Rise of the Evening Star

My best guess? A day, more likely two, maybe three. I can’t imagine it would take much longer.

Maybe you should just feed me to him, Seth said.

Don’t talk nonsense, Grandma said.

Seth stood up. Wouldn’t it be better than letting

Olloch destroy all of Fablehaven? Sounds like he’ll get me sooner or later. Why should I make him go through all of you first?

We’ll find another way, Coulter said. We still have some time.

He’ll have to eat me to get to you, Dale said.

Whether you like it or not.

Seth sat down. Grandpa pointed at him. Now is not the time to leap to rash solutions. We have not yet spoken with our most knowledgeable ally. Seth, I repeat, you are not culpable for awakening Olloch. You were tricked and are not to blame. You should not have been out in the woods alone —-

that was a most foolish error in judgment, the exact kind of nonsense I hoped you would have abandoned by now-but you are far from deserving a death sentence. Since the satyrs were involved, I take it you were trading for batteries? I

haven’t asked, what did they give you?

Seth lowered his eyes. Some gold.

May I see it?

Seth went and retrieved his emergency kit. He pulled out the gold bar. Grandpa examined it. You do not want to be caught out in the open with this in your pocket, he said.212 Why? Seth asked.Grandpa handed the bar back to Seth. It was clearly stolen from Nero’s hoard. What did you suppose the ‘N’

stood for? He will be scrying for it in his seeing stone. In fact, the presence of the gold could grant him the power to see within the walls of our home. The satyrs must have only recently stolen it, or Nero would have already reclaimed it.

Seth placed a hand over his eyes and shook his head.

When will I do something right? he moaned. Should I go chuck it into the woods?

No, Grandpa said. You should go set it on the porch, and we’ll return it to its rightful owner as soon as reasonably possible.

Nodding sheepishly, Seth exited the room. We also have some encouraging news, Grandpa said. Coulter made an important breakthrough today. We may be close to uncovering the relic we have been seeking. The latest revelation harmonizes with the information we already possess.

At this juncture, I believe there is more wisdom in sharing this information openly than in hiding it. No matter which of us is the traitor, the rest of us must continue functioning.

Better we make our knowledge common than become paralyzed.

Not that the traitor will be sharing secrets with us,

Vanessa said bitterly.

All the same, Coulter will disclose his discovery,

Grandpa said.

The fog giant Burlox reported that Warren was213 investigating the four hills area before he turned white,Coulter said.

One of the main areas Patton mentioned suspiciously,

Vanessa said.

And the same area I investigated today, Tanu said.

The grove on the north end of the valley is definitely cursed. I did not risk treading there.

Seth came back into the room and reclaimed his spot on the love seat.

Many areas of Fablehaven carry terrible curses and are protected by ghastly fiends, Grandpa said. The valley of the four hills is one of the most infamous. At the moment, the evidence seems to suggest a pair of related mysteries. We may very well find not only that the grove contains the relic we have been seeking, but also that it is guarded by whatever entity transformed Warren.

Of course, all that would need to be confirmed,

Grandma said.

Carefully, Grandpa admonished. As with several of the most dread regions of Fablehaven, we have no idea what evil haunts the grove.

What is our next move? Vanessa asked.

I say we need to focus on Olloch before we try to penetrate whatever secrets lie inside the grove, Grandpa said.

Exploring the grove safely will require all of our resources and focus. Even under ideal circumstances it is a hazardous assignment.

‘So we wait to see if Ruth can reach your contact?

Coulter asked.214 Grandpa was picking at the frayed edge of his cast.Ruth will keep calling on Vanessa’s cell phone. For now, the rest of us should try to get a good night’s sleep. It may be our last chance for a while.

Kendra closed the bathroom door, locked it, and set the sheet of paper on the counter. She had found the blank paper beneath her pillow, but with Seth in the room, she dared not light the candle and give away her secret. Alone in the bathroom, Kendra struck a flimsy match and put the flame to the wick until it caught. Shaking out the match, she watched as glowing words came into view on the formerly empty page:

Kendra,

Sorry we didn’t get to talk much today. Can you believe all the commotion? We need to keep your brother on a leash!

Letme know if thismessagecame through all right.

Your friend,

Vanessa

Kendra blew out the candle, and the luminous words vanished. Folding up the note, she climbed the stairs to the attic bedroom, pondering how she should reply to the secret message. Seth was setting up toy soldiers on the floor. One in front, with two behind him, then a row of three, and another of four. Kendra crossed the room and climbed into215 bed. Seth walked several paces away and bowled at the soldierswith a softball. He knocked down seven.

Turn off the light and come to bed, Kendra said.

I don’t think I can sleep, Seth protested, retrieving the softball.

I know I can’t with you rolling balls around the room,

Kendra said.

Why don’t you go sleep someplace else?

This is where they put us.

At home we each have our own room. Here, with way more rooms, we sleep in the same one. He rolled the softball again, claiming two more soldiers.

This isn’t the sort of place I’d want to sleep alone,

Kendra admitted.

I can’t believe they took my gold, Seth said, setting up the soldiers again, this time placing them closer together. I

bet it was worth thousands of dollars. It isn’t my fault if

Newel and Doren stole it from Nero.

You can’t just do whatever you want and always get away with it.

I’ve been good! I’ve tried hard to be careful and keep secrets and follow all the rules.

You went into the woods without permission, Kendra reminded him.

Just a little ways. It would have been fine if somebody hadn’t let that demon onto the preserve. Nobody saw that coming. If Olloch hadn’t caught up with me today, he might have caught up with us tomorrow, when we were out with

Vanessa, a lot farther from the house. I might have saved our216lives. He rolled the ball again. Missing the front soldier, hestill knocked down eight.

Way to avoid taking any responsibility, Kendra said, leaning back onto her pillow. I’m glad they grounded you. If it were up to me, I’d lock you in the dungeon

If it were up to me, I’d give your face plastic surgery, he said.