“Here’s your things,” Dale said, indicating the bags beside the beds. “Welcome back.”
“Sweet dreams,” Vanessa said, exiting the room with Dale.
“Can I offer you anything?” Grandma asked. “Some warm milk?”
“Sure,” Seth said. “Thanks.”
“Dale will bring it up momentarily,” Grandma said, She gave each of them a hug. “I’m so glad you arrived safely. Have pleasant dreams. We’ll catch up properly in the morning.” She left the room.
Seth dug into his suitcase. “Can you keep a secret?” he asked.
Kendra crouched to unzip her duffel bag. “Yes, but you can’t, so I’m sure you’d tell me either way.”
He pulled a jumbo pack of size C batteries from his suitcase. “I’m going to leave here a millionaire.”
“Where’d you get those?”
“I picked them up a long time ago,” Seth said. “Just in case.”
“You think you’re going to sell them to the satyrs?”
“So they can watch TV.”
Kendra shook her head. The satyrs they had met in the woods after stealing soup from the ogress had promised Seth gold if he would bring them batteries for their portable television. “I’m not sure I would trust Newel and Doren to pay up.”
“That’s why all payments have to be made in advance,” Seth said, replacing the batteries in his suitcase and taking out the oversized T-shirt and shorts that he used as pajamas. “We’ve already talked about it.”
“When?”
“Last summer, while you were sleeping forever after the fairies kissed you — during one of those rare moments when somebody wasn’t scolding me. I’ll be in the bathroom.” He headed out the door and down the stairs.
Kendra took advantage of the opportunity to change into her nightclothes. Not long after she changed, there came a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” she said. Dale entered with two mugs of warm milk on a tray. He left the drinks on the nightstand.
Pulling back her sheets, Kendra climbed into bed and began sipping at her milk. Seth came into the room, picked up his mug, and chugged the contents. Wiping his mouth on his arm, he walked over to the window. “There’s lots of fairies out tonight.”
“I bet they’ll be happy to see you again,” Kendra said. Seth had started a feud with the fairies during their previous visit after he had captured one and inadvertently turned her into an imp.
“They forgave me,” he said. “We’re friends now.” He switched off the light and jumped into bed.
Kendra finished her milk and placed the empty mug on the nightstand. “You’re not going to do anything stupid this time, are you?” she said.
“I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Because it sounds like something bad is going on,” Kendra said. “They don’t need you making it worse.”
“I’ll be the perfect grandchild.”
“Once you get your gold from the satyrs,” Kendra said.
“Yeah, after that.”
She lay back, letting her head sink into the feathery pillow, and stared up at the sharp angles of the attic ceiling. What would Grandpa and Grandma tell them in the morning? Why had Errol taken such an interest in them? Why had he ambushed them? What had bitten Seth? What about Vanessa, Tanu, and Coulter? What were their stories? Where had they come from? How long would they stay? Why replace Lena with three people? Wasn’t Fablehaven supposed to be a big secret? Even though it was late and she felt drowsy, her mind was too full of questions for sleep to find her quickly.
* * *
The next morning, Kendra awoke with Seth shaking her shoulder. “Come on,” he said, hushed and excited. “It’s time for answers.”
Kendra sat up. She blinked several times. She wanted answers too. But why not sleep in a little first? It was this way every Christmas — Seth awakening the whole house at the crack of dawn, anxious and impatient. She swung her legs out of bed, grabbed her duffel bag, and walked down the stairs to the bathroom to freshen up.
When Kendra finally descended the stairs to the entry hall, she found Vanessa carrying a tray laden with steaming scrambled eggs and dark toast. Once again, Vanessa was dressed in a stylish outfit and her makeup was applied with subtle artistry. She looked too sophisticated to be holding a tray of food like a maid. “Your grandparents want you to join them in the study for a private breakfast,” Vanessa said.
