Fablehaven I (42 page)

something in her ear. Seth was chattering, but the

words made no sense. Dale held her shoulders, guiding her.

They were almost to the stairs, but she could not keep

her eyes open. She felt herself falling, and hands catching

her, and then consciousness fled.

Farewell to Fablehaven

Kendra and Grandpa reclined in the wagon while

Hugo pulled them down the road at a leisurely pace.

The morning was clear and bright, with a few thin, high

clouds barely clinging to existence, accidental brush strokes

on a blue canvas. The day would be hot, but for now it was

pleasant.

A couple of fairies drifting alongside the wagon waved

at Kendra. She waved back and they sped away, weaving

around one another. The garden now teemed with fairies,

and they paid Kendra a lot of special attention. They

seemed pleased whenever she acknowledged them.

We haven’t really gotten to talk since it all happened,

Kendra said.

You were sleeping half of the time, Grandpa replied.

It was true. She had slept for two days and two nights

straight after the ordeal-a personal best.

All those kisses knocked me out, she said.

You excited to see your parents? asked Grandpa.

Yes and no. It was the third day since Kendra had

awakened. Her parents were coming to pick them up this

afternoon. Going home will seem bland after all this.

Well, you’ll have fewer demons to worry about.

Kendra smiled. True.

Grandpa folded his arms. What you did was so special,

I don’t know how to speak about it.

It barely seems real.

Oh, it was real. You mended an irreparable situation,

and saved all of our lives in the process. The fairies have

not gone to war for centuries. In that state, their power is

virtually unrivaled. Bahumat did not stand a chance. What

you did was so brave, and so doomed to failure, I can’t

think of anyone I know who would have even tried it.

It felt like my only hope. Why do you think the Fairy

Queen helped me?

Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe to save the preserve.

Maybe she sensed the sincerity of your intentions.

Your youth must have helped. I’m sure fairies would much

rather follow a little girl into battle than some pompous

general. But the truth is, I never would have guessed it

would have worked. It was a miracle.

Hugo stopped the cart. Grandpa climbed down and

then helped Kendra. She held the silver bowl that she had

taken from the island. They started down a faint path

toward an archway in a tall, unkempt hedge.

Weird how I don’t have to drink the milk anymore,

Kendra said. On the morning she awoke after the fairy

kisses, when she went to the window, she saw fairies fluttering

about. It had taken a moment to register that she

had not yet consumed any milk that day.

I’ll admit that it worries me somewhat, Grandpa said.

Creatures of whimsy are not solely confined to the preserves.

The blindness of mortals can be a blessing. Take

care where you look.

I’d rather see things how they are, Kendra declared.

They passed under the archway. A group of satyrs were

playing tag with several slender maidens wearing flowers in

their hair. The paddleboat was adrift in the middle of the

pond. Fairies skimmed the surface of the water and soared

among the gazebos.

I’ll be curious to know what other changes the fairies

wrought in you, Grandpa said. I’ve never heard of such a

thing. You’ll let me know if you discover any other oddities?

Like if I turn Seth back into a walrus?

I’m glad you can joke about it, but I’m serious.

They walked up the steps to the nearest pavilion. Just

toss it in? Kendra asked.

I think it would be best, Grandpa said. If the bowl

came from that island, you should give it back.

Kendra threw the bowl like a Frisbee. It landed in the

water. Almost immediately a hand shot up and snatched it.

That was quick, Kendra said. It will probably end up

down with Mendigo.

The naiads respect the Fairy Queen. They’ll make sure

the bowl ends up where it belongs.

Kendra looked at the pier.

She may not know you, Grandpa said.

I just want to say good-bye, whether she gets it or

not.

They walked along the boardwalk until they reached

the gazebo adjoining the pier. Kendra walked out to the

end of the pier. Grandpa stayed a few steps behind her.

Remember, not too close to the water.

I know, Kendra said. She leaned forward to look

down into the pond. It was much clearer than it had been

at night. She jumped a little when she realized that the face

looking up at her was not her reflection. The naiad looked

like a girl of about sixteen, with full lips and a profusion of

golden hair swirling about a face shaped like a valentine.

I want to talk to Lena, Kendra said loudly, over pronouncing

the words.

She may not come, Grandpa said.

The naiad kept staring up at her. Get Lena, please,

Kendra repeated. The naiad swam away. She’ll come,

Kendra asserted.

They waited. Nobody came. Kendra studied the water.

She turned her hands into a megaphone around her mouth.

Lena! This is Kendra! I want to speak with you!

