by Brandon Mull
Just a man.
He was extraordinarily pale but not sickly. His ageless features held a serene expression with a slight smile. His hooded robe shimmered between silver and gray.
His eyes were kind, with a hint of sadness. He stared at Seth with interest.
“You’re not the Fairy Queen,” Seth said.
“I am not,” the man replied, his calm voice matching the emotions in his gaze.
“Did she bring me here?” Seth asked.
“I brought you here,” the man said.
Seth stood up. He had knelt so hurriedly at the shrine that both knees were bleeding. He hadn’t felt the scrapes at the time. He was still unwinding from the near-death experience. Part of him had not expected to survive. But now he was evidently safe. “Thank you so much.”
“It was the least I could do, Seth Sorenson.”
“Do I know you?”
The man’s smile increased a fraction. “You brought your sister the sword that ended my bondage.”
Seth’s eyebrows went up. “You’re him! The Fairy King!”
“I am,” he said.
“I thought you didn’t talk anymore,” Seth said. “I mean, I heard . . .”
“I haven’t had much to say,” the Fairy King said slowly. “It has been a difficult transition.”
“You saved my life,” Seth said.
The Fairy King stepped forward and embraced Seth. “It was nothing. I can never repay you, Seth. Not in a thousand lifetimes.”
The embrace ended and the Fairy King stepped back. Seth felt a little woozy. Pure love and appreciation had seemed to flow into him during the hug.
“How did you know I would be here?” Seth asked.
“I didn’t,” the Fairy King said simply. “I seldom leave the palace, but today I went for a stroll. I ended up here. And I heard your cry.” The Fairy King placed a hand on Seth’s shoulder. “This is a realm of purity. Those who have been touched by darkness do not belong here. We share a peculiar bond, Seth. I have been touched by darkness. As have you.”
“I’m a shadow charmer,” Seth said.
“And I wallowed in darkness through ages of relentless torment,” the Fairy King said. His eyes became faraway, his voice nearly emotionless. “I did not believe there would be an end. I had lost myself in ways I could never explain. Through the haze of my limited faculties I assumed I must have joined the undead.” His eyes returned to Seth. “And then it ended. And now I am free. No more chains. My prison, my hell, is becoming a paradise. And I hardly know how I fit in. But I know I am grateful to you and your sister. I will never forget.”
The Fairy King stepped back.
“I need one more favor,” Seth said.
“Not one,” the Fairy King admonished. “Endless favors. I can never repay you.”
“Can you send me to Fablehaven?” Seth asked. “To the shrine there? I need to get back to Blackwell Keep at Wyrmroost. I have a way there from the house at Fablehaven. My family needs me. I have to help my sister. And I need to make sure my cousin is all right.”
“As you wish,” the Fairy King said with a small nod. “Follow me.”
Alone
Kendra watched from the top of the outer wall of Blackwell Keep with Grandma, Grandpa, and Marat as Knox ran back from the safe hut, the golden scepter in his hand. All around him, dragons hissed and growled, bellowed and roared. They gouged the earth with their claws and shattered boulders with their tails. They exhaled fire into the sky, and icy blasts of frost, and various shades of lightning, and mysterious gasses.
But none of the dragons burned up Knox. Or froze him, shocked him, poisoned him, devoured him, or flattened him. Celebrant tried to attack him. The Dragon King got closer than the others but still stopped short. Eyes fierce, Celebrant opened his great jaws, but nothing came out. The Dragon King moved to block Knox’s path but then slid out of the way at the last second.
As Knox neared the keep, several dragons took on human shapes. They chased him, but he ran from them as if playing tag. Though a few of the dragons in human form got close enough to touch him, none did. They didn’t tackle him, or trip him, or restrain him. It became plain that they simply couldn’t.
The humanoid dragons called out to Knox, urging him to stop or wait. They promised riches if he dropped the scepter. Knox ignored them and kept running.
“He’s going to do it,” Kendra said.
