Fablehaven2-Rise of the Evening Star Page 30

  ordered, break his arms.

  What? Kendra exclaimed.

  We have to stop them somehow, Seth said.

  Mendigo shifted his grip, placing a wooden knee against

  the wiry imp's back, and then wrenched one of the imp's

  arms into an awkward position and jerked it briskly. Kendra

  looked away, but heard the hideous snap. The imp howled.

  A second crunch followed.

  Mendigo, Seth said, break his legs, then do the same

  to the other imp. Kendra heard more disgusting sounds.

  She opened her eyes. The wiry imp was writhing on the

  ground, limbs askew, and the fat imp had almost reached

  them, plowing through the undergrowth. Mendigo rushed to

  meet the fat imp. The oversized puppet dodged a punch and

  flung himself at the creature. The fat imp caught Mendigo

  in the air and hurled him aside.

  Up close, Kendra realized that this imp was not only

  much broader and thicker than the other imp, he was at

  least a head taller. Mendigo, scuttling on all fours, dove at

  the imp's legs, trying to trip him. The big imp stomped

  at him, then seized Mendigo and slammed him into a tree.

  One of the puppet's arms came unhinged and spun to the

  ground.

  Seth, who had been invisible, suddenly appeared and

  bashed the imp in the side of the head with the key. The

  huge imp staggered sideways and dropped to his knees,

  releasing Mendigo. The puppet hastily retrieved his arm.

  The massive imp turned and rose, wheezing, rubbing the side

  of his head, and glaring with furious eyes. Seth held still,

  invisible once again.

  Mendigo, Seth said, use this key to hurt the big imp.

  Seth flashed into view as he tossed the metal staff to

  Mendigo. The imp rushed at Seth, but Mendigo sprang into

  action, swinging the key with much more force than Seth

  had been able to muster.

  The imp raised an arm to block the blow, but his forearm

  buckled on impact. Whirling, Mendigo clubbed the

  imp's bulging belly, and then whacked him across the shoulders

  when he doubled over.

  Mendigo, Seth said, break his legs, but don't kill

  him.

  The puppet set about bludgeoning the fallen imp,

  quickly hobbling him. That's enough, Mendigo, Kendra

  said. Only hurt them more if they keep after us.

  You're going to pay for this, the wiry imp snarled

  through clenched teeth, glaring fiercely at Kendra.

  You asked for it, Kendra said. Mendigo, pick us up

  and get us away from the yard as fast as you can.

  And don't lose the key, Seth added.

  Mendigo hoisted Kendra over one shoulder and slung

  Seth over the other. The puppet ran away from the scene

  faster than either Kendra or Seth had seen him run before.

  Mendigo, Kendra said softly after they had left the

  crippled imps behind, take us to back to the cottage as

  quickly as you can.

  Did you say the cottage? Seth asked.

  There's another imp, and he looked like the worst of

  the three, Kendra said.

  Right, but won't they look in the cottage? Seth asked.

  Imps can't enter the cottage, Kendra reminded him.

  All right, Seth said. I knocked Vanessa out with one

  of her own darts.

  Then they probably won't be after us right away.

  Mendigo, if somebody chases us and gets close, put us down

  and beat them with the key.

  Mendigo showed no sign that he heard, but Kendra felt

  sure he had. He continued at a tireless sprint. She did not

  mind the branches whipping past her and tearing at her

  sheet. It was much preferable to running barefoot.

  Diverging Plans

  Kendra and Seth sat at the table with Warren. Seth was

  finishing a second peanut butter and honey sandwich.

  Kendra was dumping lemonade powder into a pitcher full of

  water. She stirred the mixture with a wooden spoon.

  The key lay on the table. It was mostly smooth, fashioned

  out of a dull gray metal. One end had a grip like the

  hilt of a sword. The other end had little notches and grooves

  and irregular protuberances. Kendra and Seth could only

  assume that the complicated end was meant to be inserted

  into an intricate keyhole.

  Outside in the night, Mendigo stood watch, clutching a

  hoe in one hand and a rusty cowbell in the other. He was

  under orders to raise the alarm with the bell if any strangers

  approached, and then to use the hoe to cripple any imps or

  people who came along.

  We can't stay here, Seth said.

  I know, Kendra replied, pouring lemonade into a glass.

  Do you want some?

  Sure, Seth said. I have a plan.

  Kendra started filling a second glass. I'm listening.

  I say we go back to the grove, get past the revenant, use

  the key, and retrieve the artifact.

  Kendra took a sip from one of the glasses. Just barely

  too strong, she said.

  Seth picked up the other glass and took a drink. A little

  weak, if you ask me.

  What is your plan again? Kendra asked, rubbing her

  eyes. I'm so tired, I feel like I can barely concentrate.

  We should go after the artifact, Seth restated.

  And how do we get past the revenant? I thought it

  totally froze you.

