Backyard Dragons Read Free Page B

“So we actually have been walking forever.”
    Justin smirked. “I’m just not putting very much effort into willing it to take us where we want to go. The Palace works on the will of the Knights. Everything here is that way. If you want a towel, you focus, and poof, you get a towel. If you want a chicken sandwich, you visualize the parts and they appear so you can assemble them. Don’t ask me how that fills your belly, because I don’t get that part. The point is, whatever you want, you can imagine it and have it, so long as it isn’t a living creature.
    “The trick is, whatever you create here can’t go back to the real world with you. It’s a figment of the Palace’s imagination, so to speak. Again, I don’t understand the food. Anyway, in order to get something that’s permanent outside the Palace, you have to work for it. That’s the hard part, and why we need a specific place to do it.”
    Though she heard all the words and grasped their individual meanings, Claire couldn’t quite wrap her head around the whole idea. She looked up at Justin, which didn’t help. He stopped, so she stopped too. They faced an open archway into a small, dark, empty stone room.
    Justin walked in and beckoned her to follow. “Have a seat.”
    She stepped inside and sat where he pointed, her back against the wall. “I thought we’d be banging on metal with a hammer or something.”
    “Nope. That would be too simple.” He grinned and waved a hand from the top of the arch to the floor. As he did, the stone filled in the arch, and the room went pitch black. “To start, see if you can make light for the room. Think about what light looks like and demand the Palace create it for you.”
    “Um, sure. Palace, gimme some light.”
    “In your mind, Claire. You can say it out loud, but the important stuff will all happen inside your head. Picture the color of light you want, then apply your demand as thoughts directed at the walls, the floor, the air, or whatever else works for you. When I first started, I felt stupid thinking at the wall. But it works.”
    Claire could see how Justin felt stupid doing this. She felt stupid too. If he said it worked, though, she’d try. She thought about her favorite color: green. It made things seem more alive and vibrant, and complemented the slight olive tone of her skin. The color also reminded her of Justin’s emerald cloak and his protection. He’d welcomed her into his home and taken care of her, so far.
    She had no idea how to demand green from the Palace, so she just thought about how much she’d like some green light right now. In her hands, a spark of emerald light flared into existence, revealing Justin’s approving face.
    “Good. Want it bigger, and it will be.”
    His praise bolstered her, and the light flared to fill the space. “Hey. I did that.”
    “You did.” Justin beamed as he sat across from her. “Now do the same thing, only imagine a sword in your hands. Try not to stab me with it.”
    Pleased with herself, Claire straightened. She patted Enion’s head, wondering how he could stand staying so quiet and still for so long. He made a noise in his throat that sounded like purring, so she knew he hadn’t fallen asleep. Patience was apparently one of his virtues.
    “A sword, right.” She nodded, then she frowned. “What should a sword look like?”
    “It can look however you want. You’ll be the one using it. The basic parts are a hilt to hold onto, a guard to keep your hand safe from a corrupted Phasm’s blade, and the blade itself.”
    Claire thought about Justin’s sword. He used a straight blade with a plain, no-nonsense hilt. Her father’s, as she recalled, had been more ornate, with carving along the blade and a fancy guard. As she considered what to make hers look like, she couldn’t stop questions from popping up.
    “Why do we use swords? I mean, why not baseball bats or guns? Swords are kinda old school, and from the training you’ve given me so