by Brandon Mull
The main doors to the throne room burst open and dragons poured through. The space was plenty large enough for them to fly, and most took to the air as the two giant guards, one female, one male, charged forward to oppose them.
“Give me a turn,” Doren whispered to Newel, running by his side, and Tess was passed from one satyr to the other. Burying her face against Doren, Tess hid her eyes from the combat.
Knox leaned against the railing of the walkway, eyes intent on the battle. The guards held up massive shields as dragons rained down fire and lightning from above. When dragons swept in to physically attack, the female guard chopped the head off one with a sword, and the male guard skewered another with his spear.
Several of the attackers cleared the way for a dark gray dragon. The newcomer exhaled vast quantities of silvery mist that enveloped the two guards. The dragons retreated away from the broadening cloud, and a scarred one breathed fire into it. The instant the flames contacted the mist, the entire cloud erupted into a blazing fireball, flaring intensely bright for a few seconds and sending heat washing over the entire room before snuffing out. After the fiery display, dragons mobbed the burned guards, dispatching them viciously.
“Come,” Newel called, and Knox realized the others were running ahead of him along the walkway. For a moment he wished he was small enough to be carried like Tess; then he sprinted after the others, his eyes straying to the fight.
The councilor turned and ran toward the rear of the throne room, behind the dais. The Giant Queen reversed her grip on her sword and flung it like a spear, harpooning the fleeing councilor through the back. Then she drew another sword from a scabbard affixed to her throne and whirled to face the dragons.
Celebrant soared to the front of the group, landing before the dais. Knox had never thought anyone could make the Dragon King look small, but the Giant Queen loomed high above him. He could have been her reptilian pet.
“Come at me, slave master,” Celebrant invited.
The other dragons stayed back, either pacing on the floor or flying in holding patterns above. The Giant Queen stepped down from her dais, sword and scepter ready, still towering over Celebrant.
“How dare you come here?” the Giant Queen exclaimed.
“To illustrate that when authority can be overthrown, it will be,” Celebrant said. “And to remind the world what happens when dragons are crossed.”
“Do you think fire or lightning can harm me?” the Giant Queen challenged. “I am of the old blood. The dragons are about to mourn their king.”
“The race of giants expires today,” Celebrant answered. “Old blood and new.”
Face contorted with rage, the Giant Queen swung her scepter down with such force that it shattered the throne-room floor where Celebrant had stood. But the Dragon King was no longer there. Moving with the speed of a striking snake, Celebrant sprang up and around the Giant Queen, trying to get behind her. In one fluid motion, she slashed him away with her sword, the edge skating over his scales, failing to draw blood.
Other dragons charged the Giant Queen. Flames billowed and lightning blazed. Her sword severed the head from one dragon, and a stroke of her scepter crumpled another. In the commotion, Celebrant attacked her from behind, clamping his jaws onto the back of her neck and exhaling into her.
The Giant Queen fell heavily to her knees, her face confused. And the dragons swarmed. Her crown rolled away from the frenzy, finally settling to the polished floor like a spun coin.
Knox caught up to the others where they crouched behind the bleachers.
“Is it over?” Giselle asked Raza hopefully.
“Are we free?” Emery asked.
As if responding to the question, the silver collars fell from their necks.
“Come with me,” Raza said, moving out of hiding to the front of the bleachers. The two female servants followed.
Raza swelled into a huge white dragon with narrow red stripes, Emery expanded into a blue dragon bethorned with short quills, and Giselle became a red dragon tattooed with swirling black markings. Roaring exultantly, all three joined in attacking the Giant Queen.
Celebrant was the first to emerge from the ferocious pack. “Our revenge is not yet complete,” the Dragon King asserted. “Many other giants still resist or run free. They must be eradicated.”
He flew away from the colossal corpse, and the other dragons followed.
Except Raza, who glided toward the bleachers.
Giselle and Emery landed between the white dragon and his potential prey.
“Out of my way,” Raza ordered, his voice magnified to match his new size.
“They are children,” Emery said, her voice empowered as well. “And you are no longer in charge of us.”
“You’ve been polluted!” Raza accused. “What do you care for human brats!”
“They were young ones placed in our care,” Giselle said. The largest of the three, her voice carried the most powerfully. “They showed no aggression. What is the harm in their survival?”
“They were affiliated with Dragonwatch,” Raza said.
“Some they traveled with were affiliated,” Giselle corrected.
“At least give me the satyrs,” Raza said.
“The satyrs are minding the young ones,” Emery said. “Perhaps you have been polluted. Of what consequence are satyrs to our kind? You have giants to hunt.”
Gnashing his teeth, Raza turned and flew from the room.
“You’re not going to eat us?” Tess asked.
Emery looked down at her through reptilian eyes. “I could not have known before the transformation, but no, we will not devour you, not here, not like this.” She held up a claw. “Come.”
Emery took hold of Tess and Knox, and Giselle snatched the two satyrs. They flew to a rear corner of the throne room and set them down near a human-sized door.
“Through here,” Giselle instructed. “Take your first right, then your first left, then go through the first door you reach. With luck, you will find Rustafet waiting.”
