The spider crawled slowly up the leg of the teacher’s desk. The clock on the wall ticked in time to the inching of the spider inch/tick…inch/tick….

In the last minutes of Mrs. Kettlebaum’s eighth grade class, a tall boy with sandy blond hair slept, slightly drooling, on his history books. Then the last bell rang. The class thundered out the door leaving the boy still asleep.

“Ben, what am I going to have to do to keep you awake, hire the circus?” Mrs. Kettlebaum towered over him.

“No Ma’am, a clown would be enough,” he yawned and dashed out the door as Mrs. Kettlebaum yelled to get more sleep. It wasn’t that the conquistadors weren’t interesting; he just like his dreams better. His unconscious mind could take him on adventures anywhere from space, to Mt. Everest. He was still thinking about his latest dream as he walked home from school through Cardigan Park. It had involved riding a T-Rex through the shopping mall, swarming with clones of his brother’s girlfriend. Ben had a special knack for remembering these dreams. He wrote them down in a journal and planned to eventually create a book.

He was so caught up with his fantasies, he didn’t notice a strange misty cloud floated down from the high dense ones. As he bent down to tie his shoes, it hovered over him and Ben felt himself falling into nothingness where concrete sidewalk had been moments before. He tried to scream but couldn’t. He wondered if he was falling down or up. Just as he come to the conclusion that he was dreaming and had fallen asleep while bending over his sneakers, he hit ground and heard several something’s crack.

His mouth was filled with dirt … real dirt. Okay, what happened? Ben stood up shakily. His chest hurt and the bridge of his glasses was broken. He held the pieces of spectacles to his astonished blue eyes and took in his surroundings. He was in a forest with tall oaks and supple birches. Leafy bushes were scattered over with shiny berries. The leaves were tinged yellow, a sign of fall. Just like in Cardigan Park! Maybe he had fainted or something. Maybe he fell asleep and fell down and broke his glasses. Ben was feeling very reassured by two ordinary looking squirrels scampering across the branches until he turned around.

Her hair was long and black. Feathers and bits of leather were braided into its depths, framing her small tan face. She was tall and slim with strong sinewy limbs and slender fingers that were bared into claws. She wore a worn leather tunic and a necklace of sharp jagged teeth and beads. She had dark brows, a small pointed chin, and long eyelashes that bordered her fierce green eyes, as sharp as the spear she carried. Ben gulped as she growled menacingly.

“Oh man,” Ben muttered. He knew he was in serious trouble. He didn’t have a clue where he was and this strange girl meant business. She advanced on him slowly, eyes locked in a hunters gaze, like a lioness hunting gazelles. The pounce would come any second. Ben scrambled to his feet but was caged in by trees. Any moment now. A shout shattered the girl’s concentration.

“CARA, NO!” A boy about Ben’s age sprinted through the trees he wrestled the spear away from her, and then hissed into her ear. She froze, and then a look of indifference crossed her face.

“Sorry, I thought you were…. someone else,” she said breezily. Then she pushed the boy away and stalked out of the clearing. Ben got up, his legs trembling. The boy introduced himself.

“I’m Jamal, and I guess you met my twin sister Cara,” he apologized for the incident. Jamal was also dressed in skins. His hair was shaggy and lighter than his sister. He had deep brown eyes and seemed stronger than his slim body looked.

“Ben. Where am I?” Ben asked the boy.

“The Centurion Forest, but we should leave now; the wolves come out at dusk.”

Wolves? Ben looked up. Already the sky was darkening and the sun glowed like a dying ember. Jamal took Ben’s sleeve and urged him into a run. They sprinted through the trees. Cara was already ahead of them. Ben looked back. He felt reluctant to leave the clearing where he had come from, as if he was leaving any chance to go home. He was confused, scared, had been nearly skewered by a strange girl. And was now running hard through the forest where bloodthirsty wolves would soon be. The moon was up. It cast a silvery light through the trees. A howl erupted in the distance.

“Almost…there,” Jamal panted and Ben could see a light glowing far off. As they got closer, Ben could make out a small house jutting out of a stone cliff. The roof had rough wooden shingles and there was a lantern outside. Cara got there first and wrenched open the door. Jamal leapt over the small porch and Ben stumbled after him into the room. He bent down gasping and put his head between his knees.

