The Ascension (20 page)

“I have known for a few years now. In part, that is why I created Wordwick. I wanted to leave a meaningful legacy for al the worlds. Of course, as my daughter, you are heir to al of it.” Gem shook her head, and Henry could see the tears that trailed their way down his daughter’s face.

“No. You can’t. It isn’t…”

“Fair? I know.” Henry did something he hadn’t been able to do in years, and stood, enfolding his daughter in a tight hug. “I didn’t want to tel you like this, but events are getting out of control.” He looked around his study, at the chaos of paperwork that went with it. “Believe me, running Wordwick isn’t easy at the best of times. You’l certainly need al the help you can get.”

Gem pul ed back from him.

“I don’t care about any of that,” she insisted.

“My father’s dying. My friends are trying to kil each other. My kingdom is under attack. How could I care about a game?”

“Because the fates of al the worlds are bound up with it,” Henry said simply, “and you aren’t someone to run away from that, Gem.”

Gem shook her head.

“I ran before.”

“You ran to save yourself. To save others, I think you’l stay.” Henry felt a touch of wetness on his own cheek. “I wish I had been able to spend more time getting to know you. I only hope that there wil be time now, though I fear we wil both be occupied.”

“With what?” Gem asked, and Henry found himself proud of the note of readiness he heard there. Al this, and his daughter was stil ready to do what had to be done for the sake of everyone. He what had to be done for the sake of everyone. He wished that he had been so strong, sometimes.

“With finding someone who can truly deal with the more
pernicious
effects Wordwick throws up, though I find myself almost wishing that it could be you, Gem.”

“I thought I was your heir?”

Henry smiled gently, reaching out to take his daughter’s hand in his.

“Oh, you are. Don’t worry about that.

Unfortunately, running Wordwick wil require a special combination of talents that not even you possess alone. I have spent so much time scouring the worlds to find the perfect person. In fact, going to Myriad proved very useful in that respect.” Henry waited while realization dawned in his daughter’s expression.

“You mean,” she asked, “that you went to Myriad just to find someone?”

“Oh no,” Henry replied. “I told you the truth before. There are problems in the program that need to be fixed. Entanglements between the worlds that need to be disentangled. If that put me in a position to find the perfect… candidate, then that was an added bonus. And of course, the Winter Queen thought I was doing it al just for these,” he tapped his new legs, “so she never suspected the truth.” Gem stood there, open-mouthed.

“So who is it?” she demanded, before pausing. “Hang on, there’s only one person you would have to go to Myriad to col ect, and that’s…

Devon?”

Henry nodded.

“Exactly. Who else could it be? He is so many things, bundled together, as I hope you wil have time to find out.”

“But Devon is gone,” Gem insisted. “He fought Goolrick and disappeared.”

“I know,” Henry replied, “and I stil cannot make up my mind if that is the best thing that young wizard of yours has done, or the worst. It kept Devon safely out of the fight, but it has also lost him for now.

He must be found again before something happens to him.”

Gem gave him a long look.

“You make it sound like there is something terrible in store.”

Henry could only nod.

“I’m not
prescient
, but I’m not stupid either. I have seen the signs for a while. There are dangerous times ahead, Gem. Times that wil require Devon to steer the worlds through. Finding him has to be our top priority.”

“I know he’s important…” Gem began. Henry raised a hand to cut her off.

“I’m serious, Gem. Devon’s safety has to come before anything else. We have to find him, and then you have to devote your time to making sure he comes through this war alive. Even if it means choosing his life over mine.”

Gem shook her head.

“It won’t come to that.”

Henry sighed, looking straight at his daughter.

“That’s the trouble, Gem. I’m almost certain that it wil .”

********

Dangerous quests, unfathomable destinies,
unquestionable friendships, and forbidden love…

the Wordwick Gamers story continues in the next
book of the Wordwick Games Series
book of the Wordwick Games Series
The Return

June 2011

Ruler Words

The Return

Featured over 550 SAT Words

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