New Job
The next morning, Seth held his first meeting with Calvin since arriving at Wyrmroost. The Tiny Hero had spent the previous day and night exploring Blackwell Keep.
"Tell me you learned some good secrets," Seth said.
"Secrets take time," Calvin replied cheerfully. He pointed at Seth's chest. "Isn't that the pendant Marat was wearing?"
"I'm officially the caretaker now," Seth said.
"Along with Kendra?"
"I guess, technically."
"Don't you want her help?" Calvin asked.
"For talking to dragons, maybe."
"Isn't that a big part of the job?"
"I'm not sure," Seth admitted. "They seem way more interested in eating us."
"I heard about the Perch," Calvin said. "Everybody in the keep is buzzing about it."
"That's one piece of gossip I know plenty about," Seth said. "It made Kendra and me feel very welcome."
Calvin laughed. "You didn't think it would be easy?"
"I thought it would be awesome," Seth replied. "So far, so good, I guess. What else did you learn?"
"I spent some time with a few of the dwarfs. Wish I could get those hours back! Low educational and entertainment value."
"Did you find out anything from them?"
"When he's alone, the one called Didger picks his ears a lot. Give the guy a week and he would have enough wax to build a life-sized replica."
"Of you or of him?"
"Of Celebrant, probably."
Seth chuckled. "Are the dwarfs just soldiers?"
"Three work as guards," Calvin reported. "Obun and Didger run the stables."
"Are there horses?"
"Eleven. Plus three mules. And five griffins."
"They keep griffins here?"
"Five," Calvin repeated.
"Since I'm caretaker, that means I have five griffins."
"You and Kendra," Calvin reminded him politely.
"I need more info like that," Seth said. "All the cool stuff I should know about."
Calvin saluted. "I'll do my best."
A knock came at the door that joined Seth's room to his grandparents'. Without waiting for a response, Kendra opened it and poked her head in. "Good, you're up. Marat wants to talk with us."
"Finally," Seth said. "Where was he last night?"
"Talking with Grandpa and communicating with Agad," Kendra said. "We'll learn more now."
Seth scooped Calvin into his hand. "Want to come?"
"If you don't mind," Calvin said.
Seth pocketed him, then followed Kendra into the next room. Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson sat on the edge of their canopied bed looking solemn. Marat stood in the middle of the room, his face careworn, his eyes tired.
"Have a seat," Marat said.
Kendra chose a chair, but Seth stayed on his feet.
"Celebrant doesn't like us," Seth said.
"That depends on what you mean," Marat said. "He is delighted at the opportunity you provide."
"What about the defences?" Kendra asked. "Are they stronger?"
Grandpa sighed.
"They remain precarious," Marat said.
Seth had worried this might be the case. After Celebrant had torn down the Perch, Grandma and Grandpa had ushered Kendra and Seth to their rooms. There had been questions about whether the defences were any better than they had been before. This was the first definitive answer.
"I thought the defences were supposed to get stronger with us as caretakers," Seth said.
"It was our best guess," Marat said. "Agad and I are baffled that your instatement didn't fix the problem."
"How did Celebrant destroy part of the castle?" Kendra asked.
"The same way he brought his head so near you during the interview," Marat said. "The Perch projected beyond the keep and represented neutral territory."
"He could have killed us," Kendra said.
"Not with me there," Marat said. "Celebrant is fast and strong, but I was ready, and we were only a few paces from a safe refuge."
"Safe for how long?" Seth asked.
"Celebrant gave it all he had, and the defences held," Marat said. "But I felt them wavering, as they have wavered only recently. Tearing down the Perch was a message. The Dragon King has no respect for you. He doesn't expect to confer with you again."
"I was really looking forward to our next heart-to-heart," Seth said.
"It's discouraging," Grandma said. "You're starting with crippled relations. Celebrant isn't giving you a chance to do your jobs well."
"I accept my share of the responsibility," Marat said. "Celebrant wanted them instated immediately. It meant he was eager. I hoped he was eager for the wrong reasons. I hoped he was focused only on their youth. I hoped he didn't understand that their instatement would secure the defences."
"But it didn't work," Kendra said.
Marat frowned. "Perhaps he got lucky. Perhaps he knows more than we do. But the defences are no stronger. And, given Celebrant's eagerness, he won't approve a replacement for you."