Kendra followed Vanessa into the study. Another tray with drinks, jam, and butter was already on the desk. Grandpa sat in his wheelchair, Grandma sat in the chair behind the desk, and Seth sat in one of the oversized armchairs in front of the desk. An empty plate rested on his lap. Kendra noticed a cot in the corner where Grandpa now apparently slept.
The study was an eye-catching room, full of odd knick-knacks. Strange tribal masks lined a shelf, golfing trophies crowded another, a collection of fossils vied for attention on a third. Half of a large geode glittered in a corner. Plaques, certificates, and a framed display of medals and ribbons decorated a portion of one wall. The savage head of a boar hung mounted not far from the window. Younger versions of Grandpa and Grandma Sorenson grinned from multiple pictures, some black and white, others in color. On the desk, inside a crystal sphere with a flat bottom, floated a fragile skull no bigger than Kendra’s thumb. She settled into the other leather armchair.
“Thank you, Vanessa,” Grandma said.
Vanessa nodded and exited.
“We take turns cooking meals these days,” Grandma said, spooning eggs onto her plate. “Come dish up before it gets cold. Nobody can match Lena, but we try our best. Even Stan was in the rotation before the accident.”
“Even Stan?” Grandpa blustered. “Have you forgotten my lasagna? My omelets? My stuffed mushrooms?”
“I meant because you’re so busy,” Grandma soothed. She raised a hand to partly hide her mouth, as if confiding a secret to her grandchildren. “He’s been a bit crabby since the accident.”
Grandpa was visibly biting his tongue, probably because another indignant outburst would only confirm Grandma’s words. Under his bruises, his face was reddening. Kendra scooped some eggs onto her plate while Seth buttered a piece of toast.
“What happened to you?” Kendra asked Grandpa.
“Mom said you fell off the roof,” Seth said, “but we weren’t buying it.”
“That would take us into the middle of the story,” Grandpa said, regaining his composure. “Better to start at the beginning.”
“You’ll get to the part about what bit me?” Seth verified hopefully.
Grandma nodded. “But first a question for Kendra. Did Errol ever indicate that he knew anything about what transpired between you and the fairies?”
“Yeah,” Kendra said, sitting back down and picking up a piece of toast. “That was partly how he convinced me to trust him. He said that he knew I had been fairystruck, and offered the information as proof that he knew Grandpa’s friend Coulter.” She put some eggs onto her toast and took a bite.
“The imp,” Grandpa growled, drumming the fingers of his good hand on his cast. He shared a glance with Grandma.
“What imp?” Seth asked.
“The imp that put him in that wheelchair,” Grandma said.
“I thought all the imps changed back into fairies,” Kendra said.
“Apparently a few imps were not at the chapel when the empowered fairies were curing the others,” Grandpa said. “But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.” He stared at Grandma for a moment. “We tell them, right?”
She gave a single, small nod.
Grandpa leaned forward in his wheelchair and lowered his voice. “What we are about to tell you must not leave this room. You must not discuss it even with others we trust, like Dale, or Vanessa, or Tanu, or Coulter. Nobody should know that you know. Or the danger will only increase. Am I understood?”
Kendra and Seth both agreed.
Grandpa eyed Seth. “I mean nobody, Seth.”
“What?” he said, squirming a
little in his seat. “I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
“See that you don’t,” Grandpa admonished solemnly. “I am taking a risk allowing you to return to Fablehaven after the harm you caused. I do it partly because I trust that you have learned a hard lesson about caution, and partly because it may be necessary for your protection. This is information we would prefer not to share with anyone, let alone children. But your grandmother and I feel that you have become too deeply involved for us not to reveal the whole story. You have a right to understand the hazards you face.”
Kendra glanced at Seth. He looked so excited that he could hardly contain himself. Although she was also curious, she dreaded to hear the specifics of any threat so somber and secretive.
“I have already related part of the story,” Grandma said. “Last summer, in the attic, before we went to rescue your grandfather, I mentioned some reasons why Fablehaven is different from most other magical preserves. I told you in case your grandpa and I perished and you survived.”
