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Toby stood, head swimming, had to squat back down.
When the world stopped spinning, he followed Teacher toward the surface. As Toby walked, his soaked, freezing clothes stuck to his skin. He thought about shifting back to the castle, but Teacher walked quickly.
Toby tried to catch Teacher’s eye.
Teacher walked faster.
They walked along in silence, finally coming to the two large stalactites like fangs.
Teacher pulled a small hammer from somewhere and banged it on the massive door.
Teacher would not make eye-contact as the Guards opened all the locks.
After Teacher and Toby were out, the Guards closed the massive door with a final, loud clang. Both kept glancing at Toby.
“Today, gentlemen,” Teacher said.
“Yes, Teacher,” said one sergeant.
Teacher inspected the many locks as each clicked into place.
Without a word, Teacher turned and walked down the path toward the castle.
Toby tried to get Teacher’s attention when he heard clapping.
“Word travels fast.” Teacher quickened his pace.
Dozens of people lined the path. With his hand on his chest, one man, with tears in his eyes, bowed and said, “Congratulations, Messenger.”
Many others, with hands over their hearts, said the same thing.
Toby trotted up to be next to Teacher. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Don’t trip.”
***
With each downward turn of the trail then road, more faces appeared. Dozens of hands reached out to touch his hand, arm, and shirt.
“What is going on?”
“Keep walking.”
The crowd increased as they entered Coldtown.
Teacher pointed at some guard, who were making a space in the crowd.
The applause was deafening.
Someone started chanting “Tobias.”
The chant spread and became so loud he couldn’t hear himself yelling at Teacher. “What is going on?”
Teacher kept going.
The guards directed them to the northern gate of the curtain wall. Despite his limp, Teacher somehow picked up speed.
Toby thought someone was locking him out, but Raymond waved him in. Toby trotted in, and the door slammed behind him. The sudden silence seemed loud.
Raymond and Carrick each took an arm and rushed Toby up three flights.
They ‘assisted’ him across a grand ballroom with lofty ceilings and a massive chandelier.
Why hadn’t he seen any of this before?
Lela stood by a massive glass door that led out to a balcony facing the south lawn.
She was pale but smiling.
She opened the door. He stopped to say something, but Raymond said, “Later.”
The warm sun was low in the sky to his right. Long blue shadows draped across the mass of people assembled on the south lawn. Fluffy clouds rode the winds toward the east.
A Giant Spider stood outside the Barrier and seemed to look right at Toby.
On the balcony, a group of men stood to his right, dressed in blues and purples. To his left, a group of women dressed in pinks and yellows, frosted with jewels arranged in elaborate patterns of light and sparkle.
One man came forward, hand extended. “I am Council Leader Vaiden.”
Toby shook his hand, but did not know what to do or say.
Beside Vaiden was a tall, thin woman with skin the color of wax. “My wife, Mirra,” he said.
“Ma’am.”
She looked as if she smelled something foul,
Vaiden turned to the gathered crowd. Many from Coldtown had run around the castle and entering the south gate.
Vaiden stretched out his arms, and the mob grew quiet.
“A most wondrous day.”
The crowd erupted.
“I am pleased to introduce,” he scanned the crowd, “Messenger Tobias - the Second!”
The cheer was deafening.
The applause slowly died down. Everyone on the balcony took a step to the side. Toby looked around for a moment.
Teacher said, “Say something.”
“I...”
“Begin with ‘People of the Realm.’”
Out of the side of his mouth, “Then what?”
Teacher put on his Don’t be a moron face.
Toby stepped to the railing and looked out. He’d only seen a crowd like this at a rock concert, but not from the stage.
He raised his hands. “People of the Realm!”
The crowd exploded with applause.
He smiled and waved. The applause increased again.
He raised his arms again, and the applause died down. “Thank you. Thank you.”
His mind was a total blank. He almost looked at Teacher, but he’d have his get on with it face, which was as fun as his you are dumber than dirt face.
“I am honored.”
The crowd exploded again.
He thought about new beginnings, new chapters, but his instincts screamed, ‘Get off the stage.’
He held up his hands again. “I will try to make you proud.”
