by Brandon Mull
Lomo peeked into a cell. “Empty.” He tried the door and it opened.
Knox pulled a different door open. Lomo leaped in his direction and pushed it shut. “Look first,” Lomo warned.
“Sorry, right,” Knox said. “I didn’t see anybody.”
Lomo tried the peephole. “Neither do I.”
“I can usually sense the undead,” Seth said, “but the curse inside this castle is blocking any feeling one way or another. At least no one is paralyzed by fear.”
Kendra moved along the aisle of cells, spying first, then opening doors. “The dungeon is deserted.”
“Only one hall so far,” Seth observed. “Easy place to get cornered if anyone follows us.”
“Maybe a good place to hide a coin,” Knox said.
“As good as any,” Kendra said.
After the hall turned a corner, it forked. Both passages looked similar—gloomy stone hallways lined with cell doors.
“Stay together?” Seth asked.
“I think so,” Lomo said.
They veered right and moved down the hall, checking all the doors. A big iron door awaited at the end of the hall. After opening it a crack and peering inside, Lomo hauled it open.
Beyond they found a large room. A golden statue stood in there, facing a tall cabinet of the sort a stage magician might invite an assistant to enter.
“Quiet Box,” Kendra said.
“I believe so,” Lomo agreed.
“What’s a Quiet Box?” Knox asked.
“It holds one prisoner,” Seth said. “Always one prisoner. The only way to get the prisoner out is to put a new prisoner inside. Whoever is trapped inside gets sort of frozen in time.”
“Who would be inside the Quiet Box of a cursed castle?” Kendra wondered. “Could it be an ally? Or a terrible enemy?”
“Hard to guess,” Lomo said. “They are usually used for the most deplorable criminals. The kind who might tend to escape from lesser confinement.”
“Could be a demon,” Seth said. “Nagi Luna was in a Quiet Box.”
“Somebody got turned to gold down here,” Kendra said. “She was looking at the box.” She leaned close to the figure, staring into the young woman’s gilded eyes. They were more detailed and lifelike than most statues.
“Maybe she was trying to get somebody out of the Quiet Box,” Seth said.
“Or maybe she had just put somebody inside,” Kendra guessed.
They stood together in front of the golden woman, staring at the Quiet Box.
“Could they hide a coin in there?” Knox asked.
“If somebody had it on their person,” Lomo said. “It would be a clever place to conceal one.”
“I guess we can’t peek inside?” Knox asked.
“If we open the box, it will look empty,” Kendra explained. “One of us would have to get inside and close the door. It will turn halfway around, and when you open the box again, the prisoner will be there.”
“And will be free to leave,” Lomo said. “The occupant could be incredibly dangerous.”
“Isn’t the whole situation incredibly dangerous?” Seth asked. “Maybe whoever is inside can stir things up.”
“Or eat us up,” Kendra said.
“It’s a risk,” Lomo said.
“Somebody good might have gotten placed in there,” Seth said. “Or might have even hidden in there.”
“Ah!” Knox cried, leaping forward and shaking one hand. “I brushed against the statue!”
“Where?” Kendra asked, surprised to see they were standing so near to the woman. “Was her arm reaching out like that before?”
“My thumb,” Knox said. “The tip is gold. Oh, no, it’s spreading!” He held up his hand, and Kendra watched his thumb turn gold down to the base. Then the gold started to advance across his palm.
“She’s moving,” Lomo said. “Look at her hand.”
Kendra watched the golden figure for a moment, and she saw the hand moving ever so slowly toward her, the fingers slightly changing position, slower than the second hand on a clock. “She snuck up on us!”
“My whole hand is gold,” Knox cried, on the verge of hysterics. “It’s creeping up my wrist. It’s not stopping.”
“We’ll fix it,” Kendra promised, hoping they could deliver.
“It only took Tanu a couple of seconds to change,” Seth said. “It was faster, but the glove had a hold of him.”
“I barely got touched,” Knox said. “Slower fuse. Same result, though.” He turned to the golden woman. “Thanks a lot, lady!”
“It’s getting your shirt, too,” Kendra said. His sleeve was turning gold, the transformation trickling up his forearm.
“I can barely feel my fingers,” Knox said.
“But you can feel them?” Lomo asked.
“A little,” Knox said.
“Interesting, since it looks like pure gold,” Lomo said.
“Almost to my elbow,” Knox said, panic in his tone. He looked urgently at Kendra. “This is it. You guys were right. I shouldn’t have come.”
“You’ve done great,” Kendra said, trying to be brave and sound calm. “We’ll find a way to undo this.”
“Oh, man,” Knox said, stomping in place. “Good-bye, elbow. Guys, tell my parents I love them. And Tess.”
“We’ll save you,” Seth said.
Knox gave a terrified laugh. “Right. Find that magic lotion that turns statues back into people. Good luck.” He looked to Kendra. “If you can, tell my family. I love you guys, too.” He looked to Seth. “Sorry for calling you Seth Breath so much. Sorry for all of this. I meant to help.”
“Get into the Quiet Box,” Seth said.
“What?” Knox replied.
“It should stop the change,” Seth said.
