Chapter 2: Wizenstone
Kendra would have felt guilty about what she had done if she had known it. She felt bad lying to her brother, but she couldn't let him turn the key. She couldn't live without Seth in her life, but he would be able to live without her.
She had trusted him to bring her back and had trusted herself to make good decisions. But everything seemed to be going down, down, down.
And now, she was standing in front of an open door with a boy and a older one coming up from behind him.
"Who are you?" Kendra asked, helplessly confused, "Where am I?"
"I'm Seth," the boy tried, "Your brother."
"My brother?" Kendra scrunched up her eyebrows, "How do I know that you are my brother? What am I doing here?"
The boy flinched, "Can't you see the family resemblance?" He asked hopefully.
Now that Kendra thought about it, they did look quite alike. They both had the same brown hair and skin color, but his eyes were a dark onyx and she was pretty sure her eyes were mossy green.
The man was now right behind the boy who claimed to be her brother, who clamped a hand on his shoulder.
"Kendra, come on," he said urgently, "we have to get the stone!"
"Ronodin?" The boy asked.
"Celebrant is coming!" The older boy persisted, "We must go!"
"What is going on!" Kendra asked.
"You have a glove on," Ronodin said to Kendra, "The boy is buttering up you, so he can steal it. so he can grab the wizenstone."
"He lies," Seth hissed.
"No he lies," Ronodin said, "He is trying to take advantage of you, Kendra. Look at the situation here! Seth has drawn a weapon and kidnapped you so you would be forced to turn the key!"
"What Is happening!" Kendra cried. Kendra was so hopelessly confused and had no idea of what to do. And now another man is coming.
"Turning the key to that door erased your memory," Ronodin said. "For now, just watch."
Ronodin released Seth but stayed near. Seth desperately wanted to go to his sister and help her understand, but Ronodin was right. They had no time. Thankfully, Kendra followed them. He knew this meant she didn't trust him, but he allowed himself to hope.
Kendra stayed quiet the whole time, no doubt trying to sort out her thoughts. Not to be mean, but he was glad his sister was being quiet. He couldn't deal with anything else right now.
They entered a windowless room with glowing globes of light and a pedestal at the center. Atop the pedestal sat a cut gemstone the size of a baseball. Geometrically complex, the crystalline jewel contained faint, scintillating hints of all colors in existence.
"The Wizenstone," Seth acknowledged in wonder.
Ronodin closed the door and briefly examined the knob. "Can't lock it from the inside," he said. Seth stood off to one side.
"What do I do?" Seth asked.
"Be smart," Ronodin said. "You don't have the rod, and Celebrant let you come here."
"We can't let him get it," Seth Said.
"No," Ronodin said. "We can't."
"Whose side are you on?" Seth asked. Ronodin laughed as if he were ridiculous.
"Mine." He glanced at Kendra. "And hers."
"You're not with her in any way," Seth corrected. "I'm her brother."
"Who is Celebrant?" Kendra asked.
"Bad guy," Seth said. "King of the dragons."
"What he said," Ronodin agreed. "Seth, Humbuggle is the greatest trickster the world has seen. He has guarded the Wizenstone for ages—long before coming here. Claiming the Wizenstone is bound to be more complicated than this appears."
"So I should do nothing?" Seth asked.
Ronodin gave him a measuring stare. "With Celebrant coming, if I thought I could just take the Wizenstone, what do you suppose I would be doing right now?" Seth frowned. "It might not be the real stone? Or it might be trapped?"
"You're starting to think like a survivor," Ronodin said.
"But Celebrant is coming with the Banishment Rod," Seth said.
"Isn't it exciting?" Ronodin asked. "Such high stakes, and all we can really do is improvise. We may not make it. We're too close to the action on this one, but we can't let him have the Wizenstone."
"I can't let you have it either," Seth said. "The feeling is mutual," Ronodin replied with a grin. The door opened. Celebrant entered, the Banishment Rod in his hand. Obregon followed. Behind them, Kendra caught a glimpse of gold and silver statues fighting before Obregon closed the door.
"Nobody has endeavored to claim the jewel?" Celebrant asked.
Seth tugged at his sleeve. "I will if you loan me the Banishment Rod."
"Such a generous offer," Celebrant said. "Thank you for granting us access and then stepping aside. I'll make your endings swift."
His eyes shifted to Ronodin. "What are you doing here?"
"Wouldn't have missed it," Ronodin said.
"You were listening when we spoke outside the black door," Celebrant said.
"I'm a good listener," Ronodin said. "You got here just ahead of us," Seth realized. "I hid in the room below as you went by," Ronodin said. "What matters is we are here."
Celebrant narrowed his eyes at Ronodin. "Do you mean to stop me?"
"I just like to be in the know," Ronodin said.
"I don't trust you," Celebrant said.
"If you did, you would be the first in a long time," Ronodin said.
Celebrant held out the Banishment Rod to Obregon. "Swear to me once more," he said.
"My king," Obregon replied, dropping to one knee. "You have always had my complete loyalty. May you reign forever. If you grant me the honor of retrieving the stone, I will stand in your place, claiming it in your name. I swear on my honor as a dragon, and on my ancestors and on my descendants, the stone is yours if I retrieve it."
"Take the rod," Celebrant said. Obregon rose and accepted the Banishment Rod.
"Quickly, now," Celebrant said. With the rod in one hand, Obregon strode to the pedestal, paused to examine the surrounding area for a moment, and then reached out to pick up the Wizenstone with his free hand. As soon as his fingers touched the surface of the jewel, he froze.
For a moment, his body began to jerk and then to vibrate intensely. With a flash of light, he changed to ash: clothes, breastplate, and all. The Banishment Rod clattered to the floor as the particles of ash spread out, percolating downward.
