by Brandon Mull
Kendra exited the stall where she had been sleeping to find Tanu, Seth, Knox, and a handsome stranger sitting around a wooden counter eating scrambled eggs and drinking milk. “Seth?” Kendra cried. “Tanu? What are you doing here? Knox? Am I still sleeping?”
Seth ran to his sister and gave her a hug. “I was worried about you!”
“Just because a dragon gobbled me up?” Kendra asked.
“I thought you had been eaten,” Seth said.
“There are more comfortable ways to travel,” Kendra replied. “I got spat out in front of Celebrant. How did you get here?”
“Tempest found us, and Eve and I made it to Terrabelle,” Seth said. “The Somber Knight helped Tanu get there with his bull.”
“The Somber Knight survived?” Kendra asked.
“Barely,” Seth said. “He lost limbs, and his bull got all torn up. We met Lomo in Terrabelle. Do you remember hearing about him? The rebel of the Fair Folk who wanted them to get involved.”
“He was locked in the dungeon,” Kendra said.
“Hello,” Lomo said with a wave.
“Tanu made a shrinking potion, and we escaped with Creya,” Seth said. “We know about the Wizenstone. We’re here to help.”
“And Knox?” Kendra asked.
“I snuck to Wyrmroost through the barrel,” Knox said. He briefly explained how the murder of the goblin and loss of the barrel had caused a breach in security. “I heard you and Seth went missing, so I went exploring with Newel and Doren, and we found Seth.”
“You shouldn’t be here,” Kendra told her cousin. “You have no idea how dangerous this is.”
“I drank the milk,” Knox said. “Tanu gave us some walrus butter from his supplies this morning. Same effect.”
“It’s not just drinking the milk,” Kendra said. “You can’t know how dangerous this castle will be.”
“Neither can you,” Knox said.
“At least we have some experience,” Kendra said.
“Did you have experience the first time?” Knox asked. “This is my second attempt to save Wyrmroost. The first time I saved it without even knowing what I was doing.”
“He’s determined,” Seth said.
“This is life and death,” Kendra said. “Emphasis on death. We’ve had friends die.”
“I get it,” Knox said. “Riding a dirt bike is life and death too. I’m in.”
Kendra did not understand that mentality. Death was so final, so permanent! But she knew Seth sometimes had similar feelings. “Tasha made breakfast?” she asked.
“Yeah, the chimp,” Seth said. “Talking hens still lay eggs.”
“The apes are good cooks,” Gorban said. “Excellent omelets.”
“You made it here!” Kendra cried, walking over to give the bear a hug. “Seth, have you met Gorban? He found me when I crossed into the Zowali Protectorate and helped bring me here.”
“Most of the animals don’t like cooked meals,” Gorban said. “I appreciate variety.”
“I see you have a manacle on your ankle,” Calvin said. “I’m handy at picking locks.”
Kendra put her foot beside the nipsie, and he slipped his sword into the keyhole. A moment later the manacle clicked open.
“Thanks,” Kendra said.
“What are friends for?” Calvin replied, sheathing his slender blade.
“Did you see who else is here?” Seth asked, indicating some horses.
“Glory!” Kendra exclaimed. “And Noble! How did you find us?”
She rushed over to her saddled mount and hugged the horse’s neck. Then she patted Noble.
“Some Luvians form a bond with their rider,” a female horse said. “Glory formed one with you, Kendra. When her keepers turned her loose to find you, she was just supposed to run the road to Skyhold. But she sensed when you came here, and it was closer for her. Noble arrived with her late in the night.”
“Good girl,” Kendra said, petting Glory. “I’m so happy you found me.”
“Come have some eggs before they get cold,” Tanu called. “You need energy.”
Kendra went and obediently finished off the warm, salty eggs. Then she downed a creamy glass of milk.
“Tonight is Midsummer Eve,” Seth said. “Do we have a plan?”
