Good Ogre by Platte F. Clark Read Free Book Online

lot of time thinking about the Magrus lately.
    Puff nodded. “You should find this Wayne and convince him to go home—the sooner the better.”
    â€œHe mentioned something about football,” Max said. “I bet he’s meeting with the coach or practicing with the team or something.”
    â€œSarah’s right,” Dwight said. “Decline his offer and have him return to the Magrus. We all know how your blood gets us into trouble, and I don’t like the thought of a Shadric artifact so close.”
    â€œIf you do that, we can’t go back,” Dirk protested. “I’ll never get to see my statue.”
    Sarah lifted a brow, very curious about the statue Dirk was imagining.
    â€œThere’s always the long way back,” Dwight replied. “If there’s a need to ever return to the Magrus, we can.”
    â€œFine,” Dirk sighed, giving in. “Let’s go find him, then—”
    â€œNo!” Max interrupted, the word flying from his mouth before he had time to think. Sarah gave him an inquisitive look.
    â€œYou okay?” she asked.
    â€œYeah, sorry. Just sort of a stressful day.” An idea had taken root, but Max couldn’t share it with the others. “Look, I’m going to talk to Wayne, only by myself. I owe him that much.”
    Dirk didn’t look too happy about it, but he nodded. “Okay, Max.”
    â€œI’ll see you online later,” Max added. “Really, don’t worry.” He grabbed his things and headed out the door.
    â€œThat was weird,” Sarah said after he’d left.
    â€œYeah, tell me about it,” Dirk agreed.

    Max crossed Main Street and headed back to school, noticing storm clouds building on the horizon. They seemed to reflect the chaotic feelings stirring inside him. What do you do when home doesn’t feel like home anymore? What does family mean when you find out you’re not really who you thought you were? And what if what you want means leaving all your friends behind? Max kept thinking about the portal and the knowledge that Sporazo—no, his father—had created it. It was part of his inheritance, left to him over the ages. Max somehow knew that he’d be able to open the portal and get away from Madison.But leaving without saying good-bye . . . could he even do it?
    Yes . Because saying good-bye is too hard.
    Max rounded the corner and Parkside Middle School came into view. By the time he’d reached the front doors, he’d made up his mind.

CHAPTER FOUR
    STORM DOORS
    W AYNE WAS IN THE LOCKER room looking for shoulder pads big enough to fit him (the coach had said he’d find him a pair even if he had to go to the NFL). If the big kid was surprised to see Max, he didn’t show it.
    â€œCan we talk?” Max asked, wanting to get right to the point.
    Wayne nodded as he put the undersized shoulder pads down. The sound of muffled voices and a locker closing could be heard nearby. “Somewhere more private?” Wayne suggested.
    â€œYeah, good idea.”
    Wayne grabbed a leather satchel and he and Max left the locker room (besides being noisy it smelled like wet feet). They eventually found a quiet spot on the gymbleachers. Max couldn’t help but notice the rope stretching down from the ceiling—even just hanging there it seemed to be mocking him.
    â€œIs this about my offer?” Wayne asked.
    â€œYeah. It’s practically all I’ve been thinking about.”
    â€œDid your dwarf friend help?”
    â€œHe told us about the Shadric Portal and the fact that you had to be good to handle it.”
    Wayne reached into his shirt and removed an amulet that hung around his neck. It was silver and had a diamond-shaped stone that was misty gray in color. “The Amulet of Alignment,” he said, holding it up for Max to see. “It turns color based on your deeds: white for good and black for evil.”
    Max squinted at the