"Whoa," Seth said. "That guy turned into confetti." Kendra looked absolutely terrified. She seemed to have glanced at Ronodin, who watched Celebrant. The Dragon King glared at the Wizenstone, his body tense but still, fury held in restraint. After a moment he relaxed and folded his arms.
"Your turn to try, your majesty?" Ronodin ventured.
"Not yet," Celebrant growled. "I take it your golden minions cannot enter?" Ronodin asked.
"Only those in possession of themselves may cross the threshold," Celebrant said, enraged eyes never leaving the Wizenstone.
The door burst open, and Tregain stumbled into the room. "I'm not too late!" he exclaimed. Lunging at Seth, Tregain grabbed his hand with the silver glove. Seth yanked his hand away and did not turn to silver.
"Interesting," Ronodin said. "Not in here." Tregain glanced at Celebrant, then at the rod on the floor near the pedestal. Tregain charged for the rod. Celebrant took a step to intercept him, then stopped.
Tregain scooped up the rod and grabbed the Wizenstone. He did not move after taking hold of the jewel, nor did the gemstone. Tregain's body began to tremble and spasm until he vanished in a burst of ash.
The rod clattered to the floor again. Seth stared in amazement and horror. How was anyone supposed to claim the stone if it turned whoever touched it to ashes? Having the rod seemed irrelevant. No need to drive away a demon if your body evaporated.
Celebrant turned to Ronodin. "How do I claim it?" the Dragon King asked.
"I'm not sure," Ronodin said. Seth looked at Kendra. She watched from off to the side, clearly bewildered, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. The Banishment Rod lay unattended on the floor. Should he try it? Wouldn't she just turn to ash as well? Did the person have to be worthy? Might he be worthy?
His intentions were good. What if he waited? Celebrant did not seem to be in a hurry to take the risk of grabbing the stone. But he didn't have to rush. More dragons would probably come.
He had the luxury of time. Seth knew his opportunity to do something might not last for long. But what could she do? He most needed to prevent Celebrant from obtaining the Wizenstone. Or Ronodin. Given enough time, Celebrant would probably succeed. Seth looked at the rod on the ground. And suddenly an idea occurred. He dashed forward.
"Seth, are you sure?" Ronodin asked. Celebrant hushed him. He was not sure. But he was sure enough. It was worth a try. Celebrant would not be kind to her as a prisoner. He was mildly surprised to still be alive. Kendra was currently defenseless.
He might not get another chance to affect the outcome. Seth picked up the Banishment Rod, pointed it at the Wizenstone, and shouted,
"Begone!" The rod thrummed in his grasp. In a blink, the Wizenstone vanished. Only the empty pedestal remained. Relief flooded through Seth as he glanced over to find Ronodin smirking and Celebrant shouting. The Dragon King glowered at him, veins protruding in his neck. Humbuggle the dwarf appeared between them.
"Interesting choice," he said. "I'm afraid we'll have to call this contest a draw."
"Where is the stone?" Celebrant bellowed.
Humbuggle waved a dismissive hand. "Far away. Banished. None of your affair anymore. If you're angry, think about poor Tregain—he waited hundreds of years, only to get obliterated at the end."
"The Wizenstone is not meant to be owned," Ronodin said.
"I provided that hint in the poem," Humbuggle said. "Some people don't trust plain language."
"So you never own it," Ronodin went on. "You just set up contests for others to try to win it. Meanwhile, it is in your custody, and you use its powers to create your games."
"Enough out of you," Humbuggle said. With a clap of his hands, the Banishment Rod disappeared from Seth's grasp and went to him.
"It must be possible to win the contest, or else the magic wouldn't hold up," Ronodin said. "But you rig the game so the best a contestant can do is send the Wizenstone away, ending the contest and letting you start another."
"Nobody likes a heckler," Humbuggle said.
"You're the demon guarding the Wizenstone," Ronodin said. "The only hope of winning the contest is replacing you—"
Humbuggle leveled the rod at Ronodin and called out, "Return!" Ronodin vanished.
"What a bore," Humbuggle said. "Much too chatty. Some might say the curse of Stormguard Castle has ended. Some might call Seth a hero. I just say the contest is over, ending in a draw. The gloves have lost all power, and those who became gold, silver, or platinum are freed. The added passages I created are undone."
Seth felt enormous relief to hear that Tanu and the others who had been turned to precious metals would be all right. She would need to go get Knox from the Quiet Box.
"What about Jaleesa's arm?" Celebrant asked.
"She chose to attack after knowing the rules," Humbuggle said. "Lost limbs are lost limbs. Personal injuries are personal injuries."
"Obregon?" Celebrant asked.
"He chose to claim the unclaimable," Humbuggle said. "He and Tregain are as dead as they could be."
"What about Kendra?" Sethasked, hoping for good news.
"There have to be some consequences," Humbuggle said. "The girl made her choice with knowledge of the outcome. Access to the Wizenstone comes at a price."
"Can't you undo it?" Seth asked. "Can't I do something?"
"Rules are rules," Humbuggle said.
"Rules?" Seth asked, feeling a little sick with worry for his sister, hoping there might be some loophole.
"We were playing for the Wizenstone and we don't have it. Doesn't that violate the rules? Shouldn't you take away the punishments?"
"You chose to send the Wizenstone away," Humbuggle said. "You terminated the contest. The king and queen are freed. Life at Stormguard Castle can be much as it was before. I'll send you home, then I'll go elsewhere too. I salute you brave contestants. To have survived and ended this contest is an outcome only you have achieved."
"What if I don't want to go just yet?" Seth asked.
"Not really your choice," Humbuggle said. He swung the rod and cried, "Return!"
I Send It Away, Be Gone From Me. No. Come Back.