by Brandon Mull
“You can vouch for us,” Tess said.
“They really are your cousins,” Calvin said. “The satyrs are longtime friends.”
“Good old Calvin,” Newel said.
“He tells it like it is,” Doren affirmed.
“Seth, don’t you have some news for Kendra?” Calvin asked.
Seth frowned. “Can you tell Kendra that Celebrant is here?”
“At Titan Valley?” Knox asked.
“In Humburgh,” Seth said.
“Is he pulling wagons?” Knox asked.
“I wish,” Seth said. “He’s in human form, still hunting the Wizenstone.”
“How do you know?” Newel asked.
“I saw him,” Seth said. “He tried to kidnap me, but Fenrick stopped him.”
“Thanks for saving him,” Tess said.
“Seth has aided me more than I can repay,” Fenrick said. “You have a noble friend and cousin.”
“You haven’t seen him pick his nose,” Knox said.
“Whatever,” Seth said.
“Seth is on the right path, guys,” Calvin said. “You can count on him.”
“Then maybe he should know,” Newel said. “Kendra has gone after the key to the Dragon Temple. She hopes to retrieve the Harp of Ages to help in the dragon war.”
“Thanks for telling me,” Seth said, glancing at the swordsman.
“What should we do about Celebrant?” Tess asked.
“Spread the word,” Seth said.
“Did you hear about the Fairy Realm?” Newel asked.
“No,” Seth said.
“It fell,” Doren said. “Ronodin is the new Fairy King.”
Seth blanched. “You’re not serious.”
“The Fairy Queen is overthrown?” Virgil asked.
“We got word from a fairy who escaped,” Newel said.
“That is disastrous news,” Seth said. “Ronodin is dangerous.”
“We know,” Knox said. “Didn’t you work for him?”
“Kind of,” Seth said. “He kidnapped me and was tricking me. He got me indebted to the Underking. I didn’t know who I was. I got away once I could.”
“It must have been rough,” Newel said.
“That’s life,” Seth said. “Thanks for the news. How about I catch up with you guys at the Wayside Inn after this meeting? Maybe we can help each other.”
“Sounds fair,” Newel said.
“You aren’t going to ditch us?” Knox asked.
“Not without good reason,” Seth said. “Thanks for trying to help me.”
“Sure,” Knox said.
Seth gave a wave and turned.
Knox watched his cousin walk away.
“Should we follow him?” Doren asked.
“I will,” Newel offered. “At a distance. Doren, take the kids to the inn and I’ll meet you there.”
Newel slipped into the crowd, not directly following Seth and his new friends. The satyr worked his way at a diagonal, keeping them in view.
“Think Newel might ditch us too?” Knox asked.
“If there’s good food involved?” Doren replied. “Absolutely.”
Those satyrs seemed jealous,” Virgil said as they advanced through the crowd. “And Knox is a little much.”
“Calvin, are you sure they weren’t dragons in disguise?” Seth asked.
“I would have sensed it,” Merek said.
“I don’t think any powerful creature would assume the form of a satyr,” Virgil said. “We’re considered frivolous.”
“You’re levelheaded,” Seth pointed out.
“I’m about as serious as satyrs get,” Virgil said. “And I spend my life studying games.”
“How far to the Chime House?” Calvin asked.
“Just a few blocks down this street,” Virgil said, the rising wind causing him to tuck his head and raise an arm against it.
Virgil had surprised Seth by meeting him as he and Merek emerged from the arena. The satyr explained that he and Calvin had visited the manor and made contact with an associate of Humbuggle’s called Sable. After speaking to Virgil for a few minutes, she had decided they should meet in private at the Chime House, where their conversation could not be overheard. Sable had promised to bring Serena. Since the appointment was not until one in the afternoon, Virgil had decided to see if Seth would emerge in time to join them.
Seth took Calvin from his pocket and cupped him in his palm as they walked. “Can you believe you’re about to see Serena?” Seth asked.
“I can’t express how excited I am,” Calvin said. “Have you ever wanted something so desperately, for such a long time, that it began to feel like an impossible quest without an end? Where you knew you might never succeed, but the prize was so worthwhile that you devoted your whole existence to the journey, even if it might all prove fruitless? That’s how I feel. I’ve wanted to see Serena so badly for so long that it’s hard to accept it will finally happen.”
“I’m happy for you,” Seth said.
“Don’t jinx it,” Calvin said, wringing his hands. “Let’s be happy afterwards.”
“Do you hear it?” Virgil asked.
“I hear about a thousand monkeys pounding xylophones,” Seth said. “And maybe a hundred of them blowing flutes.”
“It gets annoying when the wind rises,” Virgil said. “The Chime House is much quieter inside than outside. I don’t know how the neighbors tolerate it.”
Merek leaned close to Seth. “See the man on the other side of the street—the one with the black beard?”
Seth glanced in the indicated direction. “Short guy? Chubby?”
“Dragon,” Merek said.
“Really?” Seth asked. “Him?”
“Don’t make eye contact,” Merek said.
“They can’t kill us here in town,” Seth said.
