Fablehaven: The Complete Series (260 page)

Seth was on the edge of his seat. He glanced at Newel, who was gnawing on his fabric napkin, eyes wide with interest.

“As I lock the new demon prison tighter than the old, I will need new Eternals,” Agad explained. “By now, all of you know the role the Eternals played in keeping Zzyzx closed. The Sphinx would like to be one of those Eternals.”

An uproar of muttered exclamations followed. Agad held up his hands, and the murmuring quieted.

“Allow me to set forth the details for your consideration. Essentially, the Sphinx is attempting to exchange an execution for life in prison. Consider these points. As an Eternal, the Sphinx would not be able to open the demon prison unless he was dead. He has never believed anyone but himself should open the demon prison, which he proved on Shoreless Isle, so he would almost certainly be loyal to our cause. He has a knack for longevity, and for protecting himself. He knows how to keep a secret, and how to hide. He is remarkably cunning and patient. He has successfully coped with the challenges of a long life, and craves more. As a volunteer who would fulfill the requirements of an Eternal, I do not believe we could find a more ideal candidate.

“Keep in mind, being an Eternal is more punishment than prize. Ask Bracken or Kendra—most of our past Eternals had difficulty coping and considered their fate a weighty ordeal. An unnaturally long life, hunted, on the run, is no paradise.

“Considering the Sphinx’s history, I would take extra precautions, personally monitoring him and installing a multitude of magical and practical safeguards. I would give him some latitude to choose a hideout and to implement whatever defenses he deemed most effective, but he would be on a leash.

“By giving into this request, would we be rewarding his crimes? Under other circumstances, I do not believe the Sphinx would want to be an Eternal. But as an alternative to death, he seems willing. Let’s have Bracken testify to his motives.”

Agad extended a hand and Bracken stood up. “The Sphinx has a strong will. He has much practice in shielding his thoughts from external scrutiny. But as I extensively probed his mind, I came to believe he wants to become an Eternal for acceptable reasons. First, he wants to persist. He has a profound fear of death, coupled with a powerful enjoyment of existence. Second, he wants a shot at redemption. He knows he spawned a catastrophe, which was never his intention. He wants to do everything in his power to ensure that a similar crisis never happens again. And last, he feels guilty and sees this as a fitting punishment. I have no love for the Sphinx, and I studied him long and hard. This is all I found.”

Nodding at Agad, Bracken sat down.

“If you want my opinion,” Agad said, “letting the Sphinx die would be a punishment quickly served from which we would derive no benefit apart from the satisfaction of his demise. On the other hand, making him an Eternal would cause him to pay for his crimes by providing a lasting and difficult service to humankind. But perhaps I am not seeing this clearly. I would gladly hear any objections.”

Nobody spoke. People at the table eyed one another. Seth met eyes with Kendra. She gave a nod, he gave one back, and she stood.

“I hate the Sphinx,” Kendra said. “I despise him for his lies and for what he did to us. If what he most wants is a long life, I desperately want to take that from him, to hurt him like he hurt us. I dread the thought of him feeling like he wormed out of the consequences of his treachery. But I think this punishment makes sense.”

She sat down. Seth stood up. “Me too.”

Bracken stood. “My horn has kept him alive. The influence of my horn will continue to keep him alive. I can live with letting the Sphinx survive under these conditions. I agree that he will fill the role well.”

Vanessa rose. “I have known the Sphinx for a long time. I have worked for him. As Agad mentioned at the outset, he is a deceiver, a master manipulator. Making him an Eternal seems appropriate, but he’s an expert at making his interests make sense. He may not be here to speak, but Agad is delivering his rhetoric. The Sphinx has a sinister history of working mischief while wearing a friendly face. The only way to be safe from the Sphinx is if he ceases to exist.”

Doren leapt to his feet. “Vanessa is a beautiful woman, and should be taken very seriously. For her mind. And her charming personality. Thank you.”

Mara stood. “I understand Vanessa’s concerns. His agents killed my mother. I will never forgive him, but I think making him an Eternal is a better punishment than killing him. The long life of an Eternal will force him to provide much more payment for his crimes than a quick death could possibly offer. And those same qualities that made him so dangerous will hold the new Zzyzx shut.”

Others began adding their endorsements. A few others expressed hesitations. Grandpa had questions for Agad about how the Sphinx would be monitored, and the wizard provided satisfactory responses. In the end, the vote to make the Sphinx an Eternal was unanimous, except for Vanessa and the satyrs.

“I did not want to try to make this decision alone,” Agad said after the votes had been cast. “Nor did I feel it would be fair to the many he has wronged. I feel good about the decision we have reached. I think it will make the new demon prison more secure. And I believe time will demonstrate that, while having an element of mercy, the punishment we resolved on is exacting and severe. Now, how about some dessert?”

Chapter 30

A New Shrine

On a hot summer day, Kendra strolled through the garden at Fablehaven. The humidity made her shirt feel sticky, but she loved the fragrances of the blooming flowers and the sight of blissful fairies bobbing from blossom to blossom. Perhaps later she would change into her bathing suit and go for a swim.

A new barn loomed over the yard, larger than the former structure, leaving Viola room to grow. The house had been rebuilt as well, with several elaborate touches added by the brownies. Agad had also engineered a direct road from the Fablehaven house to the old manor, which had been refurbished and enchanted with new protections.