"I'm so sorry, kids," Grandpa said. "I've failed you and your parents. This was a gamble, and I'm afraid we lost horribly. You're stuck here as caretakers for at least a year, until you can override Celebrant's vetoes to appoint a replacement. And I have no idea if Blackwell Keep can stand for that long."
Kendra crossed to Grandpa and laid a hand on his
arm. "It's okay, Grandpa. We knew the risks. We had to try. And the defences haven't fallen yet."
"I reached out to Agad," Marat said. "He has no alternate theory for why the defences became vulnerable in the first place. But we will not rest until we figure it out."
"And we have the barrel," Grandma reminded everyone.
Grandpa nodded. "If Blackwell Keep falls, we can send Kendra and Seth back to Fablehaven. We will move the barrel to a room near ours and keep the children in close proximity."
"Not all the time," Seth said.
"Much of the time," Grandpa said. "Especially if we're attacked."
"But we have to do our jobs," Seth said. "We're the caretakers. It's not a token position. The sanctuary needs us. We'll be safer if we do our jobs well."
"There is some truth to that," Marat allowed. "Although much of the work should be delegated to your assistants. You should get acquainted with the staff. Your new status as caretakers grants permission to ask questions and expect answers. Much could depend on establishing trust."
"There are some formalities they will need to perform personally," Grandma said.
"Like meeting with the Fair Folk today," Marat said.
"Who are they?" Kendra asked.
"I'd love to hear more about this topic," Grandpa said, extending a hand toward Marat.
"The Fair Folk are a notoriously secretive people," Marat said. "It was not always so, but despite my long years, they kept to themselves even in my childhood."
"Fair Folk," Kendra said. "The name makes them sound nice."
"Nice?" Marat asked as if perplexed. "I suppose they can be nice. It is not how I would describe them. They have long lives. They tend to be very attractive. They wield potent magic. And for thousands of years they have withdrawn from interaction with other magical beings. They maintain a strict position of neutrality, siding with neither demon nor fairy, neither dragon nor giant nor wraith. Is a policy of seclusion nice? Is remaining aloof during emergencies nice?"
"You don't like them," Seth surmised.
"I am slow to dislike anyone," Marat said. "Disliking someone is almost as big a commitment as loving someone, and it carries none of the benefits. I have mixed feelings about the Fair Folk. I find it a challenge to respect capable people who care only for their own interests."
"I have heard vague rumours of the Fair Folk," Grandpa Sorenson said. "Stories about them get entwined with fairy lore."
"They are not fairies," Marat said. "They are roughly the size of humans, and they lack wings."
"Who would know?" Grandpa said. "The Fair Folk are seen less frequently than unicorns. They are true mysteries even to those of the magical community."
"Unless you are the caretaker of a dragon sanctuary," Marat said. "Each of the dragon sanctuaries contains a settlement of Fair Folk. It is not common knowledge. The three biggest settlements are at the three secret sanctuaries—the ones with Dragon Temples, like Wyrmroost. By tradition, any new caretaker of Wyrmroost gets approved by the leader of the Fair Folk before the formal appointment to office. Celebrant compelled me to skip that step. As caretakers, Kendra and Seth must be introduced to Lord Dalgorel, leader of the Fair Folk at this sanctuary."
"Will he come here?" Grandma asked.
Marat shook his head. "The Fair Folk never leave their settlements. They are completely self-sufficient and refuse to take any action that could jeopardize their safety or their neutrality."
"You can get Kendra and Seth there safely?" Grandpa asked.
"Five roads in Wyrmroost share the same protections as Blackwell Keep," Marat said. "The High Road leads directly from Blackwell Keep to Terrabelle, the Fair Folk settlement."
"Where were those roads when we visited last time?" Kendra complained.
"If I recall correctly," Marat said, "last time you were not official guests of the sanctuary. And you made your way to the Dragon Temple, far from any of the roads."
"The defences of Blackwell Keep show signs of failing," Grandma said. "Is the same true for the roads? This excursion would take Kendra and Seth far from the barrel back to Fablehaven."
"The High Road links two secure locations," Marat said. "It therefore enjoys the same magical protections afforded to Terrabelle as well as the safeguards of Blackwell Keep. The defences of Terrabelle have shown no sign of faltering. In effect, your grandchildren will be safer on the High Road and in Terrabelle than here at the keep."
"Then why don't they stay at Terrabelle instead?" Grandma asked.
"Neutrality," Grandpa said.
Marat nodded. "The Fair Folk would never grant long-term sanctuary to outsiders. As I mentioned, they could not be more committed to their neutrality."
