Rise of the Evening Star

Something else was crashing toward her through the woods from the opposite direction Mendigo had come from.

After a moment, she saw that the something was wearing a bathrobe. Seth! she cried.

He was carrying a metal staff that had to be the artifact key. He looked at Mendigo wrestling on the ground and then at the rapidly approaching fat imp. Mendigo, Seth ordered, break his arms.

What? Kendra exclaimed.

We have to stop them somehow, Seth said.

Mendigo shifted his grip, placing a wooden knee against the wiry imp’s back, and then wrenched one of the imp’s arms into an awkward position and jerked it briskly. Kendra looked away, but heard the hideous snap. The imp howled.

A second crunch followed.

Mendigo, Seth said, break his legs, then do the same to the other imp. Kendra heard more disgusting sounds.

She opened her eyes. The wiry imp was writhing on the ground, limbs askew, and the fat imp had almost reached them, plowing through the undergrowth. Mendigo rushed to meet the fat imp. The oversized puppet dodged a punch and flung himself at the creature. The fat imp caught Mendigo in the air and hurled him aside.

Up close, Kendra realized that this imp was not only much broader and thicker than the other imp, he was at342 least a head taller. Mendigo, scuttling on all fours, dove atthe imp’s legs, trying to trip him. The big imp stomped at him, then seized Mendigo and slammed him into a tree.

One of the puppet’s arms came unhinged and spun to the ground.

Seth, who had been invisible, suddenly appeared and bashed the imp in the side of the head with the key. The huge imp staggered sideways and dropped to his knees, releasing Mendigo. The puppet hastily retrieved his arm.

The massive imp turned and rose, wheezing, rubbing the side of his head, and glaring with furious eyes. Seth held still, invisible once again.

Mendigo, Seth said, use this key to hurt the big imp.

Seth flashed into view as he tossed the metal staff to

Mendigo. The imp rushed at Seth, but Mendigo sprang into action, swinging the key with much more force than Seth had been able to muster.

The imp raised an arm to block the blow, but his forearm buckled on impact. Whirling, Mendigo clubbed the imp’s bulging belly, and then whacked him across the shoulders when he doubled over.

Mendigo, Seth said, break his legs, but don’t kill him.

The puppet set about bludgeoning the fallen imp, quickly hobbling him. That’s enough, Mendigo, Kendra said. Only hurt them more if they keep after us.

You’re going to pay for this, the wiry imp snarled through clenched teeth, glaring fiercely at Kendra.343 You asked for it, Kendra said. Mendigo, pick us upand get us away from the yard as fast as you can.

And don’t lose the key, Seth added.

Mendigo hoisted Kendra over one shoulder and slung

Seth over the other. The puppet ran away from the scene faster than either Kendra or Seth had seen him run before.

Mendigo, Kendra said softly after they had left the crippled imps behind, take us to back to the cottage as quickly as you can.

Did you say the cottage? Seth asked.

There’s another imp, and he looked like the worst of the three, Kendra said.

Right, but won’t they look in the cottage? Seth asked.

Imps can’t enter the cottage, Kendra reminded him.

All right, Seth said. I knocked Vanessa out with one of her own darts.

Then they probably won’t be after us right away.

Mendigo, if somebody chases us and gets close, put us down and beat them with the key.

Mendigo showed no sign that he heard, but Kendra felt sure he had. He continued at a tireless sprint. She did not mind the branches whipping past her and tearing at her sheet. It was much preferable to running barefoot.344Diverging Plans

Kendra and Seth sat at the table with Warren. Seth was finishing a second peanut butter and honey sandwich.

Kendra was dumping lemonade powder into a pitcher full of water. She stirred the mixture with a wooden spoon.

The key lay on the table. It was mostly smooth, fashioned out of a dull gray metal. One end had a grip like the hilt of a sword. The other end had little notches and grooves and irregular protuberances. Kendra and Seth could only assume that the complicated end was meant to be inserted into an intricate keyhole.

Outside in the night, Mendigo stood watch, clutching a hoe in one hand and a rusty cowbell in the other. He was under orders to raise the alarm with the bell if any strangers approached, and then to use the hoe to cripple any imps or people who came along.345 We can’t stay here, Seth said.I know, Kendra replied, pouring lemonade into a glass.

Do you want some?

Sure, Seth said. I have a plan.

Kendra started filling a second glass. I’m listening.

I say we go back to the grove, get past the revenant, use the key, and retrieve the artifact.

Kendra took a sip from one of the glasses. Just barely too strong, she said.

Seth picked up the other glass and took a drink. A little weak, if you ask me.

What is your plan again? Kendra asked, rubbing her eyes. I’m so tired, I feel like I can barely concentrate.

We should go after the artifact, Seth restated.

And how do we get past the revenant? I thought it totally froze you.

Seth held up a finger. I already figured it out. See, we have that courage potion in Tanu’s pouch. You know, the bottled-up emotion. I think if I take a big enough dose, the courage will counteract the fear from the zombie.

Kendra sighed. Seth, he has to mix in all sorts of stuff to get the emotions to balance each other out right.

The fear from the revenant will balance it out plenty.

You heard Vanessa and Errol. I just have to pull out the nail.

I know I can do it!

What if you can’t?

Seth shrugged. If I can’t, I end up an albino like the others, and you’ll have to make a new plan.346 After everything that has happened, do you think theriskiest plan imaginable is the best way to go?

Unless you have a better one.

Kendra shook her head and wiped her hands down her face. She felt so weary that it was tough to focus. But obviously they couldn’t just charge off and battle a revenant and then try to survive all the traps guarding the inverted tower.

There had to be better alternatives.

Chapter Sixteen

I’m waiting, Seth said.

I’m thinking, Kendra said. It’s what some people do before they talk. Let’s consider the other options besides deliberate suicide. We could hide. I’m not wild about that option, because it just prolongs an actual decision, and I’m not going to be able to keep awake much longer.

You have circles under your eyes, Seth said.

We could attack. They only have one imp left.

Mendigo is a pretty tough fighter. If he had a weapon, he could maybe take out their last imp, and then beat up Errol and Vanessa.