Fablehaven I (43 page)

them. They may pay us extra attention, but unless we

let our guard down, there is little they can do.

What about that ghost lady? The one who escaped

while the fairies were trapping Bahumat?

I do not know her story, except that she was obviously

colluding with our enemies. I have never met many of the

dark beings who lurk in the inhospitable corners of

Fablehaven.

They reached the wagon. Grandpa boosted Kendra up

and then climbed in himself. Hugo, take us home.

They rode in silence. Kendra considered all they had

discussed-the fate of Lena and the impending threat of

the Society of the Evening Star. The fateful night that had

seemed like the end of her problems was starting to look

like the beginning.

Up ahead, off to the side of the road, Dale was chopping

a fallen tree into firewood. Drenched in sweat, he

swung the ax aggressively. As the wagon rolled by, he

glanced up at Kendra. She smiled and waved. Dale gave a

tight smile and looked away, returning to his chore.

Kendra frowned. What’s up with Dale lately? Do you

think being turned to lead traumatized him?

I doubt he felt a thing. He’s beating himself up over

something else.

What?

Don’t say a word about this to him. Grandpa paused,

glancing back toward Dale, then went on speaking. He

feels bad that his brother Warren wasn’t present when the

fairies were curing everybody.

Grandma said Dale’s brother is catatonic. I still

haven’t met him. Could the fairies have helped?

Grandpa shrugged. Considering that they put Lena

back in the water, changed imps back into fairies, and

remade Hugo out of a pile of rubble, yes, I imagine they

could have cured Warren. Theoretically, any magic that

can be done can also be undone. Grandpa scratched his

cheek. You have to understand, last week I would have

said there was no possible way of curing Warren. Believe

me, I have investigated the subject thoroughly. But I’ve

never heard of an imp changing back into a fairy, either. It

simply doesn’t happen.

I wish I’d thought of it, Kendra said. Warren didn’t

even cross my mind.

Not your fault in the slightest. Warren just wasn’t in

the right place at the right time. I’m grateful the rest of us

were.

How did Warren get like that?

That, my dear, is part of the problem. We have no

idea. He disappeared for three days. On the fourth he

returned, white as a sheet. He sat down in the garden, and

hasn’t said a word or responded to anyone since. He can

chew food, and walk if you lead him. He can even do some

simple chores if you get him started. But no communication.

His mind has flown.

Hugo stopped at the edge of the yard. Grandpa and

Kendra climbed down. Hugo, see to your chores. The

golem hauled the cart away.

I’m going to miss this place, Kendra said, taking in

the bright flowers attended by glittering fairies.

Your grandmother and I have waited a long time to

find somebody like you among our posterity, Grandpa said.

Trust me. You’ll be back.

* *
*

Kendra, Grandma called up the stairs. Your folks are

here!

I’ll be right down. Kendra sat alone on her bed in the

playroom. Seth was already downstairs. She had packed her

bags and helped him with his.

Kendra sighed. When her parents had first dropped her

off, she had counted the days until their return. Now she

almost felt reluctant to see them. Since they knew nothing

about the magical nature of the preserve, there was no way

they could possibly relate to what she had experienced.

The only person she could share it with was Seth. Anyone

else would think she was insane.

Just thinking about it made her feel isolated.

Kendra crossed the room to the painting she had done

of the pond. It was a perfect keepsake from her stay-a

paint-by-numbers drawn by a naiad depicting the location

of the bravest act of her life.

Yet she hesitated to bring it. Would the image stir too

many painful memories? Many of her experiences here had

been dreadful. She and her family had nearly been killed.

And she had lost a new friend when Lena was returned to

the pond.

At the same time, the painting might make her long

for the enchanted world of the preserve. So many aspects

of Fablehaven were wonderful. Life would seem so dry after

the extraordinary events of the past couple of weeks.

Either way, the painting might cause her pain. But of

course those memories would persist with or without the

picture of the pond. She picked it up.

The rest of her bags were already downstairs. She cast

a final glance around the playroom, treasuring up the

details, and walked out the door. She went down the stairs,

along the hall, and started down the staircase to the entry

hall.

Her mom and dad stood in the entry hall smiling up at

her. They had notably gained weight, especially Dad-he

looked twenty pounds heavier. Seth stood near Dad clutching

his painting of the dragon.

You did a painting too! Mom exclaimed. Kendra, it’s

gorgeous!

I had help, she said, reaching the bottom of the stairs.

How was the cruise?

