Fablehaven: The Complete Series (122 page)

“I don’t get it,” Seth said.

“Each human being has significant potential for light
and
darkness,” Grandpa continued. “Over a lifetime, we get a lot of practice leaning toward one or the other. Having made different choices, a renowned hero could have been a wretched villain. My guess is that when Coulter and Tanu were transformed, their minds resisted the darkness in a way most magical creatures can’t imagine.”

“I still don’t see how somebody nice like Newel could instantly become so evil,” Seth said.

Grandpa held up a finger. “I don’t view most magical creatures as good or evil. What they are largely governs how they act. In order to be good, you must recognize the difference between right and wrong and strive to choose the right. To be truly evil you must do the contrary. Being good or evil is a choice.

“Instead, the creatures of Fablehaven are light or dark. Some are inherently builders, some are nurturers, some are playful. Some are inherently destroyers, some are deceivers, some crave power. Some love light, some love darkness. But change their nature, and without much resistance, their identities follow. Like a fairy becoming an imp, or an imp regaining her fairyhood.” Grandpa looked at Grandma. “Am I waxing too philosophical?”

“A little,” she said.

“Questions that start with ‘why’ are the toughest to answer,” Dale said. “You end up guessing more than knowing.”

“I think I get what you mean,” Kendra said. “A demon like Bahumat automatically hates and destroys because he sees no other option. He isn’t questioning his actions or resisting a conscience. Someone like Muriel, who deliberately chose to serve darkness, is more evil.”

“So Newel acted differently because he isn’t Newel anymore,” Seth concluded. “The plague totally overwhelmed him. He’s something else.”

“That’s the basic idea,” Grandpa said.

Warren sighed. “If a starving bear ate my family, even though he may have had no wicked intentions, even though he was just being a bear, his nature has made him a menace, and I’m going to shoot him.” He sounded exasperated by the conversation.

“The bear would have to be stopped,” Grandma agreed. “Stan is just making the distinction that you wouldn’t blame the bear the same way you would blame a responsible person.”

“I get the distinction,” Warren said. “I have a different opinion about magical creatures. I can think of many creatures who have chosen to carry out good or evil actions, regardless of their nature. I hold dark creatures more accountable for what they are and what they do than Stan does.”

“As is your right,” Grandpa said. “The issue is largely academic, although some who share your view would use it as an excuse to eradicate all dark creatures, a notion I find detestable. I’ll agree that creatures of light can be deadly—consider the naiads, who drown the innocent for sport. The Fairy Queen herself strikes down those who tread near her shrine uninvited. And creatures of darkness can be helpful—look at Graulas, supplying key information, or the goblins who reliably patrol our dungeon.”

“This fascinating debate aside,” Grandma said testily, “the matter at hand is to halt the plague at any cost. We’re on the brink of destruction.”

Everyone nodded.

Straightening his shirt, looking somewhat chagrined, Grandpa shifted gears. “Lena didn’t know much more about Kurisock, except to confirm that he was involved with the fiend who now controls the old manor. But she was able to tell us much about the second artifact.” He related the details about the location of the safe, the time it would appear, and the combination.

“Any guess which artifact it is?” Warren asked.

“She didn’t say,” Kendra answered.

“The artifact could wield power over space or time,” Grandma said. “It could enhance vision. Or it could bestow immortality. Those are supposedly the powers of the four that remain unclaimed.”

“Do you think the artifact might help us reverse the plague?” Seth asked.

“We can hope,” Grandpa said. “For now, recovering it is the most pressing task. On top of claiming the artifact, risking an excursion to the manor would also serve as useful reconnaissance. Anything we can discover about Kurisock and those associated with him could help us unravel the mystery of the plague.”

Dale cleared his throat. “Not to gainsay you, Stan, but considering what we know about the old manor, the odds may not be good that any of us will return.”

“We know that a dreaded presence haunts the property there,” Grandpa admitted. “But those rumors were started by Patton, who had good reason to scare people away.”

“Because he hid the artifact there,” Kendra said.

“Furthermore,” Grandpa continued, “we know of somebody who unwittingly entered the manor and survived to tell the tale.”

All eyes turned to Seth. “I guess I did. I hadn’t drunk milk yet that day. I had just escaped from Olloch, so I couldn’t see what anything actually was. In fact, maybe that’s the only reason I got out of there at all.”

“I’ve wondered the same thing,” Grandma said.

“Roaming the preserve without consuming milk has advantages and drawbacks,” Grandpa said. “There is evidence that if you are unable to perceive magical creatures, they must exert greater effort in order to perceive you. In addition, many of the dark creatures feed on fear. If you fail to recognize them for what they are, the fear is diminished, and their motivation to inflict harm is reduced.”

“But just because you can’t see magical creatures doesn’t mean they aren’t there,” Dale interjected. “Wandering the preserve without milk is a fine way to stroll blissfully into a death trap.”

“Which is the downside,” Grandpa affirmed.

Grandma leaned forward eagerly. “But if we know where we’re going, and have an idea what awaits us, and we stick to the path on the way there and back, not drinking the milk may give us the advantage we need to sneak past the apparition and reach the safe. Seth, how long were you in the manor before the whirlwind pursued you?”

“Several minutes,” Seth said. “Enough time to climb to the top floor, step out onto the roof, get my bearings, come back into the room, and start down the hall.”

“Forgoing the milk sounds like our best option,” Warren said. “You say the safe will appear tomorrow?”

“At noon,” Grandpa said. “And then not for another week. We can’t afford to wait.”

“What about daylight saving time?” Grandma asked. “This time of year, we recognize noon standard time as one o’clock.”

“With an apparition guarding the safe, timing will be essential,” Grandpa said. “When did daylight saving time go into effect?”

