Kendra studied the ground, looking for the tiny shrine, not wanting to miss it and be forced to double back. She found nothing until she reached the stacked megaliths at the end of the peninsula. Beneath the primitive structure, beside a burbling spring, rested a carved wooden bowl and a tiny fairy shaped from pink, speckled stone.
As Kendra knelt beside the spring, a sudden gust of wind disturbed the still air, bringing rich smells of freshly turned earth, ripe fruit, damp bark, and a hint of the sea. The Fairy Queen spoke with the familiar voice that Kendra heard with her mind rather than her ears. I am pleased you came.
"The Society is getting nearer to opening Zzyzx," Kendra said quietly, not wanting the dryads to overhear her end of the conversation. "The Sphinx has kidnapped my parents and my brother. We're worried the Sphinx will use the Oculus to collect everything else he needs. Do you know what we should do? Can you help us?"
My connection to the Oculus has waned. The Sphinx and his mentor, a demon called Nagi Luna, became aware of my prying and shut me out. They possess firm minds. Now, only when they turn their gaze to the realm where I dwell can I glimpse their thoughts. Aware of this, they have refrained from directing their attention toward me. Yet I have felt how they covet the realm I protect, and I fear for all creatures of light.
"What have you learned since we last spoke?" Kendra asked. "Tell me about Nagi Luna."
Nagi Luna is the entity who helps the Sphinx wield the Oculus. Her heart and mind are black. Darkness overcame Kendra, as if she had been struck blind. With the darkness came deep, abiding despair. Her ability to see returned as quickly as it had departed. It was always an adjustment getting used to how the Fairy Queen communicated with words, images, and emotions. Before their minds closed to me, I sensed certain aspects of the relationship between Nagi Luna and the Sphinx. She is confined somehow, her powers constrained. While guiding the Sphinx from her confinement, Nagi
Luna has been using him to connect to the Oculus and expand her mental reach. Her communications were inscrutable to me, for she used the secret language of demons, but I am sure she con-versed with others of her kind. With the aid of the Oculus, she may even have reached some of those fell entities inside of Zzyzx.
A feeling of wrath swept over Kendra, vengeful and furious. For a moment, she felt as though she could level the surrounding forest with a sweep of her hand, or split open the ground with a shout. After a moment, the outrage passed. Kendra struggled to remind herself that these emotions were not her own.
Both the Sphinx and Nagi Luna feel certain that victory is near, but their versions of victory are not aligned. Each seeks to use the other to different ends. The Sphinx has a tightly woven plan to release the demons of Zzyzx on his terms. I failed to uncover the particulars, but I feel certain that to some degree he means well, misguided as his intentions may be. But Nagi Luna has a scheme of her own, a vision of unbridled darkness and mayhem like the world has never known. The Sphinx is no fool, but I fear her cunning may be superior.
"Could you tell where they are?" Kendra asked.
It was unclear. Too much was unclear. But I have seen enough to believe the opening of Zzyzx is imminent. Whether it is the Sphinx or Nagi Luna who succeeds, we fail. The consequences will be cataclysmic.
"We have two of the artifacts," Kendra said.
Safeguard them, if you can. I will seek to lend aid. My feud with the demons is ancient and eternal.
"Raxtus told me they destroyed your husband."
Grief washed over Kendra, so deep and forlorn that she felt she would drown in it. When the sensation passed, she gasped for breath.
My struggle against the demons predates the downfall of my consort. Our enmity is fundamental to our natures. I will always oppose Gorgrog and his minions, as they will always oppose me. My first priority is to protect my realm and my followers. This includes defending your world. The connection my realm has to your world gives it life. If your world should fall, my realm would essentially become a prison, unattached to any living sphere. For both of our sakes, we must thwart the opening of Zzyzx.
"I'm willing to do anything to help," Kendra said. "My friends and family feel the same. What do you recommend?"
There came a pause. The world seemed utterly at rest, no wind, no sound. When communication resumed, the words came slowly.
Three of my astrids perished to protect you at Wyrmroost. For ages, they have clamored for the chance to redeem themselves for failing my consort. Perhaps that day has come at last. I will reestablish communication with them. Drink from the spring.
