Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger (15 page)

SOMETIMES, when you are faced with a grave decision, you just have to end up trusting your instincts. This is what Kendra did now. Somehow she had the feeling that she would not succeed in finding the Door to Unger unless she accepted Effryn’s deal. At last, she agreed to his plan: the strange little Faun would help her sneak into the Greeven Wastes and when her mission was accomplished she would take him to the land of Een.

With this was settled, Kendra and her new companions set onwards through the wilderness, towards the Door to Unger. They made a motley crew, to be sure: a tiny Een girl, a furry little Faun, a giant snail, and a mighty Unger, all in procession.

At first Kendra thought Skeezle would slow them down, for after all, he was a snail. However, it appeared that the great slug was magical in more ways than one, for he plowed forward at such a pace that Kendra was forever panting to keep up. At last, Effryn invited her to ride atop the huge slug, and she gladly accepted his offer.

They traveled without adventure for the next two days. The temperature continued to drop and the wind became stronger and louder, howling across the landscape like some angry beast. Kendra pulled her ragged cloak tighter around her frail body and hoped it would all be over soon. That night, they set up camp against the flat side of a large jagged rock that pointed like an arrowhead towards the sky.

“Maybe this will shield us from the wind a bit,” Effryn announced. “And any beasties out there too. Because we’re close to that door now. I reckon we’ll reach the edge of the Wastes by noon tomorrow.”

As was his custom each night, Effryn shrunk Skeezle and hid him nearby; according to the Faun, this was the best way to safe keep his precious carriage of magic marvels, for it was hard for anyone to steal that which was too small to see. With this act accomplished for the evening, they all settled down to pass a cold and quiet night, huddled against the rock.

It was only a few hours later when Kendra awoke with a sudden start. She had heard a voice and her immediate suspicion was that someone had stolen upon their camp. She turned to rustle Trooogul, but the great Unger was already awake.

“You heard it too then?” she asked.

“Yeezum,” Trooogul replied. “But wherezum Faunee?”

Kendra then realized that Effryn was nowhere to be seen. Had he abandoned them? Then she heard the voice again—it was coming from the very top of the rock. She and Trooogul stepped back to get a better view—and there was Effryn himself, perched like a little goat on top of the blunted point of the boulder and braying at the moon.

“Whatsee Faunee doingzum?” Trooogul asked.

“I don’t know!” Kendra replied, yanking on her braids.

They called up to the peculiar creature, but he did not respond. Even from the bottom of the rock, Kendra could see that the Faun’s eyes were wild and crazed, and strange words were spewing forth from his lips.

“Truth!” Effryn proclaimed. “The truth is inside of you! If you don’t trust in the truth then you will become one of them, Kandlestar!”

“Mr. Hagglehorn!” Kendra cried. “Are you talking to me?”

The Faun looked down at her, his eyes wide and green with excitement. “Kandlestar!” he shouted, his ears twitching. “You must trust; you must believe.”

“Believezum what?” Trooogul demanded irritably.

“You have to believe what you
know
, not what they
tell you
,” Effryn proclaimed from the top of his rocky berth. “Don’t you see?”

“I don’t understand at all,” Kendra declared.

“Faunee gonezum crazee,” Trooogul grunted.

“Believe, I tell you, believe!” Effryn bleated. “It’s the only way—or I’ll be shorn! But mind this, Kandlestar. Many will go into the maze—but not all will make it out. One will be left behind.”

“Who?” Kendra cried. “What are you talking about?”

But Effryn had no answer for her. Suddenly his eyes glazed over and he toppled over the side of the steep rock. Luckily, Trooogul was there to catch the Faun in his strong arms.

“Lay him on the ground!” Kendra cried frantically.

Trooogul did so and Kendra knelt over to wipe Effryn’s forehead with a handkerchief. His entire face was drenched in perspiration and he was trembling head to hoof. Then, just like that, Effryn sat up and looked at Kendra and Trooogul with surprise.

“Well, braid my beard!” he exclaimed. “What are you two doing, staring at a fellow who’s just trying to get some winks?”

“You haven’t been sleeping,” Kendra told the Faun. “You’ve been moaning at the moon!”

“Oh dear,” Effryn murmured, taking Kendra’s handkerchief and mopping his brow. “Did it happen again?”

“Did what happen?” Kendra asked.

“Sometimes I have these mad moonlight visions,” Effryn explained. “They’re like dreams, but they seem to take over my entire body.”

“Nozum kidding,” Trooogul snorted.

“How often do you have these, er . . . visions?” Kendra inquired of the Faun.

“A lot lately, I’m afraid,” Effryn said. “I had one the night before you met me, to tell the truth. That’s how I came to be caught in that snare. I went to sleep, same as always, and awoke the next morning in that trap. During the night I must have had one of my spells and ended up stepping into the snare.”

