The red sun sinks lower in the sky. The shadows of the mountains grow long and thin. Everett, Audacia, Clara, and Robbie walk for hours. The ground is hard. Every step makes a loud *crunch*. The air is dry and smells like a campfire.
"I am so thirsty," Robbie says. He adjusts his heavy backpack. "Do we have any juice boxes left in the Quest Pack?"
He looks inside his leather bag. He finds a small silver flask. He opens it. The water inside is cold and sweet. He shares it with the others.
"We need to find a place to sleep," Clara says. She looks at the Rulebook. "Rule Number Seven says: A Knight never sleeps in the open when the Dragon is awake."
Audacia climbs a tall, jagged rock. She shades her eyes with her hand. She looks toward a deep canyon.
"Look!" she shouts. "I see smoke! It is not a volcano. It is a small fire."
The kids move toward the canyon. They are careful. They move quietly. They reach the edge of the rocks and look down.
Below them is a hidden camp. There are five small tents made of brown cloth. A small fire burns in the center. Around the fire sit three men. They wear armor, but it is not shiny like the Mirror-Knights. Their armor is dented and rusty. They look very tired.
In the middle of the camp sits an old man. He has a long white beard and a scar over one eye. He holds a broken sword. He sharpens the edge with a stone.
Everett recognizes him. It is the man from the backyard. It is the Errante.
"Let's go down," Everett says.
They walk down a narrow path. The knights at the fire stand up fast. They grab their spears.
"Halt!" one knight shouts. "Who goes there?"
"We are the Chosens," Everett says. He holds his sword of light high.
The old man stands up. He looks at the four children. He looks at the Blue Ball in Robbie's hand. A small smile appears on his face.
"Lower your weapons," the old man says. His voice is deep and kind. "The prophecy is true. The neighbors have arrived."
The knights put down their spears. They bow their heads.
"I am the Knight Errante," the old man says. He walks to Everett. He is very tall. "I am the last leader of the Order of Chivalria. We wait a long time for you."
"We are just kids," Robbie says. He feels small next to the tall knights.
"In your world, yes," the Errante says. He leads them to the fire. "But in Blue Ball, you are the Knights of Chivalria. You have the heart of the world."
The Errante points to the black tower in the distance.
"Egomania is the King of Pride," the Errante explains. "He lives in the Citadel. He takes the light from the four kingdoms. He wants everyone to be alone and afraid. He thinks he is the only one who matters."
"How do we stop him?" Audacia asks. She grips her shield.
"You must collect the four gifts," the Errante says. "The Sword of Daring from here in Valoria. The Mirror of Truth from Honoria. The Crown of Hope from Gloria. And the Code of Chivalria from the heart of this land."
He looks at Everett's sword.
"Tonight, you rest," the Errante says. "Tomorrow, the trial of the Citadel begins. The tower is full of traps. It tests your heart. If you are selfish, you fail."
The knights give the children bowls of warm stew. It tastes like home. It tastes like safety.
Everett sits by the fire. He looks at his friends. They look different in the firelight. They look like heroes. He realizes that they are not just playing a game anymore. The world needs them.
"We stay together," Everett whispers.
"Always," the others reply.
They sleep in a small tent. Outside, the Knight Errante watches the sky. The stars in Blue Ball are bright and many. But in the distance, a shadow moves across the moon. The Dragon is hungry for the marble.