Kendra Kandlestar and the Shard From Greeve (8 page)

KENDRA DID NOT NEED TO ASK who “they” were. She knew that the mysterious figure standing in her kitchen was referring to Burdock’s men. A shiver went down the girl’s back, and she gave one of her braids an apprehensive tug.

“I’m not going to ask you again,” Jinx snarled at the stranger. “Who are you?”

“I’m a friend,” the stranger rasped, not cowering in the slightest before the grasshopper’s weapon. “Something which you are in short supply of these days, I might add!”

“Are—are you sure they heard it?” Kendra asked the stranger. “The magic, I mean.”

“Yes,” the stranger returned brusquely. “Listen—we have no time. Quickly, girl! Get out of your nightdress and into some proper clothes. All of you! Collect your things; just the essentials. We have but a few scant minutes.”

“Eek!” Oki cried. “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere safe,” the stranger said, turning to glance out the nearest window.

“We’re not going anywhere with you,” Jinx declared.

“There’s no time for this!” the man growled, whirling back around. Kendra found something strangely familiar about his voice, for it commanded a certain tone that immediately silenced Jinx—and that was a rare trick indeed. “Now listen! You can either trust me or wait here for Captain Rinkle and his men. It’s your choice, but I advise you to decide quickly. I shan’t be waiting.”

“They can’t just bust in,” Kendra spoke up. “Maybe we can put a spell on the door and—,”

“That won’t stop them,” the stranger said. “Not for long, in any case. NOW GO!”

When one is in doubt (as surely Kendra and her friends were) there is nothing more convincing than a commanding voice. And so, without another second wasted, the Een girl and her friends dashed about the house to satisfy the stranger’s instructions. Kendra had no idea where they were headed—or for how long—but she was experienced enough to know how to pack for an unexpected adventure. Back in her room, she quickly threw together a few important belongings. She needed her canteen, her boots, her cloak, and a few other odds and ends. She tucked her wand into her belt, and into her pouch she put Ratchet’s enchanted powders, which she had confiscated from Oki earlier that evening. Kendra cast her eyes frantically about her room. What else should she take? She certainly couldn’t leave behind the maiden’s mirror or the silver vial with the whisper of the magic curtain, so these went into her pack as well. There was room for a few of the smaller books that Uncle Griffinskitch had given her as part of her training, so these were also included. The only remaining thing was . . .

The shard.

She stared over at it, still resting in the corner of her room where she had tossed it only a few moments ago. The shard frightened her, at least part of her, and she very much wished she could ignore it. But she couldn’t. All she could think of was the thrill of energy that had soared through her body by its mere touch. In the end, its allure was too great. Picking it up with a bit of cloth (so she didn’t have to directly touch it), she stuffed it into her pouch and quickly left the room.

When she arrived back downstairs, the stranger was still keeping watch at the kitchen window. Oki and Jinx had already assembled there, ready to set off. A small satchel was slung over Oki’s shoulder, but Jinx carried nothing more than the poker she had borrowed from the fireplace.

“They’re coming; I can see them crossing the garden,” the stranger said, calmly turning away from the window.

“Eek!” Oki cried. “What now?”

“We leave,” the stranger replied.

“Every door we have leads to the garden,” Kendra told the stranger.

“That’s not entirely true,” the cloaked figure announced.

He moved quickly across the floor to the kitchen fireplace and, reaching into the flue, flicked a switch. The back of the fireplace opened up to reveal a long, dark passageway.

“How did do you know about this?” Kendra gasped with a tug of her braids. “I’ve never seen this tunnel!”

“That’s because you’ve never had cause to use it,” the stranger said. “Now, quickly—in you all go.”

He stood back and let Kendra, Oki, and Jinx scramble across the hearth and into the tunnel. The stranger came last, hitting another switch inside the passage to close the hidden entrance. Just as the back of the fireplace slid shut, Kendra heard Rinkle and his men storm the house, pounding the door so loudly that she was sure it would burst into a pile of splinters.

“They’ll destroy the whole house,” Kendra whispered frantically.

“All will be well,” the stranger rasped, shuffling to the front of the group. “Come, we must make haste.”

He reached up and took down a torch that was resting in a bracket on the wall. In a moment it was lit, and he set off down the corridor. Even with the light, it was a dark tunnel, with a rocky, uneven floor. The ceiling was so low that Kendra’s braids kept brushing cobwebs or catching in the tree roots that dangled down like so many claws. She finally threw up her hood and tried to crouch low. As for the short stranger, he found little to impede his progress. He led them with a determined, measured pace, never once looking back to ensure that Kendra and her friends were following.

Kendra tried to concentrate on the stranger’s torch, trudging ever forward through the cold and narrow tunnel. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts. Had Lurk detected her use of the maiden’s mirror? Or was it the shard that had alerted him? And just who was this stranger they were now following? How did he know of a secret passage hidden inside
her
house? But Kendra’s mind soon grew heavy, as did her feet, for you’ll remember that it was the middle of the night, and she had only managed a few hours of sleep.

