by Brandon Mull
It almost made it worse that people had been mostly kind to him about his actions, as if they knew what he had done was so terrible it could mess him up for life. Maybe it should. Ruth had reminded him that he had not understood the consequences of what he was doing. Which was true, but Knox had known that it was wrong to steal the keys from Dale. He had known he wasn’t supposed to sneak to Wyrmroost. What had felt like minor mischief had turned into a deadly mistake.
Another dirt clod smashed against the wall in a gritty burst. And another. He could not throw them hard enough. Part of him wished somebody was throwing the dirt clods at him. Or beating him, or locking him in jail. He had no means to express how remorseful he felt, no way to pay for what he had done. And no way to fix the mistake.
Knox had not slept well the night before. This morning he had eaten a hasty breakfast and then slipped away to be alone. He crouched and tore off another hunk of dirt.
Brunwin the minotaur came around the corner of the stable, and Knox dropped the dirt clod, suddenly worried he might have been violating rules. He tried to subtly brush the dirt from his hands.
“There you are,” Brunwin said. “Your sister has returned safely from Terrabelle.”
“Good,” Knox said. He didn’t love showing too much interest in his sister, so he kept his reaction simple. Terrabelle was a safe place, but with all the trouble at the sanctuary, it was a relief to know Tess was all right.
“The Sorensons sent me to fetch you,” Brunwin said.
“All right,” Knox said, mildly relieved that the dirt clods did not appear to be an issue. “Lead the way.”
Rather than walk beside the shaggy minotaur, Knox followed. He began regretting the decision as the smell of the brute wafted back at him. He considered asking whether minotaurs ever bathed, but managed to hold his tongue.
Knox was glad to know Tess was safe. He had assumed she would be. He could not imagine she had done anything truly daring with the cloak of innocence, but he could easily picture her creating commotion by wandering off.
Brunwin escorted Knox to a room where Tess, Kendra, Newel, Doren, Marat, Tanu, and Agad sat alongside Stan and Ruth Sorenson at a long conference table. Patton leaned against a wall, arms folded. Stan invited Knox in and thanked Brunwin. The minotaur snorted and departed.
“Knox!” Tess said. “I saw a dragon. Did you see any?”
“I saw some with you on the road,” Knox said.
“I mean up close,” Tess said. “I talked to one. He used to be their king. He looked really rocky.”
“I saw some dragons in human form,” Knox said. “And I got partway turned to gold.” He looked to Patton. “You made it.”
“Arrived not long ago,” Patton said. “We took turns running along the road or flying just above it. The winged mounts made the trip much faster. Overall, smooth sailing. I’m not feeling so good, though. The life of a stingbulb is brief.”
“I’m sorry,” Knox said.
Patton waved a hand and shook his head. “Nothing to mourn. Plants bloom and then wilt. Just sorry I can’t lend a hand much longer. I knew this was coming. I have maybe a day left.”
“Calvin made it as well?” Knox asked.
“I’m right here,” the nipsie called from his place on the table. Knox had not yet seen him.
“Sorry about Seth,” Knox said.
“We’ll find him,” Calvin replied. “Just one more adventure to have.”
Knox glanced at his sister. “Is Tess serious about seeing a dragon?”
“Your sister took a terrible risk,” Stan said. “But it could work to our advantage.”
Doren raised a hand. “And I rode a horse.”
“I still can’t believe it,” Newel said in disgust.
“It wasn’t as bad as you think,” Doren said.
“Zero goat pride,” Newel said.
“It was an emergency,” Doren said. “I had to supervise the child.”
Stan cleared his throat.
“Right,” Newel said. “The task at hand. Stan has the floor.”
Stan fixed his attention on Knox. “Your sister and the daughter of Lord Dalgorel visited Dromadus, a former Dragon King who resides at this sanctuary.”
“Did he know something about Seth?” Knox asked hopefully.
“Not that he shared,” Stan said. “But apparently the dragons are planning an attack against Blackwell Keep. Tonight. They are confident of success.”
“We rode through the night to get back to Terrabelle,” Tess said. “My friend Eve wanted to come here with me, but she got in trouble with her dad. I was so tired.” She yawned. “At least I got some sleep before Newel came.”
“Newel and Henrick brought Tess and Doren here just now,” Stan said. “They came quickly after hearing the news. We couldn’t find you so we sent Brunwin to retrieve you.”
“I was behind the stables,” Knox said. “Thinking.”
“Thinking?” Tess asked skeptically.
“You should try it,” Knox said. “How are the dragons going to attack?”
“Dromadus didn’t know,” Tess said. “And don’t tell anybody who told us about the dragons. It’s a secret.”
Knox looked around the room. “Your secret is spreading fast.”
“Just so we can protect ourselves,” Tess said. “Dromadus wanted me to warn the caretaker.”
Knox glanced at Kendra, then looked to Stan. “Any idea how they are going to attack?”
“None so far,” Stan said. “We were just discussing the possibilities when you entered.”
“The defenses of the keep are in perfect order,” Agad said. “Stronger than when I was caretaker here. With the scepter in our possession, the dragons should have no chance of breaching our defenses through force.”
