Fablehaven: The Complete Series (146 page)

The cell phone rang, and Grandpa answered. After a moment, the SUV accelerated briskly. “Have you told Dougan?” Grandpa said. “Keep trying. Right, do what you can for him, we’ll hurry.” Grandpa set the phone aside.

“What was that?” Grandma asked, alarmed.

“Maddox showed up in the attic,” Grandpa said. “He’s a mess. Skinny, dirty, injured, sick. Coulter and Dale are doing what they can.”

Although he was thrilled to hear that the fairy trader had returned, it saddened Seth to picture the robust adventurer sickly and weak. At least Maddox was alive. “He came through the bathtub?” Seth asked. The previous summer, he had learned that Tanu had taken a large tin washtub to the fallen Brazilian preserve in order to give Maddox a portal home. The washtub shared the same space as an identical washtub in the attic at Fablehaven. After an object had been placed in one washtub, the object would appear to be in both, allowing an accomplice to remove it from the other. When the washtubs were far apart, the linked space allowed items to be instantly transported over great distances.

“He did,” Grandpa said. “After all this time. Well done, Tanu.”

“Sounds like Maddox will need some healing,” Tanu said.

“Which is why I’m stepping on the gas,” Grandpa replied.

“When it rains, it pours,” Grandma remarked.

* * *

As the SUV turned off the road, Seth gazed out the window at the skeletal forest, amazed at how far he could see with the leaves gone and the undergrowth reduced to tangled twigs. He had previously only seen Fablehaven in summertime. Everything was now brown and gray, with a few snow patches lingering among the crumbling dead leaves.

The SUV raced down the driveway, through the gate, and up to the house. The gardens surrounding the house remained incongruously in bloom. Seth realized that the fairies must be responsible for the improbable verdure.

When they skidded to a stop, Tanu vaulted out of the car and dashed into the house. Ever since the call, he had been sorting through his potions and ingredients. Seth jogged inside after him.

Dale stood in the entry hall. “Hi, Seth.”

“Where’s Maddox?” Seth asked, unable to tell which way Tanu had gone.

“Up in your grandparents’ bedroom. The nearest bed to the washtub.”

“How is he?”

Dale whistled softly. “He’s seen better days, but he’ll pull through. You keep getting taller.”

“Not as tall as you yet.”

Grandpa and Grandma came through the front door together. “Where is he?” Grandma asked.

Dale led them up the stairs and down the hall to the room where Tanu sat in a chair beside the bed, rummaging through his potion bag. Coulter leaned against the wall in the corner. Maddox rested on the bed, lips dry, cheeks flushed, a filthy red beard hiding half of his face. “Good to see you, Stan,” he croaked, craning his neck forward.

“Lie still,” Tanu admonished. “Save words for later.” The Samoan turned to look at Grandpa. “He’s feverish, malnourished, and badly dehydrated. Probably has parasites. Broken wrist. Sprained ankle. Mild concussion. Cuts and bruises everywhere. Give me some time with him.”

Grandpa shepherded the others out of the room. Coulter came with them. They gathered not far down the hallway.

“Has he divulged anything?” Grandpa asked in a hushed tone.

“He doesn’t have the artifact, nor does the Society,” Coulter said, passing his hand over his mostly bald head, matting down the tuft of gray hair in the middle. “He knows the location of the vault where the artifact is housed. I don’t have details. Dale and I were trying to make him rest.”

“Still no leads on the room beyond the Hall of Dread?” Grandpa asked.

Coulter shuddered. “Just a blank wall. I’ve spent some real time investigating, even though it isn’t my favorite environment.”

“You haven’t found the room from Kendra’s letter?” Seth asked. “I figured as caretaker you would already know all about it.”

“The secret was not handed down,” Grandma said.

“We aren’t even convinced that we want to learn the possible artifact locations,” Grandpa explained. “For now we just want to know we have access to the information should the need arise.”

“What exactly is in the Hall of Dread?” Seth asked. “You guys never get very specific.”

“Dangerous creatures that require no upkeep are jailed there,” Coulter said. “They need no food or drink. Beings like the revenant we met in the grove.”

“Do they radiate fear?” Seth asked.

“Some of them do,” Coulter said. “Makes working down there a pain and a half. I’d normally prefer to stay far from those cells.”

“Maybe I could help search for the room, since magical fear doesn’t bother me.”

Grandma shook her head. “No, Seth, in some ways that makes it more perilous for you. The threat posed by those creatures is real. Fear can be a good thing. It keeps us respectful of their power. Many of those entities could destroy Fablehaven if loosed.”

“I wouldn’t free them! I’m not a nut job!”

“But it might be interesting to see what they looked like,” Grandpa suggested.

“Have you seen them?” Seth asked. “What do they . . . wait a minute, you’re testing me.”

“Curiosity killed the cat,” Grandpa said. “And it has almost leveled Fablehaven in the past, if I recall accurately.”

“I’d follow your rules,” Seth said. “If the rule is no peeking, I won’t even consider it.”

“If we find a need for your special immunity, we’ll make use of it,” Grandpa promised.

“
If
you find a need,” Seth muttered. “I bet you won’t be looking very hard. Say, Coulter, how did you know Maddox had come through? I mean, he could only exit the bathtub he entered, isn’t that how it works? To come out on our side, somebody needed to physically lift him out.”