“I think you need to see a healer,” Kendra said.

“A healer?!” Effryn blurted, rising to his hooves. “Why, I’m the best healer around! But no, no—there’s no cure for me.”

“What do you mean?” Kendra asked.

“Why, it’s an old Hagglehorn trait, these spells,” Effryn explained. “My own grandpappy used to get them, sure as you’re shorn. Folks used to say he was a prophet. They used to heed his words like they were gospel. There was wisdom in his gibberish—and there is in mine too. It’s just that I can’t ever remember what I say.”

“I do,” Kendra said. “You called my name. You said that I had to believe in what I know and . . . and . . . that many would go into the maze, but someone wasn’t going to make it out.”

“Well, you heed my words, whatever I said,” Effryn told her. “It might help you before this adventure’s out—that much I’m sure of. And you were given my vision for free! My grandpappy used to charge folks for making use of his prophecies.”

“Surezum,” Trooogul grumbled.

Kendra sighed and gave one of her braids an extra hard tug. “Do you really believe in all of this prophecy business, Mr. Hagglehorn?” she asked.

“Well,” Effryn replied, “the Ungers sure do. And as my grandpappy used to say: ‘Horns and hooves are as strong as stone, but the heart is stronger yet.’”

“What does that mean?” Kendra wondered.

“It means nothing in this world is as strong as belief,” Effryn explained.

As Effryn had predicted, by noon of the next day the ragtag band of travelers had reached the edge of the Greeven Wastes. There was no mistaking their arrival at this dreadful place, for it was as if all life—whether it be tree, bush, or even blade of grass—ceased to exist, giving abruptly away to a vast and empty expanse of rock and rubble. Kendra stared upon this cold and desolate wilderness and felt her heart grow glum. To the tiny Een girl, the forlorn wastes seemed to stretch on forever, and yet she knew that somewhere across its weary barrens she would find her final destination, the Door to Unger.

She pulled her cloak tight, hoping to fend off the claws of the bone-chilling wind. “It’s a horrid place,” she murmured through chattering teeth.

“They don’t call it the Wastes for nothing,” Effryn remarked, almost too cheerfully for Kendra’s liking. “Well, you two kids better get on with it. Skeezle and I will be waiting here for you.”

“Are you sure you won’t come with us?” Kendra asked.

“Who? Me?” Effryn asked. “Not on your life! I’ve skirted this deplorable desert many a time, but have never ventured in! Tangle my tail or wax my whiskers—but you won’t get me to stick a single hoof upon that ghastly plain of rock and ruin.”

“No let Faunee scarezum Eeneez,” Trooogul said to Kendra, though he himself didn’t seem at all eager to set forward.

“Well, come on, Mr. Hagglehorn,” Kendra said finally, with a brave pull on her braids. “Let’s see if we can hide my mark with that ointment of yours.”

“Ah, yes,” Effryn said. He climbed to the top of his carriage and began rooting through his mountain of magical marvels. “Now where did I put it?” he muttered as he began tossing out various bottles and canisters. “Was it next to the Centaur scent? Or with the Elf ale?”

“Maybe no go anytime soonzum,” Trooogul sighed.

But in the next moment, Effryn had hopped back to the ground with a small round vial.

“Hold your hand out, Kendra,” the Faun instructed.

Kendra obliged and Effryn rubbed a sweet-smelling salve upon her palm.

“Can you see the mark now?” Effryn asked Trooogul.

“Nozum!” the Unger replied with some surprise. “Itzum completely gonezum.”

“Ah, it’s not gone at all!” Effryn declared happily. “Just cleverly hidden.”

“How long will it last?” Kendra asked.

“A few days anyway,” Effryn replied. “And trust me—you don’t want to find yourself in the Greeven Wastes any longer than that!”

It was now time to enact the next part of their plan. Effryn supplied them with a musty old sack, which Kendra climbed into and Trooogul then slung over his bony back, so that it might appear as if she was his prisoner. Kendra couldn’t help but to be reminded of how Trooogul had carried her in the same way to escape the mines of Umbor.

“Just like old times,” Kendra murmured, though she couldn’t help to think that this time, instead of fleeing danger, they were headed straight towards it.

THE JOURNEY ACROSS the desolate Greeven Wastes soon became one long dreary blur for Kendra. The air was bitter and cold, and the sack uncomfortable. Even though Trooogul warned against it, she stuck her head out from time to time to look about—but she found little to interest her in the monotonous sea of rock that seemed to stretch in every direction. All she could do was pull her cloak tightly about her and try to block out the frigid air.

“I thought it was supposed to be summer soon,” she grumbled.

“No thinkzum summer comezum here,” Trooogul grunted in reply.