Jamal handed him a cup made from an antler, filled with water. Ben gulped it greedily, and then looked around the room for the first time. There was a glass window with red embroidered curtains, a small kitchen area with a stove, shelves with an assortment of plates and bowls and cups, and a large stack of firewood in the corner. The house wasn’t nearly as small as he had thought at first. There was a large cave that the hut was built around. The rock formed natural ledges where jars of leather scrolls and books were stacked. The cave was dark and Ben couldn’t tell what was inside.

“Home sweet home,” Cara said icily, leaning against a rough wooden table. Jamal gave his sister a look; he began setting the table for three and loaded the stove up with wood. Cara lit a lantern inside the cave, and then disappeared around the corner. Ben could see a rosy glow light up the cavern.

“Don’t mind Cara. She’s been like that ever since our parents were killed by the wolves.”

“Oh…I’m really sorry,” Ben murmured. He thought of his own parents and brother. They must be worried sick. How many hours had he been gone?

“Here, I’ll show you around, since you’ll be staying here tonight.” Jamal pointed around the room. “That’s the kitchen where we eat,” he gestured at the table and chairs and that took up a corner of the room. There was also a woven carpet on the floor and various weaponry and cloaks, scattered by the door that had been locked. “And that’s where we sleep.” He pointed at the cave opening where Cara had gone.

“Um, thanks for rescuing me, I guess.”

“I couldn’t let you get eaten.” Or speared by his crazy sister. Ben thought. Cara reappeared in a different set of clothes. She wore a long cotton shirt with wide sleeves, a leather vest, woven leggings and leather boots. Around her waist was a belt with a knife in its scabbard. She still wore the tooth necklace. Then Jamal went into the cave, presumably to change, and Ben realized that this place wasn’t uncivilized. Cara seemed to read his mind and for the first time, gave a slight smile.

“You must have thought us barbarians at first.”

“Oh, yeah, a little bit.” Ben looked around the room again. There was a wooden cookoo-clock on the wall. But as the hour turned, a wolf came out and howled nine long cries and Cara’s face hardened again.

“I never take off this necklace. From each wolf I kill, I take one of their teeth. Revenge for my parents.” She moved to the stove and clanged a pot on top. Then she filled it with water and chopped some vegetables from a bucket.

Jamal came back wearing similar clothes, “When we go hunting, we need skins to hide our scent. It’s also good camouflage,” Jamal explained with a smile.

Cara reached up and pulled a rope dangling from the ceiling. A ladder unfolded and she climbed up, returning seconds later with a handful of smoked meat, that was dumped into a pot. Jamal cut up a loaf of bread and poured something into three cups. The siblings set the table and then sat down and Ben awkwardly followed their example. He took a sip from his cup and began coughing violently.

“Goat’s milk,” Cara smirked. The rest of dinner was excellent. Though Ben was so hungry, anything would have tasted good. The stew was rich and the bread filling.

Ben finally began to wake up from his exhausted daze. The full force of the situation hit him like a steam roller. He was having dinner with twins in a primitive house which he had to so as to escape from wolves. Maybe I traveled back in time, or at least to another world. His thoughts were interrupted by Jamal.

“Tomorrow, we will travel to Queenstown. We can ask the wizard where you came from, since you’re obviously not from here.”

“Wizard?” Ben asked. He was getting annoyed with not knowing anything about his surroundings, or whether or not this was all real, though by the cuts and bruises all over his body, he suspected it was. “I come from Massachusetts, U.S.A. We don’t have wizards or killer wolves or weird clothing. I want to know where I am!” Ben glared at the shocked twins. “Sorry,” Ben muttered. “I just really want to go home.”

Jamal was the first to speak. “I think that you got caught in some sort of portal. They appear sometimes in different worlds. The wizard can recognize where you’re from. Under the right conditions, he can send you back.” Ben remembered the sparkling haze that surrounded him before he fell into the clearing.

“And you are in the land of Darfhur, in the Centurion forest. Closest city: Queenstown.” Cara pulled a rolled up map from the shelves. She blew of the dust and opened it. There was a sea off to the north and mountains of the south. Ben could see the names Darfhur, various forests, and scattered towns. On the other side of the mountains, it read:

Diriskull

“What’s that?” Ben pointed.

The twins exchanged dark looks. “Home of Lord Diriskull, the evilest man in all the worlds, and lord of the wolves,” Cara spat.

Ben felt a chill run down his spine as an unearthly howl pierced the night.

G

That night, Ben lay awake in a pile of furs and blankets in the cave. He thought again about his parents. Where did they think he had gone? Did they call the police yet? My brother probably moved into my room. He thought dully. Then he rolled over and tried to sleep. They were traveling to Queenstown in the morning.

