The Adventures of Benjamin Skyhammer by Nicole Sheldrake Page A

not given a choice to try out for the Keeper position. The test was part of their second year studies - if the Keeper position was open. Most kids wanted to be Keeper if they could. Who wouldn't want money, privilege and more importantly, access to one of Relics in the world that worked? And if you were studying at the Academy, you were already crazy about Relics.
    Skyhammer didn't want to differ from other humans more than he already did with his lack of magic powers; he wanted to be a Relic hunter. The Retrograph Relic chose its own Keeper who always had magic abilities. As a human without magic, he was certain he wouldn't be chosen.
    But of all the kids trying that day to swim through the wall at the end of the tunnel, he was the only one who could do it. When he tumbled into the receiving cavern, he had cried at the unfairness of it all. Now he would be expected to live in the King's Circle or near the Vault so he could do his duty to the blessed damn Relic that gave humans such a powerful gift. He would never be a Relic hunter. Instead, he would grow old and fat on privilege and power. So he sobbed alone in the cavern. Then he wiped away the tears and waited the required ten minutes before heading back out to tell his classmates and teachers what they already knew.
    "Hermit must have seen something," Higgins said as they approached the cliff.
    "Then why hasn't he told the Academy and the King?"
    She shrugged. "He's a Byndari. Who knows why they do what they do?"
    Carved into the yellow cliff face were a set of stairs. Although calling them stairs was a bit of a stretch, Skyhammer decided.
    "Up you go!" Higgins looked at him.
    Groaning, Skyhammer slipped his foot into a roughly hewn slot in the cliff and reached up to grab a metal spike hammered in some way above his head. He hated heights. "No wonder he never comes down." He heaved himself up the wall, chanting his internal mantra: "Don't look down, don't look down."
    An hour later, Higgins swung herself over the cliff top and reclined beside a balled-up Skyhammer.
    She whistled. "What a view, eh?"
    The forest spread out in all directions. To the east, the enormous dark blot of Floatilla hung in the sky. To the west, the forest ended, a long ways off, and the grey range of the Nasuchu lands began. The Shard Mountains crept north. The wide blue above was studded with puffs of white cloud.
    "Come on, let's go. I'm curious to see the inside of Hermit's place." She headed towards the house, wind ruffling her hair.
    Hermit's house consisted of blocks carved out of the cliff. Since the cliff top was only about twenty feet long in all directions, the house was one room, half-underground. A tall urn stood at the back. Stairs led down to a door.
    As they reached the entrance, a high-pitched squeak came from within. It rose and fell intermittently.
    Skyhammer's face crumpled. "Oh crap."
    "What's that?" Higgins' eyes widened. She stopped moving.
    "His harmonica. Hadn't you heard him playing when you were here before? He's awful," Skyhammer whispered.
    Higgins relaxed and continued down the stairs. She rapped on the door.
    They waited a minute then tried again.
    "Could he be ignoring us?" There was a dangerous catch in her voice.
    "Possibly." He reached past her, turned the handle and pushed. "Let's just go in."
    Higgins walked in, Skyhammer one step behind.
    "Hello? Hermit?" To his left, the wall was hidden behind a number of large blocks of salt. Straight ahead, an enormous open fireplace lay dark, a poker on the ground next to it, a couch in front. The right wall reached to waist height then was open right up to the ceiling. A glass-less window. A harmonica lay on the window ledge, emitting a low squeak.
    A glint on the floor drew Skyhammer towards the poker.
    Crunch!
    He froze.

Chapter 11
     
     
    Countdown to ceremony: 14 days
     
    Higgins hurried over. Skyhammer dared to look down. Beneath his feet was a pile of sand and other ocean detritus. The glinting object was a large