“I think so,” Kendra said. “Patton must still be out investigating. We need to get to Stormguard Castle an hour after sundown. We have to time it right or we will be stranded outside on a festival night.”
“What’s so terrible about a festival night?” Knox asked.
“Most of the rules and boundaries at a preserve break down on festival nights,” Kendra said. “The creatures run wild. It’s bad at Fablehaven, and it’s supposed to be worse here.”
“Better for us to arrive to the castle a little late than early,” Seth said. “We don’t want to be stranded in the open.”
“But not too late,” Kendra said, “or we miss time finding the Wizenstone.”
“I could brew another shrinking potion,” Tanu said. “I brought enough ingredients.” He pointed to a drawstring bag on the table.
“It’s tiny,” Kendra said.
“It’s like our old knapsack,” Seth said. “Bigger inside.”
“Think you could fly us there in the bag?” Tanu asked Creya.
“On Midsummer Eve?” the eagle checked. “It would be suicide. No birds fly on Midsummer Eve. The sky phantoms alone are plenty of reason to stay grounded.”
A dove swooped through the Shelter entrance and alighted on a perch. “Patton is almost here,” he announced.
“He’ll have our plan,” Kendra said.
“I can get behind whatever Patton wants,” Seth said.
They heard approaching hoofbeats, and then Patton rode through the entrance on Captain. Seth ran over to him. Patton laughed as he smoothly dismounted and gave Seth a big hug. Captain and Glory touched muzzles.
Patton released the embrace and stepped back, appraising Seth. “You’re getting taller.”
“I guess,” Seth said. “It’s so good to see you.”
Patton raised both hands. “Full disclosure: you are giving all of this affection to a mutated piece of fruit. I’m just Patton’s stingbulb. I’ll degenerate into mush in a couple days.”
“You’re better than a photo,” Seth said.
“That much is true,” Patton said. He looked to the others. “Hi, Tanu. Good to see you. And Lomo, too?”
“Patton helped encourage my sentiments against neutrality,” Lomo said.
“You finally went for it?” Patton asked.
“I did,” Lomo said. “Escaped prison at Terrabelle to come here.”
“Good man,” Patton said. “Who is the new kid?”
“Our cousin Knox,” Kendra said.
Patton smiled. “Bringing in more family?”
“He’s on mom’s side of the family,” Seth clarified.
“Welcome, Knox,” Patton said. “You picked one tumultuous day to meet up with this crew. Who am I missing?”
“Me!” shouted Calvin. “The tiny one!”
“What the devil are you?” Patton asked. “You’re too big to be a nipsie.”
“I’m a giant nipsie,” Calvin said. “Under a spell. Sworn to Seth.”
“Good choice, little fellow,” Patton said. “Seth is one of the best. You may not be able to enter Stormguard Castle, though.”
“Sometimes spells miss people smaller than fairies,” Calvin said. “We get forgotten a lot.”
“It’s quite a curse on that castle,” Patton said. “But anything is possible. Your help is welcome. I won’t be able to enter either.”
“You won’t?” Seth asked.
“I’m vegetable, not animal,” Patton said. “Not really a person. But I’ll help you get there.”
&nbs
p; “You have the plan worked out?” Kendra asked.
“It’s a go,” Patton said. “Best I could manage on short notice.”
“What are we doing?” Seth asked.
“Going to meet a fairy named Risenmay,” Patton said.
“A fairy?” Knox asked.
“No typical fairy,” Patton said. “One of the greater fairies. Kind of like a queen bee.”
“Is she a unicorn, like the Fairy Queen?” Kendra asked.
“No, Risenmay is a true fairy,” Patton said. “Larger than normal. She has powers that will help us tonight.”
“What powers?” Seth asked.
“I can’t say,” Patton replied.
“Is it a secret?” Kendra asked.
“Well, yes,” Patton said. “But I can’t reveal it no matter how much I want to. My lips are sealed by magic. It is part of the price of bargaining with Risenmay.”
“But she can help us get to Stormguard Castle at the right time,” Tanu verified.
