Sooner or later, I want cake and ice cream. You mentioned the artifact. Do they know where it is?
She nodded. They weren't sure what to do about the revenant. My brother went to fight it. Since you're suddenly awake... I think he must have defeated it.368 Your brother?My little brother, she said, suddenly rather proud of him. He took off with the key to the tower and a crazy plan to use a courage potion to counteract the fear radiating from the revenant. I thought he was nuts, but it must have worked.
He has the key to the inverted tower? Warren asked.
We stole it from Vanessa. She's the narcoblix.
Your brother intends to enter the tower?
He wants to get the artifact before they do, Kendra said.
How old is he?
Twelve.
Warren looked astonished. What kind of training does he have?
Not much. I'm worried about him.
You should be. If he goes into that tower alone, he will not emerge alive.
Can we go after him? Kendra asked.
Sounds like we'd better. He dropped his gaze to his hands, shaking his head. So now I'm albino? Don't stand too close; my luck might rub off. I set out, seems like yesterday, to retrieve the artifact. That was what led me to the grove. I knew a danger lurked there, but the overwhelming fear took me off guard. Now, after losing years of my life in a panic-induced trance, I get to pick up right where I left off.
Why were you after the artifact?
It was a clandestine commission, Warren said. We369 had reason to believe the secret of Fablehaven might havebeen breached, so I was charged with removing and transferring the artifact.
Who had you do that?
Warren gave her a measuring stare. I'm a member of a covert organization that combats the Society of the Evening
Star. I can't say any more.
The Knights of the Dawn?
Warren tossed up his hands. Nice. Who told you that?
Dale.
Warren shook his head. Telling that guy a secret is like writing it across the sky. Anyhow, yes, we had reason to suspect
Fablehaven had been discovered by the Society, and I
was supposed to locate the artifact.
Ready to finish what you started?
Why not? Looks like things fell apart around here without me. Time to put Humpty back together again. None of my gear is where I left it, but ill-equipped or not, we'd better hurry if we hope to catch your brother before he enters the tower. I take it Hugo isn't around.
Vanessa sent him to the farthest corner of Fablehaven with orders to stay put, Kendra said.
The stables are far enough from here that getting a horse will save us no time. I know the way to the valley. You up for a night hike?
Yes, she said. Mendigo should return soon. He's an enchanted puppet the size of a man, and can help us get there faster.370 An enchanted puppet? You're not exactly an averageteenager, are you? I bet you've got some stories to tell.
Kendra was pleased by the admiration in his voice, and hoped it wasn't showing on her face. Why was she thinking about the moment she had kissed him? She was suddenly very conscious of the way she was standing, and had no idea what to do with her hands. She had to stop noticing how cute he was. This was the wrong time for silly crushes! One or two, she managed to say.
I'm going to scavenge for equipment, Warren said, hurrying over to the cupboards.
I have a glove that makes me invisible when I hold still, Kendra said. And several magical potions, though I'm not sure what they do.
Of course you do, he said, rifling through some drawers. Where did you get all that?
The glove belonged to a man named Coulter.
Coulter Dixon? he asked urgently. Why do you speak of him in the past tense?
He became a mute albino like you. Which probably means he's fine now, except that he's locked up in the dungeon with Dale.
Jackpot! Warren announced.
What?
Cookies. He stuck one in his mouth. What about the potions?
A guy named Tanu. He's a former mute albino too now, but I don't know where he is.371 I've heard of Tanu the potion master, Warren said.Never met him.
Just then Kendra heard a faint jingling of hooks. She ran to the front door. Mendigo carne to a halt beside the porch.
Our ride is here, Kendra said.
One minute, Warren called. He returned promptly with a coil of rope looped over one shoulder and an ax in his hand. Best weapon I could find, he said, hefting the ax.
Mendigo can carry us, she said. He's stronger than he looks.
That may be, but we'll travel faster if I run alongside.
Off we go, then.
Mendigo, Kendra said. Carry me to the place you just took Seth, fast as you can. And don't lose Warren. She pointed at Warren for emphasis. She scrambled up onto
Mendigo's back and they set off at a brisk pace.
Warren did a good job keeping up at first, but he was nearly running at a full sprint, and before long he was gasping and wheezing. Kendra ordered Mendigo to carry him as well, and Warren consented. I don't have the wind I used to, or the legs, he apologized.
Warren was considerably bigger than Seth or Kendra, and Mendigo did not run quite as speedily while carrying him. Occasionally Warren insisted on running for a minute or two, trying to maximize their pace.
The night wore on. At last they reached the valley. The stars in the east were growing faint as the sky began to pale.
Mendigo soon reached the unseen boundary that he could not cross.372 He can't enter the grove, just like Hugo, Warrenremarked. If Hugo had been with me that night, I would not have lost those years.
Set us down, Mendigo, Kendra said. Guard the grove from all intruders.
Chapter Seventeen
What have we here? Warren murmured, stooping and examining the ground.
What? Kendra said.
I think your brother was here. Follow me. Warren jogged toward the trees, clutching the ax.
Kendra rushed to keep up. Could there be other dangers in the grove? she asked.
Doubtful, Warren said. This has been the revenant's domain since the hiding of the artifact and the founding of
Fablehaven. Few would dare tread this cursed ground.
Wait a second, Kendra said. Here's Seth's emergency kit. He lost it the first time he came to the grove. Kendra retrieved the cereal box from where it lay.
First time? Warren asked.
Long story, Kendra said.
Look here, Warren said. The key. Your brother is not inside the tower. He's probably injured or spent. We'd better hurry.
They trotted through the trees. Warren held the ax in one hand, the key in the other. What's that up ahead?
Warren said. A flashlight?
Kendra saw the glow as well, low to the ground. As they hurried nearer, she saw that it was indeed a fallen flashlight.
Gauging by the faintness of the bulb, the batteries were373 nearly depleted. Beside the flashlight lay a skeleton clad inrags. And atop the skeleton lay her brother, facedown.