Dragonwatch

by Brandon Mull

  “I’ll be dead,” Seth said. “They can scold me at my funeral.”

  “What if Knox gets hurt?”

  “He should be safe. When we tried this with the ogre, it was kind of a mess for me, but not for him. I have to trust that, or I couldn’t do it.”

  “How are you going to convince him to come?” Calvin wondered.

  “I’m working on it,” Seth said. “All I know for sure is I can’t tell him the truth. Not knowing about the dragons is part of his protection.”

  They waited until Seth heard Brunwin addressing the goblin guard. Then Seth came around the corner.

  “Tell nobody of this,” Brunwin was saying. “This is a secret mission for the good of the sanctuary.”

  The goblin gave a salute. “As you wish.” He took out a key and opened the door. Brunwin ushered Seth inside and closed it.

  Seth peeked into the empty barrel, then turned to Brunwin. “The boy is named Knox. When he comes through, he’ll think we’re playing a game. Treat it like the game is important. Take him to the door Kendra used to visit Raxtus. When I fly over the wall, send him to the safe hut.”

  “Understood,” Brunwin said.

  “What about the dwarfs?” Seth asked.

  “Obun will help. He and Didger are preparing Tempest as we speak.”

  Seth climbed into the barrel and squatted down. “I need to get to Fablehaven,” he said. Inside the barrel, he was at both places at once. He knew that if anyone at Fablehaven was near the barrel, they would hear his voice. All he needed was for somebody at Fablehaven to reach inside and touch him, and he could exit there.

  A pair of hands helped him out of the barrel. The hands belonged to Doren! Suddenly he was in the living room at Fablehaven. Newel was there too.

  “So good to see you!” Doren said. “It gets dull around here without you.”

  “What a surprise,” Newel said. “Is everything all right?”

  “Should we get old man Larsen?” Doren wondered.

  “No, please,” Seth said. “I’m glad you guys are guarding the barrel. I’m here on a secret mission.”

  Doren pumped a fist. “Helping with a secret mission tops watching an empty barrel any day.”

  “Good,” Seth said. “I have to borrow Knox.”

  “By borrow, you mean . . . ?” Newel asked.

  “I need to bring him to Wyrmroost for a few minutes,” Seth said.

  Newel folded his arms. “We’re supposed to get permission from old man Larsen before letting anyone go from Fablehaven to Wyrmroost.”

  “What’s this old man Larsen business?” Seth asked. “His name is Hank.”

  Doren shrugged. “We like the ring of it.”

  “Don’t change the subject,” Newel said. “You’re asking us to ignore our duty.”

  “We can’t explain this to Grandpa Larsen,” Seth said. “I’m the new caretaker of Wyrmroost. Do it under my authority. I’ll take any blame.”

  “You’re what?” Doren asked. “The what-taker of what, now?”

  “Caretaker of Wyrmroost,” Seth said, showing them the medallion.

  “Looks fancy,” Doren conceded.

  “Did Stan and Ruth disappear or something?” Newel asked. “And every other possible candidate?”

  “They needed dragon tamers,” Seth said. “Kendra and I qualified.”

  “You’re serious,” Newel said.

  “Dead serious,” Seth said. “And we really have an emergency.”

  Newel nudged Doren. “Hear that? We know the caretaker of Wyrmroost.”

  “We could rule that place now,” Doren said. “Can you imagine? A caretaker on our side? One who doesn’t care at all about the rules?”

  “Hey,” Seth said. “I care about the rules.”

  Newel and Doren both laughed. Doren slapped his woolly thighs.

  “Nobody is watching,” Newel finally said. “You can deal straight with us.”

  “I want to be a really good caretaker,” Seth said. “But first I have to save the sanctuary.”

  “With Knox?” Doren asked. “Come on. What’s the real story? Need to snatch some more treasure?”

  “Kind of,” Seth said. “That’s not important. Listen, unless you let me take Knox, Wyrmroost will fall.”

  Newel and Doren grew serious. “We’re at Fablehaven, Seth,” Newel said. “The caretaker of Wyrmroost doesn’t call the shots here. Why not run it by Hank?”

