Free Balance Keepers #1: The Fires of Calderon by Lindsay Cummings Page B

it,” Leroy said, nudging Albert. “Someone’s gonna know what your Tile means. You’ll see.”
    “Yeah, you’ll probably be, like, the coolest Balance Keeper ever, Albert,” Birdie chimed in. “I mean, besides me, of course.”
    Albert wasn’t so sure, but he nodded anyway.
    “Use these to hold your Tiles,” Trey said, handing them each a strong black cord. “And keep your Tile always around your neck; never take it off. Your Tile provides special abilities for you and you alone, but you must keep it with you to feel its power helping you in the Core. Do you understand?”
    Everyone nodded, and Albert, Birdie, and Leroy busied themselves stringing the cords through the holes in their Tiles.
    “They are part of you now,” Professor Flynn said as they worked. “And no one can ever use their power but you.”
    Albert was aware of his dad watching closely as he placed the Tile around his neck. He knew what his dad was wondering, because Albert was wondering it, too.
    What could it mean?

CHAPTER 9
Cedarfell and Treefare
    F arnsworth was waiting when they left the Waterfall of Fate. As soon as he saw them, he turned and led the way, the light from his blue eyes flickering against the dark walls.
    “That little dog likes to play follow-the-leader,” Trey said. “And he’s always the leader.”
    “I think he’s cute,” Birdie said.
    Farnsworth wagged his tail as if he understood he was being talked about.
    He led them across the Main Chamber of the Core, over the triangle bridge, and through a winding route of tunnels that Albert wasn’t sure he’d be able to remember. “Down that tunnel is the Library. That’s the place to be. Loads of action, and if you find the need to get in touch with home, you can always use the Phone Booth.”
    Albert smiled at that. He’d be able to check in on his mom at some point.
    A group of men in hard hats passed by them, holding blueprints on long, copper scrolls.
    “Maintenance men,” Trey noted. “There are lots of odd jobs in the Core: cleanup duty, the cooking staff, the nurses in the Infirmary. Loads more. We all work together to run this place.”
    The tunnels twisted and turned, this way and that way, until Albert felt like his brain had just gone on a roller-coaster ride. “I’m definitely going to get lost in this place.”
    Leroy grinned and slapped Albert on the back. “Two left turns, a right turn, duck and walk for thirty-seven seconds, stand up, and go right past the giant statue of some old wart-faced dude.”
    “I’m sticking with you from now on,” Albert said to Leroy. “That Synapse Tile is really working.”
    “Yeah, just don’t do something embarrassing around Leroy,” Birdie said. “He’ll never let you forget it!” Birdie punched Leroy in the shoulder and suddenly they were all hitting one another playfully as they made their way down the hallway.
    There were torches everywhere, casting a pale blue glow throughout the Core as they walked. Every so often, the tunnels would open wide into mouths of space, as if they were yawning. There were statues of strange creatures—a rabbit with four antlers on its head, a monkey with six arms. The strangest of these statues had the body of a round man and the face of a toad.
    “Frog man makes me nervous,” Leroy said as they passed by.
    “Wait until you meet him in person,” Trey replied, staring up at the strange statue. “He’s a crafty one. Hard to predict.”
    “You mean that thing is for real?” Albert asked, glancing around as if a living, croaking version of the statue might jump out from a hiding place in the shadows.
    Trey didn’t answer as they moved on, passing a room full of long rows of tables. A man no taller than Albert’s thigh stood near an old oak desk at the front, polishing a glowing, silver sword.
    “That’s Professor Bigglesby.” Trey nodded into the room. “A dwarf born and raised in the Core over one hundred fifty years ago. He’s still an exceptional fighter.