by Brandon Mull
Page 16
"We're looking for a message on the ceiling," Kendra informed him. "Probably a fairy language written backwards. "
"Watch for elaborate patterns," Grandpa instructed.
The three of them separated and roamed the room, eyes on the ceiling. Kendra held the flashlight, the others carried torches. With her eyes upward, she stumbled against the edge of the fountain, nearly tumbling into the glassy water of the basin. After almost taking a plunge, she proceeded with greater caution.
Patches of unusual markings decorated several portions of the ceiling. Each time one of them found a suspicious cluster of designs, Kendra stood below the markings and viewed them in the mirror from various angles. After several disappointing attempts, Coulter spotted a particularly elaborate pattern of symbols above the gong. When Kendra viewed the symbols in the mirror, she beheld a lengthy message seemingly inscribed in plain English.
"I've got something," Kendra said.
"What does it say?" Grandpa asked.
Kendra read silently at first.
The Oculus is located at the Rio Branco preserve in Brazil. The caretakers have the key to the vault, which is located near a point called Tres Cabegas, where three huge boulders overlook the main river. You will have to climb to reach the entrance.
She recited the words to the others.
"We're a little late on that one," Coulter complained.
"There's more," Kendra said.
"Read on," Grandpa prompted.
The Translocator can be found at Obsidian Waste in Australia. The caretakers know the location of the vault. Since the vault is virtually impregnable without the key, I took extra measures to make this artifact more difficult to recover. I hid the key to the vault at Wyrmroost, one of the three dragon sanctuaries closed to human interference. I have a false grave there. Below the headstone you will find a clue to the location. Wyrmroost is inaccessible without a key to the main gate, and is protected by the most potent distracter spell I have ever encountered.
The key to the gate at Wyrmroost is the first horn of a unicorn. I know of only one such horn, and I presented it to the centaurs of Fablehaven. They guard it as their most prized talisman.
"Is that all?" Grandpa asked after Kendra finished relaying the words.
"Yes," Kendra said.
"Sounds like the best way to keep the Translocator hidden might be to leave it alone," Coulter grumbled.
"You're probably right," Grandpa acknowledged. "Patton created some serious obstacles. " *
"What is the Translocator?" Kendra asked.
"The artifact with power over space," Coulter replied. "Most likely some sort of teleportation device. "
"Read the inscription again," Grandpa said.
Kendra complied.
Grandpa and Coulter stood in silent contemplation after she finished.
"What does he mean about Wyrmroost being closed to humans?" Kendra asked.
"Four of the dragon sanctuaries are open to human visitors," Grandpa said. "Few know about them, and fewer would actually take the opportunity to enter one, but those few are generally welcome. The other three sanctuaries are considerably less hospitable. "
"But the three worst ones can't be totally closed to humans," Kendra said. "Patton went there. "
"In theory, humans could visit if they managed to get past the gate and secure permission from the caretaker," Coulter said. "I can't imagine what unspeakable dangers would await. Dragon sanctuaries make Fablehaven look like a petting zoo. "
"Then I'm with Coulter," Kendra said. "Even if we recovered the artifact, how could we hope to hide it in a better place?"
"We couldn't," Grandpa said. "We now have our information. Let's go check on your brother. "
Chapter 10 Hotel
Snowflakes flung by shifting gusts silently assailed the attic window. Powdery drifts covered the lower panes. Seth paced the room, bouncing a rubber ball, unable to stop wondering about the ghostly prisoners who spoke only to him. It was tough to decide whether he should be afraid or intrigued.
Seth heard footsteps coming up the stairs. The bedroom door opened and Grandpa entered.
"Did you learn anything about the artifacts?" Seth asked.
"Yes. One message concerned the Oculus. The other discussed an artifact that remains hidden. How are you feeling?"
Seth bounced the ball. "Fine. Weird. I don't know. "
"Let's sit down. " Grandpa took a seat on one of the beds.