The journey continued. After what seemed like many hours, the landscape finally began to change. Now the two companions could see larger rocks scattered here and there amidst the flat sea of rubble. These were tall and straight, jutting up from the ground like great stone teeth. As Trooogul trudged onward, these rocks began to increase in number until there were soon so many of them that it was as if they were traveling through a dense forest. But this was a forest unlike Kendra had ever seen, for there were no trees or plants here; this was a forest made completely of stone columns, tall and cold and gray.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Kendra murmured.

“Must shutzum now,” Trooogul warned her. “Wezum getzum close. Must pretendzum that Eeneez and Trooogul arezum enemies.”

“I thought we were enemies,” Kendra said light-heartedly.

“Little Eenee knows whatzum Trooogul mean,” the Unger said solemnly.

“I know,” Kendra returned. “I was just joking.”

But he said nothing more and it seemed to Kendra as if he had suddenly become very sad. Part of her understood why, for she felt the same way. For the past few weeks she and Trooogul had entered into a strange fellowship, working together to find their way to the door. They had encountered many adventures and overcome a few formidable challenges. And, despite her suspicions of the great beast, Kendra could not help but to feel friendship towards Trooogul. Now that they were on the brink of reaching the Door to Unger, Kendra knew everything would change. No matter what happened now, their friendship would never be the same.

As these thoughts meandered through her mind, Kendra watched the dreary wall of stone columns go by. Then, to her great surprise, she noticed one of the massive pillars move. She gave her head a shake. Had she seen right? She looked again and suddenly realized that many of the tall standing stones were not stones at all—but Ungers! There gray chiseled bodies made them look just like mighty rocks, and they blended right in with the forest of columns.

“Trooogul!” Kendra whispered.

But Trooogul had already seen them. He came to a stop and now the Ungers suddenly came to life, stepping forth from the forest of stone to block their way. Kendra could see that they were armed with clubs, and axes, and spears, and some of them even wore pieces of battered gray armor. Instinctively, she wriggled down in the sack, as if somehow she would be safe from the beasts if only they could not see her.

Then Kendra heard one of the Unger guards speak. “Youzum, Unger,” the guard snarled at Trooogul. “Whyzum comes to Wastes of Greeve?”

“Trooogul bringzum Eeneez for Door to Unger,” Trooogul replied, and Kendra felt him lift the sack and shake it before them. She let out a little shriek and the guards grunted in satisfaction.

“Trooogul just in timezum,” the guard said. “Ceremonee is tomorrowzum. Youzum come now. Wezum takes you tozum Keepers.”

Keepers?
Kendra wondered.
Who are they?

She felt Trooogul swing the sack back over his shoulder. She hated not being able to see, and after a moment, she mustered the courage to poke her head out of the sack. She watched as they trudged through the stone forest, this time escorted by a parade of Ungers. Before long, their way turned up into a great jumble of rocks. As they snaked through this great pile of stone, the light began to grow dim, and Kendra realized that night was falling. She gave her braids a fretful tug and did her best to stay calm, despite her fear. She could now see many other creatures skittering about the rocks; these were mostly Ungers, but there were also other beasts: Orrids and Krakes and Goojuns and Izzards.

It’s just one big monster bash
, Kendra grimaced to herself.

Before long one of the guards announced, “Wezum arrive. Trooogul now takezum Eenee tozum Keepers.”

Kendra heard Trooogul grunt something in reply, and the Unger scuttled forward, down a long flight of steps to a vast chamber. Trooogul reached the bottom of the stairs, gave the sack a shake, and emptied Kendra so roughly that she tumbled head over heels onto the hard, stony ground. Slowly, she pulled herself to her feet, and gathered her wits in an effort to get a better look at her surroundings. She could now see that they had arrived at a place not unlike a large open-air stadium that had been built within the rocks. Behind her, stretching up towards the vast night sky, were the seats (which were currently unoccupied) and in front of her was a ledge of rock—a stage, if you will. Here sat a row of Unger Elders—at least, they looked like Elders to Kendra. Their faces were thin and gaunt, and their hair was ghostly white. Each held a long wooden staff decorated with beads and feathers. These Elders sat in a semicircle before her, six of them in all, though there was a seventh seat conspicuously empty.

Who’s missing?
Kendra wondered.

But the only other Unger in the room was Trooogul. He was standing behind her, and Kendra now realized that she was being presented to this grotesque assembly of Elders as if she was some sort of trophy.

Much to Kendra’s surprise, the Elders said nothing. They did not even seem to notice her; rather, they stared blankly ahead into the night. When Kendra looked past them, she now noticed a great wall of rock rising up behind them. It was carved with the shape of a mighty face—but it was not any face.

“Why, it’s an Een!” Kendra gasped.

