"You found a wormhole?" Zann exclaimed. "In Swamp Bottom?"
"Uh-huh." Perda looked pleased with herself.
"See, I've been practicing some spells since we got home.
Mostly Seeking spells and a few others." She shrugged.
"I've been thinking I might want to be an explorer someday, so I want to be ready."
Zann was surprised. Since when did Perda want to be an explorer?
But he didn't have time to think about that right now.
"So what happened?" he asked. "How did you find the wormhole?"
"I was using the Seeking spell to find the strongest sources of magic in Swamp Bottom," Perda said.
"Mostly the spell pointed me to the spots I expected—City Hall, your house, the spellstone quarry, places like that.
But there was one source I couldn't identify.
I went and checked it out, and that's when I found the wormhole."
"Wow!" Zann was impressed. Seeking spells were advanced magic—he didn't have any idea how to perform one himself.
"And you're sure it's a wormhole?" he added.
"Of course I'm sure! It's small and kind of unstable-looking.
It's probably brand-new, which is why nobody else has noticed it yet."
Zann's head spun. This changed everything!
"You have to show me," he said.
"I will." Perda smiled. "But only if you'll let me come with you."
"Come with me? You mean, through the wormhole?"
"Yes." Perda's eyes shone with excitement.
"I want to see what the vortex is like.
I want to help you search all those other worlds."
Zann shook his head. "I can't let you come. It's too dangerous!"
Perda folded her arms. "I don't care if it's dangerous.
That's my deal. Take it or leave it."
Zann bit his lip. For a second he was tempted to agree to her deal.
Perda was smart and brave and good at magic.
It could be helpful to have her along.
Then Zann remembered all the adventures they'd been through together lately.
No, he couldn't put Perda in that kind of danger again.
This was his quest, and he should be the only one to take the risks.
Still, he couldn't pass up this chance to find a wormhole close to home.
"It's a deal," he said, trying to sound sincere. "You can come along."
"Cool!" Perda grinned.
Zann forced a smile, though he already felt guilty. He hated lying to Perda.
And he knew she was going to be furious when she figured out that he'd tricked her.
But what other choice did he have?
He just had to hope that she would forgive him someday.
"Let's go check out the wormhole," he said.
"Right now?" She sounded surprised. "Shouldn't we gather some supplies first?
Professor Huli says some other worlds don't have the same kind of magic we do.
So we can't count on just creating anything we need, like food or extra clothes."
"Oh, we aren't going right now." Zann thought fast.
"We should go tomorrow after school. That will give us plenty of time to gather supplies."
"Tomorrow?" Perda frowned. "Why not later today?"
"Um, well, it might take some time to find the supplies we need. We don't want to rush."
Perda didn't say anything for a second. Zann held his breath.
He needed her to think they were really going tomorrow.
That would give him plenty of time to sneak back to the wormhole later today.
"Okay, I guess that makes sense," she said at last. "We'll go tomorrow."
"Great. Now where is it?"
"It's this way." Perda zapped them both out of the swamp.
They landed on the street a few blocks from Zann's house.
From there they walked to a wooded area at the edge of town.
In the middle of a small clearing was a ripple of magic energy.
When Zann and Perda stepped closer, it opened into a wormhole!
"Wow," Zann said, staring at it.
It was small, just as Perda had said—much smaller than the ones in First City.
The edges sparked and swirled wildly, and the opening changed size and shape every few seconds.
Zann jumped back as the wormhole let out a small burst of magic energy, sucking in some fallen leaves.
Perda took a step closer. "Are you sure you don't want to go today?"
"I'm sure," Zann said quickly. "Let's each pack a bag to take with us, and then hide the bags in the swamp.
We can meet there after school tomorrow."
"Zann! Come here, please!" Boz called.
Zann was in his room stuffing things into a backpack.
He shoved it under his bed and hurried out of the room.
Boz was standing near the front door.
"What is it?" Zann tried to sound normal even though he was nervous.
Could Boz have figured out what was going on?
But Boz looked distracted, as usual lately.
"I have a meeting with the mayor," he said. "But I'll be home for dinner."
"Okay," Zann said. "I'll see you then."
"Good." Boz smiled at him. "We've both been so busy since returning from the capital that I feel I've hardly seen you.
Perhaps we can finally have that talk this evening."
Boz zapped out of sight, and Zann slumped with relief.
This could be his chance to go back to that wormhole.
He just had one thing to do first.
"Come on, boy." Zann whistled for Zing. "Let's go see Darb."
Zing stared at him and let out a puff of smoke.
But the dragon stayed where he was.
"What's wrong with you?" Zann said impatiently, grabbing Zing. "Let's go!"
Zann snapped his fingers and zapped out of the house.
Once Zing was safe with Darb, there would be nothing standing in Zann's way.