Rise of the Evening Star

Why don't you set my grandparents free? Kendra proposed.

They're the rightful caretakers here. You'll be rewarded.

Vanessa freed the big imps, Slaggo croaked. She is master of the situation.

Besides, we couldn't spring Stan even if we wanted,

Voorsh said. We have no keys to the cells.

So we may as well have a little fun, Slaggo said, giving

Kendra a squeeze that made her ribs creak.

If you let us go, we may be able to help my grandparents,

Kendra said. Vanessa has no real authority here.

My grandparents will be back in charge sooner or later. And when they are, they will reward you greatly for helping us now.

Desperate words from cornered prey, Slaggo said, striding toward the cauldron of roiling gray sludge.

Hold, Slaggo, she may be right, Voorsh said.

Slaggo hesitated at the cauldron. Hot, foul steam fumed up, washing over Kendra. She glanced over at Seth, who returned a worried look. Slaggo turned to face Voorsh. You think?

Stan and Ruth have repaid loyalty in the past, Voorsh said. If we spare their spawn, there may be more reward in it than watching the runts boil.

A goose? Slaggo asked hopefully.

Or better. This would merit much gratitude, and Stan has always dealt with us justly.315I'm sure they'd give you huge rewards, Kendra said.You'd say anything at present to save your neck,

Slaggo growled. All the same, my ears agree with Voorsh.

Stan will likely return to power, and he has a history of fair rewards. Slaggo set Kendra and Seth on the floor.

Could you take us to their cell? Kendra asked.

Seth looked at her like she was crazy.

Wouldn't go over well if the new mistress caught us aiding enemies, Voorsh said.

If you take us to the cell, you can be sure Stan willfully appreciate your involvement, Kendra said. You can always cut and run if somebody comes.

Might not hurt, Slaggo muttered. Can you keep your traps shut as we go?

Absolutely, Kendra said.

Have you lost it? Seth hissed.

This could save us lots of time, Kendra whispered back.

You'll deny our involvement if you're caught, Voorsh said.

Of course, Kendra said.

Because we could make things very uncomfortable for you if you land us in hot water, Slaggo snarled.

If we get caught, we'll keep you out of it, Kendra promised.

Make sure the other one understands, Voorsh said.

'My tongue gets tangled speaking your vile language.

Kendra explained the situation to Seth, who asserted his316 compliance. Slaggo stooped and picked them up in onehand.

Can you hold us a little looser? Kendra asked.

Be glad I don't cripple you, Slaggo said, slightly relaxing his crushing grip.

Ask him to grab the glove, Seth said.

Could you also get that glove on the floor? Kendra asked. We'll want it when we're big again.

I understood the other one fine, Slaggo said. I'll wager

I grasp more languages than the two of you together. What good is a glove? He bent down and picked it up.

Better than nothing, Kendra replied weakly.

Slaggo shook his head. Be right back, he said to

Voorsh. Don't forget to stir the glop.

Don't get discovered, Voorsh said. Swallow them if it comes to it.

Slaggo grabbed a torch and lit it in the fireplace. He exited the room and moved swiftly down the hall. When the hall ended, he rounded a corner and continued. They passed the Quiet Box that Grandma had shown them. Kendra was grateful for each cell they passed, because they were progressing toward the front of the dungeon. If she and her brother returned to their normal sizes before they made it up to the kitchen, they would be trapped underground. Which meant every second counted.

Here we are, Slaggo said quietly, setting them down in front of a cell door. Now, keep your word and don't cause any trouble for us. He laid the invisibility glove on the317 ground beside them. And if things go well, give creditwhere it's due.

As the goblin scurried away, taking the torch with him,

Kendra and Seth wormed through the slot meant for food trays. Grandma, Grandpa! Kendra called.

Is that Kendra? Grandpa Sorenson said. What are you doing here?

Not just Kendra, Seth said. We shrunk ourselves.

Seth? Grandma Sorenson gasped, her voice trembling with emotion. But how?

Coulter woke up just before the revenant got us, Seth said. He gave me a magical cocoon that wrapped around me. Olloch swallowed me like a pill. I went in one end and out the other.

