"Shouldn't we return to Fablehaven first?" Tanu said.
"No, in case he's starving," Kendra protested, wiping tears from her cheeks. "We've left him there long enough. It should be safe. He's in a room cut off from the rest of the world. I'm not sure what could be less risky. I should teleport to him right now."
"I'll go with you," Elise said.
"I can start treating my scratches and Trask's shoulder," Tanu said, unwinding the chains from his abdomen. Trask gave a nod. "Go bring him back."
"I just picture the room?" Kendra asked.
"I just pictured my apartment," Trask replied, handing her the Translocator.
Elise held the left side of the Translocator. Trying to calm her fatigued mind from the shock of losing Mara, Berrigan, and her brother, Kendra envisioned the storage room, picturing the heaps of junk, the slate floor, the adobe walls. She twisted the center of the device, felt the swooning, folding sensation, and then she and Elise were standing in the very room she had visualized.
An electric lantern illuminated the scene. A small troll with an oversized head, greenish skin, and a wide, lipless mouth whirled to face Kendra and Elise, sniffing suspiciously. Near the troll sat a man in grimy clothes, his face obscured by a beard and long hair.
"How you get here?" Bubda asked, his posture becoming less aggressive.
Kendra held up the Translocator. "A magical transporter."
Warren rose to his feet warily. "Who are you?" he asked, unsmiling.
"You know who I am," Kendra said.
Warren narrowed his eyes, one hand straying to the knife in his belt. "Forgive me if I don't run over and hug you. What kind of game is this?"
Kendra realized that the last time Warren had seen her, Navarog had taken her prisoner before sealing the room by destroying the knapsack. For all he knew, she and Elise might be stingbulbs. To him, their sudden arrival seemed too good to be true.
"It's really us, Warren," Elise said. "You won't need that knife. We're not holding weapons."
Warren smiled sadly. "I'd love to believe you. How'd you escape the dragon, Kendra?"
"Raxtus ate him," Kendra said.
"The little guy who tried to heal me?" Warren exclaimed incredulously. "Word of advice: If you're going to lie, make it somewhat believable."
"We were trapped in that narrow cave," Kendra explained. "Raxtus could fit inside as a dragon, but Gavin couldn't change to his true form."
The corners of Warren's mouth twitched. "I'd love to believe it. How about a quick test? The Society might be able to mimic your form, but not your abilities." He leaned forward and grabbed the electric lantern. "Nobody move. I'm going to shut this off." He clicked a switch, and the light went out.
Kendra supposed that the room was in total darkness for the others. To her it just looked dim.
Warren held up four fingers. "How many fingers am I holding up?" he asked.
"Four," Bubda answered.
"Not you, Bubda," Warren complained. "I already know you can see in the dark. Okay, how about now?"
"Still four," Kendra said. He changed it to two fingers. "Now two. Now three."
Warren clicked the light back on. He looked hopeful.
"If the Society knew how to get in here, they wouldn't need to use subterfuge," Elise said.
"Trask and Tanu are waiting for us," Kendra said. "They're injured."
"So you got the ..." he paused, glancing at Bubda, "the, um, thing we wanted to get with the Wyrmroost key?"
"At a dear price," Elise said. "Seth, Mara, and a man named Berrigan were taken captive. And Vincent Morales lost his life."
"I'm so sorry," Warren said.
"How are your injuries?" Kendra asked.
Warren flexed his hands. "I'm fine. Tanu left me with enough medicine that I healed up before too long. I'm a little malnourished. I've been rationing. I was getting close to trying the rancid goop Bubda lives on."
"My goop better than granola," the troll said, making a disgusted face.
"You look like you're in good shape," Elise noted, not without admiration.
"Not much to do here," Warren said. "I've been exercising. And playing Yahtzee. So much Yahtzee. I'm surprised we haven't worn the spots off the dice."
"You go now," Bubda said, making a shooing motion with one hand. "Bubda no want roommate."
Warren chuckled. "You have to come with us, Bubda. There's no way out of here. Eventually you'll run out of food, even the kind you can stomach."
"Bubda no leave. Bubda finally have peace."
Warren put his hands on his hips. "Come on, don't be like that, I wasn't so bad, was I?"
Bubda scrunched his face. "You could be worse. Not as bad as granola."
"What about all the Yahtzee we played?"
"If Bubda play alone, Bubda always win."
Warren turned to Kendra and Elise. "I got seven Yahtzees once in a single game. Seven!"
"He cheat," Bubda mumbled.
"For the millionth time, how was I supposed to cheat? You were right there! You watched me roll the dice!"
"You cheat," Bubda said. "Too much luck."
"What about that time you got five Yahtzees?" Warren reminded him.
"That skill," Bubda said smugly.
"I hate to interrupt," Elise said, "but we need to get back to Tanu and Trask."
"Lady right," Bubda said. "Lady only smart one. You go."
"Bubda, you have to come," Warren insisted.
"Bubda stay. Bubda relax. You go. Take granola."
Warren looked to Kendra and Elise for support.
"We can come back anytime," Kendra said. "Even in an hour or two. But we should get back to Trask and Tanu. We need to get them to Fablehaven."
"Where are they now?" Warren asked.
"Trask's apartment in New York."
"He have anything in his fridge?" Warren asked hopefully. He swiveled to face Bubda. "I'm not abandoning you, Mr. Hermit Troll. Enjoy your break, because I'll be back. We'll find you an even better home. Someplace with lots of moist food. Nothing dry or crunchy. No granola."
Bubda turned away, grumbling unintelligibly.
Warren walked over to Kendra. "If this is some kind of trick or trap, well played, you got me. What do I do?"
"Just grab the cylinder," Kendra instructed.
Elise held the left side, Kendra kept hold of the middle segment, and Warren gripped the right end. "Can't say I'm going to miss this place," he murmured.