Chapter 15 – On the Run

It had been several long minutes after the conversation, and nearly the entire group was now waiting patiently in the living room. Grandpa had gone into his study in private to discuss the situation with his contacts over the phone, and they were expecting him to hopefully devise a rough plan of some sort.

After a rather drawn-out waiting period that came close to a quarter of an hour, Grandpa returned from his study. His face blank, Grandpa made his way over towards his easy chair and sat down.

"All right," he said. "I've spoken to both Agad and Bracken about everything. "Agad is on his way over here with the artifacts right now, but I don't expect him to arrive until either later tonight or even tomorrow."

"Why's it going to take him so long?" asked Seth.

"Well, as you know, Living Mirage is in Turkey. It's a little more than a stone's throw away from here, so getting from there to Fablehaven takes time."

"But he's a wizard with the artifacts," said Seth. "Couldn't he just use the Translocator?"

"None of these auxiliary instruments have been charged yet," said Grandpa. "And while Agad is a wizard, he does not possess the ability to activate them. And the magical creatures at Living Mirage either can't or won't help him. On top of that, there aren't any fairies currently residing at Living Mirage, since its shrine hasn't yet been restored."

"So how long's it going to take him to get here?" asked Seth.

"Hours," replied Grandpa. "You know how long airline flights can be."

"Airline?" asked Seth. "Can't he ride over here on one of the creatures at Living Mirage?"

"There are many creatures at Living Mirage who could give Agad a ride," answered Grandma. "Unfortunately, none of them are friendly enough to cooperate."

"Like those harpies," scoffed Warren.

"Okay," said Kendra, "so Agad's on his way. What about Bracken?"

"When I spoke to Bracken, I at first suggested that he come here. But he assured me that his work is very important, and that he cannot let his crew fall behind schedule, so he'd prefer it if we went to him."

"Who's going?" asked Warren.

"You, of course. And Kendra. Lance. David, because he's tied to Zavarok and needs to be treated. And... Seth. But only because he's the only one here who can communicate with Zavarok."

"What about us?" asked Bright.

Grandpa sighed. "I would rather you two stay here. Not only is your magic is failing, but Fablehaven is where you Fairy Angels belong. You need Fablehaven, and Fablehaven needs you."

"You have a point," said Clover. "But Bracken's currently closer to us than Agad, and the sooner we can get helped, the better."

"That may the case," said Grandpa. "But I'd rather you two stay away from David and Zavarok during all this."

Bright took in a deep breath. "You have a point. As caretaker of this preserve, your word is final."

Soon, everyone who was going on the expedition packed their gear together, and met up on the back porch of the house.

"So, where exactly is this Wyrmroost place?" asked David. "I've only ever heard of it."

"It's one of the seven dragon sanctuaries, right?" asked Lance.

"Correct," replied Warren. "Wyrmroost is located in Alberta. It's off limits to humans, but us Knights of the Dawn had to travel there last year to retrieve the key to the Dreamstone."

"Why's it off limits to humans?" asked David.

"Well, most of the creatures that reside there don't take very kindly to mortals. Fortunately, we'll be travelling there on Raxtus and Geminus. Since they live at Wyrmroost, getting in there won't be too difficult. They have clearance to bypass the distractor spell, and we'll be entering as their guests."

"You guys told me all about that previous trip to Wyrmroost," said Lance. "Lots of slayings and slaughtering, if I recall correctly, right? And Warren, isn't that when you got trapped in the knapsack?"

Warren shrugged. "Yeah... but things were different back then. A certain double-crosser was accompanying us, and we had to traverse the most treacherous parts of the sanctuary. This time, we're going straight to the fairy shrine."

The group made their way through the yard to the area where Raxtus and Geminus were currently waiting. While Geminus seemed indifferent to the whole situation, Raxtus looked quite perturbed. Dale was standing next to him.

"Oh, hello," said Raxtus forcefully.

"Hey... Raxtus," said Seth nervously.

"I heard all about it," said Raxtus. "You need our help to get to Wyrmroost, right?"

"You'll take us?" asked Kendra.

"I don't know," said Raxtus. "Normally, I'd love to help you guys out. But then I just think back to yesterday, and how fun that turned out to be!"

"Look, Raxtus..." said Seth. "I'm sorry."

"Possessing me?" asked Raxtus. "Riding me around the country like I'm your personal magic carpet? Freeing that witch? Getting me turned into a rat? How can you make up for all of that?"