Which would have satisfied the spell and bound him,

Grandpa said. What a stroke of good fortune! I can't say how relieved I am. I have many more questions but little time to ask them. I take it you gained entry through the brownie doors?

I got away with Tanu's potion bag, Kendra said. We made ourselves small. Do you know how long it lasts?

I can't say, Grandpa said.

Clever children! Grandma said. You had better hurry if you hope to enter the house. The spell will not last forever.

We want to steal back the artifact key, Seth said.

Do they have it? Kendra asked.

I'm afraid they do, Grandpa said. I was talking with your grandmother, and she does not recall certain recent318 conversations. Before she was revealed, I believe Vanessacontrolled your grandmother to gather information from me.

That would explain how she wrote those names in the register.

I remember Ruth asking me to confirm where the key to the vault was hidden, as well as to remind her of the combination to access the secret attic.

I have no recollection of asking any such questions,

Grandma said.

With that knowledge, Vanessa should already have the key in her possession, Grandpa said.

Do they know where the register is? Kendra asked.

Can they let more people onto the preserve?

I don't believe they know where the register is now hidden,

Grandpa said. But they have released at least one of the big imps, a brute who occupied this very cell, the same savage who broke my leg.

I thought this was the cell with the imp, Kendra said.

The one who yelled at me when Grandma showed us the dungeon.

That's right, dear, Grandma said.

We had two other giant imps in confinement, so you can bet she released them as well, Grandpa said. In addition, she probably has help from Christopher Vogel by now, and I would wager that she is still inhabiting Tanu. You kids will need to use extreme caution.

Dale and Coulter are down here in another cell,

Grandma said. Voorsh was kind enough to confirm that.

The goblins almost cooked us, Seth said. Then319Kendra said that you would reward them if they helped us.So they did. I think they want a goose.

I'll give them ten geese if we get out of this, Grandpa said. Quickly, what is your plan?

We're going to get the artifact key and then free you guys, Seth said. We have Coulter's invisibility glove, so when we get big again, we can still be sneaky.

At least one of us can, Kendra said.

The key to the vault is large, like a staff, Grandpa said.

Like five feet? Seth said.

More like six, Grandpa said. Taller than I am.

Vanessa will keep it close. Be on guard; she is most dangerous.

Seth, have no illusions: whether or not she is inhabiting

Tanu, you stand no chance against her in a fair fight. You have seen the dungeon keys?

Yes, Kendra said.

We used to keep them on a peg by our bed, Grandpa said. She may be keeping those close as well. Depending on how everything plays out, it may be impossible for you to return to us with the dungeon keys. For all but the brownies, there is only one way out of here, so you could easily become trapped down here with us. If worse comes to worst, get the artifact key and flee the preserve. We can hope the

Sphinx will find you.

If all else fails, leave the artifact key and save yourselves,

Grandma said. She turned to Grandpa. We had better let them go.

By all means, Grandpa said. Should the potion wear off before you reach the kitchen, all will be lost.320 You'll find that the brownies have a staircase all theirown, Grandma said. Look for the hole at the base of the stairs.

Can you find your way in the dark? Grandpa asked.

Kendra can see in the dark, Seth said.

I think it's another fairykind thing, Kendra said.

You know the way, then? Grandma asked.

I think so, Kendra said. Out the door, turn right, then left, then right, then through the door and up the stairs.

Good girl, Grandpa said. Make haste.

Kendra and Seth scooted back through the slot in the door. Good luck! Grandma called. We're very proud.321Recovering the Key

Kendra held Seth's hand as they raced along the hall. At their current size, the corridor felt as wide as a ballroom.

Seth's speed began to flag as they reached the end of the hall where they needed to turn left. This glove gets heavier and heavier, Seth panted.

Let me take it for a while, Kendra offered. He handed it over with no protest. The glove was not terribly heavy, but it was hard to hold, like trying to carry a couple of unrolled sleeping bags. Burdened by the glove, she hurried as best she could.

I wish I had infrared vision like you, Seth said.

Infrared?