“He’s right,” Lomo said. “The transformation will halt while you’re inside.”
“That will be fun to think about for hours,” Knox said. “Or days. Or years.”
“It’ll be like a dream,” Seth said. “You won’t really notice the time going by. We’ll try to leave you in there until we have a solution.”
“What if putting me inside frees a demon?” Knox asked.
“Let us worry about that,” Seth said.
“If we’re going to free the prisoner, now is the time,” Kendra said. “It costs one of us to get the prisoner out.”
Seth opened the Quiet Box. “If we change our minds and have to put the prisoner back inside, sorry in advance.”
“Hurry,” Kendra said. “It’s to your shoulder.”
“I guess some chance is better than none,” Knox said, gold spreading toward his neck and chest and down his side. He stepped into the empty cabinet. “Good luck.”
Seth closed the door.
The box rotated 180 degrees.
Seth opened the door on the opposite side.
Within the space Knox should have occupied stood a handsome young man, lean and tall, with fairly large hands and feet, and brown stubble on his chin. He wore a bright, silvery glove on one hand.
“Is it over?” the young man asked.
“Glove!” Kendra called, backing away from him.
The young man glanced at the golden figure. “No. Still going.” He held up his gloved hand. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to touch you. Unless you mean me harm. Who are you people?”
“We came here today,” Seth said. “We’re trying to break the curse.”
“What is the year?” the young man asked.
Kendra told him the date.
The young man frowned. “I was in there for a long time. It was impossible to discern how long. It feels like I could have entered a few minutes ago instead of centuries. Mind if I come out?”
Lomo had his sword in hand. “Just keep your distance.”
&
nbsp; “Sure,” the young man said. “I’m sorry, I take it you’ve met my brothers?”
“We met Tregain,” Seth said. “He turned our friend to silver.”
“Tregain and Heath transformed everyone,” the young man said. “I’m sorry about your friend.”
“You’re Lockland,” Kendra guessed.
The young man gave a small bow. “Unfortunately, yes.” He held up his hand. “Platinum glove.”
“Seth, the golden girl is slowly coming your way,” Kendra said.
Seth moved a couple of steps away.
“We didn’t know they could move,” Seth said.
“Only on festival nights,” Lockland replied. “They speed up over the course of the night.”
“At first they weren’t moving?” Lomo asked.
“Infinitesimally,” Lockland said. “By the end of the night they will be almost as fast as a normal person.”
“Not comforting,” Kendra said.
“Nothing here is comforting,” Lockland said. “I went into the box for a reason.”
“You went inside on purpose?” Seth asked.
“Absolutely,” Lockland said. “You can only play a rigged game for so long.”
“Rigged?” Seth asked.
“You know about the coins?” Lockland asked.
“Yes,” Kendra said.
“I played differently than my brothers,” Lockland said. “I didn’t try to build an army of platinum slaves.”
“Are they slaves?” Lomo asked.
“Once transformed, they obey the will of whoever wears the corresponding glove,” Lockland said. “Don’t blame Bethany for touching your friend.” He nodded toward the golden statue. “The order to attack came from Heath.”
“Does he know we’re here?” Seth asked.
“No,” Lockland said. “It’s a general order to attack. The statues obey simple commands. They can hunt for coins. They can try to change people.”
“Who did you let out of the box when you went inside?” Kendra asked.
“A criminal named Jasmine Oxgard,” Lockland said. “One of the Fair Folk. She stole something precious to my grandfather. I expect my brothers changed her after her release.”
“You haven’t explained how the game is rigged,” Seth said.
“Humbuggle is clever,” Lockland said. “I almost had two coins. I had the gold, and I found the platinum. But the moment I took hold of the platinum coin, the gold one vanished.”
“Did anyone find it?” Seth asked.
“It was found again,” Lockland said. “But none of us can hold more than one coin.”
“Why not work together?” Kendra asked.
Lockland laughed, loud and bitter. “I tried so hard to persuade them. I told them cooperation was the only way. Humbuggle was smart. He created a trial that can only be won by cooperation, with contestants who will never work together.”
“Don’t the others want to break the curse?” Seth asked.
“Sure,” Lockland said. “But mostly they want the prize. You know about the prize?”
“The Wizenstone,” Kendra said.
“Exactly,” Lockland said. “I suppose you three want it as well.”
“We want to stop the dragons from getting it,” Kendra said.
“Dragons have joined the hunt?” Lockland asked.
“Celebrant,” Kendra said. “We think. And others.”
“In human form, of course,” Lockland said.
“Yes,” Kendra said.
Lockland sighed. “The Wizenstone in the hands of dragons would be truly terrifying. Good thing nobody can win the contest.”
“Somebody will win eventually,” Kendra said.
“Will they?” Lockland asked. “From what I saw, despite the futility, my brothers were becoming more determined to win alone, not less. More set in their ways. What’s going to change?”
“We’ll change things,” Kendra said.
“You’ll try,” Lockland said. “Then shortly you will be turned to gold or silver. The dragons too. And the same old conflict will drag on.”
“If winning requires cooperation, how will they win without you?” Seth asked.