“Nor can we slay them,” Merek said. “I can’t believe I threw Celebrant to the ground. Well, my incorporeal memories did. I’ve long dreamed of testing myself against him.”
“You may get your wish,” Seth said. “Based on what I understand from working with Ronodin, the dragon war is getting ugly.”
The Chime House came into view up the street. The four-story structure was built out of dark wood and featured three rapidly turning windmills. Wind chimes lined the eaves, windowsills, balconies, and porches, rippling vigorously in the wind with an incessant tinkling that seemed to jangle across every possible pitch. Other decorations hooted and shrilled as the wind passed through them, adding to the cacophony.
A pot-bellied ogre with a sloping brow, huge nose, and dangling earlobes stood in front of the wooden stairs leading up to the Chime House porch, leaning on a metal cudgel. Virgil walked right up to the ogre and held up a folded card.
Virgil spoke words that Seth could not hear over the clangorous chimes. The ogre checked the card, then jerked his chin toward the porch. Virgil, Seth, and Merek climbed the stairs to the front door, and Virgil rapped the knocker.
A troll with yellow markings on his black scales opened the door. He had a fin down the center of his head that continued along his neck and back. The troll admitted them and closed the door, reducing the noisy chimes to a tuneless rustle.
“Do you have an appointment?” the troll asked.
“We’re meeting Sable in the Serenity Parlor,” Virgil said, showing his card to the troll.
“Excellent,” the troll said after a brief inspection of the card. “Sable is among our most valued clients. Put away your invitation and follow me.”
They climbed two sets of abnormally creaky stairs. Discreet signs along the way shared messages like “Stay Where You Belong” and “No Admittance without a Guide.” At the top of the stairs, they turned down a hallway where every step sounded like a tap on a bongo drum.
&
nbsp; “Hard to sneak around in here,” Seth said.
“You have no idea,” the troll said in a snide tone. He stopped in front of a wooden sliding door. “The Serenity Parlor lies beyond. One of our finest spaces.” He indicated a rope that disappeared into a hole in the ceiling. “When the time comes to depart, pull this cord and wait for a guide. Should you attempt to navigate these halls unescorted, you will be promptly mauled by whisper hounds.”
“Understood,” Virgil said.
The troll gestured at the door and backed away. “Your encounter awaits.”
Virgil slid the door aside. The floor of the room beyond was lower than the hall and immersed in a thin layer of water that ran from beneath the left-hand wall across the room to disappear under the wall on the right. The blades of one of the windmills zoomed by outside the lone window. A long table awaited in the middle of the room, with a man and a woman seated on the far side. There were two empty chairs on the near side, plus additional chairs at the head and the foot. A candelabra with three candles burned in the center of the table.
The woman stood. She had short brown hair, parted stylishly on one side, and wore a fashionable red dress with a dark blazer over it. “Welcome. Call me Sable. This is my associate, Basil.”
Basil was a lean man with angular features, dressed in a dark suit. His black hair was slicked back, and he sported a little tuft of whiskers on the tip of his chin.
“Wet room,” Seth said.
“You may want to remove your shoes,” Sable said. “You can place them in the bin just inside the door. Virgil, I believe you told me to expect one companion in addition to Calvin.”
Seth and Merek crouched and started removing their shoes.
“He made a new friend,” Virgil said. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Calvin?” Sable asked. “Do you vouch for him?”
“You bet I do,” Calvin said.
“Any friend of Calvin’s,” Sable said.
As Seth waded into the room, lukewarm water sloshed against his bare feet. He placed his shoes in the bin on top of black dress shoes and a pair of high heels. Merek added his boots as well.
Seth and Virgil crossed to the table and sat down. Merek moved the chair from the head of the table so he could sit beside Seth.
“This is one of the most secure places in all of Humburgh,” Sable said. “I am true to my employer, but that doesn’t mean I want him to hear every word I speak.”
“Not even Humbuggle can hear us here?” Seth asked.
“Nor can he enter the room without being detected,” Sable said. “The running water prevents him from appearing in disguise or entering invisibly.”
“Is he often in disguise?” Seth asked.
Sable laughed. “Oh, you’re charming! Dear boy, Humbuggle is always prowling about in disguise. Are you new to town?”
“I’ve been here a couple of days,” Seth said.
“On your first day you undoubtedly met him,” Sable said. “He pays pointed attention to newcomers. Most who visit Humburgh encounter him several times unawares.”
Seth looked left and right. “He isn’t any of us.”
“At least not right now,” Sable said.
“Is she here?” Calvin asked.
“Serena wanted to see you before showing herself,” Sable said.
Seth set Calvin on the table. “Serena?” Calvin called. “It’s me. I’ve come a long way to find you.”
“I told you to wait for me,” came a voice from the breast pocket of Sable’s jacket.
“Serena?” Calvin exclaimed.
A pretty little face peeked up from Sable’s pocket. She had honey-blonde hair and animated blue eyes. “Of course it’s me.”
Calvin grinned from ear to ear, placed both hands over his chest, then flung his arms wide. “Finally!”
“You promised to stay with the others until I finished the assignment,” Serena said. “What I’m doing takes time, and it’s extremely dangerous.”
