by Brandon Mull
“Can’t Mother heal you?” Bracken asked.
“She has tried, and I have tried,” the Fairy King said. “My form is whole. My inner self is beyond her reach, or mine.”
“What can I do?” Bracken asked.
“Help your mother see,” the Fairy King said. “Help her understand. I have tried to leave against her wishes, but she is too powerful here. Even without her crown. You must convince her to let me go.”
Bracken had tears in his eyes. “Who is going to convince me?”
“Have compassion, Son,” his father said. “I love you and your mother. I adore this realm. I protected it for ages. Don’t let me be the means of its undoing. I can conceive of no worse punishment. Give me a chance to heal.”
“It’s not my decision to make,” Bracken said.
“But you could help me persuade her,” the Fairy King said.
Bracken gave a pensive nod. “Perhaps, if I fail against the demons, and if the situation becomes sufficiently grim. Are you sure you’re right?”
“Have I ever been a fool?” the Fairy King asked.
“No, but you might imagine that sacrificing yourself would be preferable to feeling like a burden,” Bracken said.
“I’m trying to heal,” his father said. “I have tried. I will try. I hope restoration will happen. I trust it can happen. But I am certain it will not happen here, and that my presence compromises our defenses.”
“I need to escort Kendra back to Timbuli,” Bracken said.
“Of course,” his father said. “I wanted to speak with you before you became immersed in your new duties. Kendra, I am forever indebted to you and your brother for freeing me from Gorgrog. I thought the darkness would have no end. It didn’t . . . and then it did. Thanks to you mortals.”
“It was my pleasure,” Kendra said.
The Fairy King laughed. “A response more fitting for if I had thanked you for passing the cream. I’m sorry about your brother, Kendra. I want him restored. I will not rest until we succeed.”
Kendra felt tears spring to her eyes. It was encouraging to hear that somebody so important cared about her brother. “I won’t rest either.”
“Was it your idea?” Bracken asked. “The crown?”
The Fairy King offered a cryptic smile. “You don’t imagine your mother would have come up with that?”
“It was,” Bracken said. “You want to talk about destroying the Fairy Realm? Losing the crown would have done the job.”
“Yes, it might have,” his father said. “Did we lose it?”
Bracken shook his head.
The Fairy King gave a little bow and walked away.
The cask bobbed in the shallow water several yards from the small boat where Seth crouched, turning a potato in his hands. A lantern in the other rowboat illuminated the hermit troll watching curiously, his wide, lipless mouth drooped in a concerned frown. As usual, the leviathan was moving so smoothly that Seth could almost forget he was inside of an enormous sea creature.
Hermo had missed his last throw. If Seth landed the potato inside the cask, he would win.
“You take too long,” Hermo blurted. “You forfeit.”
“There is a lot riding on this,” Seth said, knowing the tension made the hermit troll crazy. “If this potato goes in, I will be the Champion of the Entire Ocean.”
“You will be lucky,” Hermo said. “Nothing more. But potato will miss, because you no lucky!”
Seth theatrically licked a finger and then held it up to test the air.
“No wind inside fish,” Hermo complained.
Seth plucked a sprout out of one of the potato’s eyes.
Hermo slapped his green hands over his eyes. “Why you waste tasty part?”
“The sprouts are gross,” Seth said.
“You have brains of starfish,” Hermo said.
“Can a starfish do this?” Seth asked, raising the potato like a basketball and shooting it at the slightly swaying mouth of the little barrel. He had missed three of his last five throws, but this one dropped inside with a wet, hollow thump.
“No!” Hermo cried, raising his fists above his head. He spread his arms wide. “Why?”
“Because I’m what happens when luck meets skill,” Seth said, “and they get into a serious relationship.”
“You what happens when tuna barfs,” Hermo said.
“Guess you just lost to tuna puke,” Seth said. “From now on you can call me Champion of the Entire Ocean.”
“I Champion of the Seven Seas at mancala,” Hermo said.
“You got lucky at mancala,” Seth said. “The rematch is coming.”
“Is it time to eat some more potatoes?” Calvin asked. About the size of one of Seth’s fingers, the nipsie stood on the gunwale of Seth’s boat, balancing casually.
“Another raw potato?” Seth asked.
“Eat fish,” Hermo said. “Giant fish swallow plenty fish.”
“I’m not going to eat raw fish,” Seth said. “I’ll get parasites.”
“Hookworms,” Calvin said. “Or worse.”
Hermo waved a disgusted hand at them. “Fish delicious and full of flavor. Parasites have vitamins.”
“The parasites will suck me dry from the inside,” Seth said. “I’m a person. Not a troll.”
“You got that right,” Hermo said.
We approach the desired landmass, a low, slow voice spoke in Seth’s mind. It came from the leviathan.
“Already?” Seth asked.
I went swiftly.
“Is it talking?” Calvin asked. “What’s it saying?”
“Nobody talking,” Hermo said.
“The leviathan says we’re almost to Titan Valley,” Seth said. “How long has it been?”
“Not two days yet,” Calvin said. “It’s a big fish. Must be fast.”
“Can you get us into the sanctuary?” Seth asked the leviathan.