  Seth held up a finger. I already figured it out. See, we

  have that courage potion in Tanu's pouch. You know, the

  bottled-up emotion. I think if I take a big enough dose, the

  courage will counteract the fear from the zombie.

  Kendra sighed. Seth, he has to mix in all sorts of stuff

  to get the emotions to balance each other out right.

  The fear from the revenant will balance it out plenty.

  You heard Vanessa and Errol. I just have to pull out the nail.

  I know I can do it!

  What if you can't?

  Seth shrugged. If I can't, I end up an albino like the

  others, and you'll have to make a new plan.

  After everything that has happened, do you think the

  riskiest plan imaginable is the best way to go?

  Unless you have a better one.

  Kendra shook her head and wiped her hands down her

  face. She felt so weary that it was tough to focus. But obviously

  they couldn't just charge off and battle a revenant and

  then try to survive all the traps guarding the inverted tower.

  There had to be better alternatives.

  I'm waiting, Seth said.

  I'm thinking, Kendra said. It's what some people do

  before they talk. Let's consider the other options besides

  deliberate suicide. We could hide. I'm not wild about that

  option, because it just prolongs an actual decision, and I'm

  not going to be able to keep awake much longer.

  You have circles under your eyes, Seth said.

  We could attack. They only have one imp left.

  Mendigo is a pretty tough fighter. If he had a weapon, he

  could maybe take out their last imp, and then beat up Errol

  and Vanessa.

  If we can lure them all out of the yard, Seth said.

  Which I doubt will happen. After they find the injured

  imps, they'll be careful. You nev
er know, they might have

  other tricks up their sleeves. Vanessa could come after us as

  Dale, for example.

  I hadn't thought of that, Kendra admitted. Do you

  think she's doing that right now?

  I would be, Seth said. And this is the first place I

  would look.

  What if Dale shows up and Mendigo hurts him?

  Kendra wondered.

  At this point, if Dale shows up, Mendigo better hurt

  him. His legs will heal.

  We should probably leave Fablehaven, Kendra said.

  Escape and find the Sphinx.

  How? You have his phone number? Know where he

  hides out?

  Kendra rubbed the side of her head.

  Seth looked at her adamantly. And guess who is

  probably waiting on the driveway just outside those gates?

  Your friend the kobold. And that big monster made of hay.

  And about a zillion other members of the Society of the

  Evening Star, guarding the gates in case somebody tries to

  do exactly what you're saying. And probably hoping Vanessa

  figures out how to let them in.

  Do you have a better idea? Kendra huffed.

  I told you a better idea. They won't be expecting it.

  Kendra shook her head. Seth, even Tanu and Coulter

  weren't sure how they were going to get past the traps in the

  tower. Even if you could defeat the revenant, we'd never

  make it to the artifact.

  Seth got up out of his chair. Outside of Fablehaven, the

  Society of the Evening Star can send everybody they have

  after us. We wouldn't last five minutes. In here, they only

  have Vanessa, Errol, and that imp. Either way is dangerous.

  But I'd rather take a risk trying to fix everything than take a

  risk running away.

  Running for help, Kendra stressed.

  You didn't run away when you went to the Fairy

  Queen, Seth reminded her.

  That was different, she said. You and Grandma and

  Grandpa were about to die for sure, and I had nobody to

  help me. If I had run away, I would have been abandoning

  you. I knew I could save you if the Fairy Queen was willing

  to help me.

  And if we get the artifact we can save Grandma and

  Grandpa, Seth said. It probably has powers we can use.

  Nobody even knows what it does, Kendra said.

  It does something. They're all supposed to be really

  powerful, letting us control time or space and stuff like that.

  You didn't know exactly what the Fairy Queen could do. You

  just knew she was powerful. Whatever the artifact is, at least

  it would give us a chance. Would you rather go hide under

  a log? In the morning, we'd be no better off than we are right

  now.

  At least we wouldn't be dead.

  I'm not so sure, Seth said. All it takes is one of us

  falling asleep, and we'll be in all sorts of trouble.

  I'm not saying we hide under a log. I say we bring

  Mendigo, and take our chances trying to find the Sphinx.

  We don't have to use the driveway; we can climb the gate

  and loop way around, stay out of sight. There's a better probability

  we'll succeed.

  How is there a better chance? We have no idea what is

  waiting outside the gates! We have no idea where the

  Sphinx is! We don't even know if he's still alive!

  Kendra folded her arms. He's been alive for hundreds of

  years and all of a sudden he gets killed?

  Maybe. These artifacts have been hidden for hundreds

  of years and all of a sudden they're being found.

  You're exhausting, Kendra said.

  That's what you say when I'm right! Seth said.

  It's what I say when you won't shut up. Kendra stood.

  I have to use the bathroom.

  First tell me we'll go after the artifact.

  No way, Seth. We're leaving the preserve.

  I've got it, Seth said. How about you leave, and I go

  get the artifact?

  Sorry, Seth. I thought you were dead once. I'm not

  going to lose you now.