Seth plopped down on the other. "What happened in the dungeon clearly rattled you. "
Seth bounced the ball, tossing it forward with a spin that brought it back to him. "You could say that. "
"Hearing spectral voices strikes me as an experience that would normally excite you. " Grandpa stared at him searchingly.
"It does. I mean, it's really cool that I could hear them. They offered to serve me, and part of me would love to have a zombie servant. Who wouldn't? But it felt wrong. Too creepy. Grandpa, what if destroying the revenant made me evil? I don't fear deadly creatures. I can see invisible shadow people. I hear whispers from your freakiest prisoners. "
"Recognizing dark elements imperceptible to others doesn't make you evil," Grandpa said firmly. "Neither does having courage. We all possess different gifts and abilities. How we use those gifts determines who we are. "
"I didn't feel any fear," Seth said. "Not the paralyzing kind. The voices were freaky, but I could get used to it. That's what scares me. The voice kept flattering me, calling me wise and powerful. I don't want phantoms to admire me! I'm sure it was setting me up for some nasty trick. I don't know if I can trust myself, Grandpa. I wanted to peek in the cell. If you guys weren't there, I probably would have!"
"You've always been more curious than most," Grandpa said. "Curiosity doesn't make you evil. Neither do flattering words from sinister entities. The wraith hoped to use you to get free. Nothing more. The fiend would have said anything to convince you. "
"The worst part is, I really am curious. Sick as it sounds, I'd love to go hear more of what the wraith has to say. Not because I intend to let it out. It's just interesting. See why I can't trust myself? I'd go down there because I'm interested, and then that thing would probably find a way to trick me or hypnotize me, and pretty soon Fablehaven would be under attack from evil wraiths. "
"But here you are instead, anticipating the possible dangers," Grandpa said. "You're doing what any sane and responsible person should do. Just don't succumb to your curiosity. "
"Why exactly can I hear them?"
"I honestly don't know. But I do know that there is a difference between hearing and listening. You can't always help what you hear. But you can control what holds your interest, what you choose to dwell on. "
Seth tossed the ball up and caught it. "I guess that makes sense. The whole thing still creeps me out. "
"Now that we're aware of this ability, we'll keep you away from similar circumstances. In fact, that is part of the reason I came to speak to you. Do you know what day tomorrow is?"
"I was wondering when you'd bring this up. Tomorrow is the winter solstice. "
Grandpa held up a hand. Seth tossed him the rubber ball, and he started bouncing it. "I didn't want to mention it too early and get everybody flustered. Things have been hectic enough without fretting about tonight being a festival night. "
"Don't we have to make preparations? Carve pumpkins and all that?"
"The jack-o'-lanterns are an extra precaution, and not a very convenient one in this weather. I was thinking more along the lines of having your grandmother take you and Kendra to a hotel for the night. "
Seth motioned for the ball, and Grandpa bounced it to him. "Isn't it dangerous to leave the preserve? The Society could come after us. "
"We've weighed the
pros and cons. I don't relish the idea of putting you beyond the protections offered by Fablehaven, but festival nights seem to be getting increasingly violent. If the Society intends to hit us where we live, it will probably happen tonight, when sinister creatures are free to cross boundaries and enter the yard. The voices you heard in the Hall of Dread have made the decision easy. Too many apparitions and shades roam the preserve on festival nights. I won't have you here if their voices can reach you. We'll send along Warren and Tanu to make sure you stay safe. You'll pay cash. It'll be just one night. "
Seth nodded. He bounced the ball off the wall, missed the catch, and watched it roll away across the floor. "I can live with that. I'm not up for a whole night with monsters whispering crazy stuff to me. Speaking of Tanu and Warren, where are those guys?"
"While we were pursuing the messages from Patton, they were interrogating Vanessa with your grandmother. "
"About what?"
