Seth threw the sphere to Patton, who deftly caught it in one hand. "What branch should I aim for?"
"Go left of where I went," Patton said. "See it? I left the best branch for you."
The branch was at least ten feet from the roof, and five or six feet lower. It would be easy to miss it. He pictured his hands slapping against the limb, failing to grasp it securely.
"Do not think," Patton ordered. "Back up a few steps and take the leap. Looks worse than it is. Anyone could do it."
Seth stared at the distant ground. To fall from this height was almost certain death. He backed up, the shingles creaking underfoot.
Peering over his shoulder, Seth saw the apparition floating toward him along the roof. That was the extra incentive he needed. He took three steps and flung himself off the roof. As he fell, the branch rose to meet his outstretched hands. The impact was jarring, but he held on. The limb drooped and bobbed, but it did not break.
Like Patton had done, Seth advanced hand over hand toward the trunk of the tree. Patton was already climbing down below him. Seth descended recklessly, concerned about the shadow lady above. There were no limbs for the last ten feet. He hung and dropped. Patton caught him.
"You have a way out of here?" Patton asked.
"Hugo," Seth said. "The golem."
"Lead on."
They dashed across the yard. When Seth looked back, he could no longer see Ephira. "Where'd she go?"
"Ephira detests sunlight," Patton said. "Coming out on the roof like that pained her. She never was very fast, and she looks more weighed down than ever. She knows she won't catch us, at least not by giving chase. Any notion what happened to her?"
"You know the revenant in the grove in the valley between four hills?"
Patton shot him a surprised glance. "Matter of fact, I do."
"We think Kurisock got hold of the nail that gave the revenant his power."
"How did the revenant lose the nail?"
They reached the cart and clambered into the bed. "Go, Hugo," Seth panted, "fast as you can, run to the pond." The cart began rattling over the unkempt road. Seth located the spare flash powder and shared some with Patton. "Actually, I pulled the nail out."
"You did?" Patton looked astonished. "How?"
"Pair of pliers and some courage potion."
Patton regarded Seth with a broad grin. "I think the two of us are going to get along just fine."
"Keep an eye out for dark creatures," Seth said.
"Somehow between Kurisock, the shadow lady, and the nail, a plague has spread through Fablehaven turning the light creatures dark. Dark fairies, dwarfs, satyrs, dryads, centaurs, brownies-you name it. If the darkness spreads to humans, they turn into shadow people."
Patton smirked. "Looks like I landed in hotter water than I planned on."
"Which reminds me," Seth said, "how are you here? You're not even old."
"The Chronometer is one of the artifacts. It has power over time. Nobody knows all it can do. I've learned a few tricks. I pressed a certain button on the Chronometer, knowing that when the button was pressed again, I would leap forward to that point in time and remain there for three days. You must have pushed the button and called me here."
"No kidding," Seth said.
"I only hit the button as an additional precaution to protect the artifact. I figured if a thief ever got hold of it, the culprit would eventually push the button, and then I could steal it back. I never dreamed I would land myself in a predicament like this."
"My Grandpa Sorenson is a shadow. So is my Grandma. Everyone but my sister, Kendra."
"Why are we going to the pond?"
"Dark brownies took over the house. The pond repels the dark creatures."
"Right. The shrine." Patton looked thoughtful. He spoke hesitantly. "What about Lena? Has she passed yet?"
"No, actually, she's a naiad again."
"What? That is not possible."
"Lots of impossible things have been happening lately," Seth said. "It's a long story. Lena was the person who told us about the safe. We should probably get under the tent." Seth started pulling the tent up.
"Why?"
"The dark creatures are everywhere. When we came to the manor, none of us drank the milk. We hid under the tent, and no dark creatures bothered us."
Patton stroked his mustache. "I don't have to drink milk to see the creatures here."
"I just ate some walrus butter, so I can see them now too. Hiding may not do as much good."
"After what happened at the manor, I wager we can expect a serious ambush. We ought to avoid the paths. Have Hugo abandon the cart and carry us to the pond cross country."
Seth considered the idea. "That might work."
"Of course it will." Patton winked.
"Hugo, stop," Seth ordered. The golem complied. "We're leaving the cart here, and you're going to carry us as quickly as you can through the woods back to the pond. Try not to let any creatures see us. And grab that tent; we'll need it back at the refuge."
The golem slung the tent over his shoulder, cradled Seth in one arm and Patton in the other, and then tromped off the road into the trees.
Chapter Nineteen
Duel
Hooves clomping over the whitewashed planks, Doren sprinted along the boardwalk after Rondus, a portly satyr with butterscotch fur and horns that curved away from each other. Puffing hard, Rondus cut through a gazebo and started down the stairs to the field. Only a few steps behind, Doren went airborne and slammed into the heavyset satyr. Together they pitched violently forward into the grass, staining their skin green.
Doren rose swiftly and started after a petite hamadryad with short, feathery hair. Rondus lunged at a small, thin satyr, wrapping his legs together in a savage embrace. The small satyr toppled with a yelp.
Kendra sat on a wicker chair in a nearby gazebo watching the game of tackle tag. Each new individual tackled became a tackler until the last participant was brought down. The last person tackled became the first tackler of the next round.
The agile hamadryad twirled away from Doren several times, but he stayed doggedly after her until he finally got a hand on her waist, scooped her into his arms, and set her on the grass. The satyrs tackled each other as if causing injuries were the point of the game, but they treated the hamadryads more gently. The hamadryads quietly returned the favor by allowing themselves to be caught. Having seen the hamadryads in action earlier that day, Kendra knew that the satyrs would never have been able to lay a hand on them unless the nymphs only evaded them halfheartedly.