“Fablehaven is one of five secret preserves,” Kendra said.
“Very good, Kendra,” Grandpa said.
“The five secret preserves each have a powerful item hidden on them,” Kendra continued. “Not many people know about the secret preserves.”
“Very few indeed,” Grandma said. “And none know the location of all five.”
“One probably does,” Grandpa corrected.
“Well, if he does, he has never let on,” Grandma replied.
“I’ve wondered a lot about what you told us,” Kendra said. “It seems really mysterious.”
Grandpa cleared his throat. He looked almost hesitant to speak. “Did Errol ever allude to Fablehaven as a secret preserve housing a special artifact?”
“No,” Kendra said. Seth shook his head.
“And he did nothing to cajole that information out of you?” Grandpa pursued.
“No,” Seth said. Kendra agreed.
Grandpa leaned back. “That, at least, is a relief.”
“But we must continue with our plan,” Grandma said.
Grandpa waved his hand. “Of course. We’ll proceed as if the secret is out.”
“You think they know?” Kendra asked.
Grandpa frowned. “The Society of the Evening Star should not even be aware that this preserve exists. Enormous efforts have been taken to maintain our anonymity. Yet we know the Society colluded with Muriel and nearly managed to overthrow Fablehaven last summer. And so we must assume that they are aware Fablehaven is a secret preserve, and realize what it contains.”
“What?” Seth asked. “What is the artifact?”
“By itself, an ancient talisman of tremendous power,” Grandpa said. “In connection with the other four, the key to Zzyzx, the great prison where literally thousands of the most powerful demons from every age of this world are incarcerated.”
“None remain who know its location,” Grandma whispered.
“Except, perhaps, the Society,” Grandpa murmured, scowling at the floor. “If the five talismans were ever brought together and used to open Zzyzx, the results would be… catastrophic. Apocalyptic. The end of the world.”
“Endless night,” Grandma echoed. “Across all the earth. The mighty fiends inside of Zzyzx would make Bahumat look like an infant. A lapdog. In their absence, we long ago lost the ability to contend with beings of their power. Even the fairy army you summoned would quail before them. Our only hope is to keep them imprisoned.”
The room was silent. Kendra could hear the grandfather clock ticking. “So how do we stop them?” Seth finally said.
“That is the right question,” Grandpa said, jabbing a finger at Seth for emphasis. “I put that same query to the unofficial leader of the Conservators’ Alliance.”
“What’s that?” Seth asked.
“The caretakers of all the preserves around the world, along with their allies, belong to the Conservators’ Alliance,” Grandma explained.
“Each caretaker has an equal say, with none officially presiding,” Grandpa said. “But for centuries we have benefited from the advice and aid of our greatest ally — the Sphinx.”
“Like in Egypt?” Kendra asked.
“Whether he is actually a sphinx, we do not know,” Grandpa said. “Surely he is more than mortal. His service dates back to the twelfth century. I have spoken with him face-to-face only twice, and on both occasions he was in the likeness of a man. But many of the most powerful creatures, like dragons, can assume human form when it suits them.”
“You asked the Sphinx what to do?” Seth asked.
“I did,” Grandpa said. “Face-to-face, as a matter of fact. He suggested we move the artifact. You see, at roughly three hundred years old, Fablehaven is among the youngest preserves. Of the secret preserves, it is by far the newest. One of the secret preserves was compromised not long before Fablehaven was founded. The vault housing the artifact was transported here, and Fablehaven was kept a secret thereafter. So the idea is not without precedent.”
“Have you moved it yet?” Kendra asked.
Grandpa scratched his chin. “We have to find it first.”
“You don’t know where it is?” Seth blurted.
“To my knowledge,” Grandpa said, “none of the caretakers of the secret sanctuaries know where the artifacts on their preserves are hidden. The vaults that hold them were concealed so as to never be found.”
