand champion of this year's Float Parade is . . . the Guildacker float!”

Petra nearly tumbled from the Guildacker's back. A cannon of confetti went off, and as the crowd went wild, celebrating and rushing toward the Guildacker, Albert realized something.

He looked sideways, at Birdie and Leroy, and at Petra.

He looked around, at all the people in the Core, the smiles on their faces, the way they were so alight with life.

The Core was dangerous, and scary at times, sure.

But it was also amazing. And Albert knew, in that moment, that he was the luckiest guy in the world.

T
he dancing went on all night. It was nearly time for breakfast when Albert, Birdie, and Leroy decided to call it quits.

They needed a day of sleep (and food, according to Leroy), so they left the party behind with Farnsworth in the lead, making their way into the silence of the tunnels that led to their dorms.

Birdie was about to say good-bye to the boys and head her own direction when Leroy let out a gasp.

“What?” Albert turned to look at him. “What is it?”

“The Homing Tile!” Leroy pointed at his chest.

Farnsworth growled.

Albert's jaw dropped. Birdie swallowed hard. Sure enough, the Homing Tile was reacting. It had just barely
begun to float off of Leroy's chest, like a butterfly trying to head for home.

“What do we do?” Albert asked.

Leroy's exhaustion disappeared in a snap. “We see where it leads us. It's set to take us exactly to its match.”

“Let's hope it doesn't lead us into too much trouble.” Birdie nodded. The look in her eyes said she was ready for what was to come, either way.

“And to think I was
this
close to finally getting some sleep,” Albert groaned, but inside he felt a flame of excitement.

They followed Leroy's orders as the Tile tugged and tugged at his neck, trying to get back to its partner.

The door to the Library opened with a terrible, horrible creak, and if they had any hope of sneaking inside, it was gone now.

It was dark, and empty as a tomb.

“Which way, Leroy?” Albert whispered.

“Left.” Leroy pointed.

The Tile kept on tugging, looking very much like it was ready to snap itself off its cord and rocket toward its match.

Carefully, silently, they tiptoed across the floor. Farnsworth headed up the pack with his eyes turned off until Albert was ready to give the command.

The Tile led them farther and farther in, and then it
fell slack against Leroy's chest.

Albert's heart sank.
Not here
, he thought.
Please not here.
They were huddled in the entryway to Lucinda's Core Canteen.

“Lucinda,” Birdie whispered. “It can't be her. She wouldn't deal in bad Tiles, would she?”

“There's only one way to find out,” Albert said. His heart was in his throat.

The three of them tiptoed farther into the Canteen. They turned the corner and peeked inside.

Lucinda was there in the darkness. She sat on a stool with Kimber slithering across her shoulders.

Albert saw something that made his heart sink all the way to his toes.

The black box, and beside it, the Book of Bad Tiles.

T
hey ran all the way to Professor Flynn's office.

The party was still going when they passed, and Albert felt sick to his stomach.

“We trusted her!” Leroy said, as they reached Professor Flynn's door.

“I thought she was our friend,” Albert said.

Farnsworth whimpered, his ears drooping. His headlights faded to a solemn blue. Albert nearly kicked open the door to his dad's office, and they raced inside. Farnsworth yipped, announcing their arrival. When they rounded the Waterfall of Fate, Professor Flynn and Trey were already there, having what looked like an important discussion.

“What's going on? Why aren't you at the party?”
Professor Flynn asked as the three of them burst into the room.

Albert stooped over to catch his breath. “Book of Bad Tiles,” he gasped.

“Homing Tile,” Birdie added.

“It's . . . soooo . . . bad . . . ,” Leroy groaned.

“Everyone calm down,” Professor Flynn said. “What's this all about?”

They told Professor Flynn everything, from seeing Trey spying on them, to the Book of Bad Tiles, to thinking Trey was behind it. They told him about the Homing Tile and how Petra had gotten it for them, and how they used it. And finally, they explained their discovery this morning. Lucinda, leaning over the box in her Core Canteen, when she thought no one was looking.

When Albert was finally done talking, he felt like a million pounds had been lifted off of his shoulders.

