“We must be in the Een library!” Oki exclaimed.
“I do say, you possess an observant mind, little Oki,” came a voice, and out of the shadows stepped Professor Bumblebean. “We are indeed in the Een library or, more accurately said, well beneath it. As you know, all the books in the Een library grow on trees, but down here in these secret cellars, some of the most mysterious books sprout from the roots of these elder trees.”
“I’m sure we’d all love to sit here and listen to you prattle on about books, Boringbean,” Jinx growled irritably, “but it’s been a rather long night. Maybe you can tell us what in the name of Een is going on, since our new friend here hasn’t had the courtesy to do so yet.”
“My word!” the professor cried, looking over at the cloaked stranger. “You haven’t told them who you are yet?”
“It was more important for us to make a hasty exit,” the stranger replied, and his voice now seemed to change, seeming more familiar than ever to Kendra.
“Wait a minute,” the Een girl murmured, “you sound like—,”
But before she could finish her words, the cloaked figure pulled back his hood and Kendra, Oki, and Jinx all gasped.
Standing before them was the ancient sorceress, Winter Woodsong.
AT FIRST KENDRA THOUGHT she must be staring at a ghost, for she simply could not fathom how Winter Woodsong was alive. And then the ancient Een smiled, causing such a maze of wrinkles to dance across her wizened face that Kendra knew at once that this really was her beloved old sorceress. They all rushed forward to embrace the aged witch—even Jinx (though she looked rather sheepish about it afterwards).
When the hubbub of this joyful reunion had subsided, Winter took a seat on one of the tree roots, produced her staff from a fold in her cloak, and levied all her weight against it. She seemed pale and exhausted, as if the trek through the underground tunnel had demanded every last gasp of strength.
“Are you all right, Elder Woodsong?” Kendra asked.
“Thank you, yes, child,” the white woman responded after a moment, patting Kendra’s hand. “It’s been a long day for this old magic-maker.”
“They said you were dead!” Oki exclaimed.
“Which pleases me greatly,” Winter admitted, that familiar twinkle beginning to return to her eyes. “You see, I’m the one responsible for the collapse of the bridge. I want Burdock to think I drowned.”
“Why?” Kendra uttered.
“Well, it seems to me that being dead is the best way to stay alive,” Winter returned with a cryptic chuckle. “Now Burdock can stop trying to murder me.”
“It’s a cold trick to play,” Jinx grumbled.
“Well, she is Winter after all,” Oki declared. “Of course she’s cold.”
“I don’t like your puns,” Jinx told the mouse. “And I think, Elder Woodsong, you could have warned us of your plan.”
“No one knew of it but me,” Winter assured Jinx. “Why, the plan’s success depended on the utmost secrecy. After the collapse of the bridge, I donned this dark cloak and made my clandestine journey to the library.”
“She gave me quite the fright, I do say,” Professor Bumblebean declared.
“But what will you do now?” Kendra asked the old woman.
“I will hide here, underground,” Winter replied, her gentle face flickering in the torchlight. “Very few know of the underground network of tunnels that was built by the ancient Eens, back before the time of the curtain. Here I can live in all safety, traveling in secret to and from many places in Faun’s End. No longer do I have to worry about assassins and would-be murderers; I can turn my energies to more important matters.”
“Like rescuing master Ratchet,” Oki declared. “And Kendra’s uncle.”
“Indeed,” Winter agreed with a slight nod. “The professor has told me all that has happened. I promise you, we are devising a plan to free our friends. But first we have a more pressing dilemma to address.”
“What could that be?” Kendra asked.
“Why, your own safety,” Winter replied. “When I felt that burst of magic, I took to the streets of Faun’s End. Agent Lurk had felt it too, and I could hear him rousing Captain Rinkle and his men to descend upon your house. Fortunately, I knew of the secret tunnel to your uncle’s kitchen, and it allowed me to reach you first—just barely.” Here Winter paused and looked closely at Kendra. “But we must speak of this shock of magic that so rattled the night. Kendra, show me the cause of this enchanted grumble.”
