Read Online The Search for Truth by Kaza Kingsley - Free Book Online Page B

“But you were the one arguing me into going in the first place.”
    â€œI know. I mean, you have to do it. I think. I just don’t want to…lose you.” Her face flushed bright red.
    Erec looked away, not wanting to embarrass her. “Look, I don’t want to lose me either,” he joked. “I don’t know what the right thing is to do. But hey,” he said, offering her a chocolate-chip cookie, “you’re my best friend no matter what happens. Always remember that.”
    Maybe that hadn’t been the right thing to say. Bethany’s eyes turned red. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m just worried something bad will happen.”
    â€œHey, I’ve got this thing.” He held the Amulet of Virtues out toward her. “It’s got to help a little.”
    Jack and Oscar appeared with big grins on their faces. “Problem solved,” Jack announced, dusting himself off like he was a trophy. “We got you safe passage, man. Now you owe us.”
    Oscar beamed. “This’ll work extra well, since I’m going on the quest with you too!”
    â€œHuh?” Erec looked at them. “What’s going on?”
    Jack strutted forward and peered into their basket. “Hmm, I don’t know, Oscar. I think they should give us a few brownies and some of those chocolate honey drops if they want to hear our good news. What do you think?”
    Oscar reached into the basket. “You’re right, Jack. A little food might make me more talkative.” He giggled and stuffed a cinnamon cookie into his mouth, but he couldn’t wait to tell the story of what had happened. With a full mouth, he said, “We talked to Janus! We can go early today and draw the quest before anyone else knows we’re there!”
    â€œWhat?” Erec could not believe his ears. “How did you get through to Janus? I thought he was locked up in the Labor Society building.” He felt better right away. Janus was the odd man who looked like he had been stranded for years on a desert island, whoguarded the side door of the Labor Society, the passageway to get to Al’s Well. He was the perfect person to help Erec.
    Oscar puffed his chest as if it had all been his idea. “You know how Jack’s gift is that he can talk to animals? Well, he got a mouse to take a note into the building. Mice can always find a hole or some way in. And it brought our note right to Janus. He opened the door and talked to us.”
    â€œHe wouldn’t let us in,” Jack said. “The guy seemed scared by the whole thing. He thought this might make him lose his job. But he knew what was going on, and he wants to help. He said that Baskania took Balor Stain into the Labor Society through the front door. The side door you go through wouldn’t let him in. And he marched him right up to Al’s Well. Al told him it wouldn’t work for Balor, but Baskania pushed Al out of his way and made Balor stick his hand into the well.”
    Oscar added, “He couldn’t find anything in it though. So Baskania performed magic on the well to make something come out of it. And you know how powerful Baskania is.”
    â€œYeah,” Bethany said. “But is he more powerful than the Fates?”
    â€œI guess not,” said Jack. “Because the thing that Balor found and grabbed out—” Jack and Oscar burst into laughter.
    â€œYeah?” Erec leaned forward.
    â€œWell,” Jack said, still laughing, “you know how Al’s Well looks just like a toilet?”
    Erec’s eyes widened. “You don’t mean he pulled out a…”
    â€œYup!” Oscar said gleefully.
    Imagining Balor’s face looking at what he had pulled from the toilet made Erec grin.
    â€œEww!” Bethany almost rolled off of the bench she sat on, laughing.
    â€œSo anyway.” Jack chuckled. “We’re going at five o’clock. Twohours