“It looks that way,” Grandpa said carefully, clearly not ready to believe until Knox made it within the walls of the keep.
Then Knox reached the postern door and passed out of sight.
The dragons wailed in frustration. Several shot lightning or fire at the keep, only to have it blocked by the invisible barrier.
“Impressive,” Marat said. “The barrier seems as strong as ever. I believe the problem with our defenses is solved.”
“Let’s go see your cousin,” Grandma said to Kendra.
They found Knox in the courtyard, not far from the door through the wall. He still held the scepter. Brunwin stood with him.
“Good job, my boy,” Grandpa Sorenson called.
Knox looked their way. “You guys are here too? Why was I the last to hear about this?”
“How much did Seth tell you about this place?” Grandpa asked as they approached.
“He said it’s virtual reality,” Knox explained. “I didn’t know tech like this existed. No headset? Everything looks so real! How did you get hold of it?”
Grandma Sorenson reached Knox and gave him a hug. Kendra hugged him as well.
“Everyone has secrets,” Grandpa Sorenson said. “Thanks for being a good sport and helping us win.”
“It wasn’t very hard,” Knox said. “I got worried when those people started chasing me at the end. But when they got close they sort of stopped trying. Seth said nobody would be able to get me. I guess he was right.”
“What else did you see?” Kendra asked.
“Same as you,” he said.
“People sometimes see the same things differently here,” Kendra explained.
“The weather was bizarre,” Knox said. “Clouds of dust and light. Whirlwinds. Mist. It looked bad, but the mists and whirlwinds drifted away when I got near. The moose guarding the scepter was probably the scariest part. Those antlers were humongous.”
“But the moose let you have it?” Kendra asked.
“Just like Seth told me,” Knox said. “He was right about everything.”
“I demand audience with the caretaker!” Celebrant boomed.
“Hear that thunder?” Knox asked. “No storm clouds! Such random weather!”
“I feared this was coming,” Marat said. “I will try to placate him.” He hurried toward the nearest stairs up the wall.
“This is an emergency,” Celebrant roared. “I demand an immediate audience!”
“Ruth, would you take Knox back home?” Grandpa asked. “Then stand guard. If Seth reached the fairy realm, he might make his way back to Fablehaven through the shrine. He mustn’t come back to Blackwell Keep until sunrise tomorrow or the dragons will be able to enter to get him.”
“This game sounds complicated,” Knox said. “I want to see the dragons. How are the graphics?”
“Amazing,” Kendra said. “But for now you should go.”
Grandma led Knox away.
“I will not be ignored,” Celebrant threatened. “Show yourself, caretaker. Counsel with me!”
“Do you want to go underground?” Grandpa asked. “There may be depths below the keep where we can’t hear him.”
“Won’t it be a bad move if I hide during an emergency?” Kendra asked.
“It isn’t ideal,” Grandpa admitted.
“Ah, Marat,” Celebrant shouted. “I believe you are no longer the caretaker. Bring me the masters of this keep! Unl
ess they have fled?”
“I want to listen,” Kendra said. “If Celebrant needs proof a caretaker is here, I may need to show myself. Maybe Marat can stand by me.”
“If Celebrant sees you are paralyzed by dragon fear, he can claim you’re unfit for duty,” Grandpa said. “It might be safer to keep you completely out of sight.”
“We should listen,” Kendra insisted.
Grandpa led Kendra into the tower nearest to where Marat stood on the wall. From within the tower, Kendra listened to Marat and Celebrant argue back and forth.
“I reiterate, there is a caretaker here,” Marat insisted. “But it is not her responsibility to be at your disposal every moment. I would be delighted to set up a meeting for tomorrow.”
“Not tomorrow, not tonight, not in an hour,” Celebrant demanded. “I know she is in there. This is an emergency.”
“You are causing the emergency,” Marat placated.
“They caused the emergency when they moved a scepter without permission!” Celebrant blustered. “I am a caretaker equal to them in authority and deserve to be consulted about the movement of scepters.”