The sanctuary includes a portion of the ocean around the landmass, the leviathan replied. I am allowed into those waters; therefore, you can enter, since you are within me.
“He can get us in,” Seth reported. “Hopefully someplace where we won’t be seen. But not too far from civilization.”
As you wish, the leviathan replied.
“Wait,” Hermo said. “You go Titan Valley? You leave fish?”
“You’ll have your privacy back,” Seth said. “I never meant to live here.”
“What about rematch?” Hermo asked. “With potato?”
“Maybe someday,” Seth said. “For now, I have to retire as the greatest champion the ocean has ever known.”
“Why you say Titan Valley?”
“That’s where the leviathan is dropping us off.”
Hermo stared at him in shock, then laughed. “Titan Valley not for humans. You get eaten.”
“We know it’s a dragon sanctuary,” Seth said.
Hermo shook his head, still laughing. “Titan Valley for trolls. Our queen there.”
“There’s a troll queen?” Seth asked.
“Titan Valley is managed by the Giant Queen,” Calvin said. “She rules over the giants and some of the larger creatures, including trolls.”
“Larger creatures?” Seth exclaimed. “Hermo would need a stool to reach my shoulder.”
Hermo stopped laughing and folded his arms. “Hermo reach plenty.”
“There are different types of trolls,” Calvin said. “Hermit trolls are the smallest.”
“The leviathan called Titan Valley a landmass,” Seth said. “Isn’t Titan Valley an island?”
“Every continent is surrounded by water,” Calvin said. “New Zealand has hundreds of little islands, but two major ones: North Island and South Island. Titan Valley is on the third major island of New Zealand, larger than the others combined.
It’s the largest dragon sanctuary. Some have called it the Lost Continent.”
“It’s that big and no regular humans notice it?” Seth asked.
“Distracter spells can be powerful,” Calvin said. “Especially the type that hide a dragon sanctuary and harness the power of all those creatures that mortals do not naturally notice.”
“Titan Valley is bestest most famous place,” Hermo said.
“Well, I’m excited to visit somewhere new,” Seth said. “I don’t have many memories.”
“If you been there before, you no be here,” Hermo said. “You be eaten.”
“I guess we’ll find out if I can survive,” Seth replied.
Hermo gave a start and then cocked his head. “We stop. Why we stop?”
Seth had gotten so used to the subtle motions of the leviathan that the standstill felt unsettling. “This must be where we get off.”
Daylight flooded into the fleshy chamber, showing Seth how accustomed his eyes had become to dim lamplight as he squinted against the new brightness.
“The leviathan opened his mouth,” Calvin said.
We have arrived, the leviathan declared.
“No leave!” Hermo cried.
“You’ve complained about us the whole time,” Seth said.
“Complain when you win,” Hermo said. “Need rematches.”
“Sorry,” Seth said. “Thanks for the games, but we have to go.”
Hermo began to wring his hands. “Where you go in Titan Valley?”
Seth glanced at Calvin, still balancing on the edge of the boat. The nipsie shrugged.
“We’ll figure it out,” Seth said.
“What look for? Hermo know plenty.”
“We’ll need to learn about Humbuggle,” Seth said, not wanting to reveal too much, but curious to see if the hermit troll might have pointers.
Hermo placed a hand over his eyes. “Me should have known. You here for Games. You even dumber than you look.”
“It’s no game,” Seth assured him.
“Humbuggle makes Games,” Hermo said, peeking out from between his fingers. “You not know nothing.”
Seth held out a hand to Calvin, who sprang onto his palm. Seth pocketed the nipsie. “We’ll play it by ear.”
Hermo pointed at Seth emphatically. “You need Troll Tavern. Information there.”
“Troll Tavern?”
“Best secrets in Titan Valley,” Hermo said, spreading his arms grandly. “Best knowledge in world!”
“Maybe we’ll take a look,” Seth said.
Hermo doubled over laughing. “They eat you so fast. Only for trolls.”
“Then we’ll find another way,” Seth said. “Goodbye, Hermo.”
“It was nice meeting you,” Calvin said. “Thanks for sharing the ride with us.”
Hermo stood tall and dropped his hands in exasperation. “Fine! Me go with you! Me take you to Troll Tavern.”
“Wait,” Seth said. “Really?”
“Time to see Titan Valley,” Hermo said. “Time for new hideout.”
“Many trolls make a pilgrimage to Titan Valley at least once in their lifetimes,” Calvin said.
“You want to come with us?” Seth asked.
“Not come with,” Hermo said, making a disgusted face. “Lead. And play more games.”
They sloshed forward through the inside of the leviathan until the open mouth came into view, with teeth the size of traffic cones. Hermo ran ahead and sniffed the air, then shook his head. “Tell fishy closer to Troll Tavern.”
“Can you take us closer to Troll Tavern?” Seth asked.
As you desire, the leviathan replied. The great mouth closed, and Seth felt the sea creature scoot away from the shore and then begin to glide forward again. The lamplight on the boats was too far away to provide more than the faintest glow.
“I thought hermit trolls stayed in their hideouts,” Seth said.