“You’re on your own now,” Emery said. “Make your way to Humburgh and lie low.”
“Thank you,” Tess said.
“You’re welcome,” Emery replied, her eyes shifting away from Tess. “The rest of you owe your lives to this little girl. Farewell.”
Emery and Giselle took flight and soared out of the throne room.
“Come on,” Newel said, holding the door open.
“Just a second,” Knox replied, running back into the throne room. “Get Tess out of here.”
Knox knew the satyrs might try to stop him if he didn’t run at top speed. When he glanced over his shoulder, they looked confused. “Go!” Knox urged. “I’ll catch up.”
Knox kept running. By the time he glanced back again, the satyrs and his sister were gone.
He had not explained his plan for fear they would have stopped him. He had repeatedly heard from Kendra that the crowns of the five monarchs were a big deal. Wearing the crown of the Fairy Queen had allowed her to rescue Seth. Currently, the crown of the Giant Queen rested unattended on the throne-room floor.
Knox knew there were plenty of problems with his plan. The throne room was humongous, so he would be running the distance of a few football fields to reach the crown. If a dragon entered the room while he was exposed, he was toast. And, of course, the crown was much too big for him to carry.
But Kendra had mentioned something about the crowns resizing to fit whoever possessed them. If this worked, everyone would thank him for it. Maybe even praise him for it. If he returned empty-handed, hopefully at least there would be no harm done.
And if he didn’t return at all, everyone would wonder what had been going through his mind. Maybe they would assume he had cracked under the pressure.
As Knox drew nearer to the crown, he felt ridiculous. It wasn’t jus
t too cumbersome to carry—it was the size of a house. But since he had already taken the risk, he finished the run and reached out to touch the crown.
As soon as his fingers touched the silvery metal, the crown began to shrink. Within a moment, it fit neatly in his grasp, sized for his head.
Turning, Knox ran back toward the door the satyrs had used. Panting hard, he wondered if he should try it on. Might it transform him into a giant? Might it increase his strength?
He decided to wait. If it became an emergency, he could give the crown a try.
Gasping for breath, a stitch in his side, Knox reached the door the satyrs had escaped through with his sister. The unremarkable passage beyond led to an intersection. At least the corridor looked too small for giants or dragons. He was supposed to go right? Then left? Then through the first door?
Hoping he remembered correctly, Knox hurried through the turns and found the door. Before opening it, he considered what Rustafet might do if he saw Knox holding the crown, and hid it under his shirt.
Beyond the door, in a huge, bare room, Knox saw Newel waiting in the doorway to a wicker house. Rustafet paced nearby, a lofty presence.
“Get over here,” Newel called. “We were about to leave you!”
Knox mustered one last sprint and entered the wicker house. Newel shut the door, then sat down by Tess and Doren.
“We’re ready!” Doren called.
Rustafet swung the house onto his back and ran through a door. He dashed down an unpolished hall, rounded a corner, and went through another door. Knox held on tight as the movements jounced and jostled him.
“Rustafet?” a stern voice challenged. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I have to take these passengers to Humburgh,” Rustafet said.
“Nice try,” a second voice scoffed. “The queen gave orders that no giant is to use this passageway under any circumstances.”
“The queen is dead,” Rustafet said.
“This is our darkest day,” the first voice said.
“Are you certain?” the second voice asked.
“We come from the throne room,” Rustafet said. “My passengers witnessed her fall.”
“Then her order counts double,” the first voice insisted, “and can never be redacted.”
“I don’t have to go,” Rustafet said, unshouldering the wicker house. “But you must let the passengers through. These are some of the visitors from Dragonwatch. Wee folk.”
Knox could now see that Rustafet was talking with two enormous, heavily armored guards.
“The way to Humburgh is closed,” the second guard said.
“But these passengers were approved by the queen’s servants,” Rustafet said. “Raza arranged the transport. That order must have come from her majesty.”
“Raza arranged this?” the first guard asked.
“Do you think dragons took initiative to rescue a couple of human kids and a pair of satyrs?” Rustafet asked. “Weren’t you just preaching that the orders of the queen must be honored?”
“Fine,” the first guard said. “Send them through.”
Newel led the little group out of the wicker house and past the monumental guards. Knox stayed by Tess and kept both hands on the crown under his shirt.
“You know the way,” Rustafet called after them. “Straight as an arrow until you arrive. You can’t get lost. But the distance may feel a tad long for little ones on foot.”
“Thank you,” Tess called over her shoulder.
“Take care,” Rustafet said. His attention turned to the guards. “Where can I find armaments?”
“We might make it out of here,” Newel whispered.
“Don’t get cocky or a dragon will catch us from behind,” Doren replied.
“Feeling sick, Knox?” Newel asked.
Knox realized that with both hands over his stomach, holding the crown beneath his shirt, it must look like he was clutching his belly. “Something like that,” Knox said. He didn’t want to talk about the crown yet. “Rough morning.”
“You know what I think?” Tess volunteered.
“Tell us,” Doren said.
Tess drew a shuddering breath. “I wish we were back at Fablehaven.”
“Amen!” the satyrs said in unison.