In fact, the carving looked like many of the faces she had seen sculpted into the walls of the Elder Stone, back in her beloved land of Een. This face, here in the Greeven Wastes, towered above the little girl and she could not help but notice that its most prominent feature was its mouth, for it was tall and wide and fitted with long slats of weathered wood that seemed like rough gray teeth, crossed with thick iron braces. It looked like a door—though a strange one indeed, for there was no handle, no knocker, and no apparent way to open it. Then Kendra realized what she was looking at.

“The Door to Unger!” she murmured as quietly as she could, despite her excitement. “We’ve found it.”

Then, with a sudden rocky ripple, the great stone face came alive and began to speak, its stone whiskers and lips moving around its great wooden teeth.

“Welcome to the Door to Unger,” the face intoned. “Come before me, Ungerling, and show me your quarry.”

Trooogul gave Kendra a nudge with one of his mighty claws and she stumbled forward, towards the door. Still the Unger Elders did not move, and Kendra saw Trooogul cast them a nervous glance.

“Show no fear of them,” the door said.

It spoke in a slow, ponderous voice, but one that was laced with a temper, as if it was doing its very best to try and contain a furious rage that bubbled beneath the surface. To Kendra, the door seemed like it might erupt in fury at any moment.

Then Trooogul asked boldly, “Whozum Elders?”

“These are the Keepers of the Door to Unger,” the door responded. “They have pledged their lives to protect me from all who would seek to destroy me. They wait in silence for the night of Greeve, when once a year all prisoners are cast through my maw and into my belly.”

Kendra gave her braids a desperate tug of fear. She looked up at Trooogul, but the young Unger was still gazing upon the Unger Elders.

“Theirs is a vow of silence,” the door said. “They do my bidding alone. To sit on the council of Keepers is a great honor. Maybe you, young Unger, will one day receive such an honor. The fact that you have brought a prize before me makes you worthy.”

Then the door seemed to turn its attention to Kendra. “Ah . . . a young one,” it said, and then, in a more threatening voice: “Raise your hands, beast!”

With a start, Kendra leapt backwards, only to feel Trooogul’s rough claw against her spine. She lifted her hands, palms open, to the door.

“Goooood,” the door droned. “You are clean, pitiful Een. You are worthy for Unger!”

“NOZUM!” came a voice.

Kendra whirled around to see an Unger burst into the stadium, as if in a great panic. He charged down the stairs towards the stage, but now, at last, the Keepers showed signs of life. With surprising quickness, they pounced to their feet and soon had the Unger intruder surrounded, their staffs at the ready.

“What is the meaning of this?!” the door boomed. “Who dares to interrupt the presentation of a prisoner?”

Kendra stared hard at the Unger. Somehow, he seemed familiar. She cast a glance at Trooogul, only to see that all the color had drained from his face. He, too, had recognized this Unger intruder. Then it came to Kendra: The intruder was Creeegun.

What is he doing here?
Kendra wondered, but before she had even finished asking herself the question, she knew the answer.
Of course,
she thought.
He brought Uncle Griffinskitch and the others to the door. And now he’s seen me—and he knows I’m the forbidden one. Everything is ruined.

Creeegun pointed a crooked claw at Kendra, murderous hatred in his eyes. “Creeegun comezum to protect doorzum,” he announced, his nostrils flaring with rage. “Protectzum door fromzum traitor!”

The door seemed to consider this news, his face twisting in the rock with a pensive fury. At long last it said, “Speak then, Ungerling. For I do not take kindly to those who would betray me.”

Kendra gulped. In an eerie moment of realization, she suddenly knew why one chair in the council of Keepers was empty. It had belonged to the Unger Oroook, the very beast who had set off this entire chain of events by coming to visit her on that stormy night that now seemed so long ago. That chair had not been long vacated, Kendra knew. The other Keepers had killed Oroook, and had yet to replace him on their council.

The Keepers now lowered their staffs and allowed Creeegun to approach the door.

“Eenee thatzum stand herezum is forbidden onezum,” Creeegun accused. “Eeneez marked with starzum!”

“Unger talkzum nonsense,” Trooogul spoke up angrily. “Keepers seezum hand! Therezum no mark.”

“A trick?” the door wondered. “Keepers—look upon her hands again!”

The Unger Keepers moved forward and struck Kendra with their staffs, forcing her to show her hands once again. Kendra gulped again, and closed her eyes tightly. She prayed that Effryn’s ointment would stand their scrutiny. But the Keepers studied her palms for only a moment. Then, all six turned to the Door and shook their heads.

“No mark!” the door bellowed. “Tell me, young Creeegun, what possesses you to spread such a tale?”

Creeegun, however, seemed too confused to answer. He stared at Kendra, his gray brow knotted in bewilderment.

“Creeegun no wantzum sharezum honor,” Trooogul said to the door. “Thatzum why Creeegun tellzum wild liezum.”