by Brandon Mull
Kendra crawled into the hole, and the boy slid a panel to cover it, leaving them in darkness.
Real darkness.
Actual darkness.
It had been a long time since Kendra had experienced real darkness. Since she had become fairykind, no darkness had been complete. At least not while she was awake.
“Don’t be scared,” the boy whispered.
“Who are you?” Kendra asked.
“Augie,” he said. “None of them know about me. Everyone forgot me. Just a servant. No fancy connections. I’ve been hiding.”
“All these years?” Kendra asked.
“All these years,” he said. “We don’t get older here.”
“We?”
“Me and the brothers, King Hollorix’s sons,” Augie said. “We’re the only ones not turned to gold or silver.”
“Three brothers?” Kendra asked.
“Well, two,” Augie said. “One disappeared.”
“Hiding?” Kendra asked. “Like you?”
“Maybe,” he said. “If so, he’s good. I haven’t found him.”
“Why did you grab me?” Kendra asked.
“You’re a kid,” Augie said. “I figured I should help you. The other two were too far forward. Too close to Tregain.”
“Will my friends be safe?” Kendra asked.
“Nothing here is safe,” the boy whispered. “Nobody is safe.”
“Will Tregain turn them to silver?” Kendra asked.
“You figured that out already?” he asked. “Good job.”
“Do I need to warn them?” Kendra asked.
“We don’t get many visitors here,” Augie said. “Almost never. Before he makes a move to change them, he’ll try to recruit them.”
“For what?”
“For help,” Augie whispered. “Winning the contest.” He took her hand. “This way.”
A pair of silver guards flanked the tall silver doors that Tregain opened. Seth had noticed several silver blocks among the stones composing the walls of the hallway. And now he noticed something even more important. “Where’s Kendra?”
Seth, Knox, Lomo, and Tanu exchanged worried looks. Kendra was nowhere in view.
Lomo ran back the way they had come, passing out of sight around a corner. Tanu confronted Tregain. “Did you do something?”
“Of course not, friend. Your eyes were on me the whole time,” Tregain replied.
They could hear Lomo calling for Kendra. The tone of his voice suggested that he was searching, not that he had seen her.
“An accomplice?” Seth asked.
“My accomplices are frozen in silver, lad,” Tregain said, holding up the glove and flexing his fingers. “My aim right now is to talk.”
“What could have happened to her?” Tanu said.
Tregain shrugged. “The dangerous man is occupied with the three other strangers. He does not haunt the halls in this wing.”
“Then what happened?” Seth asked.
“There is nobody else here,” Tregain said. “She must have wandered off. Which is odd, because I was trying to keep my eyes on you.”
“Should we spread out and search?” Knox asked.
“We need to talk first,” Tregain said. “There are things you must know and matters we must settle.”
“We need to make sure Kendra is all right,” Seth said.
Lomo ran back into view. “I retraced our steps to the courtyard,” he reported. “No sign of her. No answer to my calls.”
“Talk to me before you search,” Tregain said, walking through the silver doors.
“I’ll keep looking,” Lomo said.
“I’ll help,” Knox offered.
“Try not to disappear,” Tanu said.
“We’ll meet you back here,” Lomo promised.
Seth and Tanu followed Tregain into a posh room where all the furniture was made of polished silver. Many of the floor tiles and blocks in the wall were silver as well.
“You turn things to silver?” Seth asked.
“With this glove, yes,” Tregain said, sitting down on a silver chair. “Sit if you wish.”
“We’ll stand,” Tanu said.
“It isn’t contagious,” Tregain said. “You won’t turn to silver by sitting on the furniture.”
“Why turn things to silver?” Seth asked.
“Why indeed?” Tregain asked. “The blasted contest.”
“What contest?” Tanu asked.
“After all this time, word has never spread?” Tregain said.
“Word doesn’t get out,” Tanu replied.