The repository where the dragons stored their treasure was not far beyond the web-strewn den of Velrog. The concoction Tanu whipped up had washed away the web residue, though Kendra’s clothes were damp, and she smelled vaguely of lemons, coconut, and baking soda.
Her heart remained heavy about Vanessa losing her sight and Cyllia falling prey to Velrog. But Kendra also felt relieved that Seth had appeared in time to bail them out, bringing with him one of the legendary Dragon Slayers. If they could claim the Harp of Ages soon, at least the sacrifices made to get this far might lead to positive outcomes.
It was odd to see Seth with wings. Though he showed more acceptance of her than he had previously, there was little recognition in his gaze, and the wings made him seem even less like the brother she knew. Was that how her family would view her if she ever became an Eternal? Would she become increasingly foreign to those she loved most?
The treasure room was organized like a museum, with items artfully displayed on raised platforms, tidy racks, tables, and pedestals. The lavish style in Jinzen’s lair seemed echoed here, so she assumed he had influenced the layout and design.
“Lots of choices,” Warren said, indicating a corner of the room crowded with harps great and small. Kendra hoped the Harp of Ages wasn’t one of the massive ones.
“No need to worry,” Merek said, striding confidently to a little golden harp with twelve strings. “This is the one we want.”
“Are you sure?” Tanu asked.
“I remember it,” Merek said.
“You’ve seen the Harp of Ages before?” Kendra asked.
“I remember when it was created,” Merek said. “Archadius led the team that produced it.”
“Is it hard to play?” Kendra asked.
Merek smiled. “It wasn’t designed for recitals. You just strum it. There is no effect on humans.”
“Should we go?” Seth asked.
“Give me a moment,” Merek said. “This wouldn’t be the first time I rescued some of my old gear from a dragon’s hoard.”
Kendra used the opportunity to approach Seth. “That’s a scary weapon.”
He held it up. “It’s called the Unforgiving Blade. No wound from it ever heals.”
“Shouldn’t you keep it in a sheath?” Kendra asked.
“Merek doesn’t think any sheath can contain it,” Seth said.
“Sounds . . . dark,” Kendra said.
“I’m playing Humbuggle’s Game,” Seth said, glancing at Merek. “This blade is part of it.”
“Are you still trying to win the Wizenstone?” Kendra asked.
“Merek is more interested in the stone than I am,” Seth said. “Both of us want to keep it away from Celebrant. He’s after it too.”
“Is he here at Titan Valley?” Kendra asked.
“Yes,” Seth said. “He tried to kidnap me in Humburgh.”
Kendra sighed. If Celebrant was here, the main attack was coming. “What about the Sphinx?”
“I haven’t heard of him since the Under Realm,” Seth said. “Maybe he’s helping Ronodin.”
“Nothing of mine here,” Merek announced. “But I found a better sword and shield.” He held them up. “Warren, consider that sword over in the corner. No, don’t be fooled by the jeweled hilt. I mean the one to the left. That blade is made of adamant.”
“Does adamant get that red?” Warren said.
“It’s an alloy,” Merek said. “And Tanu, you might like that crossbow. The bolts come out ten times larger than they go in, and white-hot. I see only eight bolts, but a di
rect hit with any of them could drop a dragon.”
Tanu promptly claimed the crossbow.
“Where should we go?” Kendra asked.
“Beacon Hill?” Raxtus suggested.
“It has a good view of Terastios without being too close,” Merek agreed. “We could get a sense for the scale of the dragon invasion. Good choice, Raxtus. Do you know Titan Valley well?”
“I was a loner for many years,” Raxtus said. “I visited all of the dragon sanctuaries. I quietly explored. I can carry Kendra.”
“We won’t be able to carry everyone,” Merek said.
“I’m coming for sure,” Kendra said. “My cousins and the satyrs are out there.”
“You guys go ahead,” Warren said. “Tanu and I will catch up. We’ll also need to help Vanessa.”
“I can give her a shrinking potion so we can carry her,” Tanu said.
“Great idea,” Warren said.
“Be ready for an ambush outside the Dragon Temple,” Tanu warned Raxtus. “Or even inside.”
“I’ll stay alert,” Raxtus committed. “Shall we?”
“We’ll follow you,” Merek said. “Kendra, would you carry the Harp?”
“All right,” she said, a little daunted by the crucial responsibility. She supposed Merek and Seth wanted their hands free for their weapons.
“The Harp could help quell an invasion,” Merek said. “Doing so will take time and solid strategy. Hopefully we can catch the dragons off guard. The range is decent but not incredible.”
Raxtus seized Kendra by the shoulders and pulled her into the air. The corridors and caverns were mostly wide enough for the dragon to fly, though occasionally Raxtus had to land, and Kendra would jog beside him. They went back through the web-tangled chamber where Velrog lay dead, up the steep slope, and eventually into the cavern where they had fought Pioleen. In the lair of Jinzen, they paused to check on Vanessa.
“We have the Harp,” Kendra announced.
“Great!” Vanessa said with a smile, her milky white eyes shifting toward Kendra but not quite in line with her. “Is Warren all right?”