“And yet Celebrant is planning an attack that he expects to succeed,” Ruth said.
“Perhaps Celebrant is letting anger cloud his judgment,” Patton said.
“Or perhaps Dromadus is toying with us,” Marat said. “His assistance is most unexpected.”
“Eve heard the dragon too,” Tess said. “She told Doren.”
“Both of the girls seemed sure of the message,” Doren confirmed.
“But the message itself could be false,” Marat said. “Dromadus is extremely old, and little is known about him since he shut himself away from the world. He could simply be eccentric. Or he could be scheming.”
“We have to treat it like a real threat,” Kendra said.
“I fully agree,” Marat replied. “Just be aware that all may not be as it seems with this warning.”
“What would be the point of a fake warning?” Knox asked.
“Could it be a prank?” Tanu asked.
“Anything is possible,” Agad said. “Maybe Dromadus is working with Celebrant. Perhaps Celebrant wants to see how we react if we think an attack is imminent. He might hope we will show him a vulnerability as we scramble to prepare.”
“Or the attack could be real,” Marat said. “There could be some defensive weakness we have overlooked. Or we might have a traitor among us.”
Knox considered the others. Surely nobody in this room would side with the dragons! Hadn’t everyone present proven themselves? He wondered if any of them might think he was a traitor. After he had delivered the Fablehaven barrel to the enemy, they had a right to think anything.
“What about the barrel?” Knox asked. “Could that be the weakness?”
“We should not ignore the possibility,” Agad said. “We placed the barrel in a cell in the dungeon with a trusted minotaur standing guard. With nobody to help an intruder out of the barrel, entering the keep in that way should be impossible.”
“We could destroy the barrel,” Tanu said.
“No,” Kendra said. “It’s our only link to the people who took Seth.”
“Are there other vulnerabilities?” Kendra asked.
“Betrayal might be the most viable,” Stan said. “A strong defense is best dismantled from the inside. Then again, maybe the dragons want to make us mistrust each other. Suspicion could do that.” Stan turned toward Newel. “You satyrs wanted to be in on this meeting.”
“Seemed appropriate since Doren was involved directly,” Newel said.
“What do you think about all of this?” Stan asked.
“It’s a long meeting,” Newel said.
“About the defenses,” Stan clarified.
“You’ve been warned, so be vigilant tonight,” Newel said. “Not much else to do. Can’t run away.”
“Some of you could flee,” Kendra said. “Tess has the cloak of innocence. I’m the only one who really has to stay.”
“If you want to send away the satyrs or the younger children, that is one thing,” Agad said. “But Wyrmroost must not fall. The able defenders must stand and fight.”
“We have to protect the keep, especially when the dragons might be bluffing,” Patton said.
“Should we send Tess and Knox away from the sanctuary?” Ruth asked.
“They could flee into the wilderness beyond the borders,” Stan said. “Wyrmroost is not in a convenient location. We would need to order a pickup to get them back to civilization.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Knox said. “Not until we find Seth.”
“I’m not leaving either,” Tess said.
“Sending anyone away from the safety of Blackwell Keep while the dragons are plotting may not be wise,” Marat said.
“I’ve seen a lot of trouble come and go in my time,” Patton said. “I’ve made it through much of it by patiently staying in a secure place. Not letting myself get lured out. Choosing to face enemies on my terms.”
Stan sighed. “I’ve had similar experiences. Our safest bet is to keep everyone in our stronghold and to keep it secure.”
“I will check all entrances and exits,” Marat said. “We’ll post twice the normal watch.”
“I will examine all magical defenses,” Agad said.
“I’ll brew up some special potions just in case,” Tanu said.
“Let’s take whatever reasonable precautions we can think of,” Stan said. “We have all afternoon to help ensure a quiet night.”
“Might be prudent to have a good meal,” Doren said. “We don’t want to face trouble on an empty stomach.”
Ruth stood up. “Hopefully, if we’re vigilant, we’ll end up having a calm rest tonight while the dragons snarl in frustration.”
Though Knox appreciated her attempt to be positive, he worried she wasn’t giving the dragons enough credit. In his gut, he worried they were all missing something.
All right,” Ronodin said, backing up to admire his handiwork. “That suffices. Free yourself, if you can.”
Seth stood in a torchlit room, his back to a stone column, fastened in place by a chilly cocoon of chains and locks. Ronodin had just finished securing the final chain, but the weight and pressure of the bindings were already uncomfortable. “Where do I start?” Seth asked.
“The locks, of course,” Ronodin said.
Seth squirmed, but the chains hugged him maddeningly. He could barely move. Breathing felt laborious. Closing his eyes, he reached for the locks with his power but could only vaguely sense their locations.
“I can’t connect my power to the locks,” Seth said. “I can barely feel them.”
“They’re not as easy to sense as the fire,” Ronodin said.
“How am I supposed to pick them if I can’t feel them?” Seth asked.
“Your thinking is muddled,” Ronodin said. “You’re not going to mechanically pick the locks any more than you physically doused the torch.”