“A vile dwarf named Humbuggle tempted my father,” Tregain said. “He established a contest, to be won by one of the king’s three sons. Until the contest ends, the castle remains cursed.”
“What is the contest?” Seth asked.
“More about that later,” Tregain said. “For now, let it suffice that my glove can turn people and objects to silver. My brother Heath can similarly change objects to gold. Gold and silver help establish allegiance.”
“You turned all of those people to silver?” Seth asked.
“They are not dead,” Tregain said. “Just preserved that way for now. Which is partly why you interest me. I could use some fleshy partners. Swear to serve me in helping me win the contest, swear to help me win the prize, and we can work together.”
“What is the prize?” Tanu asked.
“A bauble, really,” Tregain said casually. “A stone that serves as the trophy. What I most want is to break the curse and free my parents.”
“Where are your parents?” Seth asked.
“Trapped in the highest room of the castle until the contest ends,” Tregain said. “I must claim the stone to free them.”
“Why not work with your brother?” Seth asked.
“Because it is a contest,” Tregain said. “And he cannot be trusted.”
Seth glanced at Tanu. Tregain was obviously not being honest about the Wizenstone. Was it possible he didn’t know?
“How do we win the contest?” Tanu asked.
“I may tell you after you pledge,” Tregain said. “You would be wise to work with me. None of us can leave the castle until the contest is won.”
“And it has been going for a long time,” Seth said.
Tregain seemed to gaze into the distance. “A great while, yes. Years upon years.”
“Any chance we solve it tonight?” Seth asked.
Tregain gave a hearty laugh. “Not unless you work with me and work quickly.”
“Why not be content if we win the contest and break the curse?” Tanu asked. “Why must we work for you?”
“I want the stone,” Tregain said. “I want the prize. It is a matter of pride. I have been after it for centuries. I will have the stone, sooner or later. If you help me, we will all gain our freedom sooner.”
“Why don’t we just agree to work together?” Tanu asked. “Must there be pledges?”
Tregain’s eyes hardened. “There must. I am lord of this castle. I have labored here a long time. I have the know-how. You work either for me or against me.”
“And if we work against you?” Tanu asked.
Tregain raised his gloved hand, waggling his fingers. “There are other means of persuasion.”
“You’ll turn us to silver,” Tanu said.
“I’ll claim you for my side,” Tregain said. “But let’s keep this pleasant.”
“Threats are not pleasant,” Tanu said. “Seth, run.”
“But—” Seth began.
“Now,” Tanu said, his stern tone allowing no argument. “Warn the others.”
Tregain leaped from his chair, grabbing for Tanu. The potion master avoided the gloved hand as Seth backed toward the open doors. When Tregain changed course for Seth, the potion master tackled him from behind.
The last thing Seth saw before he fled the room was the gloved hand on Tanu’s shoulder. From that point of contact, silver spread quickly across Tanu until he was a solid silver statu
e.
Contest
“Kendra! Kendra?”
She heard Lomo calling her name. “Can I answer?” Kendra whispered.
“Not if you want my help,” Augie said, halting in the darkness.
“You can trust my friends,” Kendra said.
“I can’t trust you,” Augie said. “I’m not going to show you the best secrets. I just can’t. I survived this long by staying out of the contest. Because you’re a kid, I wanted to give you a chance.”
“Kendra?” Lomo called again, his voice more distant. “Make a noise if you can hear me.”
“I don’t want them to worry about me,” Kendra whispered.
“It won’t kill them,” Augie said. “If they’re looking for you, it might help keep Tregain from entrapping them. At least for a little while.”
“You told me he would recruit them,” Kendra said.
“Probably at first,” Augie said. “Tregain is as paranoid as Heath. They both have recruited live people from time to time. We’ve had a few visitors over the years. They all get turned to silver or gold. No truce lasts long. The brothers don’t trust anybody. Once the people have been changed, the brothers know what side they’re on.”
“What is the contest?” Kendra asked.