Deep within her pouch, the shard from Greeve seemed to stir. Kendra could feel it, hot and strangely heavy, urging her not to betray its presence. She wanted to tell Winter the truth, but the words seemed chained to her tongue—then, before she could dwell further on this dilemma, Oki spoke up.
“It was the maiden’s mirror, Elder Woodsong,” the little mouse sputtered. “Kendra was speaking through it when the boom occurred.”
And so Kendra produced the magic glass and placed it in the old woman’s hand. As quickly as she could, she related to Winter the same story she had earlier told to Oki and Jinx.
“Now we know where my brother is,” Kendra declared. “We must rescue him, Elder Woodsong!”
Winter frowned as she ran her withered old hands over the enchanted mirror. “This doesn’t seem right. This mirror certainly has an energy, but it is of a sad and forlorn nature. I can’t see it causing such a magic roar. And this message from the Faun . . . it’s not quite right either.”
“What do you mean?” Kendra asked in frustration. “He told me all we need to know. Kiro’s been captured.”
Winter closed her eyes and sighed. “I don’t trust this situation,” she said after a moment. “I must know more! All this is very strange. Kendra, I promise you, we will find your brother in due time. For now, let me keep this mirror, Kendra. I want to speak to this Faun if he tries to contact you again.”
“That’s fine,” Kendra said, “but I don’t know why we’re waiting. We need to bust Uncle Griffinskitch and Ratchet free and then go find Kiro.”
“I’m afraid I beg to differ,” Winter told Kendra. “The immediate concern is your safety.”
“I’m the only one who is safe!” Kendra cried, waving her arms. “If you haven’t noticed, everyone else in my family is in a dungeon!”
“And I don’t want you joining them,” Winter said. “Do you think Agent Lurk and Captain Rinkle have given up just because they didn’t find you at your house? No! They will hunt you, of that much I’m sure.”
“I do say, Elder Woodsong is correct,” Professor Bumblebean declared, looking intently upon Kendra, Oki, and Jinx. “You are fugitives now! Why, I suspect Burdock is already nailing ‘wanted’ posters to every tree in Faun’s End.”
“Eek!” Oki squealed. “What are we going to do?”
“You must flee,” Winter replied from her seat. “Right now you need to be as far away from Faun’s End as possible.”
“We should go to Krake Castle,” Kendra declared. “That’s far enough away.”
Winter frowned at her. “The professor and I have already prepared a plan. First, you will travel through another tunnel, one that will lead you near the River Wink. Professor, did you make the necessary arrangements?”
“I have indeed,” the professor said. “I sent an old student of mine, Lissel Lightfoot, to prepare a boat to ferry them across the river.”
“Good,” the old sorceress said. “Now listen, my young friends. Once across the river, you’ll go as far as Enid Evermoon’s. There you may enjoy the briefest of respites before traveling due south towards Ander’s Down, at the edge of Een. It’s a three-day journey, but once there, you’ll find an old badger, Timmons Thunderclaws—that is, if breath still grunts and groans through his ancient bones. Give him my name; he will mind the rest.”
“A badger?” Oki asked. “Is he friendly?”
“No,” Winter responded. “But he is an Een, and you can count on him to give you a warm bed and a cup of dande
lion tea. In any case, it’s the best plan I can devise on such urgent notice.”
“I’ve prepared some provisions for you,” Professor Bumblebean added, handing a small packet over to Jinx.
“You didn’t happen to pack any swords, did you?” the grasshopper asked.
“My word! I’m afraid not!” Professor Bumblebean replied. “There’s just some Een cake, nuts, and other foodstuffs; I should hope you won’t require any of it, with the help we’ve arranged for you along the way, but one never knows what unexpected events might unfold.”
“This is all wrong!” Kendra cried in frustration. “Have you listened to a word I’ve said, Elder Woodsong? I know where Kiro is! I have to go to him!”
“I know you’re anxious, child,” Winter said, rising to touch Kendra’s arm. “I promise you, I have no intention of abandoning your brother. But you must give me some time to meditate upon these matters.”