“Serena, I was waiting, and would have kept waiting, except I found the champion,” Calvin said.
“You did?” Serena asked.
“Seth,” Calvin said, presenting him with both arms.
“He killed Graulas?” Serena asked doubtfully.
“With Vasilis,” Calvin said. “And he promised to help break the curse. But he lost his memories. He’s still helping, though.”
“I’ve met Virgil and Calvin,” Sable said. “We still lack some introductions.”
“I’m Seth Sorenson. And this is Fenrick.”
One of the candles in the candelabra went out, a thin ribbon of smoke curling up from the charred wick. Sable glanced at it. “Whoops. Who is he really?”
“What did the candle tell you?” Seth asked.
“They protect us all from lies,” Sable said, using one of the other candles to relight the candle that had gone out. “Giants are so skillful at truth magic.”
“I’m Merek. But I went by Fenrick until recently.”
Sable gasped, then narrowed her eyes. “Are you who I think you are?”
“I have a famous father,” Merek said. “Tell me what you do for Humbuggle.”
“I am the head housekeeper,” Sable said. “Basil is one of his drivers.”
“What is your real name?” Merek asked.
“I’m called Sable,” she replied.
“I didn’t ask what people call you,” Merek said. “I asked for your name.”
Sable scrunched her lips to the side and scowled. “I am Isadore.”
“A sorceress,” Merek said.
“I dabble,” Isadore said.
“What was your name when you were a dragon?” Merek asked.
“Ishaya,” Isadore said, some heat in the word.
Merek gave a nod. “And what about you, Basil?”
“My name is Basil,” he said.
“In your human form,” Merek stated.
Basil gave a nod. “You have killed many of our kind. I am Basirus.”
“I take no pleasure in slaying dragons,” Merek said.
Two of the candles snuffed out.
Merek gave a guilty chuckle. “All right. It can be satisfying to dispatch the worst ones. But I don’t harm dragons unless it becomes necessary.”
Isadore relit the two extinguished candles with her fingertip.
“What about the satyr?” Serena asked.
“I’m just a scholar of the Games,” Virgil said.
“A satyr and a scholar?” Serena exclaimed. “And the candles stayed lit?”
“This company is full of surprises,” Isadore said.
“Do you want to slay me, butcher?” Basirus asked.
“Should I?” Merek replied.
“Let’s keep this friendly,” Isadore said. “We’re ruining the moment for our nipsie lovers.”
“I’m doing fine,” Serena said.
“Maybe a hug?” Calvin asked.
“Why not?” Serena said. Isadore set her on the table, and she ran to Calvin, picked him up in her embrace, and spun him around. After she set Calvin down, Seth could see that they were exactly the same height.
Calvin smiled uncontrollably. “You never let me pick you up.”
“I was excited to see you!” Serena replied.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” Calvin said.
“I know what you mean,” Serena said. “I never imagined I would see you here.”
“How have you been?” Calvin asked.
“Working really hard,” Serena said. “And I can’t get distracted right now. So much is in motion. You brought me the champion. I’m indebted for that. But this is no place for nipsies.”
“Serena,” Calvin said. “The elders made me a giant, too. I have the same assignment as you. The same responsibility.”<
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“Calvin, this is deadlier work than you know,” Serena said. “I don’t want you in the kind of danger I’ve seen. I set out to do this for you and for all our people.”
“I came for our people too,” Calvin said. “And for you. I’m Seth’s sworn vassal. Wherever he goes, I go.”
Serena looked up at Seth. “And where are you going?”
Seth found all eyes on him. “Well, I’m on a quest.”
“We need to find the Unforgiving Blade,” Merek said. “It’s one of Humbuggle’s challenges.”
Isadore glanced at the candles and found them all burning. “I’ve never heard of that challenge. To what end?”
“I assume to cut something,” Merek said.
The candles still burned.
“Do you know where to find it?” Isadore asked.
“No idea,” Merek said, glancing at Seth.
“Could you help us?” Seth asked.
“Possibly,” Isadore said.
“Tell me a lie,” Seth said.
“Excuse me?” Isadore asked.
“I want to make sure the candles work for you as well,” Seth said.
“I like Dragon Slayers,” Isadore said.
All three candles went out.
“Ouch,” Calvin said. “That was cold.”
Isadore reignited the flames with her fingertip.
“I take it you’re on the Small Council?” Merek asked.
“I was until recently,” Isadore said. “The Small Council came out in open support of the dragons in the war. That was too much for me.”
Seth noted the candles still burning.
“What have you learned about the curse?” Serena asked. “Besides finding the champion?”
“Isn’t finding the champion the main part?” Calvin asked. “‘The curse arose from the demon’s blight; the lord who slays him will set it right. The slayer shall restore our pride, the Giant Hero at his side.’”
“I’m the Giant Hero,” Serena said.
“I’m one too now,” Calvin said. “We hadn’t heard from you in a long time. The elders were worried you might have perished.”
“You can assure them I am well,” Serena said. “What exactly are you and the champion supposed to do?”
“Set it right,” Calvin said.