“If they ever decide to cooperate, my brothers will find me,” Lockland said. “Until then, I’d rather skip the drama.”
“Can we hold coins?” Kendra asked. “Those of us not turned to metal?”
“I’m not sure,” Lockland said. “Everyone in the castle already had a glove or had been turned to gold, silver, or platinum before the first coin was found.”
Kendra realized that not everyone in the castle had been transformed, but she decided not to mention Augie. He deserved to have his secret protected.
“Wait, some were turned to platinum?” Seth asked. “I thought you didn’t change people.”
“Not on purpose,” Lockland said. “I transformed two accidentally. All it takes is careless contact.”
“Do you know where any of the coins are?” Kendra asked.
“I know where I hid the platinum one before entering the Quiet Box,” Lockland said. “It was a great spot, but they’ve had a long time to look.”
“Help us retrieve it,” Kendra said.
“Pointless,” Lockland replied.
“Not necessarily,” Lomo said. “You have people here to help you. Don’t you want the contest to end?”
“I don’t know,” Lockland said.
“You’d rather stay trapped in this castle?” Seth asked.
“If either one of my brothers gets the Wizenstone, it could be really bad for the rest of the world,” Lockland said. “Neither is fit to wield so much power. I’m not sure if anyone is, including myself. Keeping this contest going might protect the world much better than anyone winning it.”
“Dragons are after the Wizenstone,” Kendra said. “I’d be more worried about them than about your brothers.”
“The dragons are ancient, cunning, and wise,” Lomo said. “Even in human form, they stand a good chance of eventually solving this puzzle.”
“You’re of the Fair Folk?” Lockland asked.
Lomo gave a small bow. “At your service.”
“Why not focus on stopping the dragons?” Lockland asked. “Rather than on winning the Wizenstone?”
“The dragons are in the midst of a worldwide rebellion,” Lomo said. “Dragon sanctuaries are starting to fall. Great power may be needed to protect the world. Besides, if you stop these dragons, others will come. The secret is out.”
Lockland folded his arms. “I see the argument. Even my brothers would be better custodians of the Wizenstone than dragons.” He glanced at Seth and Kendra, then turned to Lomo again. “You are aiding these mortals? What about neutrality?”
“I don’t subscribe to neutrality in times of real crisis,” Lomo said.
“You believe in these two?” Lockland asked.
“None can know how they would wield the Wizenstone,” Lomo said. “But the girl is fairykind, and I believe in her sincerity. The boy is a shadow charmer but avoids dark influences. I believe they have more chance than most to deal with the Wizenstone without becoming corrupted.”
“The only way to avoid corruption by the Wizenstone’s power would be not to use it,” Lockland said. “That’s part of the reason I have stayed out of the pursuit.”
“We can’t let the dragons get it,” Seth said. “What if we promise to only use the Wizenstone to stop the dragon rebellion, and then to store it away after?”
“Such a promise might not be so easily kept with the power of the stone in hand,” Lockland said.
“Do you trust us less than the dragons?” Kendra asked. “Than your brothers?”
“The dragons and my brothers are known,” Lockland said. “I would trust nobody with the Wizenstone, but I trust
you more than myself, and I trust my brothers and any dragon much less. The presence of the dragons could shake things up here. Until the dragons are claimed to gold, silver, or platinum, or until you are all claimed or destroyed, I will help you.”
“Thank you,” Seth said.
“My own risk is small,” Lockland said, holding up the platinum glove. “I can’t be changed to gold or silver while wearing this. As for you three and the dragons—you will probably not last the night. Once the gold and silver figures get to a faster speed, you will find avoiding them extremely difficult. You mean to store your friend in the Quiet Box for now?”
“He is turning to gold,” Seth said. “Outside of the box, he will quickly transform into another golden enemy.”
“Very well,” Lockland said. “Follow me.”
Coins
Climbing the stairs out of the dungeon, Seth stayed a few paces behind Lockland. He didn’t expect the prince to try to turn them all to platinum, but he considered it best to be cautious. The lack of platinum statues seemed to support Lockland’s story of being the peaceful brother, but he could also be the incompetent brother who got shut in the Quiet Box by the others at the start of the competition.
Lomo led the way out of the dungeon. He held a finger to his lips before opening the door at the top of the stairs. After stepping out for a moment and looking to the left and to the right, he waved for the others to proceed.
Seth exited last, just as a woman stepped around a corner down the hall. Tall and lithe, with long, green hair and dramatic eyes, she wore light armor and carried a shield and sword. The shield looked to be made of pure gold.
Seth turned to find a man coming around the corner in the other direction. With long hair down past his shoulders and a full beard, he wore a heavy breastplate and greaves and carried a golden ax.
“We thought it might be you, Kendra, when we heard the gongs,” the woman said. “And your brother, Seth. Lomo, the Fair Folk will pay dearly for your involvement. I see you have found the platinum brother. Does he have the platinum coin?”
“Should we retreat?” Lomo murmured, glancing at the stairs they had just climbed.
“Dead end that way,” Lockland whispered.
“Don’t try to flee,” the woman said.