  “He won’t want me to do it,” Seth said. “But it has to happen!”

  Doren gasped and covered his mouth. “Are you sacrificing Knox to the dragons?”

  Newel placed a hand on Seth’s shoulder. “There are other ways to deal with annoying cousins.”

  “Knox will be fine,” Seth said through gritted teeth. “If anybody dies it will be me. Are you two going to trust me or not? You’re supposed to be my friends.”

  Newel placed his hands behind his back and avoided eye contact. “See, Seth, the thing is, old man Larsen, er, Hank, trusted us with this post so we can earn television time.”

  “Said he’d block our cable signal if we didn’t stand watch,” Doren said. “Stan promised us a television, but there were no guarantees about the signal. Old man Larsen got us on a technicality.”

  “You won’t help me because it might interrupt your shows?” Seth asked.

  “We promised to be good guardians,” Newel said. “It’s a sacred trust. And, yeah, if Hank gets mad, what will become of us? I can’t go back to an antenna, Seth. It isn’t civilized.”

  “I’ll tie you up,” Seth offered. “You can say you had no choice.”

  “But we’ll look like wimps,” Doren said.

  “Wait a minute,” Newel said. “Hank won’t want wimps watching the barrel.”

  Doren smiled. “Good point.”

  “I promise you won’t get busted,” Seth said. “I’ll take all the blame. You can say I had permission from Grandpa Sorenson.”

  “Do you?” Newel asked.

  “Um, sure,” Seth said.

  “You have to lie better than that,” Doren said. “Everyone will see right through it.”

  “I mean, yes, Grandpa Sorenson sent me to get Knox,” Seth said. “Grandma too. Absolutely. Happy now?”

  Newel sighed. “Seth, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

  Seth took a deep breath. “I’m sure.”

  “It’s a good plan,” Calvin called from his pocket.

  “Are you still toting that little guy around?” Doren asked. “I was sure a sparrow would have eaten him by now.”

  “Don’t tease him,” Seth said. “Calvin has already helped save the day.”

  “Must have been a short day,” Newel muttered.

  “This really is an emergency,” the nipsie asserted.

  “My new friend Calvin is on my side,” Seth said. “Are my old friends big enough to help?”

  “We’ll help,” Newel said.

  “We aren’t the Supreme Gigantic Overlords for nothing,” Doren maintained.

  “Are Grandma and Grandpa Larsen nearby?” Seth asked.

  “With Stan and Ruth gone, the Larsens moved in here with Knox and Tess,” Newel said. “I think it was partly to be near the barrel. And partly to be near the yard and the front gate and the cow out in the barn.”

  “Are they around?” Seth asked.

  “Gloria is on a shopping trip,” Newel said. “Hank is out inspecting something with Hugo.”

  “What about Knox and Tess?” Seth asked.

  “Out by the pool,” Newel said.

  “Have you seen a basketball with writing on it?” Seth asked.

  “I know right where it is,” Doren exclaimed. “In the hall by the front door.”

  “Could you hide the ball for me?” Seth asked. “Someplace
where Knox won’t find it.”

  “No problem,” Doren said.

  “I’m going to go get Knox,” Seth said. “I’ll be right back.”

  Seth ran to the kitchen and out the back door. Dale was working in the garden. He stopped pushing his wheelbarrow and waved at Seth. “Everything all right?”

  “I’m good,” Seth called. “I just have a question for Knox. Then I’ll be gone again.”

  “Okay,” Dale said, returning to his task. “Good to see you.”

  Seth hustled to the pool. Tess splashed in the shallow end, giggling at the flock of fairies attending her. Knox sat on the patio, using a magnifying glass to make a wood chip smoke.

  “Hey,” Seth said. “That’s my magnifying glass.”

  Knox looked up. “Seth breath? I thought you were at camp.”

  “I’m not back for long,” Seth said. “Just a quick visit.”

  Knox held up the magnifying glass. “I found this in the attic.”

  “You can keep it,” Seth said. “My better one is in my emergency kit.”