Ben blinked his sleepy eyes and sat up blearily. Jamal and Cara were bustling around the house finding supplies, packing food, and testing weapons. An arrow whizzed past his head and Jamal swore.

“Sorry Ben, the string is a little too tight.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up? I can help pack.” Ben threw off the blankets and tugged on his T-shirt. Cara scooped up an armload of clothes and threw them into Ben’s arms.

“You’ll blend in better,” she said as Ben held up breeches and a soft cotton shirt, the same outfit that Jamal wore. Jamal handed him a leather sheath with a light sword.

“I’ll teach you how to use it later,” he winked.

Ben changed into the new clothes, tugged on the boots and tightened the belt holding the sword. He caught his reflection in the still dark window. His hair was tangled with sap and the medieval outfit looked absurd. Ben groaned. He regretfully put his broken glasses into a pocket and went to help Cara shove a large piece of ham into a small bag.

An hour later, they were ready. Cara led a white mule out from behind the house.

“We keep Luella in a cave so the wolves don’t get her.” Luella tossed her head and looked at Ben with dark intelligent eyes. Ben had read somewhere that mules were smarter than horses because, while horses can run away from danger, mules aren’t fast enough and have to have a plan of escape. Ben stroked her shoulder, and appreciated that they would be traveling with at least one normal being.

The forest was peaceful in the day. Birds sang from branch to branch and the trees that had looked so menacing last night were tall and dappled in morning sunlight. Ben felt awake and happy. They traveled for about an hour, and then took a break next to a gurgling creek. Water leapt over mossy rocks and Ben sat on a stone, transfixed by the sparkling drops.

He didn’t notice a small creature sneaking up behind him until it gave a sharp tug, trying to snatch a shiny gem off the sword hilt. Ben turned around and shouted in surprise. The creature squeaked as well and promptly fell of the rock. Ben blinked and looked down. It was a little person, or something with a humanoid form. The thing looked stunned and Ben carefully picked it up by the collar. Six inches tall, it had brownish green skin, green hair, and wore a vest and breeches of leaves. A small acorn cap adorned his head and underneath it sprouted pointy green ears, one with a gold earring. The thing woke up and started squirming violently.

“W…what are you?” Ben looked furtively over his shoulder at where Jamal and Cara were talking. Luella was serenely drinking from the creek.

“Ain’t your business, nosy!” The creature shrieked. It glared at Ben through angry purple eyes. Jamal looked over at Ben, and then jumped up.

“You’ve caught a forest brownie.” The brownie twisted around and bit Ben’s thumb. He dropped it and the brownie began to scramble away before Jamal picked it up by the seat of its pants.

“Listen, you little thief, give back whatever you took!”

“Oh, he didn’t take anything.”

“Is true, is true!” the brownie cried. Little lavender tears trickled down its pointy chin.

“My mistake.” Jamal set the brownie down and tossed it a gold coin. Immediately, its eyes became giant violet orbs and it giggled in delight. Then it danced off the rock and under a nearby root, but not before it dropped a small bundle into Ben’s hand.

“Well, I’ll be.” Jamal looked in wonder at the small gift. They were walking along the creak, back on their journey.

“Brownies will give magical items to humans that have saved them, but it’s very rare,” Cara explained. “Consider yourself lucky.”

“I’ve never gotten anything before from the little imps,” Jamal said.

“That’s because you insult them and hang them by their knickers,” she retorted. Ben closed out their familiar arguing and smiled at the smooth green-blue stone in his hand. Cara said that they would ask the wizard what it was when they got to Queenstown.

Around noon, they had lunch. They had been walking for hours and Ben was beginning to feel tired and sore. They had walked into a bear when they went through a blackberry bush and Luella’s shoe had come loose. Jamal was tending to her hoof and Ben helped Cara set up lunch. They sat down together on a log with a bit of smoked ham and an apple. Cara took a swig from the leather wineskin.

“Where do they go in the day…the wolves?”

Cara frowned. Without looking at him, she answered, “They run through the mountains back to the Dark Castle to sleep.”

“Who did you think I was, in the forest when…?” Just then, Luella brayed and Jamal whooped.

“We’re good to go.” He helped himself to lunch oblivious to Ben and the sadness in his sister’s eyes.

They reached Queenstown at sundown. Ben hadn’t realized that it was an actual city and was amazed at the delicate towers and sturdy shops. He stood next to Luella on a grassy embankment overlooking the town and in the distance; he could see the faint smudge of craggy mountains and plumes of smoke illuminated by the dying sun.