“Exactly,” Patton said. “Literally couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“She lives in the Zowali Protectorate?” Seth asked.
Patton shook his head. “Outside, in the Bewilderness.”
“That sounds made up,” Knox said.
“It’s a dangerous region,” Patton said. “Mostly forested. No dragons go there.”
“Does it adjoin the Zowali Protectorate?” Seth asked.
“No, but the Bewilderness is on the border of the Sentient Wood, which can be reached by a tunnel from the Protectorate,” Patton said. “We’ll all want to bring mounts.”
“The Sentient Wood can be entered only with permission,” an owl said from a perch.
“I just got the permission,” Patton said. “One of the wooden henchmen owed me a favor.”
“Wooden henchmen?” Knox asked.
“Woodlings,” Patton said. “I’ll explain on the way. Everyone needs a mount,” he repeated.
“I’ll go with Glory,” Kendra said. Glory bobbed her head, then nuzzled Kendra as she drew near.
“Noble is good for me,” Seth said.
Noble stamped in agreement.
“I’ll stick with Captain,” Patton said. “We need three more mounts.”
“I’ll take the big one,” a large chestnut mare said. “I’m Charlemagne.” Tanu approached and introduced himself.
“I’m Rodolfo,” said a gray stallion with a black mane and tail. “It would be my pleasure to carry Lomo.”
“I’ll take the other boy,” a Bactrian camel offered.
“Whoa,” Knox said. “Are you fast?”
“I’m excellent over long distances,” the camel said.
“Do I sit between the humps?” Knox asked.
“Precisely,” the camel said, kneeling down. “Call me Babak.”
“Knox.”
“Short for obnoxious,” Seth said.
“And Seth is short for Seth Breath of Death,” Knox said.
“Do I need a mount?” Calvin asked. “I usually just ride in Seth’s pocket.”
“A mount would be sensible,” Patton said. “Maybe not at first, but all will come clear before the day is out.”
A male rabbit cleared his throat. “I may have trouble keeping up with horses, but it would be my honor.”
Calvin brightened. “I was talking with Thistleton before breakfast. He’d be great!”
“We can carry the rabbit most of the way,” Patton said.
“Deal,” Thistleton agreed, hopping over to Captain. “I’ve never ridden a horse before.”
Kendra mounted Glory and patted her neck. Patton scooped up Thistleton and leaped onto Captain.
“Would you like an escort?” Raj Faranah asked.
“Just send word to the other animals to watch out for us,” Patton said. “We ride for the secret tunnel to the Sentient Wood.”
“Thanks for your hospitality,” Kendra said.
“Thank you for your courage against the dragons,” Raj replied.
“’Bye, Gorban,” Kendra said. “’Bye, Sherman.”
The bear and the fox bade her farewell.
“Off we go,” Patton said. He and Captain led the others out of Shelter. They rode together under the morning light.
“So what is the Sentient Wood?” Seth asked.
“Like it sounds, the trees are intelligent,” Patton said. “Much more conscious than most trees. Anything made from their wood comes to life.”
“Can dragons attack us there?” Tanu asked.
“There is a powerful barrier around the wood,” Patton said. “Not even caretakers can enter without permission.”
“But you got permission,” Knox said.
“I once helped one of their henchmen out of a tight fix,” Patton said. “Trees remember.”
“Then the Bewilderness,” Kendra said.
“Yes,” Patton replied. “It will be dangerous.”
“What else is new?” Seth said.
“It’s a risk worth taking,” Patton said. “If we can find Risenmay before sundown, our chances of making it to Stormguard Castle on time improve markedly.”
“Then we should pick up the pace,” Babak said.
Kendra held on as Glory increased her pace to an easy lope. The other mounts did likewise.
The Sentient Wood
The sun was almost directly overhead when Captain came to a stop in front of a large gate in the side of a hillock. Beyond the gate, a tunnel slanted downward. Seth and the others halted alongside him.
“Back already?” asked a whispery voice that startled Seth.
