Michal reached behind him and pulled out a leather-bound book he’d kept hidden until now. Two straps of red twine were wrapped around the ancient black cover—one at the top, one at the bottom—binding it shut. It looked like a small journal.

The Roush held the book out for a moment, then dropped it into the sand, where it landed with a soft thump. “Your task is to find the six lost Books of History.”

The book looked magical, sitting still in the sand, staring up at him, halfway between his booted feet and the Roush’s thin, bare toes.

“I don’t think you understand,” Johnis said, searching for something intelligent to say. “I’m actually just a new recruit in the Forest Guard. We’re here to take four cacti back to the village. In fact, I should probably get out of here and help my friends.”

“Cute,” Gabil whispered, grinning again.

“Yes, we know all about your friends and the Horde,” Michal said, “and if you’ll just listen to me, you’ll have your opportunity to save them. They’re needed as well. But you have to listen to me. It is very important that the six lost books be found by you before they land in the hands of the Dark One.”

Johnis paced, confused by the sudden turn of events. “I’m not even a real fighter—this can’t be right. I don’t even know what these books are.”

“The Books of History, lad! Everything written in them is perfect history. The first seven books crafted by Elyon, each in a different color, were bound by red twine, never to be opened except in the most terrible circumstance, because they hold a very great power. Which is why you must find them before the Dark One does.”

“Do you accept?” Gabil asked, eyes bright.

“This can’t be right—”

“Now you listen to me, lad.” Michal walked forward, around the book, and stopped three feet from Johnis. “Why you humans fell for that beast Teeleh the first time, I’ll never understand. But this is a chance for you to find yourselves again. Not only you, all of you! You’re not just some random sixteen-year-old boy—you’ve been chosen from birth, even before the Great Deception! I expect you to accept your destiny.”

For the second time this day, Johnis found himself being asked to be someone he didn’t think he was. First by Thomas, now this.

He felt his face flush with frustration. What would Father say to this? He knew what Mother would say. “Run, boy. You know that anyone who goes on missions that make no sense always ends up dead.”

“Will I be killed?” Johnis asked.

“Of course.”

He stopped pacing, stunned. “You know that?”

“All humans are killed at some point,” Michal said.

“And is my ‘point’ soon?”