The WishKeeper (The Paragonia Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and saluting.
    “Yes, right sir. Of course, sir”, he reacted.
    The years had not been kind to Beren, but Shea’s growing rebellion didn’t help his aging process. He looked even more exhausted on this particular day, his dead wife’s birthday and all. His hair was streaked with grey and his eyes revealed too many sleepless nights. “How’s the trainee doing?”
    “He needs assistance, sir. He’ll be surrounded any…” the nervous Sentinel started.
    “At ease. Sit,” Beren said as he picked his teeth with a stick. He bent over and eyed the surveillance screen that showed Thane still crouching.
    “It’s Thane’s fourth Keeping trial. He blows this one, he’s done. No aid,” he said.
    “Yes, sir. He actually has a wish this time, sir. A Purity.”
    Beren rolled his eyes at the news. A Purity. Not much of a challenge. He removed the stick from his teeth and looked a little closer at the monitor. Indeed, there was the little pink wish.
    “Better get goin’, kid.”
     
    *       *       *       *
     
    Mustering as much courage as he could, Thane slapped the bark of the tree, trying to pump himself up.
    “Here we go, Thane. Last chance to - whoa!” he jumped back just as a green spell blasted the side of the tree, missing his face by inches. He sharpened his eyes to a squint and dashed off the branch, soaring toward the oak. Green spells lit up the darkness of the frozen forest as he dodged, twirled and lunged for the glowing Gate. Crashing to a thud at the base of it, the wish bounced out of his arms. A Lost Fairy’s spell exploded, just missing the floating wish. Thane was lucky this was a Purity, it floated right back to him. He cast a wrangling spell around it and pulled it in.
    “No, no, no, get back here!”
    He gripped it tight and pulled it close as he looked out at the snow-soaked forest.
    Hundreds of Lost Fairies dangled from branches, loosely holding grappling spells and hanging from every tree like bats poised to pounce. They were waiting patiently, daring him to make a move.
    “Oh boy.”
    Thane slowly aimed his wand as if to fire, but instead quickly turned toward the tree behind him and blasted a spell. It connected to the vibrating Gate. Blinding white light beamed and filled the forest. Thane smiled at his hungry attackers as they covered their faces and fell from the trees like dazed gnats. He laughed and, shoulder first, hurried through what he thought was an open Gate but, “Ow!” He slammed his face against the tree. It didn’t open.
    “Oh come on!” he begged. He slammed his shoulder into the tree again as if trying to open a locked door. The light of the Gate slowly faded and the Lost Fairies recovered, blasting back into the trees.
    “Open! Open please!” he cried and slammed his shoulder into it repeatedly. Nothing but solid tree bark.
    A deep black shadow slowly crept over him, blotting out the light of the Gate entirely. Thane turned and looked. Directly in front of him, stemming from the snowy ground and growing ever larger, was a black hooded, enormous shadow. Erebus morphed into his hooded shape and peeked bright red eyes out of a hooded cloak. At one time Erebus was human, but since his fall into greed, his evil changed him into nothing more than shadow. Thane knew all about Erebus and the WishingKing’s downfall. He was barely seven years old when Erebus was cast away, and the True Love Wish was destroyed. But even though he knew about Erebus, and had heard the stories of his demented control over The Other Side, he had never seen him before. Very quickly he was reminded why he never wanted to. He could only stare, fighting unexpected tears, as the shadow of their one-time king towered over him and smiled an evil grin.
     
    *       *       *       *
     
    The WishSentinel covered his face with his hands, this time sincerely worried about the recruit, but he couldn’t watch.
    “Why isn’t the gate opening?” he cried.
    “Whose