He turned to find a snake leaning out of a dying tree with spindly branches. The serpent was doing a good job of blending with the wooden limbs.
“I brought my friends,” Patton said. “Meet Samba the boomslang.”
Seth and the others greeted the snake.
Patton dismounted and opened the gate. “We’re ready to leave the Protectorate. No trouble today?”
“No trouble ever,” the boomslang said. “A guard is not really needed on this end. But I like the area for my own purposes, so I keep watch. The only beings with access from the other side are the woodlings and a few hamadryads.”
“Are you poisonous?” Knox asked.
“My bite can kill,” Samba said. “We all have our ways to survive.”
“Any tips on crossing the Sentient Wood?” Patton asked.
“Show no weapons that could harm trees,” Samba said. “Hide axes or hatchets for sure.”
“What about beavers?” Babak asked.
“We keep the beavers and woodpeckers far from view of the Sentient Wood,” Samba said. “Out of respect for our neighbors, no trees are felled in this part of the Protectorate. No wood is burned.”
Patton remounted Captain. “We’ll treat the Sentient Wood with respect.”
“Do whatever you wish,” the boomslang said. “What is it to me? However, if you can scare some small game in my direction, the kind who do not speak, I would be most obliged.”
“Some of us do not eat other animals,” Charlemagne said.
“How you get so large eating hay is a mystery the universe may never unravel,” the boomslang said. “Do not act superior for consuming weeds. What cunning does that require?”
“You know better than to cross words with a serpent,” Captain said. “Don’t keep arguing or we’ll be here all day.”
“Yes,” the boomslang said. “Why think? Why engage? Better to mindlessly trot off where your riders direct you.”
“We have a purpose in—” Charlemagne began.
“Don’t,” Captain cut her off. “All day.”
Captain led the group through the iron gate and into the large tunnel. The way was wide enough for them to ride
two by two. After they were all through, Patton dismounted again and closed the gate.
“Hay is not a weed,” Charlemagne grumbled. “Neither are oats. Or carrots.”
Seth could sit tall in his saddle as the earthy tunnel slanted downward. Here and there Patton had to crouch a little. The soil around them smelled freshly dug, but Seth supposed that was not likely. Before they had gone far, the tunnel leveled out. Tanu switched on a flashlight. They continued underground much longer than Seth had expected.
“Camels do not belong underground,” Babak said after some time.
“Neither do horses,” Captain replied. “But we do what we must in emergencies. Be grateful the passage accommodates us.”
“Rabbits quite like it below ground,” Thistleton said. “But this tunnel is not very cozy.”
Eventually the tunnel began to slant upward, and daylight came into view ahead. Tanu switched off his flashlight as the tunnel ended at a gate manned by a wooden figure exquisitely carved to resemble a bearded gentleman. The wooden man held up a hand, and they all stopped.
“Greetings,” Patton said, waving. “I have returned with my friends.” He gestured at the others, then motioned toward the gate and walked the fingers of one hand across the palm of the other. “You granted permission earlier for us to cross the Sentient Wood on our way to the Bewilderness.”
The wooden gentleman gave a nod and opened the gate, standing aside to let them pass. Seth stared at the wooden man as he rode by, and the man appeared to stare back.
“Do they talk?” Knox asked. “The wooden people?”
“I have never heard them speak,” Patton said. “Nor the trees. I’m not sure how well they hear, either. Pantomime seems to help them understand.”
Seth rode forward into the noonday twilight of a forest full of tall trees, none of them crowded together but rather spaced just right for their branches to block out all but a few patches of sky. The variety of trees struck Seth: towering conifers with deep grooves in the bark; mighty oaks with twisty, sprawling branches; bushy cypresses; maples with their broad, shapely leaves; the fat trunks of banyans with rambling roots; and various tropical trees that looked like they belonged in a steamy jungle.
No undergrowth obscured the ground between the trunks. The road ahead was discernible only because it was the sole line of sight that did not end with a tree.
