“Can I help too, Unkie Kaly?” asked Marie, excitedly tugging at Kalin’s leg. “Can I?”

‘Unkie Kaly.’ Kalin chuckled. “Oh, I suppose so, Marie. Just as long as your parents know you’re here,” he said. He knew if he said ‘no,’ Marie would only pester him until he did agree. She was very stubborn.

Kalin smiled as Marie ran towards the temple to ask her parents. Marie was a very cute little bald Norn. For some reason, she liked Kalin incredibly, and followed him around, calling him ‘Unkie Kaly.’ When Marie was missing, her parents always knew where to look—Kalin. Kalin turned back to his beeclaneeth plants.

A few minutes later Kalin got up and looked around. Marie sure was taking a while. He didn’t see her near the temple. “That’s strange,” thought Kalin suspiciously.

Kalin was getting very worried. He ran to the temple, and then he saw her. She was at the submarine bay.

“Marie! Stop!” he shouted. Marie turned around.

Kalin shook her. “Marie, it’s very dangerous here! This is Grendel territory!” he yelled. “You could be killed! Not even grown-ups like me are allowed past the temple—especially not into the submarine bay! You know that!”

Marie looked like she was about to cry. “But I just wanted to get my ball,” she said. Near the ocean bounced a red and white striped rubber ball.

“We’ll get you a new ball,” Kalin said quietly. “But don’t go back there again—promise?”

“I promise,” said Marie, sniffing.

Kalin turned around and walked right into his friend Monica. She looked annoyed. Her blond hair was ruffled, as if she had been in a fight, and she had a bruise on her cheek.

“Monica, what happened? I mean,” began Kalin.

Monica ignored him and said angrily, “Kalin, do you know what your brother is doing?”

“Dark?” asked Kalin. “He was supposed to be guarding the mover, I think.”

“Yes,” answered Monica dryly. “But I saw him in the cellars. He was drunk, Kalin!”

“Dark?” asked Kalin, his jaw dropping. He shook his head. “You must be mistaken,” he said. “He’d never drink hootch.”

“Well he was,” she shouted back. “And he gave me this!” She pointed to her cheek.

“What are you talking about?” Kalin exclaimed. “He get get in big trouble for this! He was supposed to be guarding the mover!”

“I know. But instead, he was wandering around in the cellars, getting more hootch!” Monica replied in a voice of steel.

Kalin frowned. “Aries could remove him from the guard force for this,” he said, stroking his chin. “That would break Dark’s heart. Being a guard was his pride and joy.”

“Hmmph!” exclaimed Monica. “He must have not thought much of it if he was going to sneak downstairs on the job!” But she no longer looked angry.

“Yeah, but you know Dark. He doesn’t really have that many friends. Being a guard Norn was the only thing he had!”

“He has you,” Monica said softly, taking Kalin’s hand into hers. He looked up, and she smiled slightly; a short, sad smile. Kalin didn’t say so, but even with her hair all ruffled up, and her face scratched, she was very beautiful. Her eyes were the greenest he had ever seen. Then Monica looked down, and Kalin abrupty dropped her hand, his face reddening.

“Maybe you should tell Bilbo to cover for him. You could take Dark home, and when he is sober, then Aries can make judgement.” Monica said.

Kalin nodded, eager to change the subject.

Monica turned around and walked away. Kalin felt himself staring at her. She did not look back. Kalin shook himself and went off to find Marie again.