“Then how will they open?” Seth asked. “I don’t see how cooling them will help.”
“With the torch, you sought out the source of the flames,” Ronodin said. “You brought cold to the source of the heat. Don’t seek out the physical mechanism of the lock so much as reach for what is binding you. The dark power inside you does not like to be bound. It can undo all but the most powerful confinements. Let the power do the work.”
Seth tried to focus on where he was bound. Weren’t the chains all around him? He stared at one of the locks on the chains. He tried not to focus too much on the physical lock. It was just something binding him. Something his power could undo.
Seth searched for the darkness near his center and found it. He tried to draw upon it as he had to quench the torch, but he wasn’t sure what exact part of the darkness he was moving to the lock. Cold had seemed easier to isolate.
In frustration, he strained against the heavy links with his strength, but there was no give. He tried to use his power again, to no avail.
A small bell rang in the distance.
“That is our signal,” Ronodin said.
“What about the locks?” Seth asked.
“Opening locks is more subtle than dousing fire,” Ronodin said. “It may take time.” He snapped his fingers, and the chains fell away from Seth to pile around the base of the column. “I was mostly distracting you from worrying about your upcoming mission.”
Seth stepped over the chains. “This was misdirection?”
Ronodin gave half a smile. “And it was fun chaining you up.”
“Wait,” Seth said. “The mission is now?”
“It can be hard to judge time down here,” Ronodin said.
“Where are we going?”
“Follow me,” Ronodin said, already walking.
“You’re coming with me?” Seth asked, hurrying to catch up.
“You’ll go alone,” Ronodin replied.
“Am I ready?” Seth asked. “What do I need to know?”
“We’ll judge your readiness by whether you survive,” Ronodin said. “You’re about to learn all you need to know.”
Seth felt full of questions but didn’t know where to start. They passed down a hall and into a dim room with only a wet barrel inside.
“Is that going to transport me?” Seth asked.
“A barrel like this could lead almost anywhere,” Ronodin said. “One of my top operatives is on the other side to receive you. He will provide the help you need to succeed.”
“Where exactly am I going?” Seth asked. “What will I have to do there?”
“You are going to a prison,” Ronodin said. “You will free the captives there.”
“Are they bad people?” Seth asked.
“They are undead,” Ronodin said. “They were incarcerated because of their natures. They have been imprisoned for far too long.”
“Will I have to open locks?” Seth asked nervously.
“Not with your power,” Ronodin said. “The man who will receive you has the specifics. In short, you will go through the barrel and then do as you’re told. Save your questions for him.”
Seth stared at the barrel. Was this the sort of activity he had done in his forgotten past? Maybe. Ronodin had certainly helped Seth regain access to dark powers, including conversing with wraiths. It didn’t require much of a leap for Seth to imagine that he might have freed undead captives before. Left to himself, would he choose to do so right now? No way. But Ronodin was an expert at springing tasks on him without leaving much time to think.
“We’ve been underground since I came here,” Seth said. “At least I’ll get to see the sky.”
“Don’t count on that,” Ronodin said. “Where you are going there may not be many windows.”
“Do I have to do this?” Seth asked.
“I suppose you could go tell the Underking you changed your mind,�
�� Ronodin said. “I suspect the conversation would not end well.”
Seth glanced at the ephemeral manacle on his wrist. He wished he could make that binding come loose. For now, he was trapped. He had not chosen to come to this underworld, but to buy time he had made promises to the Underking. Right now, staying alive might be the best he could manage. If he survived long enough, maybe he could eventually take control of his life. What he wanted more than anything was some time alone to figure things out for himself. He would stay vigilant. Maybe going through the barrel would lead to a chance to escape.
“This will take me away from the domain of the Underking?” Seth asked.
“Out of his domain, yes,” Ronodin said. “But make no mistake, Seth—nowhere is out of his reach.”
“I’ll free his captives,” Seth said.
Ronodin gave a nod. “Into the barrel. Stay quiet. Follow the instructions you get on the other side. Perform as required. I hope to see you soon.”
Seth climbed into the barrel and faced Ronodin. “Wish me luck.”
Ronodin shook his head. “Luck has no business where you are going. Your success will be decided by good planning and proper execution. Get it right. Crouch down.”
Seth hunched down inside the barrel. A strong hand grabbed his wrist and stood him up, then helped him out of the barrel.
An upturned flashlight balanced on the floor revealed that Seth was in a dungeon cell with the door ajar. The man with him had dark skin and short, beaded dreadlocks, and he wore black clothes. He had a handsome face and at first glance looked about thirty, but something in his eyes and his bearing suggested he might be quite a bit older.
The man smiled. “Good to see you again, Seth,” he whispered.
“Do I know you?” Seth asked.
“Hard to know me when you hardly know yourself,” the man said. “We’ve had dealings in the past. I’m called the Sphinx.”
“Half lion?” Seth asked.
“Just a nickname,” the Sphinx said. “I’m a mortal like you. In fact, I’m more like you than you might expect.”
“Did you lose your memory too?”
“No, I’m a shadow charmer,” the Sphinx said. “I don’t believe there are currently any others besides us.”