“And they are protected by lethal traps,” Grandma added.
“Which is the true explanation for our visitors,” Grandpa said softly.
“They’re here to find the artifact!” Kendra said.
Grandpa nodded. “I do not envy their task.”
“Have they found anything yet?” Seth asked.
“Vanessa has had some luck poring through the journals of former caretakers,” Grandpa said. “Patton Burgess, Lena’s husband, was fascinated by the secret artifacts. In a coded reference in one of his journals, he made mention of an inverted tower on the property where he believed Fablehaven’s artifact resides. His notes were inconclusive, but they gave us some idea of where to concentrate our search. We may find the artifact tomorrow. Or it might take many lifetimes.”
“No wonder Vanessa has such an awesome car,” Seth said. “She’s a treasure hunter.”
“They all have different specialties,” Grandpa said. “Tanu is a potion master. Coulter collects magical relics. Vanessa focuses on capturing mystical animals. Their various occupations have taken them to some of the most dangerous corners of the world, and qualify them for this perilous assignment.”
“As caretakers, we hold as an heirloom the key that will allow us to access the vault,” Grandma said. “We keep it safely hidden. Once we discover the location of the vault, the key will allow us the chance to get inside and retrieve the artifact.”
“Even with the key, avoiding the many traps guarding the artifact promises to be no small task,” Grandpa said. “Tanu, Coulter, and Vanessa will need to be in top form.”
“Did they know about Fablehaven beforehand?” Kendra asked.
“None of them,” Grandpa said. “I counseled long with the Sphinx and others to select them. Coulter is an old friend. I know him the best. Tanu has an impeccable reputation. As does Vanessa. The Sphinx and several other caretakers vouched for both of them.”
“Despite their careful selection,” Grandma said, “there is a chance, however small, that the Society could have gotten to one of them. Or that one of them has been an agent for the Society all along. The Society of the Evening Star has an uncanny ability for infiltration. An endorsement from the Sphinx virtually clears them of suspicion, but the Sphinx himself cautioned that we should remain mindful of the possibility.”
“Which is part of the reason we selected three instead of one,” Grandpa said, “along with the desire for extra help. Even with three seasoned experts, finding the artifact is an overwhelming assignment.”
“Together they serve the added benefit of provi
ding extra security around here,” Grandma said, “which is obviously a comfort, considering the recent unrest.”
“There have been reports of unparalleled activity by the Society,” Grandpa said. “Since last summer, two more preserves have fallen, one of them a secret preserve like Fablehaven.”
“So they got one of the artifacts?” Kendra asked, gripping the arms of her chair.
“We don’t know,” Grandpa said. “We hope not. You remember Maddox, the fairy broker? He went into the preserve after it fell to perform reconnaissance. We have not heard back.”
“How long ago?” Seth asked.
“More than three months,” Grandma said.
“The secret preserve was in Brazil,” Grandpa said. “They thwarted an infiltration there two years ago. Then this past February… we don’t know what happened.”
“What artifact was hidden there?” Seth asked, wide-eyed.
“Impossible to say,” Grandpa said. “We have a rough idea of what the artifacts are, but no clue which is hidden where.”
“What are they?” Kendra asked.
Grandpa looked at Grandma, who shrugged. “One grants power over space, another over time. A third grants unlimited sight. A fourth can heal any ailment. And one bestows immortality.”
“The details have been deliberately shrouded in mystery,” Grandma said.
“The magic they wield is greater than any we know,” Grandpa said. “For example, there are ways to get from one place to another besides walking, but the artifact that grants power over space does so in ways superior to any known spell or relic or creature.”
“And somehow, used together, they can open the demon prison?” Kendra clarified.
“Exactly,” Grandpa confirmed. “Which is why they must remain apart and out of the hands of our enemies at all costs. One concern is that if the Society could get their hands on one, they could use it to help retrieve the others.”
[Fablehaven 02] - Rise of the Evening Star Page 7