We made a lot of memories, Mom said.

Looks like Dad ate plenty of snails, Seth said.

Dad rubbed his belly. Nobody warned me about all the

desserts.

You ready, honey? Mom said, putting an arm around

Kendra.

Aren’t you going to look around? Kendra asked.

We walked the grounds a bit while you were upstairs,

and toured the lower rooms. Was there something in particular

you wanted to show us?

Not really.

We should probably get going, Dad said, opening the

front door. Not too many days ago that door had been

mangled and an arrow had protruded from the frame.

Outside, Dale was loading the last of the bags into the

SUV. Grandma and Grandpa waited nearby on the driveway.

Dad helped Kendra and Seth load their paintings

while Mom thanked Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson

profusely.

It was our pleasure, Grandma said earnestly.

You’ll have to let them visit again sometime soon,

Grandpa insisted.

I’d like that, Kendra said.

Me too, Seth agreed.

Seth and Kendra hugged their grandparents good-bye

and then climbed into the SUV. Grandpa winked at

Kendra. Dad started the engine. You kids have a good

time?

Yeah, Seth said.

Amazing, Kendra added.

Remember how worried you were when we dropped

you off? Mom said as she buckled her seatbelt. I bet it

wasn’t half as scary as you imagined.

Kendra and Seth shared a very special look.

The Adventure

Continues in

Book Two

FABLEHAVEN

AND THE RISE OF THE

EVENING STAR

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Chris Schoebinger for seeing the

potential in this story and making it a reality. Thanks also

to Brandon Dorman for his wonderful illustrations; to

Emily Watts, whose editorial talents smoothed out the

rough edges; and to Richard Erickson, Sheryl Dickert

Smith, and Tonya Facemyer, whose design prowess made

everything look really cool. My appreciation to the entire

Shadow Mountain team for doing a tremendous job.

Thanks go out to the friends who provided feedback on

early drafts: Jason and Natalie Conforto, Randy and Rachel

Davis, Mike Walton, Lisa Mangum, Tony Benjamin, the

Excel crew, Nancy, Liz, T mara, Bryson and Cherie,

Summer, Mary, my dad, my mom, and all the others. See,

Ty, you should have read it.

Thanks to Aaron Allen and family for the laptop and

the support. Thanks to Tiffany for untying certain knots.

Thanks to Ryan Hamilton and Dean Hale for extended

encouragement. Thanks to Tuck for the dictionary and the

eleventh-hour contributions.

Thanks to my parents for so much more than genetic

material, and to my siblings for helping me learn how to

tease, and to my extended family for being there more than

many would consider normal.

Thanks to all former teachers, schoolmates, associates,

dates, friends, acquaintances, comedy troupe members,

rivals, enemies, and disinterested third parties. Keep on

keeping on.

Thanks to you for reading these acknowledgments and

hopefully the rest of the book. And the next. And the

next.

Most important, a special acknowledgment to my

enchanting wife, Mary, and my beautiful children, Sadie

and Chase. Thank you for giving my life something to

revolve around besides the sun.

Reading Guide

The following questions may be useful in promoting

discussion about some of the themes and ideas found in

Fablehaven.
They are intended as a starting point for interactions

in classrooms and with reading groups.

. There can be great protection from exact obedience.

How was this principle reinforced for Seth? For Kendra?

How does the principle of obedience function in your life?

. Kendra was generally a rule keeper, Seth a rule

breaker. How did their attitudes evolve over the course of

the book? What are advantages to both attitudes?

Disadvantages?

. Consequences serve an essential role for maintaining

order and justice and harmony. How do laws help to

keep order in Fablehaven? How were Kendra and Seth

affected by the consequences of their decisions? How have

the consequences of past decisions helped or hindered you?

. Many of the problems in Fablehaven arose as a result

of decisions the characters made, often without bad intentions.

Sometimes, what we don’t know
can
hurt us. How

was that true for Kendra and Seth? Are there similar

examples in the world around you?

. It can be a challenge to find the courage to do what

we fear the most. What enabled Kendra to do something

that terrified her? What circumstances do you find most

intimidating? How do you find the strength to make it

through difficult situations?

. Circumstances arose where many of the characters

in Fablehaven had to risk their lives. Do you think you

would risk your life for anything? If so, what?

. Many of the creatures in Fablehaven have roots in

various mythologies, particularly Greek. Can you identify

which creatures come from which mythologies? Did you

recognize any vocabulary in the book with mythological

roots? What are some common words that come from

mythologies?