Kendra took the wooden bowl, dipped it in the water, and drank. Sunlight gleamed off the surface of the water, dazzling her. The clear liquid tasted thick as honey, light as bubbles, rich as cream, tart as berries, and fresh as dew. For a moment, Kendra felt conscious of the tremendous reservoir of magical energy inside of her. She felt like a thundercloud charged to release a blazing onslaught of lightning.
Then a breeze wafted over her, calming, soothing. A profound emotion of comfort and well-being made her drowsy with serenity.
As you encounter my astrids in the world, touch them and command them to be restored. I abolished three of my shrines to grant you this power.
"Don't destroy your shrines!" Kendra cried.
The hour has come to unite and make sacrifices. We must oppose the release of the Demon King and his unsavory followers from their confinement. The fate of our worlds hangs in the balance. Go, Kendra. Be brave. Be wise.
With a final nudge of hope and peace, the presence of the Fairy Queen withdrew, and Kendra found herself alone, kneeling on soggy turf. Rising, she returned along the peninsula to where the dryads waited with her friends. The regal women regarded Kendra with solemn reverence.
"Any luck?" Warren asked, wary gaze shifting from dryad to dryad.
"She didn't know where the Sphinx has my family," Kendra said. "But she understands the danger if Zzyzx gets opened, and she wants to help." Kendra turned to the dryad with auburn hair. "Are there astrids on this preserve?"
The dryad stepped forward. "A few migrate through from time to time, but we have not seen one here for many years."
Kendra nodded and turned to Tanu. "Do we have some at Fablehaven?"
"Astrids go where they please," Tanu said. "They're odd creatures. I haven't seen any at Fablehaven since the shrine lost its power."
"We should go home," Kendra said. She waved to the dryads. "Thanks for welcoming us. Good luck protecting the shrine."
The dryads gave slight bows in response.
Kendra, Warren, and Tanu laid hands on the Translocator, twisted it, and, after the folding sensation, they were back in the kitchen at Fablehaven. Grandma had joined Grandpa and Coulter.
"You're all right?" Grandma asked anxiously.
"No problems," Warren said.
Grandma looked relieved. "I'm sorry I missed seeing you off."
"How did it go?" Grandpa asked.
Kendra related her conversation with the Fairy Queen, including what she had learned about Nagi Luna, and her new mission to restore the astrids. The others listened intently until she finished.
"I've never heard of this Nagi Luna," Grandma said with a scowl. "I'll try to uncover what I can."
"It might be difficult," Grandpa said. "I'm sure she'll be ancient."
"Who would have guessed we would ever end up chasing astrids?" Warren said.
"I always knew they had some significance to the Fairy Queen," Grandpa said. "But until Kendra reported her conversations at Wyrmroost, I had no idea they were once her most prized soldiers."
"The Fairy Queen had a major grudge against them," Kendra said. "The fact that she is restoring them means she's really worried about the Sphinx succeeding."
"Can't you call the astrids telepathically?" Warren asked.
"I can hear their thoughts," Kendra replied, "but I'm not sure how close I need to be."
"How many astrids are we talking about?" Tanu asked.
"There are eighty-seven good ones left," Kendra said. "Six gave up on the Fairy Queen, and three died protecting me from Navarog."
Tanu whistled. "Eighty-seven, huh? It's a big world."
"There were twelve at Wyrmroost," Kendra said.
"When last you checked," Coulter said. "Astrids move around capriciously."
"I got a sense those twelve had been there for some time," Kendra insisted. "It might be worth transporting to the shrine at Wyrmroost. They seemed to stay near it."
Grandpa frowned. "Let's reserve outings to dragon sanctuaries for another day. Tanu and Warren can run the preliminary investigations for tracking the astrids."
Kendra took a steadying breath. "Then I had better go speak with Vanessa."
Warren gave her half a grin. "You know, you've earned a short break. Have a snack! An apple, maybe?"
Kendra shook her head. "I'm feeling good after talking with the Fairy Queen. I want to talk to Vanessa while I'm on a roll, before I psych myself out."
"I'll take her down," Grandma offered.
"I'll tag along," Coulter said.