Or ultraviolet. Whatever. Is normal light too bright for you now?322 It's the same as ever. Can we talk later? I'm running outof wind.

They trotted along in silence. The hall seemed endless.

Chapter Fifteen

Kendra's heart was hammering, and sweat was drenching her silky clothes, making them feel slimy. The bulky glove flopped around as she ran.

I have to walk for a minute, Kendra gasped finally.

They slowed their jog to a walk.

I can take the glove back, Seth said. Kendra handed it over.

I still need to walk, just a little, Kendra said. Hey, I

see our last turn up ahead.

Still a pretty good ways to the door, and then the stairs after that, Seth reminded her.

I know, I'll be good in a second, sorry to slow us down.

Are you kidding? I'm tired too, and you carried that glove a long way. They walked in silence until they reached the hall where they needed to turn right.

Should we run again? Kendra asked.

We'd better, Seth said.

Kendra was reminded of running laps around the field with her soccer team. She was naturally a pretty good runner, but those first few practices had really tested her. She had almost thrown up a couple of times during the first week. She could run through the stitches in her side and the burning muscles, but once she became nauseated, her willpower to run faded fast. She had been at that point when she asked Seth to stop, and she could feel the unwelcome sensation returning.323 She tried to ignore the dank smell of the dungeon. Thehumid stench alone was enough to make her queasy. She reminded herself that Seth was carrying the glove and doing just fine. The taste of bile rose in her throat. She fought to choke back the sensation until she involuntarily flopped forward, hands slapping the stone floor, and dry heaved.

That's sick, Kendra, Seth said.

Keep going, she gasped. Nothing had come up, but she had a foul taste in her mouth. She wiped her lips on her sleeve.

I think we should stay together, he said.

You'll get big first, she said. I'll catch up.

Kendra, I can't see. I can't run without you with me.

Maybe if you let loose and yack you'll feel better.

Kendra shook her head and stood up. I hate puking. I'm already feeling better.

We can walk for a minute, he said.

Just for a minute, she replied.

Before long Kendra was feeling much steadier. She picked up the pace, not charging as hard as before, trying to conserve energy. I see the door up ahead, she finally said.

The tall iron door loomed into view. Kendra led Seth to the small opening in the bottom of the door. They passed through the brownie entrance and hustled toward the stairs.

Do you see the hole Grandma was talking about? Seth asked.

Yes, off to the left. It's small, looks like a mouse hole.

She led Seth to the hole in the wall near the first step,

She had not remembered how steep and numerous the stairs324 were from the basement to the kitchen. They would barelybe able to reach the top of each step. With the glove, scaling the stairs could have taken hours.

Kendra and Seth wriggled through the hole. Inside they found a brownie tunnel like the one they had followed to get into the dungeon, except it was a stairway entirely of stone.

The stairs were steep but just the right size for brownies. They started scaling the long staircase two steps at a time. Kendra's legs soon felt rubbery. Can we rest for a second?

They paused, both of them breathing hard. Uh-oh,

Seth said after a moment.

What? Kendra said, looking around, worried he had seen a rat.

I'm starting to tingle, he said.

Give me the glove and run, Kendra said.

He handed it off and bolted up the stairs. Kendra followed, finding new energy in her desperation. He was ten steps ahead, then twenty, then thirty. Soon he was out of view. Before long she could see where the steps ended. There was a little extra light filtering in through the door from the kitchen.

She reached the top of the long staircase and crammed the glove through the hole ahead of her. Then she squirmed through the hole.

Kendra, the glove, Seth hissed from beyond the brownie door. His voice was pitched lower again. She raced to the little door, dragging the glove, and lunged through into the kitchen.

Seth was almost back to his normal size. The clothes the325 brownies had made lay in tatters. Kendra heard footstepscoming toward them from around the corner. Seth's face was a mask of panic as he snatched the glove and hastily tugged it on, vanishing instantly. Flashing back into view, he picked up Kendra, and she disappeared as well. They both flickered briefly back into view as Seth grabbed the remnants of the clothes the brownies had made. Then he held still and became transparent.

A second later Vanessa rounded the corner and looked right through them. Did you hear something? she asked uncertainly.