Carnival at Candlelight

handmade book. She gave the book to Annie.
    The cover of the book was made of rough brown paper. Written on it in neat, simple handwriting was the title:

    “You made this for us?” said Annie.
    “Yes,” said Kathleen. “One line of each rhyme is in Teddy’s language, and one is in mine, the language of the Seal People.”
    Annie opened the book to the table of contents. She and Jack skimmed the list of rhymes, and Jack read some of the entries aloud:
    “Fly Through the Air Make. Metal Soft.
    Turn into Ducks—”
    Annie giggled. “These are so cool!” she said. “Let’s all turn into ducks!”
    “Not now,” said Kathleen. “You must use these rhymes very sparingly. There are only ten rhymes in the book, and each can only be used once. They are meant to last you for four journeys.”
    “Four?” said Jack.
    “Aye,” said Teddy. “Merlin has agreed that if you can use our magic wisely on four missions, he will teach you the secrets that will allow you to make magic on your own.”
    “Oh, boy!” said Annie.
    Jack put the book of magic rhymes in his backpack. “So where are we going on our first mission?” he asked.
    “This research book from Morgan will tell you,” said Teddy. He took out a book and handed it to Jack. The cover showed a bright, colorful city surrounded by water.
    Jack read the title aloud:
A VISIT TO VENICE, ITALY .
    “I’ve heard of Venice,” said Annie. “Last year Aunt Gail and Uncle Michael went there on vacation.”
    “Aye, ’tis a city that has long welcomed travelers,” said Teddy. “But you and Jack will travel to the Venice of two hundred sixty years ago.”
    “What will we do there?” asked Jack.
    “Merlin has prepared careful directions for you,” said Teddy. He pulled a letter out of a pocket in his cloak and gave it to Jack. “Read this when you get to Venice.”
    “Okay,” said Jack. He put Merlin’s letter and Morgan’s research book into his backpack.
    “Wait a minute,” said Annie. “If we take the tree house to Venice, how will you guys get back to Camelot?”
    Teddy and Kathleen smiled and held up their hands. They each wore a ring made of pale blue glass. “These magic rings belong to Morgan,” said Kathleen. “They will take us home.”
    “Remember,” Teddy said to Jack and Annie. “Follow Merlin’s directions carefully. If you prove yourselves to be wise and brave helpers, he will call for you again soon.”
    Kathleen nodded. “Good-bye now,” she said to Jack and Annie. “Good luck.”
    Kathleen and Teddy raised their glass rings to their lips. Together they whispered words too softly to be heard, then blew on the rings.
    Before Jack and Annie’s eyes, the two young sorcerers began to fade into the cool morning air. In an instant, they had disappeared completely.
    “They’re gone,” breathed Jack.
    “I guess it’s time for us to go, too,” said Annie.
    Jack took a deep breath. Then he pointed at the cover of the Venice book. “I wish we could go there!” he said.
    The wind started to blow.
    The tree house started to spin.
    It spun faster and faster.
    Then everything was still.
    Absolutely still.

A nnie laughed.
    Jack opened his eyes. He and Annie were wearing purple and pink outfits with huge ruffled collars. On their heads were funny hats. On their feet were red slippers with big bows.
    “Who are we?” Annie asked.
    “I don’t know,” said Jack. He didn’t feel like a wise and brave helper in his red slippers. He felt stupid.
    Together Jack and Annie looked out the tree house window. They had landed in a small treeinside a walled garden. The sky was gray. Jack couldn’t tell if it was morning or evening, but the air felt damp and heavy, as if a storm was about to break.
    “I guess this is Venice,” he said.
    “Let’s check our book,” said Annie. She opened their research book and read aloud:
    Today the city of Venice (say VEN-iss) is one of the most popular tourist spots in the world. It lies in a lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. Instead of roads, Venice has waterways called canals. People glide along the canals in shallow boats called gondolas (GON-duh-luz). A man called a gondolier (gon-duh-LEER) stands in the back of the boat and uses a long oar to propel the gondola through the water.
    “That sounds like fun,” said Jack.
    “Yep,” said Annie. She closed the book. “Let’s go.”
    “Wait,” said Jack. “We don’t even know what our mission is yet.” He took out Merlin’s letter and unfolded