Rise of the Evening Star

The dog padding toward him made him jump, and he almost dropped the statue again. Fortunately, the shaggy animal seemed to have accepted his presence. Seth stooped and petted it for a moment, and then went to the door to the garage. He paused at the keypad and reset the alarm by pressing the Away button.

Closing the door behind him, Seth pressed the button to open the garage door. When the automatic light came on, he switched off the flashlight. Seth jogged out onto the driveway and pressed the button again to shut the garage.

Seth knew running would look more conspicuous, but he could not resist racing to the Volkswagen van. Errol opened the door and Seth climbed in.

Well done, Errol said, starting the engine. It took a second to turn over.

You were in there for a long time, Kendra said. I was getting worried.

I found a computer and played some video games, Seth said.

While we were out here stressing about you? Kendra exclaimed.

I’m kidding, Seth said. I had to whack down a door with an ax. He turned to Errol. By the way, thanks for telling me about the dog.48 49 They were now driving down the road, the lighted signof the funeral home receding behind them. There was a dog? Errol said. Archibald must really keep him hidden.

Was he big?

Enormous, Seth said. One of those dogs that looks like a giant mop. You know, with hair covering its eyes?

A komondor? Errol said. You’re fortunate; that breed can be really unfriendly to strangers. They were originally bred to guard livestock in Hungary.

I played nice and gave it half of the dog biscuit, Seth said. The statue bit me!

Are you all right? Kendra said.

Yeah. Seth held up his thumb. It’s hardly bleeding.

I should have warned you, Errol said. Once the statue eats, it temporarily gets aggressive. Nothing to worry about, but they do nip at you.

Tell the truth, you knew about the dog, didn’t you?

Seth accused.

Errol knitted his brow. What makes you say that?

Why send me in with a dog biscuit? You could have given me any food for the statue. I think you were worried I

might not go if I knew there was a dog.

I’m sorry, Seth, Errol said. I assure you the biscuit was a coincidence. Why would I warn you about the undead, yet not mention a dog?

Good point, Seth admitted. At least I didn’t see any zombies. That was a relief.50 So how does this statue get rid of the kobold? Kendraasked.

For that, Errol said, you need simply follow my instructions.50 51Vanessa

The following morning in homeroom, well before the bell sounded, a steady murmur filled the air as students huddled in abnormal clusters. At the center of the clusters were the smartest kids, leafing through their notes. The others were trying to leech information, in hopes that some last-minute cramming might earn them a few extra right answers on the forthcoming finals.

Alyssa hovered near Sasha Goethe, gleaning information for Science. Alyssa normally got impressive grades, but she worried a lot nonetheless. Kendra felt confident about the upcoming exams. They were not weighted as heavily as they would be next year in high school, and she had kept up on her readings and homework all year. She had skimmed her notes and reviewed her old tests. Even with52 the distraction of the excursion to the mortuary the nightbefore, she was unconcerned.

Besides, she had more pressing matters on her mind. The scabby kobold was the only other student in the room who appeared indifferent to the looming exams. Which made sense, considering he didn’t have to take them. He sat at his desk with his hands folded. Mr. Reynolds, the same prematurely balding substitute from yesterday, sat behind Mrs.

Price’s desk.

A wrapped package rested in front of Kendra. The paper had a pattern of reindeer and snowflakes. She had found it on a closet shelf, left over from the previous Christmas.

Inside the paper was a shoebox, and inside the box was the stolen statue.

The night before, prior to dropping off Kendra and Seth around the corner from their house, Errol had explained how to proceed. The figurine was apparently sacred to kobolds. Once a kobold took possession of it, he would be compelled to return it to the shrine where it belonged, hidden deep in the Himalayas. Errol also stressed that kobolds were suckers for gifts, so all they needed to do was wrap up the statue like a present and give it to him. The rest would take care of itself.

It sounded almost too easy to be true. But Kendra had learned at Fablehaven that sometimes powerful magic was worked through simple means. For example, keeping a captured fairy indoors overnight would turn her into an imp.

Kendra studied the kobold. The instant popularity Case had initially enjoyed was fading as his rancid breath became53 legendary. He had now also kissed Trina Funk and LydiaSouthwell, and, along with Alyssa, they had wasted no time spreading the word about his chronic halitosis.

The bell would ring in less than a minute. Kendra had been toying with having somebody else deliver the gift, in case the kobold knew to distrust her. But with time running out, she decided that she could always rewrap it and have somebody less suspect give the figurine to him later if this attempt failed. By now he had seen the present in her possession anyway.

Kendra took the wrapped shoebox to his desk. Hi,

Case.

He leered up at her. Kendra.

I know I haven’t been very kind since you arrived,

Kendra said. I thought I would make a peace offering.

The kobold glanced down at the present and back into her eyes. What? More mouthwash?

Kendra stifled a laugh. No, something nice. If you don’t want it-

Give it. He reached for the present, and she let him take it. He shook the package, revealing nothing, because

Kendra had packed the statue snugly amid wadded newspapers.

The bell rang. You’re welcome to open it, Kendra said.

Study groups disbanded and everyone went to their desks.

Kendra returned to her desk as Case unwrapped the gift.

By the time Kendra sat down, Case had the lid off the shoebox and was rummaging through the newspapers. He froze, staring. Then he slowly pulled out the statuette,54 holding it gingerly. Glancing over his shoulder, he gloweredat Kendra.

The substitute gave a couple of announcements and then welcomed the class to use the remainder of homeroom as a review session. Alyssa asked if he knew anything about

Mrs. Price. He replied that he had not been informed.

The study clusters re-formed rapidly. The kobold collected his things, placing the statue in his backpack, and walked toward the door, giving Kendra a final venomous glare.

Hey, where are you going? the substitute asked.

The rest room, Case replied.

You need a hall pass, the substitute said.

Ten to one I can manage without one, Case sneered.

The substitute could not have been older than thirty. He had a laid-back air and did not look accustomed to having students behave with such insolence. Ten to one you’re heading to the principal’s office, the sub said, his face becoming stern.