  “I have a big one at home that can cut through stone,” Knox bragged.

  “I bet,” Seth said. “Look, I need your help with something.”

  “I can recommend some extra-strength mouthwashes,” Knox said.

  “I’m serious,” Seth replied. “I’m playing a game at camp. And you can help me win.”

  “Oh, no,” Knox said, shaking his head. “I’m not going to summer camp. Being bored is bad enough. I don’t want to be told how I have to be bored by a bunch of counselors.”

  “You’ll just help our team win a game,” Seth said. “No counselors.”

  “Why would I want to help your team?” Knox said. “Can I be on the other team?”

  “I thought you might want to win your basketball back,” Seth said casually.

  “My basketball?”

  “The one signed by Jordan and LeBron and everybody? What’s it worth to you?”

  Knox threw his head back and laughed. “What? Are you holding it hostage?”

  “It’s in a safe place,” Seth said. “For now.”

  Knox laughed again. “You’re so dumb! Do you actually think all those players really signed it?”

  Seth just stared. There was nothing to say.

  Knox kept chuckling. “I wrote those names myself. I didn’t even check what their real signatures look like. Do you think I would actually play with a ball like that? It would be in a vault.”

  Seth tried to reformulate his strategy. “Just come. This camp will blow your mind. I’ll give you an awesome prize if you help our team win.”

  “What awesome prize?”

  “I don’t know,” Seth said. “Gold or something. Maybe jewels.”

  Knox laughed again. “How dumb do you think I am? You don’t have gold. How far away is this camp?”

  “Have you heard about VR?” Seth asked.

  Knox gave a huff. “Virtual reality? I probably know a hundred times more about it than you do.”

  “It’s a virtual reality camp,” Seth said. “We can get there from the living room.”

  “You’re such a liar,” Knox said.

  “Prove me wrong,” Seth replied.

  Knox twirled the magnifying glass in his hand. “Only because I’m bored.”

  “Hey, Seth!” Tess cried from the pool. “I thought you were gone!”

  “Just a quick visit,” he replied.

  “Aren’t the fairies beautiful?” Tess asked.

  “They look like bugs to me,” Seth said.

  “If you say so,” she said with a wink.

  “Those bugs really do follow her around,” Knox said. “It’s weird.”

  “Is she okay if we leave her here?” Seth asked quietly.

  “Dale is keeping an eye on us,” Knox said. “No unsupervised swimming is a big rule for Grandpa and Grandma Larsen.”

  “Follow me,” Seth said.

  He led Knox into the house, through the kitchen, and into the living room. Newel and Doren stood near the barrel.

  “What is with Grandpa letting these goats roam the house?” Knox said. “I can’t believe they haven’t eaten the furniture.”

  “Maybe you should sacrifice him,” Newel suggested.

  Seth pinched the back of Knox’s neck.

  “Ow!” Knox cried. He punched Seth on the shoulder hard enough to make it ache. “What was that for?”

  Seth rubbed his shoulder. “I was giving you a VR implant.”

  “You make up the worst lies ever,” Knox said, looking around. “Do you have a headset?”

  “Headsets are old school,” Seth said. “The newest tech goes right into your nerves.”

  “Nice try,” Knox said. “They don’t have anything like that yet.”

  “Really?” Seth asked. “Climb in that barrel and say, ‘Wyrmroost.’”

  Knox glanced at the barrel and snorted. “Yeah, right. It looks pretty high tech.”

  “Prove me wrong,” Seth challenged again.

  “Want to make a bet?” Knox asked.

  “Sure,” Seth said. “Anything.”

  Knox stared at him. “Let’s just see.” He climbed into the barrel and stood there. “What do I say again?”

  “Squat down and say, ‘Wyrmroost.’”

  “I’m not squatting,” Knox said. “You’re going to tip me over or something.”

  “I could tip you over now,” Seth said. “You have to get the implant closer to the sensors. Squat and say it. If nothing happens, you’re right, I’m wrong.”

  Knox squatted out of sight. “Wyrmroost.”

