Rise of the Evening Star

Kendra raised her head to peek over the shrub, but Seth pulled her down. Look through the bush, he hissed. She leaned back and forth until she found a gap that let her see the porch.

Imps, she whispered.

Two of them, Seth said. The big kind. How could they get in the yard?

That big one looks like the imp from the dungeon,

Kendra said. I bet they were both prisoners. They didn’t enter the yard from the woods; they came up out of the basement.

We’ve seen what they can do, Seth said, backing away from the shrub. Imps are tough. We can’t risk them spotting us.

Kendra retreated with Seth back to where Mendigo stood waiting. The shadows were long as the sun dipped toward the horizon. How do we get past them? Kendra said.

I don’t know, Seth said. They’re fast and strong. He put on the glove and vanished. I’ll go in for a closer look.

No, Seth. They’re on the lookout. They’ll spot you. You can’t hold still and run away at the same time.

So we give up?

No. Take the glove off. She didn’t like talking to his disembodied voice.295 Seth reappeared. I’m not sure we have many options.It’s front door, back door, or a window.

There’s another way in, Kendra said. And we might be able to use it.

What way?

The brownie doors. They lead in through the dungeon.

Seth frowned pensively. But how would we… wait a minute-the potions.

We shrink ourselves.

Kendra, that is the best idea you’ve ever had, Seth said.

But there’s a problem, she said, folding her arms. We don’t know where the brownies enter. We know they pass through the dungeon and into the kitchen, but we don’t know where to start.

My turn, Seth said. Let’s go ask the satyrs.

You think they’ll help us?

Seth shrugged. I have something they want.

Do you know how to find them?

We can try the tennis court. If that fails, there’s a place where I leave them messages.

I wonder if the fairies would tell me, Kendra said.

If you can get any to speak to you, Seth said. Come on, if we hurry we can get there before sundown. It isn’t far.

They really built a tennis court?

A nice one. You’ll see.

Seth ordered Mendigo to pick them up, and then guided the limberjack around the perimeter of the yard to the path that would lead them to the tennis court. Mendigo jogged down the path, hooks jingling. As they neared the court, they could hear arguing.

I’m telling you, it’s too dark, we have to call the game, one voice said.

And you say that makes it a draw? the other voice replied incredulously.

That’s the only fair conclusion.

I’m up 6-2, 6-3, 5-1! And it’s my serve!

Doren, you have to win three full sets to take the match. Count your blessings-I was getting ready to make my move.

The sun isn’t even down!

It’s below the trees. I can’t see the ball in these shadows.

You played some solid games. I’ll grant that you had a fair chance of winning had we continued. Sadly, nature has intervened.

Mendigo left the path at Seth’s prompting and started through the undergrowth toward the hidden court.

Can’t we start again tomorrow at the same score? the second voice tried.

Unfortunately, tennis is a game of inertia. Restarting cold wouldn’t be fair to either of us. Tell you what. We’ll begin earlier tomorrow, so we can get a full match in.

And I suppose if you’re behind and can find a cloud somewhere in the sky, you’ll say there’s a chance of showers and call the game. I’m serving. You’re welcome to return it, or you’re welcome to stand there.

Mendigo pushed through the bushes at the edge of the297 tennis court. Doren stood waiting to serve. The racket hehad broken while swatting Olloch had been beautifully mended and restrung. Newel stood at the net.

Hello, Newel said. Look, Doren, we have visitors.

Kendra, Seth, and… Muriel’s weirdo puppet.

Would you kids mind if I serve one last game? Doren asked.

Course they’d mind! Newel shouted. Terribly rude of you to ask!

We’re sort of in a hurry, Kendra said.

We’ll make it quick, Doren said with a wink.

In this blackness, one game could be all it takes to cause a serious injury, Newel insisted desperately.

It isn’t very dark, Seth observed.

Line judge says we should play on, Doren said.

Newel shook his fist at Seth. Okay, one last game, winner take all.

Sounds good to me, Doren said.

That isn’t fair, Kendra mumbled.

No problem, Doren said. He hasn’t broken my serve all day.

Enough chitchat! Newel called grumpily.

Doren tossed the ball up and blasted it over the net.

Newel returned the blistering serve with a limp lob, allowing

Doren to rush forward and hit a winner at a vicious angle. Doren’s next two serves were aces. The fourth serve

Newel returned briskly, but after a fierce volley, Doren took the point with a wicked slice that died before Newel could reach it.298 Game, set, match! Doren trumpeted.Growling, Newel ran over to the shed and started bashing his racket against the wall. The frame cracked and several strings popped.

Booooo, Seth cried. Poor sportsmanship.

Newel stopped and looked up. Has nothing to do with sportsmanship. Ever since the brownies mended his racket, his shots have more zip. I just want to level the playing field.

I don’t know, Newel, Doren said, tossing his racket and catching it. Takes quite a satyr to handle a racket of this caliber.

Relish the moment, Newel said. Next time we’ll be playing under the light of day, and we’ll have comparable equipment!

Funny you guys should mention brownies, Seth said.

We need a favor.

Does the favor involve demons trashing our shed?

Newel asked.

I took care of Olloch, Seth said. We need to know how the brownies get into the house.

Through the little doors, Doren said.

He means we need to know where their entrance is so we can get in through the little doors, Kendra clarified.

No offense, but it might be a bit of a squeeze, Newel said.

We have potions to shrink ourselves down, Seth said.

Resourceful kids, Doren commented.

Newel studied them shrewdly. Why would you want to299 get into the house that way? There may be barriers to preventyou. And who says the brownies will grant you access?

They keep to themselves.

We have to sneak inside, Kendra explained. Vanessa is a narcoblix. She drugged my grandparents and took over the house, and will probably try to destroy Fablehaven next!

Wait a minute, Doren said. Vanessa? As in, smoking-hot

Vanessa?

As in betrayed-us-all Vanessa, Kendra said.

I’m not sure how the brownies would feel about us giving away their secret entrance, Newel said, rolling his tongue against his cheek and winking at Doren.

True, Doren said, nodding sagely. We’d be violating a sacred trust.