At long last, the tunnel came to an end at a round door of wood. The stranger placed the torch in a waiting bracket and rapped heavily on the door. In a moment it creaked open, and the cloaked figure beckoned them forward. They scrambled through the portal and found themselves in a large, dimly lit chamber. They were still underground; Kendra could tell because of the thick tree roots that lined the walls. These roots, however, were a little different—for tiny books were sprouting upwards from their curling branches.

“We must be in the Een library!” Oki exclaimed.

“I do say, you possess an observant mind, little Oki,” came a voice, and out of the shadows stepped Professor Bumblebean. “We are indeed in the Een library or, more accurately said, well beneath it. As you know, all the books in the Een library grow on trees, but down here in these secret cellars, some of the most mysterious books sprout from the roots of these elder trees.”

“I’m sure we’d all love to sit here and listen to you prattle on about books,
Boringbean
,” Jinx growled irritably, “but it’s been a rather long night. Maybe
you
can tell us what in the name of Een is going on, since our new friend here hasn’t had the courtesy to do so yet.”

“My word!” the professor cried, looking over at the cloaked stranger. “You haven’t told them who you are yet?”

“It was more important for us to make a hasty exit,” the stranger replied, and his voice now seemed to change, seeming more familiar than ever to Kendra.

“Wait a minute,” the Een girl murmured, “you sound like—,”

But before she could finish her words, the cloaked figure pulled back his hood and Kendra, Oki, and Jinx all gasped.

Standing before them was the ancient sorceress, Winter Woodsong.

AT FIRST KENDRA THOUGHT she must be staring at a ghost, for she simply could not fathom how Winter Woodsong was alive. And then the ancient Een smiled, causing such a maze of wrinkles to dance across her wizened face that Kendra knew at once that this really was her beloved old sorceress. They all rushed forward to embrace the aged witch—even Jinx (though she looked rather sheepish about it afterwards).

When the hubbub of this joyful reunion had subsided, Winter took a seat on one of the tree roots, produced her staff from a fold in her cloak, and levied all her weight against it. She seemed pale and exhausted, as if the trek through the underground tunnel had demanded every last gasp of strength.

“Are you all right, Elder Woodsong?” Kendra asked.

“Thank you, yes, child,” the white woman responded after a moment, patting Kendra’s hand. “It’s been a long day for this old magic-maker.”

“They said you were dead!” Oki exclaimed.

“Which pleases me greatly,” Winter admitted, that familiar twinkle beginning to return to her eyes. “You see, I’m the one responsible for the collapse of the bridge. I want Burdock to think I drowned.”

“Why?” Kendra uttered.

“Well, it seems to me that being dead is the best way to stay alive,” Winter returned with a cryptic chuckle. “Now Burdock can stop trying to murder me.”

“It’s a cold trick to play,” Jinx grumbled.

“Well, she is
Winter
after all,” Oki declared. “Of course she’s cold.”

“I don’t like your puns,” Jinx told the mouse. “And I think, Elder Woodsong, you could have warned us of your plan.”

“No one knew of it but me,” Winter assured Jinx. “Why, the plan’s success depended on the utmost secrecy. After the collapse of the bridge, I donned this dark cloak and made my clandestine journey to the library.”

“She gave me quite the fright, I do say,” Professor Bumblebean declared.

“But what will you do now?” Kendra asked the old woman.

“I will hide here, underground,” Winter replied, her gentle face flickering in the torchlight. “Very few know of the underground network of tunnels that was built by the ancient Eens, back before the time of the curtain. Here I can live in all safety, traveling in secret to and from many places in Faun’s End. No longer do I have to worry about assassins and would-be murderers; I can turn my energies to more important matters.”

“Like rescuing master Ratchet,” Oki declared. “And Kendra’s uncle.”

“Indeed,” Winter agreed with a slight nod. “The professor has told me all that has happened. I promise you, we are devising a plan to free our friends. But first we have a more pressing dilemma to address.”

“What could that be?” Kendra asked.

“Why, your own safety,” Winter replied. “When I felt that burst of magic, I took to the streets of Faun’s End. Agent Lurk had felt it too, and I could hear him rousing Captain Rinkle and his men to descend upon your house. Fortunately, I knew of the secret tunnel to your uncle’s kitchen, and it allowed me to reach you first—just barely.” Here Winter paused and looked closely at Kendra. “But we must speak of this shock of magic that so rattled the night. Kendra, show me the cause of this enchanted grumble.”

Deep within her pouch, the shard from Greeve seemed to stir. Kendra could feel it, hot and strangely heavy, urging her not to betray its presence. She wanted to tell Winter the truth, but the words seemed chained to her tongue—then, before she could dwell further on this dilemma, Oki spoke up.

“It was the maiden’s mirror, Elder Woodsong,” the little mouse sputtered. “Kendra was speaking through it when the boom occurred.”

And so Kendra produced the magic glass and placed it in the old woman’s hand. As quickly as she could, she related to Winter the same story she had earlier told to Oki and Jinx.

“Now we know where my brother is,” Kendra declared. “We must rescue him, Elder Woodsong!”