Seth was currently off watching TV with Hugo, Mendigo, and the satyrs. Grandpa Sorenson had reluctantly caved after the agreement had been explained, and instead of a generator, the satyrs had electrical lines that ran to their nearest cottage. Grandpa hoped that endless television would help the technology cease to be such a novelty, but so far, the flat screen with surround sound was widely considered the greatest wonder at Fablehaven. Newel and Doren had never been more popular, or more jovial.

Seth still complained that he had not been present when Agad and the dragons had reclaimed Fablehaven from the centaurs, although he got to visit not long afterward in order to dismiss the wraiths. Bracken and several astrids lent some assistance, and Bracken had been surprised to discover that the unicorn horn the centaurs prized actually belonged to him. As punishment for their rebellion, he reclaimed his horn, and Agad reduced their roaming privileges and territorial holdings. The wizard left Grunhold protected by strong enchantments, but nothing quite so powerful as the shielding once provided by the forfeited horn.

Bracken had already gone by the time Kendra used the Translocator to return to Fablehaven. When they had said their good-byes at Living Mirage, he had promised to visit before too long. She understood that the Fairy Queen needed his help transforming Zzyzx into a paradise, but Kendra often wished he could have lingered longer. Before he left, he had used his powers to sever the narcoleptic hold Vanessa had on the Sorensons and their friends. After visiting Fablehaven, although he broke Vanessa’s hold on some of the centaurs, he had left her connected to Cloudwing and Stormbrow.

“I’m making lunch,” Mom called out the window. “Turkey sandwich okay?”

“Sure,” Kendra replied.

“You want to try some avocado on it? Or cranberries?”

“No thanks, just cheese.”

Her parents had moved the family to Fablehaven. They were still debating whether Kendra and Seth would return to public school or simply receive their schooling at home. While Grandpa and Grandma Sorenson continued to live in the main house, Grandpa and Grandma Larsen had taken up residence in the old manor. Dale had been found alive and well in the stables, and continued in his role maintaining the rebuilt preserve. Kendra enjoyed the new dynamics at Fablehaven. After so long, in ways she could never have imagined, her family was all around her, and their lives had become calm. Almost too calm.

Kendra looked to the woods. The fairy Shiara had visited Kendra this morning, bubbling with excitement. She had twittered about a surprise visit around noon, but refused to relate any hints or details. Her excitement had left Kendra curious—and quietly hopeful.

Kendra checked her watch. Noon had come and gone. Perhaps Shiara had it wrong. She wasn’t the type of fairy to pull a prank.

As Kendra began to wander toward the house, a silver-white dragon came gliding over the treetops. Tucking and diving, he spiraled down to the yard, slowing at the last instant and landing with a flourish of his gleaming wings.

“Hi, Kendra,” Raxtus said. “How was that for an entrance?”

Kendra was happy to see Raxtus, and his arrival made sense. Shiara was the fairy who had cared for him as a hatchling, so of course she would be excited for him to visit. But Kendra’s heart sank a little at the same time. She had been hoping the surprise might be somebody else who tended to make fairies excited.

“Very impressive,” Kendra said. “It feels like it has been a long time.”

“I’ve been helping with the rebuilding,” the dragon said. “You already wouldn’t recognize Zzyzx. Those fairies can work when they set their minds to it. I think it has been good for everyone. I haven’t seen most of them so lively in years. And it’s great to have the astrids back.”

“I’m glad,” Kendra said. “Are you here to visit Shiara?”

“Yeah.”

“She must be so proud of you.”

Raxtus craned his head away shyly. “You know, my dad is finally treating me like a real dragon. He saw me take out a couple of demons when we attacked Orogoro’s rear guard. I’m really small, and my breath weapon is a joke, but my scales are almost as hard as his, and my teeth and claws are unusually sharp. I had no idea. I’d never really tested myself. Now that he runs Wyrmroost, my dad has this whole training regimen planned when I get back from helping the Fairy Queen. He taught my larger brothers lots of tricks that I missed out on. He will help me become a more effective fighter. But I promise I won’t let it turn me into an idiot!”

“I’m sure it will just make you more confident with your friendly side,” Kendra said.

“And maybe a little scarier?” Raxtus hoped.

“Definitely.”

“You know, I didn’t come here alone.”

Kendra held her breath. She tried to keep her expression composed. “You didn’t?”

“He wanted me to bring you to meet him.”

“Are we talking about Bracken?” Kendra asked.

“No, Crelang. Remember him? The astrid? He was one of your bodyguards.”

Kendra stared at Raxtus blankly.

“I’m kidding. Of course, Bracken! But don’t mention I told you. It was supposed to be a surprise.”

“I promise to look surprised.” Her pulse raced. What if he sensed her excitement? She didn’t want to seem pathetic. But she had missed him! It had been weeks since she had last seen him.

“He’s been talking about you a lot,” Raxtus informed her in a confidential tone. “Go easy on him. I’m going to fly you to him, then get out of your way. You two deserve a little privacy.”

“I should tell my parents,” Kendra said.

“I’ll come back and tell them,” Raxtus assured her. “This should be quick. He has a surprise for you. I keep saying too much! Mind if I take you? Don’t tell him how much I blabbed!”

“Sure,” Kendra replied.

Raxtus snatched her and took flight. “Agad left me with free roam of all the preserves he restored,” Raxtus said. “I think he wants me to help be his eyes and ears among the dragons. He’s given me a lot of trust.”

“That’s great,” Kendra said, her thoughts on the upcoming reunion.