"How are their defences better than here at the keep?" Seth asked.
"The Fair Folk possess one of the Seven Scepters of Wyrmroost," Marat said. "Each scepter establishes a protected sovereign territory within Wyrmroost. Even if the sanctuary fell, the territories with scepters could still stand."
"Didn't you say Celebrant got the scepter that used to be at Blackwell Keep?" Kendra asked.
"Yes," Marat said.
"Could that be the problem with our defences?" Kendra asked.
"One would suppose," Marat said. "But the medallion wields equal power with the scepter. The scepter at the keep was a redundancy."
"Can the medallion leave the keep without messing up the defences?" Seth asked.
"So long as it remains in the possession of the caretaker," Marat said. "The medallion has some safeguards built in. For example, if you are captured, Seth, simply say, 'medallion, medallion, medallion, return,' and the medallion will teleport back to the vault here inside the keep. The medallion will also teleport to the vault if you are slain."
"So I'll wear the medallion when we visit the Fair Folk?" Seth asked.
"The medallion is meant to be worn always," Marat said. "Send it back to the keep only in the event of a great emergency."
"When should they visit Terrabelle?" Grandma asked.
"I hoped to send them this afternoon," Marat said. "It is already an offense that the Fair Folk were not consulted before the appointment was made. We should introduce Kendra and Seth as soon as possible."
"You won't come?" Seth asked.
"No dragon would be welcome inside Terrabelle unless he was also the caretaker. Henrick will accompany you."
"What about Grandma and Grandpa?" Kendra asked.
"Best if you go alone," Marat said. "The Fair Folk know Henrick. As gamekeeper of Wyrmroost he is the only person who enjoys the same access as the caretaker. Any extra visitors strain their hospitality, and we've already insulted them."
"Makes sense," Grandpa said.
"Presenting a pair of youngsters as the new caretakers has a chance to arouse pity," Marat said. "Perhaps the Fair Folk will show mercy to them. Kendra, Seth, your first mission is to apologize for getting installed as the new caretakers without their permission. Second is to see if they have ideas as to why the defences of Blackwell Keep are becoming unstable."
"Wouldn't help with that matter violate their neutrality?" Grandpa asked.
"To a degree," Marat said. "But the Fair Folk have been known to share useful information in the past. It's worth a try."
"We're at a big disadvantage," Seth said. "If these folk are really fair, they'll help us."
"Not that kind of fair," Kendra said.
"Oh," Seth asked. "Are they so-so? Average?"
"Not that either," Kendra said.
"Fair like a carnival?" Seth asked. "With cotton candy?"
Kendra rolled her eyes. "Fair as in beautiful."
"Hopefully at least they will approve of you," Marat said. "Their opinion carries weight across the sanctuary. It could make the inhabitants more accepting of you two as caretakers. Or, conversely, it could influence some of those who dwell here to be unhelpful. With your youth and inexperience, you can use all the help you can get."
"Can Mendigo come?" Kendra asked.
"Mendigo lacks a will," Marat said. "This makes him more of a tool than an additional entity. His presence should not be a problem."
"What about me?" piped up Calvin. "If Kendra has her bodyguard, Seth should have his."
Seth took the Tiny Hero from his pocket.
Marat drew near and stared at Calvin. "You wish to join Kendra and Seth?"
"I've always wanted to meet the Fair Folk," Calvin said. "They are mentioned in some of our oldest tales, but I've never had the pleasure."
Marat stroked his goatee. "The Fair Folk do not appreciate outsiders. But they do enjoy novelties. There are no nipsies at Wyrmroost. Your kind are very rare. And as a matter of fact, Lord Dalgorel's daughter, Eve, has a particular interest in uncommon creatures, and your size lends you a certain innocence. You could probably accompany them."
"They might gawk at you," Seth warned.
"Probably," Marat said.
"Small price to pay," Calvin said with a smile.
"Kendra, Seth, how does this mission sound to you?" Grandpa asked. "You are the caretakers. Ultimately we are just your advisers."
"Seems like we should go," Kendra said.
"Right," Seth agreed.
Marat gave a small bow. "I'll send a message to the Fair Folk to confirm an audience with Dalgorel. Expect Henrick to come for you shortly after midday."
"What should we do in the meantime?" Seth asked.
"The sooner you get to know the staff, the better," Grandpa said.
"I agree," Marat said. "Your success gaining respect as legitimate caretakers must begin here."