“Yes,” Hermo said. “Unless don’t want to. Unless need new hideout. Unless see Troll Tavern.”
“How did you get in this leviathan to begin with?” Seth asked.
“No, no, no,” Hermo replied. “Trade secret. You no learn.”
Before long, the leviathan stopped again, and the mouth opened. This is the closest I can deliver you without being seen.
“Thanks,” Seth said.
I will remain in these waters, the leviathan said. Should you need to leave the sanctuary, call to me.
“You still work for me?” Seth asked.
You brought me forth, the leviathan replied. You are my master.
Seth wished the leviathan could travel on land. He could use some power behind him in a sanctuary full of dragons, giants, and trolls. But at least he had a way to escape. “I’ll let you know if we need to bolt.”
“You crazy,” Hermo said. “Talk to fishy. Fishy crazier. Listen to you.”
Seth stepped out of the leviathan’s mouth onto pink sand, firm with dampness. A giant loomed before him, tall enough to rival a skyscraper, each sandal-clad foot larger than a bus. Seth resisted the reflex to retreat back into the leviathan. For a terrifying moment, Seth wondered why the leviathan had dropped them at such a dangerous location, until he noticed the unnatural stillness of the giant—and the fact that it was made of stone. The oversized figure was an enormous statue.
“I hope that statue was built beyond the size of actual giants,” Seth said.
“Western Sentinel,” Hermo said.
Calvin whistled. “I’ve heard of it. Hard to imagine something that enormous without seeing it.”
Hermo waved a dismissive hand. “Waste of rocks.”
“It’s impressive,” Seth said. He turned to Hermo. “Do you know the way to the tavern?”
Hermo picked up some sand and rubbed it between his fingers, letting it sprinkle down. He sniffed the air. “Easy. You follow.”
Looking up and down the beach, Seth detected no people or creatures, and no sign of civilization. “Lead the way.”
Hermo advanced in a crouch, moving in a zigzag, as if dodging invisible obstacles. In spite of his aversion to going straight, his progress was deceptively quick, forcing Seth to trot in order to keep up.
Seth looked back as the leviathan jackknifed away from the beach, the ocean sloshing around its vast bulk. He watched as the titanic creature turned and vanished beneath the water.
“Do you feel a little stranded?” Seth asked Calvin.
“Nah, we’re exactly where we want to be,” Calvin said.
“I’ll face dragons and giants if it gets my memory back,” Seth said.
“Don’t forget the trolls,” Calvin reminded him.
“You have one job!” Hermo called, frustrated. “Follow. No watch waves.”
“Sorry,” Seth said, surprised at how far ahead Hermo had gotten. The hermit troll waited, arms folded, while Seth hurriedly closed the distance.
“If you get lost, you get eaten,” Hermo said. “Me still go to tavern, have drink.”
“I’ll stay with you,” Seth said.
“You easy to spot on sand,” Hermo said. “Look like snack.”
“Then let’s get over to those trees,” Seth suggested.
“Me first,” Hermo said. “You after.” He started forward again, moving like a running back weaving through traffic.
Shielding his eyes from the sun, Seth craned to look up at the stone giant one more time. He was so close to the statue that Seth saw the bottom of the jaw more than the face.
“I hope that thing is an exaggeration,” Seth muttered, picking up his pace to stay with the nimble troll.
A steady breeze ruffled the surface of Crescent Lagoon as clouds mounted on the horizon. A large stone head, one of the moai, supervised as Knox stabbed imaginary enemies with a stick while reeling and jumping on
the sand.
“Did you get them?” Tess asked her older brother. She knelt in the sand near the water, building a sandcastle with the help of half a dozen fairies.
“I need to have moves figured out,” Knox explained, blocking an imagined attack and then delivering the counterblow. “I can’t expect to beat the next demon the same way I took out Remulon.”
“Do you think you’ll have to fight more demons?” Tess asked.
“As long as we’re stuck on these magical preserves, who knows?”
“Did you really face Remulon all alone?”
“I had to,” Knox said. “The others were captured.”
“I still don’t understand how you avoided getting captured.”
“I told you—I dodged more attacks than the others and found shelter in the razor coral.”
Tess huffed. “How did you sneak in there when everybody else got caught?”
“That’s why I practice my moves,” Knox said, faking right, then spinning to the left. “That’s why I’m a hero.”
“It would have been so scary,” Tess said. “Didn’t you want to run away?”
“How could I?” Knox said. “I might not have been the hero they expected, but I was the hero they needed. I stayed quiet for a time. I had to catch such a big demon off guard.”
“And you used Kendra’s wind bag.”
“The sack of gales,” Knox said. “Kendra had it but didn’t even try.”
“She succeeded at other stuff,” Tess said. “Like going to the Phantom Isle and rescuing Bracken and Seth from the Underking.”
“Hard to succeed at anything if she’d been stuck a prisoner of that underwater demon for a million years,” Knox said.
“How would she live a million years?”
“Or until she died. Luckily for her, I was there. I knew if I blew the demon into the razor coral, everyone would be saved. So I did. Wasn’t that hard, really. Just took a little Texas ingenuity.”
“Do they have sacks of gales in Texas?” Tess asked.