"Very well," Grandpa agreed.
Kendra followed Grandma Sorenson down the stairs and waited while she unlocked the door to the dungeon.
Grandma rested a hand on her shoulder. "This will work best if we leave you alone with her."
Kendra nodded. If Grandma hadn't made that suggestion, she would have asked. Grandma got along with Vanessa worse than anyone.
"We'll be right outside the door," Coulter assured Kendra. "Call out if you need us."
"She'll behave," Grandma said. "Whether friend or foe, Vanessa doesn't want to resume her stay in the Quiet Box."
"I'll be fine," Kendra said, almost meaning it. She had not spoken with Vanessa alone for some time. At the moment, the prospect of social awkwardness daunted her more than anything.
Grandma led her to the nearby cell, inserted the key, and opened the door. Kendra entered. The door closed behind her.
Vanessa was on the floor doing complicated sit-ups, hands laced behind her head as she touched alternate elbows to the opposite knees, her legs bending and extending without ever quite touching the floor. "Be with you in a moment," Vanessa panted.
Her cell looked cozy. Thick carpeting covered the floor, shaded lamps shed gentle light, and impressionist paintings brightened the walls. Potted plants of various sizes served to further soften the atmosphere. Vanessa had a refrigerator, an exercise bike, a suede beanbag chair, and an impressive sound system. Grandma and Grandpa had clearly gone out of their way to make her comfortable.
Vanessa finished her exercises and rolled to her feet.
"Here for some calisthenics?" she asked. Even sweaty and dressed in boyish exercise clothes, she had an effortless, exotic beauty.
"Your room gets better every time I visit," Kendra said.
"As prisons go, it could be worse." Vanessa walked over and took a seat behind the desk by her bed. "You here to wrench my secret out of me?"
"Could it help me find my family?"
"Are we playing twenty questions? Yes, it could."
"What is the secret?" Kendra blurted desperately.
"Haven't you played twenty questions before?" Vanessa scolded gently. "You can't ask what the secret is, just questions about it."
"Is it bigger than a bread box?"
Vanessa laughed lightly. "Now you get the idea. Actually, yes it is."
"How big is a bread box?"
"That would be relevant. Picture a container for holding a few loaves."
"Animal, vegetable, or mineral?"
"Animal."
Kendra folded her arms. "Is your secret a person?"
Vanessa returned her gaze intently. "This game is over."
"It is! Why do you have to be so secretive about it?"
Vanessa leaned back in her chair. "Hard to say. Maybe because the Sphinx could be watching us right now, and if this secret gets out, we will have no chance of stopping him."
"Is it really that important?" Kendra asked, not daring to believe it.
"You'll know soon."
"How soon?"
"It would be dangerous to say." Vanessa leaned forward. "Kendra, I'm not trying to torture you. I'm not even trying to torture your grandparents, who I like a lot less. At first I held on to this secret because it mattered, and I knew it might provide leverage to get me out of here. But ever since the Sphinx recovered the Oculus, I have been so grateful that I kept my mouth shut. My silence just might save us all. My secret represents our last, best chance to stop the Sphinx and recover your family. That will have to suffice."
"We could use the Chronometer," Kendra said. "Talk to Patton about your secret in a time the Sphinx can't see."
"You've figured out how to use the Chronometer to journey back in time?" Vanessa exclaimed. "Good news! We may do just that when the right moment arrives. Until then, letting others know the secret merely provides. opportunities for somebody to slip up. Believe me, I'm on your side. This is for the greater good."
Kendra sighed in frustration. "All you care about is getting out of here."
Vanessa's expression hardened. For a moment, Kendra thought she might lose her temper. Then the narcoblix relaxed, brushing back an errant strand of hair. A forced smile appeared.
"I understand your frustration and your distrust. In fact, you have reason to trust me far less than you do. But please realize, if all I cared about was getting out of here, I have missed literally dozens of opportunities. You think this cell could hold me when I can control Tanu in his sleep? Fortunately for you, I truly am on your side, and most of what I can do to help can be done from here as well as anywhere. That may not always be true. The current situation is dire. At some point, your grandparents should release me so I can provide more active assistance." Kendra had no reply.