“That’s exactly right,” Coulter explained. “We posted Mendigo as a permanent sentry, watching the tub. Truth be told, we probably wouldn’t have kept the overgrown puppet stationed there much longer. After all these months, there was scant room for hope.”

Tanu opened the bedroom door and poked his head out. “I have him stabilized. He responded well to the treatments. I’ve advised him to sleep, but Maddox insists he wants to speak with you sooner rather than later. All of you.”

“Is he up to it?” Grandma asked.

“He’ll be all right. He’s determined. He’ll rest better after we give him a chance to be heard.”

Grandpa led the procession back into the bedroom. Maddox sat propped up by pillows. His skin shone with perspiration, and his lips already looked less chapped. His eyes regarded them alertly.

“You don’t have to stare like I’m in my coffin,” Maddox said, his voice stronger than before. “Inviting as the mattress feels, this isn’t my deathbed. I’d already be up and about if Tanu would allow it.”

“You must have quite a tale to tell,” Grandpa prompted.

“Aye, and I’ve learned a lesson or two. First and foremost—never accept assignments from the Knights of the Dawn.” He winked at Seth. “Where’s your sister?”

All of the other adults exchanged awkward glances.

“She’s dead,” Seth said flatly. “The Society got to her.”

Maddox blanched. “My apologies, Seth, I had no idea. What a tragedy.”

“Wasn’t your fault,” Seth assured him. “You’ve had plenty of your own trouble.”

“How did you survive?” Grandpa asked.

“Hiding in caves, mostly. Wet, dark, narrow places. I found chambers where Lycerna couldn’t reach me. Lived off terrible food, insects and fungus and the like. I lost track of time. Could hardly poke my head outside without something trying to bite it off. All openings to the cave remained heavily guarded, night or day, rain or shine. So I tunneled my own exit, made a break for the house, and found the washtub. If I hadn’t found a coded message from Tanu informing me about my free ride home, I’d still be sloshing through half-flooded caverns.”

“I’m glad my mission served a purpose,” Tanu acknowledged.

“Then he saves me twice over, administering miraculous potions. I’m doubly indebted, my friend.”

“Nonsense,” Tanu said dismissively. “You were risking your neck for us in the first place.”

“We’re glad you made it out alive,” Grandpa said. “We were beginning to lose hope.”

Maddox winked. “Never count me out. I’ve survived some close scrapes in my time.”

“Coulter mentioned that you have an idea where the artifact is located,” Grandma said.

“That I do,” Maddox replied. “I could draw a map, or even lead a team back there.”

“A map would suffice,” Grandpa said. “We’ll want to move on this swiftly, and you’re in no condition to go afield.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t return with some fairies in tow,” Coulter said.

“Almost did,” Maddox said, eyes brightening. “Came across some exotic specimens. I have a few patented methods for luring and befriending fairies, even under those dismal conditions. Without some help from the fairies, I could not have survived in the caves. I wanted to bring some with me, but in the end, I barely got out of there with my own hide intact. Wasted opportunity.”

“You should rest now,” Tanu urged.

“What about the map?” Maddox complained.

“We’ll bring you materials soon enough,” Grandma promised. “Close your eyes, recover some strength.”

Maddox looked around the room, at each person in turn. “Thanks for pulling me out of there and giving me a place to land. I owe you all.”

“On the contrary,” Grandpa said. “We owe you for undertaking such a perilous mission. Get some rest.”

Maddox closed his eyes and settled back into his pillows.

Chapter 6

The All-Seeing Eye

Okay, Kendra,” Haden said, picking up a cunningly sculpted queen between a finger and a thumb. “Knowing how the pieces move and capture is only a small part of the game. Understanding position and values is crucial. I know a point system that ranks the values of the pieces in a useful way. Think of this queen as nine points.” He set it down and touched the other pieces as he named them. “Rooks are five, knights three, bishops three, and pawns one. That should help you calculate if a sacrifice is worthwhile.”

“What about the king?”

“Think about it.”

“Right. Top priority. You can’t really give it a number.”

“Good. White moves first, so it’s your turn.”

Kendra studied her row of pawns. She could move one of eight pieces a square or two forward. “Is there a best first move?”

“The early moves establish a lot about the game. Just experiment.”

Kendra bit her lip. “Isn’t chess sort of a game for old fogies?”

Haden raised his eyebrows. “Do I look like a young guy to you? My legs don’t work. Sort of limits my options. This keeps my mind agile. I’m excited to train a new opponent.”

Kendra picked up the pawn in front of her queen and moved it ahead two squares.

Haden’s door opened and Cody entered. “We have a visitor,” Cody announced.

“Who?” Kendra asked.

“The latest fly has landed in Torina’s web,” he replied.

Kendra stood up. “The next person she wants to drain!”

Haden mirrored Kendra’s move, his pawn blocking hers from moving further forward. “You’ll get used to it,” Haden murmured.

“We have to warn him,” Kendra declared.

“That may not go over too well,” Cody said. “We’d just rile Torina and make life worse for everyone, the new victim included.”

“Have you guys totally given up?” Kendra accused.

“We’ve accepted the unavoidable,” Haden soothed. “Have a seat.”

“No thanks,” Kendra said, storming from the room. Cody stepped aside to let her pass.