Rise of the Evening Star (Page 67)

If we can lure them all out of the yard, Seth said.

Which I doubt will happen. After they find the injured imps, they’ll be careful. You never know, they might have other tricks up their sleeves. Vanessa could come after us as

Dale, for example.

I hadn’t thought of that, Kendra admitted. Do you think she’s doing that right now?

I would be, Seth said. And this is the first place I

would look.347 What if Dale shows up and Mendigo hurts him?Kendra wondered.

At this point, if Dale shows up, Mendigo better hurt him. His legs will heal.

We should probably leave Fablehaven, Kendra said.

Escape and find the Sphinx.

How? You have his phone number? Know where he hides out?

Kendra rubbed the side of her head.

Seth looked at her adamantly. And guess who is probably waiting on the driveway just outside those gates?

Your friend the kobold. And that big monster made of hay.

And about a zillion other members of the Society of the

Evening Star, guarding the gates in case somebody tries to do exactly what you’re saying. And probably hoping Vanessa figures out how to let them in.

Do you have a better idea? Kendra huffed.

I told you a better idea. They won’t be expecting it.

Kendra shook her head. Seth, even Tanu and Coulter weren’t sure how they were going to get past the traps in the tower. Even if you could defeat the revenant, we’d never make it to the artifact.

Seth got up out of his chair. Outside of Fablehaven, the

Society of the Evening Star can send everybody they have after us. We wouldn’t last five minutes. In here, they only have Vanessa, Errol, and that imp. Either way is dangerous.

But I’d rather take a risk trying to fix everything than take a risk running away.

Running for help, Kendra stressed.348 You didn’t run away when you went to the FairyQueen, Seth reminded her.

That was different, she said. You and Grandma and

Grandpa were about to die for sure, and I had nobody to help me. If I had run away, I would have been abandoning you. I knew I could save you if the Fairy Queen was willing to help me.

And if we get the artifact we can save Grandma and

Grandpa, Seth said. It probably has powers we can use.

Nobody even knows what it does, Kendra said.

It does something. They’re all supposed to be really powerful, letting us control time or space and stuff like that.

You didn’t know exactly what the Fairy Queen could do. You just knew she was powerful. Whatever the artifact is, at least it would give us a chance. Would you rather go hide under a log? In the morning, we’d be no better off than we are right now.

At least we wouldn’t be dead.

I’m not so sure, Seth said. All it takes is one of us falling asleep, and we’ll be in all sorts of trouble.

I’m not saying we hide under a log. I say we bring

Mendigo, and take our chances trying to find the Sphinx.

We don’t have to use the driveway; we can climb the gate and loop way around, stay out of sight. There’s a better probability we’ll succeed.

How is there a better chance? We have no idea what is waiting outside the gates! We have no idea where the

Sphinx is! We don’t even know if he’s still alive!349 Kendra folded her arms. He’s been alive for hundreds ofyears and all of a sudden he gets killed?

Maybe. These artifacts have been hidden for hundreds of years and all of a sudden they’re being found.

You’re exhausting, Kendra said.

That’s what you say when I’m right! Seth said.

It’s what I say when you won’t shut up. Kendra stood.

I have to use the bathroom.

First tell me we’ll go after the artifact.

No way, Seth. We’re leaving the preserve.

I’ve got it, Seth said. How about you leave, and I go get the artifact?

Sorry, Seth. I thought you were dead once. I’m not going to lose you now.

It makes sense, he said with more conviction. I go after the artifact, you go after help. Both might be long shots, but both only require one of us.

Kendra’s hands clenched into fists. Seth, I’m about to lose it. Enough about going after the artifact. It’s crazy. Can’t you tell when an idea is doomed? Are you programmed to self-destruct? We’re sticking together, and we’re leaving

Fablehaven. There might not even be anybody on guard out there. You’re just guessing. We’ll be careful, but our best bet is somehow finding the Sphinx. Hopefully he’s already looking for us.

Fine, you’re right, he said curtly.

Kendra wasn’t sure how to respond. You think?350 It doesn’t matter what I think, Seth said. The fairyprincess has spoken.

You’re a jerk, she said.

Then I can’t win, Seth said. I’m a jerk if I agree, I’m crazy if I don’t.

It’s how you agree, she said. Can I go to the bathroom now:

Apparently you get to do whatever you want, Seth said.

Kendra walked to the bathroom. He was being unreasonable.

Going after the artifact was insanity. If they were seasoned adventurers like Tanu, it might be a risk worth taking.

But they knew nothing. It was a certain recipe for disaster.

Running away from Fablehaven was scary too, but at least those dangers weren’t guaranteed. The revenant was there for sure, and so were the traps guarding the artifact.

Kendra massaged her temples, trying to clear her mind.

She always got muddled when she was overtired. Part of her didn’t want to leave the bathroom. As soon as she rejoined

Seth, they would have to run off into the night with

Mendigo and flee the preserve. All she wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep.

Kendra washed her hands and splashed water on her face. Reluctantly she returned to the main room. Warren sat alone at the table. Seth? she called.

The potion pouch was open. The key was gone. A note sat on the table, with the invisibility glove beside it. Kendra hurried to the note.351Kendra,I took Mendigo and am going after the artifact. I

will send him back once he takes me to the grove.

Don’t be mad.

Keep a good lookout and lie low untilMendigo gets back.Then go find the Sphinx.Ileft you the glove.

Love,

Seth

Kendra reread the note in stunned disbelief. She threw it down and ran outside. How long had she been in the bathroom? Pretty long. She had been thinking, and taking her time. Ten minutes? More?

Dared she yell for Mendigo? The night was quiet. A

crescent moon was rising. The stars were clear and bright.

She heard nothing. If she ordered Mendigo back, would he hear? Would he come? Surely Seth had commanded the giant puppet not to heed any orders from her to return. And since she had told Mendigo to obey Seth, the puppet probably saw their authority as equal, and would obey Seth’s preemptive command.

By now, they were probably out of earshot anyway.

Mendigo would be even faster carrying only one passenger.