“Meditate?” Kendra asked incredulously. “Kiro could be fighting for his life in the Rumble Pit, and you’re just going to think about it?”
“There’s a dark presence at work here,” Winter replied. “I can feel it in my old bones. I will not have us charging into a waiting snare. For now, Kendra, you must try to put Krake Castle out of your mind.”
Kendra felt her face flush red. She wanted to burst.
“There’s just one more thing,” Winter said, looking fixedly at Kendra. “I would ask you for your whisper.”
Kendra took out the silver vial that contained the secret to the magic curtain. “This? Why?”
“I would keep it for you,” Winter replied cryptically.
“You don’t trust me, is that it? ” Kendra asked angrily. “You think I’ll try to leave Een?”
“I trust your intentions to do the right thing,” Winter said calmly. “But I think you will be tempted to leave Een to rescue your brother. And temptation can be a terrible beast, even for the best of us.”
“I think I’ve beaten enough beasts,” Kendra retorted. Never in her life had she dreamed of speaking to the old woman in such a fashion, but now she could not help it. The ire seemed to rise in her stomach like a swelling thundercloud.
“I do not demand that you give me the whisper, Kendra,” Winter said. “ I ask you for it, but it is your decision of course.”
Kendra forced the vial into the old woman’s hands. “You take it, Elder Woodsong. I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.”
Winter sighed. “I mean no offense, Kendra. I hope one day this will all be clear to you, but—,”
“Yes, I know,” Kendra snapped. “Patience is required.”
With that, she turned her shoulder to the old woman and, with a muttered farewell to the professor, stormed down the appointed tunnel, her friends scrambling to follow her.
THIS WAS NOT THE WAY Kendra would have liked to part with old Winter Woodsong, but her anger had stolen the best of her. Even as she made her way through the tunnel, she felt her whole body seething with fury and frustration.
“Kendra, are you all right?” Oki asked timidly.
“You’re on her side, I suppose,” Kendra responded vehemently.
“I thought we were all on the same side,” Oki said.
But Kendra could only manage a grunt in response. How dare Winter not trust her? Hadn’t she always ended up doing the right thing? Hadn’t she saved Een—more than once—in her short life? She was glad that she hadn’t told the old woman about the shard from Greeve. She would have taken that too, I bet, Kendra thought to herself, and she patted her pouch, where the sliver of stone ached in safety.
They were not long in the tunnel. Jinx kicked open a door, and they found themselves on the bank of the River Wink. On the horizon, the sky was growing light; soon it would be dawn.“We must be quick,” Jinx declared. “Look, there’s the ferry, and that must be Lissel waiting for us.”
They scrambled down the dark bank towards the boat when, suddenly, the figure awaiting them stood tall, and Oki emitted a loud squeal. “Eek! That’s not Lissel Lightfoot! It’s Agent Lurk!”
“Back up the bank!” Jinx ordered.
But when they whirled around, it was only to find themselves confronted by Captain Rinkle and the entire Een guard.
“Eek!” Oki cried.
“We’ve been betrayed!” Jinx uttered.
Without a moment’s hesitation, she leapt forward and struck Captain Rinkle square in the chest with her long, powerful legs. With a grunt, the captain of the Een guard fell back onto the gravel, leaving a gap in the wall of armed men. Kendra and Oki didn’t need to be told what to do. Before the gap could close, they raced between the Een guards, over the fallen body of Captain Rinkle, and chased Jinx into the fading night.
“I tell you this,” Jinx hissed as she bounded ahead, “if I ever see that wretched Burpalot Brown again, I’m going to pull his ears out through his nose, that rotten, booger-brained, belch-spewing—,”
“You may get your chance soon enough!” Kendra interrupted. Casting a glance over her shoulder, she could see that Captain Rinkle had recovered from his fall, and now he and his men were in quick pursuit.
“Oh dear!” Oki panted. “Don’t think of pickles! Don’t think of pickles!”
The three friends raced blindly into the night, panicked and aimless as they tried to elude their pursuers. In the dim light, nothing about their landscape looked familiar, and they had no idea where they might find refuge. Suddenly, all three of them seemed to strike an invisible wall that sent them sprawling into a heap.