“It's true,” Trey said, finally breaking the silence. “I followed Lucinda back to her shop tonight a little while ago. I saw her with the box.”

Professor Flynn frowned. “This is unfortunate news, indeed.”

“Why is she doing this?” Albert asked.

“I thought she was our friend,” Birdie said, putting her chin in her hands.

“She's always been so nice,” Leroy sighed. “Strange, but nice.”

Albert sat back in his chair. His back ached, and all he wanted to do was sleep.

“You should have come to me sooner,” Professor Flynn said.

“We're sorry,” Birdie squeaked. “We just didn't know what to do.”

Professor Flynn held up a hand. “I understand. I would've been afraid to come forth with such accusations as well. Keep in mind that Lucinda's retrieval of the Book of Bad Tiles doesn't prove that she's the one behind the Imbalance.”

“But she must be,” Albert said. He looked at Leroy for help.

“The odds are pretty high,” Leroy admitted. “Why else would she take it?”

Professor Flynn nodded, deep in thought. “We'll keep this under wraps for now. I'll alert the other Professors, and we'll investigate.”

Trey leaned forward and whispered something into Professor Flynn's ear.

“Yes, I know. It's time to come clean, I agree.” Professor Flynn nodded.

Just then, Albert saw it: his dad looked
sad.
Like he had terrible news to share. Albert wasn't sure if he really wanted to hear it.

“I should have told you this the moment you received your Master Tile, Albert,” Professor Flynn said. He sighed.
“It isn't the only one of its kind.”

“WHAT?” Albert, Birdie, and Leroy all said at once.

Professor Flynn nodded. “There are three Master Tiles. One of them once belonged to your Pap. Another is around your neck, right now. And the third one, the final Master Tile, once belonged to me.”

Albert felt like he'd just been slapped. He didn't know what to say. In fact, he didn't have words. They just wouldn't come.

So Professor Flynn went on. “Your Pap and I assumed there were only two. But then you came along, and a new Master Tile chose you. For whatever reason, our family line has been chosen, Albert.”

“But you have a Creature Speak Tile,” Leroy said unexpectedly. He seemed to be mulling something over in his head, but he wouldn't say what it was.

“Indeed, Leroy. I had a Creature Speak Tile last term,” Professor Flynn admitted. “You see, I lost my Master Tile.”

This time, the words flew out of Albert's mouth. “You did what?”

“I know, I know.” Professor Flynn nodded. “But I think it would be more accurate to say that my Master Tile was stolen, not lost. I traded my Creature Speak Tile for Pap's Master Tile a few months ago and have had that since, but I'm afraid there's bad news about that Master Tile as well. “

“That one has been lost—or stolen—too?” Leroy asked. The wheels were turning in his mind.

“You had a Master Tile,” Albert said, still trying to process everything. “And Pap, too? Why didn't you guys ever tell me?”

Professor Flynn looked disturbed. “You and your Tile learn from each other. You become one. And Master Tiles are tricky; each of them is different in its own way. I didn't want you to feel any less special because Pap and I had them before you. But there's more than that.”

“Professor,” Trey interjected.

But Professor Flynn waved him off. “They need to know. It's time.” He looked Albert right in the eye. “Someone is—”

“Someone is collecting Master Tiles,” Leroy said. By the look on Professor Flynn's face, Leroy was right. “But I thought a Tile had to stay in its family line?”

Professor Flynn nodded. “Normally I would say yes, that's true. But Master Tiles are mysterious. We know so little about them.”

“It would explain a lot,” Albert said. “These huge Imbalances couldn't have been created by just anybody—a normal Balance Keeper wouldn't have enough power to even make it through the Realm alive on their own, let alone wreak havoc on it. But if they had a Master Tile . . .”

“Or two or three Master Tiles . . . ,” Birdie said.

Professor Flynn glanced at Trey, then back at Leroy, Birdie, and Albert.

“Pap's Tile was taken from me while I slept only just last night,” Professor Flynn said gravely. “I sleep lightly, so someone must have slipped something into what I drank or ate during the festivities last night. I do remember feeling unwell, very tired.”