“It was the scepter that pertains to their medallion,” Marat soothed. “None of your affair. You have your own scepter.”
“All seven scepters on this preserve are my affair!” Celebrant ranted. “I saw Kendra enter the keep. She has not exited. I have reason to believe her brother has fled the sanctuary. If Kendra will not talk to me, I am going to declare her incompetent and take over her duties.”
“You can’t do that!” Marat protested.
“Are you sure?” Celebrant asked. The Dragon King raised his voice even more. “Kendra? I know you can hear me, Kendra! Come face me or I must assume you are incompetent. This is an urgent matter. A real caretaker is required at Blackwell Keep. Not a pretender.”
“Come back tomorrow,” Marat ordered.
“We’ll let the barrier decide if she is competent,” Celebrant said. “As a caretaker of Wyrmroost, I renounce the incompetent caretaker of Blackwell Keep and demand to take over all responsibilities pertaining to that office!”
“You have no such right!” Marat declared.
“Don’t I?” Celebrant asked. “The barrier is feeling mushy all of a sudden. If the caretaker is going to quail behind walls of stone instead of treat with her colleague, I’m not sure my claim can be denied.”
Kendra heard the roar of fire and saw a red glare. She peeked through a window to see Celebrant blowing fire directly onto Marat from above. An invisible dome protected Marat, but Celebrant was clearly stretching beyond the unseen barrier protecting the wall to rain fire down on him.
Was the barrier bending? Would it break? Was she being an unfit caretaker?
Kendra gritted her teeth.
From what Celebrant had said, it sounded like Seth might have escaped. But even if her brother had made it to the fairy realm, he couldn’t return to Wyrmroost until tomorrow morning.
Should she try to talk to Celebrant? Was there a chance she could resist his power? Calvin could stand alone against dragons. Trask could do it. Patton could do it.
Maybe it was time she figured it out.
What if she froze? Would it be worse than hiding? Probably. It would be proof that she was not a true dragon tamer. Celebrant might denounce her, break through the magical barrier, gobble her up, and destroy the keep.
But what if she succeeded?
In the Path of Dreams, Kendra had felt Seth’s hand even without his presence. Sure, they may have been touching while they both dreamed, but in the dream they were separate. And Seth had kept running even when the dragon was about to catch him.
Could that be a sign? Was there a way for Seth to be present even though he was absent? He had risked his life to save Wyrmroost. He had risked his cousin, too, but that was a conversation for another day.
If Seth could risk his life riding through a host of dragons on a griffin, couldn’t she do this? Couldn’t she look to the example of his courage? Couldn’t that make him sort of present?
Or was she kidding herself?
“Kendra!” Celebrant called. “Come to me or forfeit your stewardship! Dragons, attack! This barrier cannot hold! She is a fraud!”
Kendra heard more fire being expelled.
She gripped the unicorn horn. Seth had retrieved it. Didn’t that make him kind of present? It also connected her to Bracken.
Bracken, can you hear me? Kendra asked.
In a situation, came the hasty reply. She could feel his panic. Something was wrong.
Me too, Kendra communicated. I have to talk to a dragon alone.
Then do it, Bracken urged. Be strong. The power is—
His voice in her mind cut off abruptly.
Bracken? Kendra thought with all her effort. What happened? Bracken? Are you all right?
She felt no answer.
Something had to be really wrong. Apparently there was trouble all over. A quick peek revealed Celebrant blasting Marat with flame again.
“Attack!” Celebrant thundered.
“I have to,” Kendra apologized to Grandpa. He looked pained but didn’t move to stop her.
Squeezing the horn tightly, Kendra stepped out from the tower and onto the top of the wall. Lightning and fire crackled and roared against the unseen barrier from multiple directions.
“I’m here,” Kendra called.
Celebrant was flung back. After a moment the other dragons stopped attacking.