“What in the name of Een was that?” Jinx growled, jumping to her feet. She jabbed the air in front of her with her poker, only to have it meet the same hidden obstacle with a sharp, crackling buzz.
“It’s the magic curtain,” Oki squealed. “We’ve run right into it; we must be at the border of Een.”
Kendra rubbed her cheek, which smarted with an electric tingle from smashing into the invisible obstruction. She had been through the curtain a few times, and it had been a painless experience. But now that Burdock had sealed the curtain with his magic, it was like trying to charge through a barrier of stone; there was simply no penetrating it. If only she had kept the secret whisper to the curtain! But she had not (nor could she even begin to remember the whisper itself), and that meant only one thing . . .
“We’re trapped,” Jinx grimaced.
Slowly, the three friends turned to face their hunters. In a moment, Agent Lurk, Captain Rinkle, and the rest of the Een guard arrived.
“Kendra,” Jinx whispered, raising her poker in defense, “it’s time to use that wand of yours!”
Desperately, Kendra pulled her stick of Eenwood from her belt. Her mind was a muddle of words and incantations, but none of them could find their way to her lips. The wand pulsed faintly in her hand, but she could coax no meaningful sparkle from its living wood.
Leerlin Lurk chortled. It was the first sound that Kendra had ever heard the mysterious man utter, and it was so chilling that it made the tiny hairs on the back of her neck prickle. It was a hollow and empty laugh, sounding as if it was coming from another time or place. Kendra could imagine the smile hidden behind his hood; Lurk knew she struggled to command her wand.
Jinx guessed it too. The grasshopper cast a feverish glance at Kendra and said, “I’m going to do my best to fend them off. You and Oki flee for the river.”
Kendra shook her head. “No; there’s another way,” she murmured.
She could feel her stomach churn and boil—or was that the shard, rumbling inside her pouch? Before she could think better of it, Kendra tucked her wand into her belt and reached into her pouch to grasp the shard from Greeve. Immediately, it sent a current of energy up her arm; it was so intense that it caused her to gasp out loud—but she did not let go. She lifted the tiny dagger of stone above her head and felt its power course through her body. She had no inkling of how the shard might help them, but instantly, a dark flame erupted from the blackened rock. It scorched her hand—still,
she clutched it tightly—and the whole world around them seemed to rip and rend.
“GRAB HOLD OF ME!” Kendra screeched, and Jinx and Oki latched onto her long cloak, now billowing in the storm of magic.
Lightning burst forth from the shard, striking like a vicious serpent, but it was unlike any lightning Kendra had ever seen. This flame of energy was devoid of all light; in fact, it was as if it devoured any speck of color or substance within reach of its crackling claws. It emitted a thunderous roar, like a ravenous creature that has at last discovered its prey after a long and arduous hunt.
Kendra saw Lurk’s eyes glint from beneath his hood. He pounced forward, hands outstretched like a pair of talons, and even amidst the chaos, Kendra could not help noticing his menacing ring. But before Lurk quite reached her, Kendra felt her feet wrenched from the ground. Oki and Jinx were still clutching tightly to her, and now all three were tossed through the sky like leaves in an autumn storm. Somehow, Kendra still held onto the burning shard—and then all the world around her went dark.
IT WAS LIKE WAKING UP from a fever. Kendra’s eyes flickered open to stare into the concerned faces of Oki and Jinx. Behind them, the sky was cold and gray; she had been unconscious long enough for dawn to arrive. Groggily, Kendra pulled herself to her elbows. They were in a small wooded grove, a place she didn’t recognize.
“Are you all right?” Oki asked in earnest.
She nodded but at the same time felt a throbbing pain in her hand; she gazed down to see her palm red and blistered from where she had held the shard. Then panic struck her. “Where is it?” she gasped.
“Looking for this?” Jinx asked, nudging the stone across the ground with the tip of her poker.
Quickly, Kendra reached out snatched up the shard with the corner of her cloak. “What happened?” she mumbled.
Kendra Kandlestar and the Shard From Greeve Page 7