“The dwarf set it up,” the boy said.
“What dwarf?”
“Humbuggle,” the boy said. “A magical trickster. Do you know about the prize?”
“I think so,” Kendra said. “Do you?”
“Of course I know,” Augie said. “A legendary magical object. You tell me.”
“The Wizenstone,” Kendra whispered.
“Yes, that’s right,” Augie said. “Not everyone knows this.”
“The dragons know,” Kendra said.
“Are dragons with you?” Augie asked apprehensively.
“They came before us,” Kendra said.
“The three warriors,” Augie said. “I saw them. They look tough. Heavy armor. Big weapons.”
“If the dragons get the Wizenstone, they’ll use it to destroy all dragon sanctuaries and take over the world.”
“What would you use it for?” Augie asked.
“To stop them,” Kendra said. “To keep the world safe.”
“What else?” Augie asked. “It’s supposed to be incredibly powerful.”
“To do good,” Kendra said. “And I’d try to keep it out of evil hands. I’ve already helped do the same with other magical items of great power.”
“What items?” Augie asked.
“The keys to the demon prison,” Kendra said. “You’ve probably never heard of the Chronometer or the Sands of Sanctity.”
“I know more about stuff here at the castle,” Augie said.
“So, what is the contest?” Kendra repeated.
“Tregain and Heath would never tell you the whole story,” Augie said. “The dwarf recited a poem at the start of the contest all those years ago.”
“Do you know it?” Kendra asked.
“Sure,” he said, and proceeded to recite the poem:
To find your way to treasure untold
A coin of platinum, silver, and gold
Must each be placed in the fountain clear
All together or they disappear
The golden touch can hold but one
Another for silver and platinum
Elusive though these coins may be
Go pay the price of liberty
“What coins?” Kendra asked.
“That part has been solved,” Augie said. “At least partially. From time to time the brothers have found a silver coin imprinted with the face of Humbuggle, a gold coin with the dwarf’s profile, and a platinum coin that shows his full body. They have found them and lost them time and again over all these years.”
“All they have to do is throw the coins in the fountain?” Kendra asked.
“Apparently,” Augie said. “I stay out of it.”
“Don’t you want the contest to end?” Kendra asked.
“I want to survive it,” Augie said. “Everyone who gets involved ends up silver or gold.”
“Stay away from Tregain!” Seth shouted from a distance. “He turned Tanu silver! Can you hear me? Watch out for Tregain!”
“We have to help him,” Kendra said.
“Wait here,” Augie said. She heard him moving away in the darkness.
“Tregain turned Tanu silver!” Seth called, his voice closer. “Can anybody hear me?”
“I hear you!” Knox called from a distance.
“Me too!” Lomo cried faintly.
Several paces away, a panel slid aside, letting light into the dark space between walls. Augie leaned out through the opening, then came back in. Seth followed. He looked Kendra’s way, and she waved. The panel slid, and darkness resumed.
Just outside the dark passage, heavy footfalls approached and paused. Was Tregain crouching to slide open the panel? Was he just listening? The footfalls resumed and moved away.
“No noise,” Augie whispered after a quiet moment. “Follow me.”
He took Kendra’s hand, and she took Seth’s. Augie led them forward, down a ladder, and around a couple of corners.
“Are you all right?” Kendra whispered to her brother.
“I’m fine,” he said. “Tanu is silver.”
“I heard,” Kendra said. “That’s terrible.” She could hardly believe the potion master was now a statue. There had to be a way to turn him back.
“Hush,” Augie cautioned. “If Tregain finds us, we’ll all be silver.”
Augie ducked down, and Kendra followed him, crawling along a cramped little tunnel. Eventually he helped her to her feet again. Seth emerged behind her.
Augie opened a panel, and they ducked into a bedroom.
“I leave you here,” Augie said.
“Wait,” Kendra said. “Tell us more.”
“I told you enough,” Augie said.