"I'm sorry!" exclaimed Seth. "It was all very stupid of me! I was just trying to help David!"

"Raxtus has a point," said Grandpa. "Yes, Seth was very foolish. But this is not the time for a lecture. Raxtus, we desperately need your help. Please agree to fly the group to Wyrmroost as soon as you can."

"You want me to lead Seth right into my own home?" asked Raxtus. "After all that's happened?"

"Raxtus," said Kendra. "I know Seth can be really... stupid sometimes. But that doesn't mean..."

"I don't want to help him," said Raxtus. "I'll help the rest of you, but not Seth."

"Geminus," said Kendra, "maybe Seth could ride with you?"

"He's not coming," said Raxtus. "I won't allow it. Even if he were to grow wings."

Grandpa sighed. "We're desperate. Dale's explained the situation to you, and we need Seth to accompany the others due to his connection with Zavarok in case anything happens."

"Raxtus," said Geminus. "I know you're mad at Seth. I am too. But these people are our friends, and they need us. But I can't very well fly around carrying five humans at once."

"I don't want you flying around with one human, so long as that human is Seth Sorenson."

"Raxtus, please!" exclaimed Geminus.

Kendra was worried. She had never seen Raxtus get upset before.

"Have you forgotten everything I told you about last night?" asked Raxtus. "I am furious at Seth! Now look, I know that before you became a dragon, you were a fairy guardian, where you devoted your life to helping humans, but come on!"

Grandpa shook his head. "I guess I'll make arrangements with Trask and Aaron. I'm sure they'll help us. Though we might as well just wait around here for Agad to show up if that's the case."

"You're right, Raxtus, said Geminus. "I am a fairy at heart. I do devote myself to helping others. You know why? Because it's the right thing to do. It's what separates me from all the other fairies who keep to themselves and flutter around all day, admiring their reflection. Your admiration is what I like about you. Well, that, as well as your courage, general attitude, beautiful body..."

Raxtus blushed. "All right, all right. I get the point."

"Then you'll help?" asked Geminus.

"Yes," said Raxtus. "But only because it's the right thing to do. I'm still not happy about Seth."

"Raxtus," said Geminus, placing her claw up his shoulder, "I know you're upset. But if you can't get over what Seth did, you're not much better than he was. Mistreating you, even if it he had good intentions, was wrong. But not getting over that, and refusing to help the Knights, isn't anything to be proud about either. Just acknowledge that Seth was foolish, and move on."

Raxtus stepped up in front of Seth. "All right," he said. "Seth Sorenson. Do you apologize for your actions yesterday?"

Seth nodded. "Absolutely. I'll never do that ever again. I promise. Not just to you, but to anyone."

"You can do it to a villain," said Warren. "If you can pull that sort of thing off again."

Raxtus extended his claw. "I forgive you. Apology accepted."

Seth placed his hands around Raxtus' extended claw, and the dragon shook them.

"But don't you ever even so much as think of doing that to me again," said Raxtus, retracting his claw.

"Wouldn't dream of it," said Seth. "I learned my lesson."

"So we're really going to get to see Wyrmroost?" asked Lance.

"As little of it as possible," said Warren. "You should be thankful we've got no intention of taking the scenic route."

"Just as well," said Geminus. "As respected as Raxtus and myself are among the creatures of Wyrmroost, we'd become more than the laughing stock if any creatures found out that we regularly socialize with humans under our own power."

"To what extent?" questioned Raxtus. "But big deal. I don't care what others think of me. I've always been a wallflower."

"Yeah, but the last thing we need are people getting hurt," stated Geminus. "Anyway, if we make a beeline for the fairy shrine, things might not be so bad."

Before long, everyone was ready to take off for Wyrmroost. Kendra and Warren seated themselves upon Raxtus' back, while Geminus toted Seth, Lance and David.

"Are you okay with passenger arrangements, Geminus?" asked Warren.

"I guess so. Raxtus is wary about these three right now, so I'll take care of them."

"Don't worry," said Kendra. "If the rest of us are around, Seth should be smart enough not to try anything stupid."

"Gee, thanks," muttered Seth.

Raxtus looked around. "I guess we're ready to take off. You'll take good care of Vanessa, right?"

"Don't worry," said Dale, holding the hatchling in his arms. "Best to keep her away from adventuring until she's a bit older."

