Rise of the Evening Star

And you’re telling us? Seth asked.

I’m testing you. Even your grandparents don’t know about this cocoon. You are not to talk about it with anyone, including each other, because you might be overheard. After153 sufficient time passes, if you keep this secret, I may shareothers with you. Don’t disappoint me.

We won’t, Seth vowed.

Coulter bent down and scratched his ankle. You kids notice any drumants last night?

They both shook their heads.

I got nipped a couple of times on the leg, he said.

Slept right through it. Maybe I ought to try sawdust and garlic after all.

Vanessa caught two more, Kendra said.

Well, she has eleven to go then, Coulter said. I want to show you one more item. He held up a silver sphere.

You heard your grandparents talking about how no mortals can access Fablehaven through the gates. The entire fence surrounding Fablehaven is reinforced by mighty spells. One of those spells can be illustrated by this ball.

Coulter walked over to the birdbath. The fairies scattered at his approach. In my hand the spell remains dormant.

But once I release the ball, it becomes protected by a distracter spell. He plopped the sphere into the birdbath.

Not nearly as strong as the distracter spell protecting the gates, but it should do.

Coulter returned and stood beside them. Seth, go get that ball for me, would you?

Seth studied Coulter suspiciously. It’s going to distract me somehow?

Just go bring it over here.

Seth trotted over to the birdbath. He stopped and154 started looking around in all directions. What did youwant? he finally called back to Coulter.

Bring me the ball, Coulter reminded him.

Seth slapped the heel of his hand against his forehead.

Right. He reached into the water with one hand. Then he put his other hand in and rubbed them together. He stepped back from the birdbath without the ball, shaking droplets from his hands and then drying them against his shirt. He started walking back over to Coulter and Kendra.

That’s incredible, Kendra said.

Forget anything, Seth? Coulter asked.

He stopped, cocking his head.

I wanted the ball, Coulter said.

Oh, yeah! Seth cried. What was I thinking?

Come back over here, Coulter invited. Now you’ve sampled a distracter spell. One of the spells protecting the fences of Fablehaven does essentially the same thing.

Anyone who comes across the fence immediately has his or her attention diverted elsewhere. Simple and effective.

I want to try, Kendra said.

Be my guest, Coulter offered.

Kendra walked toward the birdbath. She kept repeating in her mind what she was supposed to do. She even mouthed, The ball, the ball, the ball, repeatedly. When she reached the birdbath, she stared into the water at the silvery sphere. She wasn’t distracted yet. She picked it up and brought it back to Coulter. Here you go.

He looked flabbergasted. How did you do that? he asked.155 I’m as surprised as you are. I thought I was just a girl.No, really, Kendra, that was most unusual.

I just focused.

On the ball?

Yeah.

Impossible! The charge must have run out. After all these years… go put it back.

Kendra jogged over to the birdbath and set it inside.

Coulter walked over to the birdbath, hands balled into fists.

He placed a hand into the water beside the sphere, began rubbing the bottom of the basin, and then quickly snatched the ball. It still works. I could feel the spell striving to muddle me, potent as ever.

Then how did you get it? Kendra asked.

Practice, Coulter said. If you focus on the ball it will distract you. So you focus on something near the ball. I was focusing on rubbing the bottom of the birdbath, keeping the ball in the back of my mind. Then, as I’m rubbing the bottom of the birdbath, when I notice the ball, I grab it.

I concentrated on the ball, Kendra said.

Coulter tossed the ball toward the bench. It came to a rest on the lawn. Go get it again. Don’t even try to focus.

Kendra walked over and picked it up. Guess I’m immune.

Interesting, Coulter said thoughtfully.

I bet I could do it now, Seth said.

Set it down, Kendra, Coulter said.

Seth walked toward the ball, stooped to pick some grass, and then went and sat on the bench. What? he asked,156wondering why they were staring, then slapping his foreheadagain once they reminded him.

Must be another side effect from the fairies, Kendra guessed.

Must be, Coulter said thoughtfully. The mysteries keep piling up around you, don’t they. You’ve reminded me, the fairies have caused some other peculiar effects here at

Fablehaven. Let’s move on to the fun stuff. We’ve made a fascinating discovery since your last visit. He raised his voice. Hugo, come!

The massive golem came out from behind the barn, loping toward them with long, pounding strides. When Kendra had last seen Hugo, he was blooming with verdure, thanks to the fairies. Now he looked much more like he had before the fairies had resuscitated him: a primitive body of soil, stone, and clay, more apelike in form than humanlike, a few weeds and dandelions sprouting here and there, but no leafy vines or colorful flowers.

Hugo halted in front of them. The top of Coulter’s head barely reached the middle of the golem’s powerful chest.

Hugo was broad, with thick limbs and disproportionately large hands and feet. He looked like he could effortlessly tear

Coulter limb from limb, but Kendra knew Hugo would never do something like that. The golem only followed orders.

You remember Hugo? Coulter said.

Of course, Seth said.

Watch this, Coulter said. He picked up a stone and tossed it toward the golem. Hugo caught it.

What’s that supposed to prove? Seth said.157 I didn’t tell him to catch it, Coulter said.He must have a standing order to catch things thrown at him, Kendra guessed.

Coulter shook his head. No standing order.

Faintly, Hugo smiled.

Is he smiling? Seth asked.

I wouldn’t put it past him, Coulter said. Hugo, do whatever you like.

Hugo squatted, and then jumped high into the air, raising both arms. He landed with enough force to make the ground tremble.

He’s doing things on his own? Kendra asked.

Little things, Coulter said. He’s still totally obedient.

He completes all his chores. But one day your grandmother spotted him putting a baby bird back into its nest. Nobody had issued a command; he was simply being kind.

You’re saying the fairies did something to him! Kendra said. After Muriel destroyed Hugo with a spell, they rebuilt him, but they must have changed him.

Near as we can tell, they made him a true golem,

Coulter said. Manufactured golems, the mindless puppets who exist only to obey orders, were originally created in imitation of true golems, actual living creatures of stone or mud or sand. True golems long ago passed out of all human knowledge. But apparently Hugo is now one. He is developing a will.