“Let’s try to find an inn.” Jamal shouldered his pack and started to walk down the hill. Cara did the same, and with a shudder, Ben pulled his eyes away from the mountains where he knew Diriskull laid.

Ten minutes later, they were checked into the Traveler’s Inn.

“Mind you watch your valuables. This lots a bunch of dirty thieves.” Jamal gave a dirty look to a drunken man with a tangled crusty beard. They were led up a rotten stairwell and into three tiny rooms. Ben said goodnight to Cara and Jamal then flopped onto the creaky bed. It wailed and sighed as he shifted his weight. Ben reached into his pocket to finger the green-blue stone, but it was gone. Ben sat up and gave a cry. He rushed downstairs and was mobbed by the drunken party, who were now dancing and cheering to pipe and violin music. Ben searched vainly through the rowdy crowd and then saw a small cluster of men with tankards in their hands. The dirty beard man was holding the brownie’s stone up to the light.

“Hey! That’s mine!” Ben lunged forward and snatched the stone from the man’s fingers.

“Oh yeah, sez who?” The man slurred and swayed in front of Ben, his beer stained breath floating across his face.

Ben gulped, “Um…well it was given to me by a um brownie…and…” The men roared with laughter.

“Brownie, sure, and I just had crumpets with the Wizard of the Woods.” The man’s guffaws were cut short by a blast of wind and light and he was sent toppling over the table as a small wizened man stepped through the astonished crowd. He was dressed in a deep purple robe and his silver beard hung below his knees. The music stopped.

“I assure you that I’m not here for crumpets,” he remarked. Without another word, he took Ben’s arm and led him upstairs.

Ben followed, stunned. Then they came to his room and Jamal and Cara were already there.

“That was a daft thing to do,” Jamal said but he didn’t seem mad. Cara just glared.

“Your friends wrote to me yesterday. I arrived when you were getting this back.” He pointed to the blue stone. “May I?” Ben handed it over. “Very interesting….did you know you are the first human to be given a gift from a brownie in fifty years?” Ben shook his head. The wizard looked intently at his face, ice blue eyes piercing any questions Ben thought to ask. “Alas, it is indeed a rare and special thing. Now, let us discuss your appearance here and other matters.”

Within the next hour, Ben learned that he had been sucked into a time cloud and transported to Darfhur. He could go back, eventually, but because “…of the stone, it has aroused a prophesy centuries old. A boy not of this world, given the seeing stone, will rid the land of darkness and a man evil to the bone,” the wizard recited.

“I’m that boy?”

“That’s the seeing stone?” Cara wondered.

“Indeed,” the wizard said mildly.

There was a long pause. Then Ben asked, “What’s the seeing stone?”

“It’s a stone with magical properties that can allow them to cast defense spells and numerous other useful things.”

“And I have to use it against Diriskull?”

“It appears so,” the wizard replied. Then he conjured up four glasses.

“Honey mead?” and they toasted solemnly.

The next morning, Ben woke up with a headache and a clenched up stomach. He dressed and washed his face then walked downstairs. Jamal and Cara were eating and the wizard was there too, examining the stone.

“Mornin’,” Jamal grunted through a mouthful of bread.

“Ah, the hero is up,” Cara snapped. Ben was used to her cranky ways and just smiled cheerfully at her. They finished breakfast and began to pack. Luella was soon covered in bedrolls and gear. Then Jamal came out of the stable leading four brown horses. Ben gasped. He had always wanted to ride horses, but didn’t know how.

“Are … are we riding to Diriskull?”

“No, we were going to fly,” Cara smirked. The wizard stepped out of the gloomy inn, resplendent in robes of green. He carried a handful of pendants and gave one to each of them.

“It’s a rune of protection. Listen to it for it will keep you safe.” Ben pulled the clay pendant over his head. He tucked it under his shirt where it glowed warmly on his skin.

“Let’s mount up,” Jamal ordered and swung onto his horse. Cara did as well, a smooth graceful movement. Ben awkwardly clambered on. He looked dumbly at the reins.

“So, how exactly do you start this thing?”

After Ben was briefed on the conduct of horsemanship, they trotted down the cobble road and out of Queenstown.

The plan was to ride to the mountains, avoid the wolves and penetrate Diriskull’s fortress. Then they were to use the seeing stone to fight Lord Diriskull and try to win. It would take two or three days to cross the plains and mountains. Along the way, the wizard would teach Ben how to master the seeing stone. Then the tornado came.