A thunderous cheer bounced from the castle -to the curtain wall- and back.
He stepped back and waved.
Something pulled his tunic.
Raymond said, “Wave bye-bye,” and pulled Toby toward a different door.
“Nice and short.”
“Thanks.”
“It shows you aren’t too cocky.”
“What?”
“You didn’t already write your speech.”
“You mean the speech no one told me about?”
“That, too.”
Lela hugged him and brushed her lips across his. “Thank you.”
“What happened? How did you get down there? Where did those Spiders come from?”
“I don’t know. I was in the Keeper’s Room, and I woke up in the Cavern.”
Her face changed as if she were afraid to talk here, in front of certain people.
More questions plagued his mind: Someone shifted her. Raymond has the only other travel amulet, or is there another?
Raymond was capable of many things. Could he put his sister in such danger?
Maybe the One finally had a new amulet.
The One said many things, some of which were true. And the most convincing lies are mostly true.
The Orb’s message was correct. The ceiling was sky blue. The dangers were hairy. She sure looked dead.
He was wary of the blue Ice Creatures, but of trusted have dread. Who did he trust?
He scanned the crowd, moving into the ballroom.
“Over here,” said Carrick, pointing to a room with tables, a crowd of people, and a string quartet. It was a celebration.
“Don’t I get to clean up?”
“No.” Carrick ushered him toward the door. “The Ruling Council has a custom. If a Candidate gets to the third Test, they throw a party.”
“When was the last one?”
“Many decades ago.”
“What if I had died?”
“It’s still a party.”
“Perfect.”
“You think this is about you?”
“Not anymore.”
Carrick cast his eyes at the best-dressed people clustered at the front. “This is about them: the best people seeing and being seen by all the best people. If you were one of them, you would know it.”
“Teacher said something about the work beginning.”
They entered the large room. Carrick leaned closer. “Your training is about to get serious.”
Toby wanted to challenge that piece of information when the highest of the high greeted him with polite applause.
For the next hour, Toby shook hands with people he’d know if he’d grown up here, and he’d better remember the names later.
The food smelled wonderful, but he never got close to a plate.
He got a cup of a green liquid. It wasn’t good, but it was wet.
Teacher Sklavos walked up, accompanied by a tiny woman with short white hair and kind eyes.
“Tobias, this is Madame Strunk. She will be your teacher.”
“You and I are finished?” Toby said.
Teacher and Madame shared a look. “He is still Teacher. I am your schoolteacher. My classroom is in the West Wing.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“I’ll see you when you return.”
He looked at Teacher, but Vaiden’s wife... Her name was... Mirra, gave Teacher an earful.
To Toby’s amazement, Teacher’s ruined face stayed passive. As she became animated, Teacher grew quieter. He even smiled.
She said something about testing is not over.
“Testing never ends,” Teacher said.
She pointed a bony finger at Toby and noticed Toby was still standing there.
She sneered, “This is a private conversation.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
Before Toby could reach a serving line, Raymond pulled him to meet another array of faces.
Finally, Toby saw Teacher heading for an exit and followed.
In Teacher’s room, Toby wanted to ask about Mirra’s malfunction, but had a better question, “Why did Madame Strunk say I’ll see her when I return?”
Teacher pulled some scrolls. “Don’t you want to see your parents?”
“Well, yeah, but...”
Teacher kept reading.
“Answer me!”
Teacher cut his eyes at Toby. Without blinking, Teacher slowly stood up. “Who - do you think you are?
Toby pulled open his tunic to show his absent-minded Teacher-
“No. Your education has barely begun.” Teacher took a couple of breaths. “Those cheers and handshakes mean nothing. You — are even more vulnerable now.”
Toby looked straight into those gray eyes, but couldn’t hold the stare. He wanted to accuse Teacher of being jealous, but that wasn’t it.
Teacher was right.
“I’m sorry. I am not questioning you. I don’t understand what’s happening. Can you help?”
Teacher took a deep breath. “You begin the next phase of your studies and training when you return. Get some rest; you will need it.”
“When can I leave?”
He sniffed the air. “I’d clean up first.”