Keys to the Demon Prison

"I expect the Sphinx himself would help convince his minions to stand down," the Fairy Queen suggested.

"Fablehaven is kind of a mess too," Seth reminded everyone.

"I will personally make sure all is set right at Fablehaven and Living Mirage," Agad pledged.

"And I second the promise," Bracken added.

Kendra felt relieved, mostly because her family would be safe and have Fablehaven restored to them, and partly because it sounded like she would get to see more of Bracken before he went away.

"There will be other odds and ends to tidy up," Agad said. "For example, Bracken mentioned to me that you received advice from your ancestor Patton Burgess. I would like to travel back toward the end of his life and tell him how everything worked out, for his peace of mind. He was a good man."

"Could that change the information he sends to us?" Seth asked. "Could it change how all of this turns out?"

"You already know what he told you," Agad said. "Your visits to Patton are already part of the past, even the visits you haven’t made yet. The information he left for you is a consequence of all those visits. I’m sure he made tough choices regarding what information to share and what to withhold. I will make sure he knows that the information he shared was exactly what you needed. Everyone involved walked a delicate path to reach this victory."

"Could we have Patton let Coulter know we win?" Seth asked. "Coulter visited him right before he died."

The wizard winked. "I think we can help make sure that happened, although I can make no certain promises. Time travel is strange. When we try to alter the past, we inevitably find our involvement was already part of the past. The few wizards I have known who actively chased time paradoxes have all gone into the past without returning, so I strive to keep my interactions with history simple."

"A wise policy," the Fairy Queen said.

Seth cleared his throat uncomfortably. "While I have your attention, I have one more question." He began to rummage in his emergency kit. "We had a wooden servant named Mendigo who helped us survive Wyrmroost, but got destroyed in the process. I have the hooks that held him together." He showed Agad his palm, which held several hooks.

Agad picked up a hook and held it up to one eye, squinting. "Yes, I recall Camarat telling me about your automaton. The hooks are a good start. You said he was wooden. Did any of the wood happen to survive?"

Seth frowned. "It all got dissolved by Siletta’s poison."

Agad scowled thoughtfully. "Then I’m not sure I can–"

"Wait," Kendra said. "Some wood did survive. At Wyrmroost, when Mendigo jumped into that canyon to escape the griffins, a long piece of him snapped off. I remember finding it when I went out to scout. It should still be in the knapsack."

"And we can get to the knapsack room with the Translocator," Seth added excitedly.

"In that case, I believe I can restore your automaton without much trouble," Agad assured them.

"And I can perhaps add a spark of free will," the Fairy-Queen said. "It would help the servant learn and grow."

"Thanks," Seth beamed. "You guys are the best! Oh, Agad, Bracken, I almost forgot. Morisant sends his regards. He told me to thank you, and to convey that he bears you no grudges. He seemed sorry for what he became."

"This is wonderful news, Seth," Agad said, eyes shining. "It gladdens me to hear that my mentor has finally found rest. Morisant was once a great wizard, perhaps the greatest of our order. It was his wisdom that allowed for a shrine to the Fairy Queen so near to Zzyzx. It is truly miraculous that he entrusted Vasilis to your care."

"Loaning it to Kendra worked out pretty good too," Seth said.

The old wizard laughed, placing one hand on Kendra’s shoulder, the other on Seth’s. "You two have been through a grueling ordeal. Your names will go down in history. We are all so very proud of you. I wish there were a way to fully express our gratitude. For the present, this will have to suffice: You can finally rest."

Chapter 29 Prisoners

I bet you thought you’d never have to pay up," Newel said, munching on a piece of fruit. "Let’s just say I’m relieved you’ll get your reward," Seth replied.

"You’ll confirm with Stan about the new technology?" Newel verified, tossing a grape into the air and catching it in his mouth.

"You really think we should tell him?" Seth asked.

"We had a legitimate pact," Newel said. "I don’t want to risk Stan taking away our generator or our flat screen. Our claim is just. We need him on board at the outset."

"What if Stan prohibits the deal?" Doren asked. "What if he tries to change the terms? What if he gives us a certificate?"

"We stand up for ourselves," Newel replied. "The terms were set. We followed Seth to the ends of the earth and confronted some incredibly ugly demons."

"They were unsightly," Doren agreed with a wince. "And tough. Without our astrids we would have been goners."

"Nonsense," Newel spat. "Those astrids barely survived thanks to our heroics. Don’t you forget it."

"I’ll do my best with Grandpa," Seth said. "I have to go. My parents are waiting. You should slow down on the grapes, you’ll spoil your appetite."

"Spoil my appetite?" Newel exclaimed. "On fruit? Seth, I thought you knew us!"

"Newel’s right," Doren conceded. "We could each down a meatloaf without wrecking our appetites."

"I’ll talk to you later," Seth said. "Kendra and Warren are waiting."

Seth and Kendra had only recently arrived at Living Mirage. A few days ago, the Sphinx had used the Translocator to travel to his secret preserve with Trask and Warren to prepare his minions for surrender. Warren had promptly returned with news that their friends and family were safe. But he also brought news that Seth’s parents and grandparents had insisted Kendra and Seth wait until Agad was in control of Living Mirage before they journeyed there.

After the dragons obliterated the insufficient rear guard left behind by the demons on Shoreless Isle, it had not taken long for Agad to seal off the fairy shrine. Combining their efforts, the wizard and the dragons had employed an impressive spell to transport the enormous dome that had sheltered the gateway of Zzyzx over to cover the shrine. Once conditions on Shoreless Isle had been stabilized, Agad and most of his accompanying dragons had departed for the fifth secret preserve.