They had left the outskirts of Queenstown and were galloping across the great expanse of dry grass when the horses began to spook. The slight breeze began to pick up and soon it was a fierce wind with bits of grass flying into their faces.

“Tornado!” Cara shouted, her hair whipped about her face, tangling with the horses mane. Ben looked behind them and saw a black funnel sucking up the distance between them.

“To the mountains!” The wizard cried. Ben spurred his horse, but it was already galloping franticly towards the mountains and it was all Ben could do to stay on as hoofs pounded the earth. The tornado chased them to the foothills then, like a sea monster losing its catch, sulkily died away. They dismounted shakily. The horses and Luella were gasping and lathered with sweat. Jamal cheered.

“We made it!” But the wizard looked out onto the plains, a worried look on his face.

“Indeed, but that wasn’t an ordinary tornado. I believe it was sent by Diriskull and has trapped us in the land of the wolves. He knows we’re here.”

That night, they camped in the foothills. Four bedrolls were circled around the fire and the horses were tied up with bells to warn of predators.

Earlier, Jamal had given Ben a lesson on swordplay and said that Ben was a natural. The wizard, who Ben realized he didn’t know his real name, showed him how to use the stone. For half an hour, Ben had shot colorful spells around the campsite.

Now it was dark and they were in Diriskull’s territory. They heard howls as they ate their dinner of dried meat. The wizard had put a shield around the campsite.

“They aren’t ordinary wolves, but ones cursed to obey every evil whim of Diriskull’s. They are very smart and good fighters. Be wary,” the wizard lectured. Cara’s eyes gleamed, and Ben wasn’t sure if it was the firelight. After planning some more, they went to bed, wary and afraid of the unearthly beasts around them.

They woke before the sun was up and quietly packed. Then they mounted up and set out again. The mountains were steep so they traveled through the dark valleys, occasionally following rivers. There were pines like the ones at home, but also strange trees with fruit that the wizard said was poisonous to humans.

“It’s Wolf Berry. If there isn’t enough prey, the wolves eat those.”

“I’ve heard they taste like meat,” Jamal whispered, riding next to Ben. They crossed a ridge and at the top, Ben saw a glimpse of a tower with a sickly yellow flag far off into the distance.

“Lord Diriskull is at home,” the wizard murmured.

They started down the rocky ridge and had reached a dense mass of trees when Ben’s rune prickled hotly. Luella brayed and the wizard pulled a slim wand from the sleeve of his robe. Ben was drawing his sword when a wolf burst out of the trees snarling. Immediately, the whole pack followed and attacked the travelers. Ben was cut off from the rest, surrounded by gray vicious wolves. He swung the heavy sword like Jamal had showed him and heard several yelps. Jamal was screaming war cries and Cara swung her weapon with experience, a grim expression on her face. The wizard simply pointed his wand and a wolf was blasted away.

Several times, a chunk was almost taken out of Ben, but the rune seemed to control him, making his leg jerk away just in time. His horse reared and stomped down on another wolf. Luella was fiercely kicking. At last, the two remaining wolves ran back through the trees, leaving the humans alone with the carnage. Cara reached down and swiftly cut a tooth from the nearest wolf.

“It is a shame. So many beautiful animals lost,” the wizard sighed.

Jamal looked incredulous. “Ben, when you defeat Diriskull, you will also be letting hundreds of wolves free from his powers. They will become regular animals again as it should be.”

They cleaned their swords and checked everyone over. Jamal had a small bite but his tough leather boots had protected him from the worst.

“Come,” the wizard said. “We should get there by evening.”

It really was a fortress. They had scaled a gray cliff and now the dank gray stone of the castle towered over their hiding place. There was a moat with a bridge that was up and wolves paced its walls.

“Now!” the wizard hissed and opened the gate soundlessly with his wand. They were inside. The twins unsheathed their swords. Then the wizard spoke. “The Lord’s chambers are on the fifth floor.” He pointed to a marble staircase in the middle of the stone hall, “Use the stone to guide you.”

“Wait, aren’t you coming?” Ben franticly asked.

“We can’t, Ben. The prophecy doesn’t allow it.” Cara gave him a distraught look. Then she stepped forward and gave him a quick hug. “Be careful.”

Jamal looked at his sister in amazement, and then shook Ben’s hand.

“Good luck. We’ll guard your back.” The wizard handed him the seeing stone.

“What’s your real name?” Ben asked. He wanted to know.