Winter frowned as she ran her withered old hands over the enchanted mirror. “This doesn’t seem right. This mirror certainly has an energy, but it is of a sad and forlorn nature. I can’t see it causing such a magic roar. And this message from the Faun . . . it’s not quite right either.”

“What do you mean?” Kendra asked in frustration. “He told me all we need to know. Kiro’s been captured.”

Winter closed her eyes and sighed. “I don’t trust this situation,” she said after a moment. “I must know more! All this is very strange. Kendra, I promise you, we will find your brother in due time. For now, let me keep this mirror, Kendra. I want to speak to this Faun if he tries to contact you again.”

“That’s fine,” Kendra said, “but I don’t know why we’re waiting. We need to bust Uncle Griffinskitch and Ratchet free and then go find Kiro.”

“I’m afraid I beg to differ,” Winter told Kendra. “The immediate concern is
your
safety.”

“I’m the only one who
is
safe!” Kendra cried, waving her arms. “If you haven’t noticed, everyone else in my family is in a dungeon!”

“And I don’t want you joining them,” Winter said. “Do you think Agent Lurk and Captain Rinkle have given up just because they didn’t find you at your house? No! They will hunt you, of that much I’m sure.”

“I do say, Elder Woodsong is correct,” Professor Bumblebean declared, looking intently upon Kendra, Oki, and Jinx. “You are fugitives now! Why, I suspect Burdock is already nailing ‘wanted’ posters to every tree in Faun’s End.”

“Eek!” Oki squealed. “What are we going to do?”

“You must flee,” Winter replied from her seat. “Right now you need to be as far away from Faun’s End as possible.”

“We should go to Krake Castle,” Kendra declared. “That’s far enough away.”

Winter frowned at her. “The professor and I have already prepared a plan. First, you will travel through another tunnel, one that will lead you near the River Wink. Professor, did you make the necessary arrangements?”

“I have indeed,” the professor said. “I sent an old student of mine, Lissel Lightfoot, to prepare a boat to ferry them across the river.”

“Good,” the old sorceress said. “Now listen, my young friends. Once across the river, you’ll go as far as Enid Evermoon’s. There you may enjoy the briefest of respites before traveling due south towards Ander’s Down, at the edge of Een. It’s a three-day journey, but once there, you’ll find an old badger, Timmons Thunderclaws—that is, if breath still grunts and groans through his ancient bones. Give him my name; he will mind the rest.”

“A badger?” Oki asked. “Is he friendly?”

“No,” Winter responded. “But he is an Een, and you can count on him to give you a warm bed and a cup of dandelion tea. In any case, it’s the best plan I can devise on such urgent notice.”

“I’ve prepared some provisions for you,” Professor Bumblebean added, handing a small packet over to Jinx.

“You didn’t happen to pack any swords, did you?” the grasshopper asked.

“My word! I’m afraid not!” Professor Bumblebean replied. “There’s just some Een cake, nuts, and other foodstuffs; I should hope you won’t require any of it, with the help we’ve arranged for you along the way, but one never knows what unexpected events might unfold.”

“This is all wrong!” Kendra cried in frustration. “Have you listened to a word I’ve said, Elder Woodsong? I know where Kiro is! I have to go to him!”

“I know you’re anxious, child,” Winter said, rising to touch Kendra’s arm. “I promise you, I have no intention of abandoning your brother. But you must give me some time to meditate upon these matters.”

“Meditate?” Kendra asked incredulously. “Kiro could be fighting for his life in the Rumble Pit, and you’re just going to
think
about it?”

“There’s a dark presence at work here,” Winter replied. “I can feel it in my old bones. I will not have us charging into a waiting snare. For now, Kendra, you must try to put Krake Castle out of your mind.”

Kendra felt her face flush red. She wanted to burst.

“There’s just one more thing,” Winter said, looking fixedly at Kendra. “I would ask you for your whisper.”

Kendra took out the silver vial that contained the secret to the magic curtain. “This? Why?”

“I would keep it for you,” Winter replied cryptically.

“You don’t trust me, is that it? ” Kendra asked angrily. “You think I’ll try to leave Een?”

“I trust your intentions to do the right thing,” Winter said calmly. “But I think you will be tempted to leave Een to rescue your brother. And temptation can be a terrible beast, even for the best of us.”

“I think I’ve beaten enough beasts,” Kendra retorted. Never in her life had she dreamed of speaking to the old woman in such a fashion, but now she could not help it. The ire seemed to rise in her stomach like a swelling thundercloud.

“I do not demand that you give me the whisper, Kendra,” Winter said. “ I ask you for it, but it is your decision of course.”

Kendra forced the vial into the old woman’s hands. “You take it, Elder Woodsong. I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.”

Winter sighed. “I mean no offense, Kendra. I hope one day this will all be clear to you, but—,”

“Yes, I know,” Kendra snapped. “Patience is required.”

With that, she turned her shoulder to the old woman and, with a muttered farewell to the professor, stormed down the appointed tunnel, her friends scrambling to follow her.