  It makes sense, he said with more conviction. I go

  after the artifact, you go after help. Both might be long

  shots, but both only require one of us.

  Kendra's hands clenched into fists. Seth, I'm about to

  lose it. Enough about going after the artifact. It's crazy. Can't

  you tell when an idea is doomed? Are you programmed to

  self-destruct? We're sticking together, and we're leaving

  Fablehaven. There might not even be anybody on guard out

  there. You're just guessing. We'll be careful, but our best bet

  is somehow finding the Sphinx. Hopefully he's already looking

  for us.

  Fine, you're right, he said curtly.

  Kendra wasn't sure how to respond. You think?

  It doesn't matter what I think, Seth said. The fairy

  princess has spoken.

  You're a jerk, she said.

  Then I can't win, Seth said. I'm a jerk if I agree, I'm

  crazy if I don't.

  It's how you agree, she said. Can I go to the bathroom

  now:

  Apparently you get to do whatever you want, Seth

  said.

  Kendra walked to the bathroom. He was being unreasonable.

  Going after the artifact was insanity. If they were

  seasoned adventurers like Tanu, it might be a risk worth taking.

  But they knew nothing. It was a certain recipe for disaster.

  Running away from Fablehaven was scary too, but at

  least those dangers weren't guaranteed. The revenant was

  there for sure, and so were the traps guarding the artifact.

  Kendra massaged her temples, trying to clear her mind.

  She always got muddled when she was overtired. Part of her

  didn't want to leave the bathroom. As soon as she rejoined

  Seth, they would have to run off into the night with

  Mendigo and flee the preserve. All she wanted to do was

  curl up and go to sleep.

  Kendra washed her hands and splashed water on her

  face. Reluctantly she returned to the main room. Warren sat

  alone at the table. Seth? she called.

  The potion pouch was open. The key was gone. A note

  sat on the table, with the invisibility glove beside it. Kendra

  hurried to the note.

  Kendra,

  I took Mendigo and am going after the artifact. I

  will send him back once he takes me to the grove.

  Don't be mad.

  Keep a good lookout and lie low until Mendigo

  gets back. Then go find the Sphinx. I left you the

  glove.

  Love,

  Seth

  Kendra reread the note in stunned disbelief. She threw

  it down and ran outside. How long had she been in the

  bathroom? Pretty long. She had been thinking, and taking

  her time. Ten minutes? More?

  Dared she yell for Mendigo? The night was quiet. A

  crescent moon was rising. The stars were clear and bright.

  She heard nothing. If she ordered Mendigo back, would he

  hear? Would he come? Surely Seth had commanded the

  giant puppet not to heed any orders from her to return. And

  since she had told Mendigo to obey Seth, the puppet

  probably saw their authority as equal, and would obey Seth's

  preemptive command.

  By now, they we
re probably out of earshot anyway.

  Mendigo would be even faster carrying only one passenger.

  How could Seth be so selfish? She considered going after

  him, but had no idea which direction he had gone. If she

  knew where the farthest corner of Fablehaven was, she

  would go search for Hugo, but again, she would be wandering

  blind. Seth was going to get killed, and while Mendigo

  was gone, somebody would probably show up and capture

  her as well.

  Should she hide inside the house, or outside? If they sent

  the imp, inside would be foolproof. But they knew the imp

  would not be able to enter the cottage, so if they sent somebody,

  it would probably be Dale or someone else controlled

  by Vanessa. Which meant Kendra should find a good hiding

  place outside the cottage and lie low until Mendigo

  returned. The glove would help conceal her.

  She ran back into the house to get Tanu's bag and the

  glove. Warren looked at her, smiling vaguely. He had no idea

  what was going on. In a way, she envied him.

  Seth had discovered that riding Mendigo piggyback was

  considerably more comfortable than being slung over his

  shoulder. He had also discovered that Mendigo could run

  notably faster carrying only one person. In one hand

  Mendigo held the key, in the other, the courage potion.

  Seth had ordered Mendigo to go to the covered bridge,

  and then to proceed onward to the valley surrounded by four

  hills. He could only hope the puppet understood where he

  meant. Mendigo seemed to be running purposefully, so at

  least the puppet had some destination in mind. Seth had

  also ordered Mendigo to disregard any instructions from

  Kendra until he sent him back to her. He had also directed

  Mendigo to quietly point out any humans or imps that came

  near them. He hoped the chances were slim of meeting up

  with any of his enemies in the woods, but it was possible the

  imp or others were out hunting them.

  The crescent moon gave off enough light that Seth

  could see fairly well, even without special fairy vision. He

  had found a flashlight in a cupboard at the cottage, so he

  had insurance that he would be able to see his adversary in

  the grove. He had also commandeered a pair of pliers that

  he had noticed in the tool closet when they had grabbed the

  hoe for Mendigo.

  Before too long Mendigo was clomping across the covered

  bridge. It had been only two nights ago that Hugo had

  carried Seth and Coulter along this same route to the same