“You didn’t tell me anything,” Seth complained. “I’m Seth.”
“This is Augie,” Kendra said.
“Going around with you would be the end of me,” Augie said. “I don’t think you’re going to make it.”
“Why not?” Kendra asked.
“You want to win the contest,” Augie said.
Kendra looked at Seth.
“We want to win it tonight,” Seth said.
Augie smiled as if embarrassed for him. “Good luck.”
“What was the rhyme again?” Kendra asked. “The one from Humbuggle?”
Augie repeated the rhyme for Seth.
“It’s the contest rules,” Kendra said. “Three coins have to go into the fountain at the same time.”
“Be careful of the statues,” Augie said. “If you touch them, you will also get turned to the same material. The statues change only living things. The gloves change almost everything.”
“Thanks for the advice,” Kendra said.
“Good-bye,” Augie said, sliding aside a panel to enter the wall.
“Wait,” Kendra said. “What if we want to go inside the walls too?”
“No way,” Augie said. “It’s how I stay alive. I don’t want you two blundering around. If you draw attention to these passages, I’ll end up silver or gold.”
“What if we go into the passages anyway?” Seth asked.
“You might get caught in one of my traps,” Augie said. “Or I might give you away. I helped you this time. I told you what I know. Don’t make me sorry I reached out. Let me go. And leave me alone.”
“Let him leave,” Kendra said.
“But he could help us win,” Seth said.
“He doesn’t want to help,” Kendra said.
“I’d help if I thought it would do any good,” Augie said. “I’d rather survive. Please don’t tell anyone about me.”
“We’ll try to keep your secrets,” Kendra said.
“Good luck,” Augie said, nimbly ducking into the hole in the wall and sliding the panel to conceal it.
<
br /> Seth crouched and stared. “That’s a good secret passage. I know it’s there but can barely see it.”
“Tanu is silver?” Kendra asked.
Seth nodded. “And Tregain is after us. Probably Heath too, before long. His is the gold team. Don’t forget the dragons roaming around. And we need to find coins. I keep wanting to talk to Calvin and then remembering he’s not there.”
“Let’s try to find Knox and Lomo,” Kendra said.
“And avoid getting tagged,” Seth said.
“Think we can change Tanu back?” Kendra asked, trying to hold her emotions in check.
“Hopefully if we break the curse,” Seth said.
They crept quietly from the room into the hall.
Knox lay behind the bed in the room where Lomo had told him to wait, trying to stay calm. He had heard Seth calling out that Tanu had been turned to silver. Lomo had gone after Seth and suggested Knox hide so they could find him if they escaped Tregain.
But what if Tregain found him first? What if he came into the room? What if he looked behind the bed? Knox knew he would be cornered. He would spend the rest of his days as a silver statue.
Knox closed his eyes and rubbed them, trying to banish the worries. He had volunteered for this! What was the matter with him? He had come to Wyrmroost on purpose! What had he been thinking?
It had seemed magical and cool. He had wanted to help Seth and Kendra, but did he really have anything to contribute? He had reasoned that anything Seth could do, he could do, no problem.
Wasn’t that true? Wasn’t he just as good as Seth? Or better?
Knox wasn’t so sure anymore.
Seth could ride a flying horse through skies full of ghosts like it was normal. Seth stared down wraiths and entered cursed castles and didn’t crack under enormous pressure.
Knox resolved that he wouldn’t crack either. Even if he should. Even if he was in way over his head.
If Tregain entered the room, Knox would dodge him. But Tregain was in a hurry. If he came this way, he would probably peek in the room and keep moving down the hall.
Knox waited. And listened.
He heard some footfalls a couple of times. Thankfully, they did not come right by his room, and they eventually dwindled into silence.
Knox jumped and gasped when Lomo peeked around the bed. Lomo raised a finger to his lips with one hand and held up his boots with another. “Lose your footwear,” he whispered.
