Warriors of the Black Shroud by Peter Howe Read Free Book Online Page B

than he was dreaming again. Now he was mounted on a gleaming white unicorn, a proud animal with a long, flowing mane, and it walked with great dignity through cheering crowds that thronged the streets of the Kingdom. Riding next to him on his right side was Eddie astride a similarly magnificent animal, only this one was a creamy color. The young prince held his sword aloft. Walker suddenly realized there were arms around his waist, and that he was not alone on the unicorn. He looked over his shoulder and there was Frankie. She winked at him.
    â€œSee?” she said. “I told you we could do it. Aren’t you glad now you brought me with you?”
    The two animals made their way down the long avenue to the courtyard of the palace. The king’s empty throne stood in the middle of the yard with the stern figure of Lumina behind it. The two unicorns stopped, waiting for their riders to dismount, when suddenly white wings sprouted from the shoulders of the one ridden by Walker and Frankie, and the animal began to rise in the air. Walker looked down to see Eddie watching them and grinning. Up and up the unicorn flew and the Kingdom got smaller and smaller until it could no longer be seen. They flew into clouds and one of them formed itself into the face of the king. He smiled at the two children.
    â€œAll is well,” the cloud said. Then Walker woke up and it was morning.
    He dressed quickly and went down for his breakfast.
    â€œMy, you look full of vim and vigor,” his mother observed.
    â€œYeah, I’m good,” Walker said. “I think I’ll go and see if Frankie’s around.”
    â€œI’m so glad you like her,” his mother said. “She seems like a lot of fun.”
    But it wasn’t the prospect of seeing his new friend that had energized him. In fact he wasn’t sure why he felt so invigorated, but he thought it had something to do with the dreams, even the bad one. He set out for Frankie’s house, but then decided to go by way of the orchard to see if any apples were ripe yet. He rounded the corner of the barn and there was Eddie.
    â€œSo,” the prince said, leaning his hands and his chin upon the handle of his sword, “you’ve got yourself a girlfriend, have you? You are a lucky lad.”
    â€œShe’s not my girlfriend,” Walker protested. “She’s just a friend. Anyway, how do you know about her?”
    â€œAh well,” said Eddie mysteriously, “I know a lot of things—not that it does me much good when I have to deal with a stubborn fellow like you. It’s all very frustrating. Here I find the one person who can help save the Kingdom after centuries of looking, and you don’t want to be king—why not, I can’t imagine. Most people would kill to be king; in fact I know some who have. Then I come back to the Outerworld to find you cavorting around with some girl.”
    â€œI wasn’t cavorting,” Walker protested. He wasn’t quite sure what cavorting involved, but he was pretty certain that neither he nor Frankie had been doing it. “She’s just my friend—the first friend I’ve ever had.”
    â€œI know, I’m sorry,” Eddie said, his shoulders suddenly slumping in despair. “I’m sure she’s great, but don’t you see? The Kingdom may be in peril, and if it goes down, if the Black Shroud triumphs and the Source is extinguished, then my last hope for redemption goes with it and I will be lost for eternity.”
    â€œYou’ll be what?” said Walker.
    â€œNothing,” the young prince replied. “I’m just worried, not just for myself but for all those good people in the Kingdom. Anyway, you’ve known me longer than you’ve known her so if anybody’s going to be your friend it should be me.”
    Walker was amazed that Eddie thought of him as a friend, but shocked at what else he said.
    â€œWhoa. Back up a bit. What