  Seth moved forward and peeked into the barrel. It was empty.

  “Want me to tie you up?” Seth asked the satyrs.

  “We’ll settle for ratting on you as soon as we’re asked,” Newel said. “Go save Wyrmroost.”

  “And, seriously,” Doren said. “Don’t get your cousin killed.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Seth said, climbing into the barrel.

  Gambit

  “Brunwin?” Seth called.

  The minotaur lifted him out of the barrel.

  Knox was looking around the room in astonishment. “How are you doing this?” he asked.

  “I told you, virtual reality,” Seth said. “Cool tech, right? You’ve met Brunwin?”

  “Just barely,” Knox said. “But this can’t be happening.”

  “And yet it is,” Seth said. “Hard to argue with that. Now, we really do need to win this game. Are you listening?”

  “Okay, yeah,” Knox said.

  “This is a big environment,” Seth said. “It’s called Blackwell Keep. Looks totally real. The game is like capture the flag. This fort is our base. Brunwin will take you to a door. When he gives you a signal, you’ll go to a dome on a ridge and get a golden scepter guarded by a moose.”

  “A moose?” Knox asked.

  “It’s a weird game,” Seth explained. “The programmers are kind of insane. Anyhow, tell the moose you were sent by Seth to get the scepter and then bring it back to the fort.”

  “Won’t the other team try to get me?” Knox asked.

  Seth shook his head. “You’re not officially part of the game. They can’t get you. You may see weird stuff. Animals. People. Just hurry back to the fort. They shouldn’t be able to mess with you.”

  “They may try to tell you things to trick you,” Brunwin said. “They might make offers. Don’t listen. Bring the scepter to the fort.”

  “Doing this right is a big deal,” Seth said. “This is the championship. I saved this loophole for when we really needed it. The other team is full of complete jerks. Worst of the worst. Whatever they offer, they’re lying. And whatever they offer, tell us and we’ll triple it. This game is the whole point of the
camp. I’m serious. You’ll be a hero.”

  “Okay,” Knox said. “You’re sure the other team can’t tag me?”

  “Try to avoid them,” Seth said. “But yeah, I’m sure. I’m going to go cause a distraction. Brunwin will take you to the starting point. Are you good?”

  “I guess,” Knox said. He looked around the room. “I still don’t get how this works.”

  “Maybe we’ll show you the technology after the game,” Seth said. “It’s really incredible. Brunwin, we need to disguise him somehow.”

  “I’m well ahead of you,” the minotaur said. “We don’t want him recognized before we send him on his mission. I have a robe for him.”

  “Then we’re ready?” Seth asked.

  “Go to the stables,” Brunwin said. “I’ll await your signal.”

  They exited the room. Brunwin thanked the goblin and reminded him to keep quiet about their visit to the barrel.

  “Who is this?” the goblin asked, indicating Knox. “I’m supposed to inform Marat and Stan if anyone comes through.”

  “I approve it,” Seth said.

  “I’m supposed to be told in advance,” the goblin complained.

  “You weren’t informed because this newcomer is a secret of the highest priority,” Brunwin said. “This is happening on Seth’s authority and mine. We’ll make sure all who need to know are informed.”

  The goblin growled softly. “I don’t like it. I was given specific orders. I’m not taking the fall for this.”

  “No authority at Blackwell Keep can overrule Seth,” Brunwin said harshly. “And I’m your superior too. You risk trouble only if you divulge our secret. Understood?”

  Mumbling unintelligibly, the goblin waved them away.

  After parting from Brunwin and Knox, Seth walked briskly to the stables. He wanted to run but was worried it would draw too much attention.

  “This is so exciting,” Calvin said from his pocket. “I thought the ogre was good. And the Path of Dreams. But sixty dragons? That wins easily.”

  “You can’t come with me,” Seth said.

  “Oh, no,” Calvin said. “Don’t even try. We’ve been over this. If you go down, I go down.”

  “Not this time,” Seth said. “My only chance to get away is going to a certain place. I don’t want to say where that is until the last minute. If you come, it could mess up my chances.”