Leaving Marat behind, the Dragon King moved along the wall to where Kendra stood. If a dragon could smile, Celebrant was doing it. He showed flagrantly carnivorous teeth, and his eyes glowed brightly.
“There you are!” Celebrant said. “Taking a nap, were you?”
He was close now, just beyond the wall from where she stood. If she leaned forward, she could touch his snout. Kendra concentrated on the nostrils. Not the eyes.
She wanted to answer. She had words to say. But her body was betraying her.
“You’re not petrified, are you?” Celebrant asked smugly. “That would hardly befit your office. Speak up, Kendra. You’re making the wrong impression.”
How did they do it? How did Patton make his body work when it was involuntarily frozen? Was it just a matter of willpower? Again she had words to say. Again they would not come.
Celebrant chuckled theatrically. “Is this the caretaker of Blackwell Keep? This stupefied mute? This is an insult to the office of caretaker. She appears unfit for service.”
“The girl is weary!” Marat called, rushing along the wall to where Kendra stood. “She has hardly slept. Try again in the morning.”
Kendra knew she was not unfit. She and Seth had just retrieved the scepter! She had killed the Demon King! She could remember the feel of Vasilis in her hand, the power humming through her.
In that dark moment, with the demons bearing down on them, her family had needed her. All of fairydom had needed her.
And now her family needed her again.
Kendra felt something shift inside of her.
“No,” she said. “We’ll talk now.”
Celebrant flinched as if she had struck him.
Then the Dragon King leaned as close as he could to the unseen barrier, teeth bared in a snarl, eyes glaring.
“You are an inadequate caretaker,” he accused.
Kendra tightened her grip on the horn. Which meant she could move.
Seth had risked his life. He couldn’t be here because he had done his job well. He had figured out a way to get the scepter to the keep.
She couldn’t let Celebrant win. Not like this.
She looked into his eyes. Her whole body trembled. She needed to end this and get away.
“I feel the same way about you!” she shouted. “You tore down the Perch like a vandal! Y
ou keep attacking your fellow caretakers! I denounce you! You are a fake! You are a joke! You can’t even stop two children from taking what you want! I demand you return your scepter! If any of your subjects had the courage of a little girl, they would take your crown! Slink back to your hole, worm! We’re trying to relax!”
For just a moment, one perfect, silent moment, Celebrant stared not in rage, but in horror.
And Kendra turned her back on him.
“Come back here!” Celebrant bellowed. “How dare you!”
She did not turn. She refused to glance back. Her legs felt unsteady, but she kept walking.
“Nobody turns their back on me!” Celebrant thundered.
Kendra kept walking.
She could hear him breathing fire. Or energy. Or something.
It didn’t matter. The barrier would hold.
Celebrant was making a lot of noise.
But underneath it, as she entered the tower, Kendra heard a comforting sound.
Marat was laughing.
Acceptance
Seth was still trying to believe that he was not in trouble. At Fablehaven, he had met Newel and Doren on his way back to the house. They had been coming in his direction. Grandma Sorenson had sent the satyrs to get a boat and rescue him from the island at the center of the fairy pond. It spoke to their friendship that Newel and Doren had been willing to paddle anywhere near that deadly island. But the naiads had already brought Seth a boat and shuttled him across the water, as the Fairy King had promised they would do before bidding Seth farewell.
Seth learned from the satyrs that Knox had returned from Wyrmroost. Despite his confidence that his cousin would be fine, the news was still a huge relief.
Grandma Sorenson had hugged Seth fiercely and smothered him with kisses when he found her guarding the barrel. That was to be expected if she had thought he was dead. It was so great to hear that the plan had worked. The scepter was secure at Blackwell Keep. The barrier was at full strength again. Seth was still convinced the scolding would come eventually.
Instead, Grandma put together a nice meal and sent him to bed. He was so tired, having stayed up the previous night adventuring and riding horses. Not to mention outrunning a dragon horde on a half-trained griffin.