Ben the Dragonborn Read Free Page A

They wisely left the castle and went back to their dorm room.  The next day the two friends were called into Phil Tanner’s office and given two months detention starting that very day.  They reported to the kitchen and worked for an hour before and after supper.  As they peeled and scrubbed they talked quietly of what it might all mean. Why were there books in the library about imaginary worlds?  The guess they both agreed on was the idea that it was an elaborate game, where those in the know were assigned to a world. They speculated that each person developed a character in a role playing game.  They were determined to find out how one got included in this special group.  The whole idea of a role playing game sounded like a lot of fun. They decided not to tell anyone about what they had seen, while trying to find out what secret society some students had been invited to join. They tried to talk to the students who were able to go into the special part of the library but were rebuffed.  Allison went out of her way to avoid them after they asked several times why Allison could go into the library and they couldn't, why the bell rang for her and not for them. 
    Three days later, Ben and Denzel finished their detention in the kitchen and were heading up the stairs to the library when the special bell rang again. They watched as students and teachers filed past them and went up the stairs to the meeting hall.      
    “Come on,” Denzel said. “Let's see if Allison will talk to us.”    
    “She won’t talk,” Ben said. “We’ve already tried several times.” 
    “Allison, wait!” Denzel shouted. 
    Allison moved in front of some grade twelve students and continued up the stairs to the third floor.  Denzel tried to follow, but two older boys blocked their way, saying, “You’re not allowed on the third floor without an invitation.” 
    “How do you get an invitation?” Denzel asked. 
    “You’ll know when you do,” the older student stated.   
    Denzel and Ben stood and watched teachers and students climb the stairs into the great hall.  There were no other grade nines besides Allison included in the gathering.
    “Come on,” Denzel said, “We’re going to find out what’s going on up there.”
    “And how are we going to do that?” Ben asked.       
    “We’re going to look through a window,” Denzel stated. 
    “What window?” 
    “I’ll show you.”    
    Denzel led the way down the hallway. They passed Olivia Stewart, as she waited in her wheelchair for an ancient elevator to take her to the third floor. Denzel led Ben to the math classroom.  He opened a window and started to climb through.
    “What are you doing?” Ben exclaimed.
    “Putting the rock climbing we’ve been learning into practice.  Why do you think they teach us these things if we’re not supposed to use them? You comin’?”  
    “No! Definitely not!  I don’t want to break my neck.” 
    “I’ve always wanted to do this,” Denzel said as he stood on the ledge and searched for a handhold. 
    “Denzel! Don’t do it!” Ben spoke loudly. “Fall and you’ll be dead!”
    “Shhhh.  I’m not going to fall,” Denzel replied in a loud whisper as he began to climb. 
    Ben waited, wondering how he would explain his presence in the math classroom if a teacher came in, although that seemed unlikely as they were all on the third floor. 
    Denzel moved slowly up the rock wall, carefully searching for and finding handholds.  When Denzel reached the third floor window, he pulled himself up over the ledge to look in.  Denzel stared in amazement, until Mariah Templeton, the school principal leaned forward and looked directly at him.  Their eyes met and Denzel ducked, and lost his hold.  As his foot slipped he grabbed the window ledge with his right hand and dangled for a moment before finding a handhold to begin his climb down. Ben helped a shaken Denzel back in through the