The Magi (The Magi Series) (41 page)

Paul and Isaac said goodbye to Elijah and made him promise to visit them during the summer. Elijah promised Isaac that he would spend a day at the stables with him, which didn’t really sound like fun, but he went along with it to make Isaac happy. Paul talked Elijah into going hunting in the woods with his unused crossbow, and Adam wanted his adopted parents to meet Elijah. Even Hannah made sure the boys came to see them.

“Now if any of you have a birthday this summer, you should all come over. Elijah, I know you have one. And you too, Isaac. I’ll make a cake even,” Hannah said cheerfully. This sounded great to Elijah, whose birthday was only a couple of weeks away. He loved cake. Plus, it was an excuse to see Hannah.

As he packed up, Elijah thought about how much he was going to miss the barracks. He was going to miss seeing his friends every day. He thought of all the things waiting for him when he returned. He had trainings to master. He had new concepts to learn. And, he apparently had a sphere to help find. But that would all have to wait until after the break. For now, it was time to rest and enjoy the company of family.

When the term ended, Uncle Stan came to pick Elijah up to walk him to the Roddick residence. Elijah’s friends all shook hands with his uncle, and everyone said goodbye on their way home for the break. As Elijah and his uncle were on their way back, Elijah decided to ask him about the summer living situation.

“I actually wanted to talk to you about that,” said Uncle Stan as they walked. “I’ve thought about this for a long time, but I’m afraid I’m not sure what I can do here.”

“You mean in Savenridge?”

“Yeah. I’m pretty much useless here. I’m a marshal. That’s what I do. I live to beat up on Maliphists.” Elijah smiled at Uncle Stan’s attempted humor. “So I wanted to ask what you thought about me stickin’ around for part of the summer and then going back to bein’ a marshal again?”

“Where would you live?” Elijah asked. “You can’t go back to your old place, can you?”

“Oh, I’ll think of something. But before I figure out what I’m gonna do, I wanted to ask you first. The Roddicks said that they would look after you, and during the training year, you’d be living at the barracks anyway.”

Elijah felt sad, but he kind of expected this conversation at some point. It made sense that his uncle needed to leave. The only thing keeping Uncle Stan in Savenridge was him, and he didn’t want to keep him somewhere he didn’t belong. He would miss him, though.

“As long as you promise to be careful, and visit lots, I’m okay with that,” said Elijah. “But you should stick around at least until my birthday.”

“I wouldn’t dare miss it,” said Uncle Stan. He put his arm around Elijah and gave him a pat on the shoulder. Elijah walked side by side with his uncle through the great fields of Savenridge, his father’s pocket watch thumping his leg with each step. At that moment, there wasn’t a boy in the world who was as happy as Elijah. As he walked into Master Roddick’s house, he was greeted enthusiastically by Mrs. Roddick and two very impatient girls, who had been waiting by the window for him to appear.

“He’s here! He’s here!” they squealed. Elijah dropped his bags and embraced the people that had become his family. He loved them all more than he ever thought he would when he first came to Savenridge. Master Roddick grabbed Elijah’s bag, and they all entered the house continuing to exchange warm greetings—and an occasional squawk from the girls.

As Elijah reached back to close the door behind him, he was glad to be home with a family—his family. Although they would never replace his parents, they were there for Elijah in the midst of the most difficult time in his life. They cared for him when he needed caring. They listened to him when he needed someone to talk to. They found him and loved him like a family should—and because of that, Elijah Hawk considered himself very lucky indeed.

****

BRIDGE

Somewhere very far from Savenridge or Malpetra…

A young man, dressed in a silver and black cloak, held out a lit torch in front of him as he scanned a massive tunnel. Surely, he thought, this was where it was hidden. After years and years of searching, it appeared that he found it at last. But there was so much to search. The tunnel was made of solid rock, and it led way down into the earth. Where he would end up, he didn’t know. But he was much closer than he had ever been.

Not knowing what tricks and secrets awaited him under the earth, he left his men outside the narrow tunnel. If he did not return, they were instructed to leave and wait for another that was as qualified as him. He was, after all, one of Luther Cain’s most trusted officials. It was only a matter of time until Cain came to power, and the young man knew that a position of high responsibility would await him. He was loyal and very skilled, and he figured Cain would need someone like him—someone he could trust.

Farther and farther the young man entered until the tunnel finally opened up into a giant room with the entrance to six new tunnels ahead. The torch he held waved in front of each of the openings as he tried to decide which one to take. He was confused and nervous. In his other hand, he held copies of pages, torn from a diary that belonged to a teenage girl. He held the fire up to the pages, rereading what he believed to be the most significant parts. The parts that led him here. The pages explained that this was the place to find the sphere, but nowhere did he read about this room. Where did he need to go?

After careful thought, he realized he had to make a choice. He chose the tunnel farthest to the left. If the tunnel led nowhere, he hoped he could find his way back to this room and try another. But what if he couldn’t find his way back? It was too late now to think about that. He was committed. Taking a deep breath, the young man held out his torch and took his first steps into the dark passage…

####

About Kevin M. Turner

Kevin M. Turner is a middle school English teacher and a professor of philosophy and education. He currently lives in California with his wife and daughter and two dogs.
The Magi
is the first installment in
The Magi Series
. Look for
The Sphere
, the second book in the series, coming soon!

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