"We're trying to decide what to do with her. She has shared some information about possible traitors within the Knights. Nobody you know. She still claims to have some enormous secret that she won't share unless we release her. "
"We can't let her go," Seth said. "Grandma is right that she could be playing us. "
"True. At the same time, if she truly has abandoned the Sphinx, Vanessa could be a valuable ally. She has already volunteered a great deal of information. I can hardly blame her for keeping some leverage available while we hold her prisoner. "
"Do we ever go on the offensive?" Seth asked. "We should hunt down the Sphinx and take the artifacts back. "
"We're trying. Trask has kept the house where Kendra was held under constant surveillance. Kendra's friend Cody supplied all the details he needed. We believe that the Sphinx remains inside. A strike force will mount a raid tonight. I wish I felt more optimistic. The Sphinx is slippery. "
Seth got up from the bed. "When do we leave for the hotel?"
"Vanessa keeps asking to talk to Kendra, and your sister has shown interest. Your grandmother will oversee the conversation. After they chat, we'll get you guys ready. "
* * *
Kendra knew that her old friend waited behind the cell door. She had wanted to speak with Vanessa ever since the woman had been locked in the Quiet Box months ago. Most of the others had spoken with Vanessa already and had relayed information from those conversations. But Kendra hadn't been around when they took place. Her last direct communication from Vanessa had been a note scrawled on the floor of a cell.
"You don't have to do this," Grandma said.
"I want to speak with her," Kendra affirmed. "I'm just a little nervous. "
"You're sure?"
She wasn't. But she nodded anyhow.
Holding her crossbow ready, Grandma inserted a key and opened the cell door. Vanessa was reclining on her cot, dressed in a stylish outfit. A battery-powered lantern rested on a table cluttered by novels. A mirror hung above a dresser topped with various cosmetic supplies. An obvious effort had been made to provide some comfort.
"Hello, Kendra," Vanessa said, rising.
"Hey," Kendra replied.
"I'm sorry. "
"You should be. "
Vanessa looked grave. "I owe you a great deal. "
"You nearly killed us. "
"Kendra, you deserve a colossal apology. You healed me. I was burned beyond repair, minutes from death. After the betrayal I committed, nobody could have blamed you for letting me perish. Including me. For years I faithfully worked for the Sphinx. How was I repaid? The villain stabbed me in the back the instant I became inconvenient. In contrast, I deceived you, betrayed you, and put your loved ones in danger. Yet you showed me mercy. I want you to know that my loyalty is not completely blind, nor is my reason utterly bankrupt. I'll never betray you again. "
Kendra shifted uncomfortably. "Thanks, Vanessa. I'm sure you can see why your apology might be hard to believe. But I appreciate it, and I hope it's true. "
"I'd be a fool to blame you for doubting me. I'll patiently prove my sincerity. "
Grandma snorted bitterly. "Or patiently bide your time until the opportunity for another truly crippling betrayal arrives. "
"Which is why I can't begrudge your decision to keep me in this cell for the moment," Vanessa conceded. "I could be more effective roaming free, but I can see that it would place too great a strain on your trust. Rightfully so. "
"You wanted to see me to apologize?" Kendra asked. The conversation was harder than she had expected. She simultaneously liked and hated Vanessa too much. She wanted to leave.
"Chiefly," Vanessa said. "I also want to share some information with you. "
"They said you're withholding some secrets. "
"My biggest secret must not yet be divulged," Vanessa said. "Good people on your side of this conflict would be endangered if this truth became too public. For the moment, my keeping it will benefit your cause. The day may come when that changes. Conveniently, this final secret also provides me with a little leverage to perhaps get out of incarceration at some point. I'm on your side now, but I have no desire to end my days in a cage. "
"They said you helped me escape," Kendra said.
"I seized control of a sleeper and learned that the Sphinx had you in his custody. I also learned about a plan to free you. The Knights have spies as well. I discovered where you were being held and alerted Stan. I didn't personally facilitate your release. Who accompanied the Sphinx?"
Kendra told Vanessa about Torina and Mr. Lich, then described the other people she had seen with the Sphinx as best she could.