“It would have been the perfect time,” Leroy said. “Everyone in the Core was celebrating, distracted. And you were here all alone.”

“Precisely,” Trey said.

“We know the Imbalance someone with one Master Tile can create,” Birdie said. “Ponderay was pretty messed up.”

Albert gasped. “Did the traitor create the Imbalance in Calderon, too?”

Professor Flynn shrugged. “It's very, very possible, Albert. And if that's the case, and Calderon and Ponderay have been hit, it's quite possible that we could be dealing with another Imbalance soon, unless we discover who this traitor is.”

“Two Master Tiles might mean double the trouble,” Albert said. He touched the Tile hanging around his neck, and looked up. Everyone was thinking the same thing.

“Albert, you may be the only thing standing between total destruction of the Core and the Realms,” Professor
Flynn said. “For now, we must get you to the surface as quickly as possible. We must protect you from whomever we're dealing with.”

“No way,” Albert said. “I'm not leaving you all here. I can help.”

There was silence in the room, and then Trey spoke. “They might be willing to harm you for it, Albert.”

“Forget about harming,” Leroy said. “I'm thinking they would kill you to get their hands on the last Master Tile.”

Albert sat silently, thinking about how serious the situation had become. Getting beaten up because of his special Tile was one thing. But getting killed because of it? That was something Albert had never thought of.

“This is why I've had Trey following you, in case someone tried to steal your Tile,” Professor Flynn said.

“So that's why we saw you snooping around all the time,” Leroy said.

“I'm sorry I've been cold,” Trey said to the trio. “Professor Flynn didn't want to worry you.”

Professor Flynn leaned forward and placed his hands onto his old oak desk. “I'm going to have to come clean to the other Professors. I need to turn myself in, tell them about the two missing Master Tiles. One missing Master Tile was serious, but two is far too dangerous to cover up.”

“Won't you get in trouble? Like, major trouble?” Albert asked.

His dad nodded, and there was sadness in his eyes. “I'm afraid so, kiddo.”

“What will they do?”

Professor Flynn smiled weakly. “Right now the only thing that matters is getting you three out of here as quickly as we can.”

“No one can be trusted,” Leroy said as he cleaned his glasses. “Not anyone except for us, the five of us in this room.”

Leroy put his glasses back on and looked directly at Professor Flynn. “You can tell the other Professors about the missing Master Tiles if you want to, Professor Flynn, but I think you should wait. Out there, anyone could be guilty. If they punish you for bringing this up, we'd lose you, and we can't afford that. You have to stay quiet, for now. For us.”

Trey and Professor Flynn looked at each other for a long moment, and then Trey nodded. Professor Flynn turned to the rest of them and nodded as well.

“I hate to say this, but I do have my suspicions about at least one of the other Professors. For now, we keep it quiet.”

“You'll leave for the surface immediately,” Trey said to the trio. “Keep everything we've spoken a secret. We'll contact you with news as we hear it, and we'll continue to track Lucinda and our other leads.”

“The Path Hider does repairs in other parts of his
domain when no one is coming or going,” Professor Flynn said, glancing at his watch. “He's rarely at the relay station at this early hour.”

“And I'm guessing you know how to work the controls?” Trey asked Leroy.

“I do,” Leroy admitted. “I can't help myself. I memorize everything I see.”

“Synapse Tiles are awesome,” Birdie said, slapping Leroy on the back.

“You have the only remaining Master Tile, Albert,” Professor Flynn concluded. “Keep it close. Keep it around your neck at all times, and don't let anyone touch it. And use your powers wisely, especially on the outside. If the thief gets his or her hands on the last Master Tile before we can discover who this person is, it could mean the destruction of the entire world.”

Albert's Tile felt a whole lot heavier around his neck. He reached up and closed his fingers around it. He'd guard it with his life.

He'd go back to his mom's apartment and he'd study the Black Book every day.

He'd learn how to become the best Balance Keeper of all time. And when he returned to the Core and his enemy was revealed, Albert Flynn would be ready for whoever it was.