Several minutes passed. Grandpa waited with her

patiently. Then a face rose almost to the surface of the

water, right at the end of the dock. It was Lena. Her hair

was still white with a few black strands. Though she looked

no younger, her face had the same ageless quality.

Lena, hi, it’s Kendra, remember?

Lena smiled. Her face was barely an inch from the

surface.

I just wanted to say good-bye. I really enjoyed our

talks. I hope you don’t mind being a naiad again. Are you

mad at me?

Lena motioned for Kendra to come closer. She put her

hand by her mouth like she wanted to share a secret. Her

almond eyes looked mirthful and excited. They did not

match the white hair. Kendra bent down a little.

What? Kendra asked.

Lena rolled her eyes and motioned for her to come

closer. Kendra crouched a little more, and in the same

instant that Lena reached up for her, Grandpa Sorenson

pulled her back.

I told you, Grandpa said. She is no longer the

woman she was back at the house.

Kendra leaned forward just enough to peer over the

edge again. Lena stuck her tongue out and swam away. At

least she isn’t suffering, Kendra said.

Grandpa walked her back to the gazebo in silence. She

told me she would never choose to return to life as a

naiad, Kendra said after a while. She said it more than

once.

I’m sure she meant it, said Grandpa. From where I

stood, it didn’t look like she went willingly.

I noticed the same thing. I worried she might be suffering.

I thought maybe she needed us to save her.

Are you satisfied? Grandpa asked.

I’m not even sure she remembered me, Kendra admitted.

At first I thought she did, but I bet she was faking,

trying to get me close enough to drown me.

Probably.

She doesn’t miss being human.

Not from her current point of view, Grandpa agreed.

Much like how being a naiad did not sound very fulfilling

to her from a mortal perspective.

Why would the fairies do that to her?

I don’t think they saw it as a punishment. Lena was

probably a victim of good intentions.

But Lena was arguing with them. She didn’t want to

go.

Grandpa shrugged. The fairies might have known that

once they restored her, she would change her mind. Looks

like they were right. Remember, the fairies experience existence

like the naiads. From their point of view, Lena was

out of her mind wanting to be mortal. They probably

thought they were curing her insanity.

I’m glad they restored everybody else, Kendra said.

They just restored Lena too much.

Are you sure? She was a naiad to begin with.

She didn’t like the idea of aging. At least she won’t die

now. Or get any older.

No, she won’t.

I still think she would rather be human.

Grandpa frowned. You may be right. Truth be told, if I

knew a way to reclaim Lena, I would. I believe once she

was mortal again, she would be grateful. But a naiad can

only descend to mortality voluntarily. In her current state,

I doubt she would make that choice. I am sure she is very

disoriented. Perhaps in time she will gain some perspective.

What’s it like for her?

No way to be sure. For all I know, this is a unique

occurrence. Her memories of mortality are apparently distorted,

if she retains them at all.

Kendra unconsciously twisted the sleeve of her shirt, a

pained expression on her face. So we just leave her there?

For now. I will do some research and give the matter

considerable thought. Don’t tear yourself up about it. Lena

would not want that. The alternative was being devoured

by a demon. She looked all right to me.

They started back toward the wagon. What about the

Society of the Evening Star? asked Kendra. Are they still

a threat? Muriel said she was in contact with them.

Grandpa pinched his bottom lip. The Society will be a

threat as long as it endures. It is difficult for an uninvited

guest to gain access to a preserve-mortal or not. Some

would say impossible, but the Society has shown repeated

resourcefulness at circumventing so-called impossible

obstacles. Fortunately we foiled their attempt to use Muriel

to free Bahumat and overthrow the preserve. But we now

know they have learned the whereabouts of Fablehaven.

We will have to be more vigilant than ever.

What secret artifact is hidden here?

It is unfortunate that your grandmother had to share

that secret with you. I realize it was a precaution in case

both of us were incapacitated, but the knowledge is a terrible

burden to place on children. You must never speak of

it. I have tried to impress that idea on Seth as well —— heaven

help us all. I am the caretaker of Fablehaven, and

I know little about the artifact save that it is hidden somewhere

on this property. If members of the Society of the

Evening Star are aware that the artifact is here, and we

have every reason to believe they are, they will stop at

nothing to penetrate our defenses and lay their hands on

it.

What will you do? Kendra said.

What we always do, Grandpa said. Consult with our

allies and take every measure to ensure that our defenses

remain intact. The Society has known the location of

dozens of preserves for centuries and yet has failed to infiltrate