“Around World War I,” Grandma said. “Probably after the safe was created.”

“Let’s go by standard time, then, and hope the safe isn’t as smart as my cell phone, automatically updating itself,” Grandpa said. “We want to reach that room at one o’clock tomorrow afternoon.”

“Dale and I can tackle this,” Warren offered.

“I should come,” Seth said. “If I’m there, Coulter and Tanu can scout for us.”

“They can’t be out under the sun,” Grandpa reminded him. “And we have to do this around midday. In fact, in the interest of caution, since they can’t help, don’t mention any of this to them.”

“Maybe tomorrow will be cloudy,” Seth tried. “Besides, I’m the only one who has been inside the manor before. I know where Lena was talking about. And what if the apparition uses magical fear? I may be the only one of us not paralyzed!”

“We’ll consider your courageous offer,” Grandpa said.

“I don’t see how we’ll succeed without incurring some losses,” Grandma said, her brow scrunched. “Too much is riding on this for us to fail. We need multiple people going after the safe from multiple directions. Some of us will fall, but others are bound to get through.”

“I agree,” Grandpa said. “Dale, Warren, Ruth, and I should combine in a united offensive.”

“And me,” Seth insisted.

“I could come too,” Kendra offered.

“Your eyes can’t be closed to magical creatures,” Grandpa reminded Kendra. “Your ability to see and be seen might inadvertently give us away.”

“It might be handy to have somebody along who can tell what is actually happening,” Kendra maintained.

“We’ll bring walrus butter,” Warren said. “We’ll unveil our eyes if the need arises.”

“So the five of us,” Seth said as if the matter were decided. “Plus Hugo.”

“Hugo, yes,” Grandpa said. “Five, I’m not so sure.”

“I’ll even hang back if you want,” Seth proposed. “I’ll only go inside if it makes sense. Otherwise I’ll retreat. Think about it. If this fails, we’re all doomed anyhow. I might as well be there to help it succeed.”

“He makes a good case,” Warren conceded. “And we’ll be glad to have him if fear overcomes us. We know such fear exists.”

“All right,” Grandpa said. “You can join us, Seth. But not Kendra. Nothing personal, dear. Your ability to see really could spoil our one possible advantage.”

“Do we want help from any of the other creatures?” Seth asked.

“I doubt they could enter the manor,” Grandma said.

“But they could create a diversion,” Warren suggested. “Draw attention elsewhere. Many dark creatures await us beyond the hedge.”

“Good thinking,” Grandpa said, becoming animated. “We could send out several parties in different directions. Fairies and satyrs and dryads.”

“Ideally centaurs,” Grandma added.

“Good luck,” Dale harrumphed.

“Seth spoke with them earlier today,” Warren said. “Perhaps if we tickled their pride.”

“Maybe coming from the children, if they sounded sufficiently desperate,” Grandpa mused. “Regardless, I’ll speak with representatives from the other creatures here. We’ll drum up enough help to cause a commotion tomorrow. Remember, no walrus butter in the morning. Tomorrow the pond should appear encompassed by butterflies, goats, groundhogs, and deer.”

“What about the golden owls?” Kendra asked. “The ones with faces?”

“The astrids?” Grandma said. “Little is known about them. They rarely acknowledge other creatures.”

“I’ll prepare the cart,” Dale said. “If we’re all blind and covered, Hugo might be able to smuggle us to the manor unnoticed.”

“Won’t they go after Hugo?” Seth asked.

“A golem is not an easy target,” Grandma said. “Many potential enemies may not care to bother him if he appears to be alone.”

Grandpa clapped his hands together and rubbed them briskly. “Time is short. Let’s start making the arrangements.”

* * *

The sun was setting as Kendra and Seth trudged across an empty expanse of lawn toward the centaurs. The golden glow highlighted the bloated muscles of their chests, shoulders, and arms as the pair stood gazing stoically toward the pond.

“I don’t think you should come,” Kendra hissed. “You have too much of a temper. We need to sincerely beg.”

“How dumb do you think I am?” Seth replied. “Anyone can beg!”

Kendra gave him a dubious glance. “Can you humbly plead for a favor from a jerk who rubs your nose in it?”

He hesitated. “Of course.”

“You better not blow this,” Kendra warned, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Remember, by groveling, we’re manipulating them. Pride is their weakness, and we’re exploiting that in order to get what we need. They may gloat, but if they do what we ask, we’re the ones in charge.”

“And if they turn us down flat?” Seth asked.

“We’ll have tried,” Kendra said simply. “And we’ll leave it at that. We can’t afford extra problems, not with so much riding on tomorrow. Can you behave?”

“I will,” he said, sounding more certain than he had earlier.

“Follow my lead,” Kendra said.

“Let me introduce you first.”

As they approached, the centaurs did not watch them. When Kendra and Seth finally stood directly before them, the centaurs kept their solemn eyes steadily fixed upon some inscrutable subject of interest elsewhere.

“Broadhoof, Cloudwing, this is my sister, Kendra,” Seth said. “She wanted to meet you.”

Cloudwing glanced down at them. Broadhoof did not.

“We come to you on an urgent errand,” Kendra said.

Cloudwing regarded her momentarily. The silver fur on his quarters twitched. “We already declined the invitation to counsel with your grandsire.”

“This isn’t a repeated invitation,” Kendra said. “We’ve devised a plan to recover an item that may help reverse the plague. Many of the other creatures here have offered their help, but without you, we’re leaderless.”

Now both of the centaurs regarded her.

Kendra continued. “We need to divert the attention of the darkened creatures watching this area so my grandpa and a few others can slip away to pursue the item. None of the other creatures have the speed or ability to lead the charge through the main gap in the hedge.”