“I’ll tell you when you get back,” the wizard said gently, and then gave him a small push. Feeling like he had been sent to the gallows, Ben slowly ascended the stairs.

The second floor was very dark. Ben felt the rune tell him to duck several times past the small archery windows. He assumed wolves were outside. The stone cast a blue light on the rough floor, leading him to Diriskull. Ben felt his hands shake. The man was a powerful sorcerer. What would he do to a boy who, a week ago, thought that magic was only in dreams and comic books? Ben found his way to the third floor that was covered in statues of people and wolves. Then the fourth with a red stained glass ceiling that bathed the hall in a bloody red. A figure stepped out of the shadows. It was a teenage boy with brown hair and cold eyes.

“Oh, you made it past the wolves,” he sneered, pulling out a rapier. Who is he?

“And the tornado,” said Ben. He muttered a spell and before the other boy could react, it knocked him cold. Ben ran past the unconscious boy and found the final staircase. His heart thumped like a caged rabbit. Sweat ran down his forehead. Then he came to a heavy oak door, inlaid with complicated runes. Ben grasped the sword hilt and the stone, and with a wavering breath, pushed the door open.

He entered a high ceiling chamber. Drapes of velvet hung over a circular window that looked out over the mountains. There were columns and vases that gave the room a labyrinth feel. At the far end was a fireplace with a gigantic winged wolf above it. And silhouetted by the flames was a tall figure holding a wicked staff. Slowly he turned and faced Ben. His face was pale and gaunt with thin lips and a hooked nose. Bony hands grasped the staff. His hair was black, but ruffled and ridged and reminded Ben of wolf fur. Worst were his eyes, completely black and shiny, they gleamed with cruelty.

“So, the prophesied boy has come,” he hissed in a voice like wind screaming through a forest.

“I h-have.” Ben stammered bravely. He grasped the sword tighter.

“And does the little boy have the stone?” Ben remembered the wizard saying that the wizard said it would be easier to win by surprise. A plan formed in his mind.

“No. I lost it when the wolves attacked,” Ben lied.

“What a shame. It would be so much more amusing to beat someone with some power,” Lord Diriskull slashed the staff through the air, The rune of protection made Ben jump aside as the deadly spell sailed past. Diriskull kept attacking and Ben kept dodging until he could feel the spells growing weaker. Magic used up a lot of energy. Still, the sorcerer began to summon a great black orb. Ben realized he wouldn’t be able to dodge it. He rushed forward and whipped out the stone. It blazed with a sapphire light. Diriskull opened his mouth in a howl.

“You liar!” he shrieked. Ben felt the power if the stone growing, collecting. He was shimmering with it. All fear gone. He thought of the twins parents, Cara’s sadness, the enslaved wolves, and countless lives ruined by this man. With a surge of anger, he released the blue energy, it crackled through Diriskull’s orb and with a flash of light and a howl, and the man just disappeared. Ben sat down on the stone floor, panting. I did it!

He picked up the seeing stone and walked down the stairs, past the unconscious boy and back to the twins and the wizard whose futures would not be shadowed in darkness.

They were outside. Hundreds of wolves were running past them, this time howling with joy. The wizard had given him a knowing smile and didn’t mention anything about the fight.

“Oh, there’s a boy on the fourth floor who tried to stop me … I knocked him out.”

Cara stiffened.

“I’ll take care of him,” Jamal said grimly. He rushed back into the castle.

“That was the boy I thought you were in the forest. He’s Darryl, Diriskull’s nephew, and once my friend,” she said.

“What happened?” Ben asked quietly.

“He betrayed us to the wolves.”

The wizard came up behind Ben. “Well, the prophecy is complete. I can send you home now.”

“Oh.” Ben looked at Cara and Jamal returning with a limp Darryl, then the wizard. They were his friends.

“…But this will allow you to return,” the wizard handed Ben a small silver ring. “Just say my name.” The wizard bent over and whispered into Ben’s ear and Ben grinned. He stood at the edge of the cliff and waved at the twins. Cara and Jamal smiled and waved.

“I’m sure we’ll see you again,” Cara called as the wizard, now Grimslebard, cast him into the sparkling void.

Ben landed on his knees in Cardigan Park. It was night. Grimslebard had told him that time ran differently in other worlds. It was only two hours later here and he was still wearing the medieval clothes. Ben began to walk home. No doubt his mother was frantic. He thought back on his adventure and began planning his next journal entry. “As he bent down to tie his shoes, he was swept into a different world …” That sounded crazy enough. A smile crept up his face and he began to run home. q