one of those in our school band?â
âLook at that tightrope walker. Iâd love to walk a tightrope.â
These and many more things in the Kingdom captivated Frankie, who didnât seem to be the least bit worried about being in a strange world from which there was no guarantee of return. As they climbed the stairs Walker could hear her continuing commentary on everything they saw.
Luzaro met them in the hallway outside the antechamber.
âWelcome back, Your Highness, my lord,â he said, nodding to both the boys, âand welcome to you, Miss Frankie, as well.â
âHow does he know my name?â whispered Frankie to Walker.
âThey seem to know everything,â he answered.
âOooh, how spooky,â said Frankie. âEven that Iâm wearing the same socks as yesterday?â
âProbably,â Walker replied.
âYikes,â Frankie said. âIâm not sure I could live here.â
Then, as if to disprove all Walker had just told her, Fussingham came bursting through the curtain.
âJust one moment, just one moment!â he cried. âI have no record of this young woman. What is your name, child? I need details.â
âFrankie,â replied Frankie, without missing a beat. âActually Frances Livonia Hayes, but you can call me Frankie. Put down I was born in Mass General, you must know it, itâs that huge hospital, you canât miss it, and both my parents are lawyers, although actually my dad will probably be a judge soon, but my mom does real estate, and while she says itâs much more boring than criminalâthatâs what my dad does right nowâshe also makes much more money, in fact heaps of it, and although sheâll never be on the Supreme Court, which my dad could be although itâs unlikely, sheâs the one that paid for the house down the road from Walker, which is how I met him and how I came to be here.â
Fussinghamâs silver feather pen was scratching furiously over the pages of the book he carried wherever he went. She looked over his shoulder.
âNo,â she said. ââJudgeâ is spelled j-u-D-g-e .â
âMaybe, Fussingham,â said Luzaro impatiently, âyou could get this down later. The king wishes to see these three young people.â
âYes, quite,â replied Fussingham. âLater. Good idea.â
For the time being he was a beaten man.
Luzaro led them into the antechamber, which was empty of Lightkeepers or anyone else, and had a desolate look about it, as did the king. He was sprawled on his throne at the far end, and seemed distracted and tired.
âCome here, come here.â He beckoned them over. âI am glad to see you return, Chosen One. I understand that we cannot yet hope for you as our future king, but the fact that you are here once more is encouragement enough at a time when there is little else to find reassuring. Luzaro said this young lady persuaded you to come back, and for that we thank her.â
âI donât know how much persuading I did, King,â she said with unusual modesty, âbut Iâm glad I did. You have a very cool Kingdom.â
âAh, well, indeed there are chill winds blowing closer every day,â said the king, completely misunderstanding her. âIt is most troubling.â
Luzaro appeared at the curtain once more.
âThe Lightkeepers have returned, Your Majesty,â he announced.
âBring them in, Luzaro. Bring them in.â
The king turned back to the three children.
âOur situation gets graver by the moment, although I am the only one who seems to see it,â he said, âand I have much to decide with my counselors. Go with my page until I have finished with them. I must talk more with you, Chosen One, about whether or not you wish to be king.â
He sat up and yelled, âPage!â at the top of his voice. From the far end of the room Astrodor pushed open
Tara Lain
Christine Rimmer
Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake
Sue Monk Kidd
Peter Lovesey
Russell Elkins
M.A. Abraham
G. T. Almasi
Ryan David Jahn
Harlem Dae