"We'll be back as soon as we can!" said Geminus, as she and Raxtus both darted forward. Once they picked up some speed, they extended their wings and proceeded to lift off into the air. They rose higher and higher above the grounds of Fablehaven, until they were soaring up into the sky, heading in a westward direction.

The flight to Wyrmroost was both lengthy and nerve-wracking. Although Raxtus and Geminus were flying at their usual speed, the trip seemed to be taking longer than Kendra or Seth envisioned. Additionally, the current situation had everyone on their toes. Couldn't the fairies have just resolved the issue with Zavarok already? And what would become of Hespera? It was the lack of any solid answers to these questions that had everybody from Fablehaven pondering over the outcome.

It was slightly before noon when Warren ordered Raxtus and Geminus to fly down from the sky and towards the ground. They came down towards a large city, which was easy for everybody to identify as Toronto due to the presence of the CN Tower standing among the rest of the skyline.

The dragons came to a stop in a large park, not too far from the downtown core, and their riders dismounted from their backs.

"This place is beautiful," said Kendra, admiring the vibrant, autumn colors of the deciduous trees, nestled among numerous evergreens. "Reminds me of Fablehaven a bit."

"We've only came to High Park to get some lunch," said Warren. "Raxtus, Geminus, wait here, we'll be back in a bit."

Warren led the group to a nearby cafe within the park, and everybody placed their orders for lunch. Soon they were served, and everybody their meal. When the waitress came around with the bill, Warren placed small fistful of Canadian bills and coins on the table, and directed the group out of the cafe.

"I didn't know you had Canadian money on you, Warren," said Seth. "I wouldn't have thought of bringing any."

"When you go adventuring as much as I do, you learn to be ready for anything. Besides, we're not just passing through Canada. Wyrmroost itself is in Canada."

The group soon returned to where the dragons were waiting, but were surprised to see that Raxtus looked exhausted.

"What's wrong with Raxtus?" asked Kendra worriedly. "He looks feint."

Raxtus groaned in response.

"I don't know what's come over him," said Geminus. "Just after you guys left, he started acting this way."

"Well, we brought you guys some food from the cafe," said Warren, presenting a paper bag to Geminus. "Maybe if Raxtus eats, he'll feel revitalized."

"Geminus dumped the contents of the bag into her free claw, and saw about one dozen cheeseburgers, all wrapped in paper.

"It's worth a try," said Geminus, presenting half of the cheeseburgers to Raxtus. The male dragon accepted the cheeseburgers, but unwrapped and ate them at a much slower rate than Geminus.

After gulping down the last hamburger, Raxtus licked his mouth, then shook his head. "Thanks for the food. Although I'm no longer hungry, I still feel weak."

"You appear to be in excellent health," said Warren, looking the dragon over.

"Oh no," said Lance. "You don't think it's Zavarok, do you?"

"Don't blame us!" blurted Seth. "David and I didn't do anything! We've been with you this whole time."

"And I'm still wearing the bracelet," said David, pointing to the fairy jewelry on his wrist.

"This may be a residual effect from earlier," said Warren. "Raxtus is a fairy dragon, and he spent a lot of time with you boys yesterday, did he not? While he was able to resist Zavarok's dark energy due to being stronger than a typical garden fairy, it must have ultimately overwhelmed him by now."

"Well, what can we do?" asked Kendra.

"What we were doing in the first place," said Warren. "Keep venturing to Wyrmroost and hope that the fairies there will be able to help him."

"But... I don't think I can fly much further," said Raxtus wearily. "I feel too weak."

"Oh great," said David. "We're how far from Wyrmroost?"

"Only three provinces away," said Warren. "Three provinces that are larger than any U.S. state that isn't Alaska... Yeah we're still pretty far."

"I'll never make it," said Raxtus. "Can't we just wait here for a while? This park is so nice."

"You'll only get worse if you don't get treated," said Warren.

"I think I'll get worse if I keep moving," said Raxtus. "What would you humans do if you didn't ride us for transportation?"

"Well we'd take more plane rides," said Seth.

"That's it!" said Warren. "We'll take a plane!"

"To Wyrmroost?" asked Kendra.

"We would, but I'm pretty confident that place doesn't have an airport. We can go to Calgary. It's not too far from there. All we've got to do is get to the airport, get on the next plane to Calgary, and it won't be much further to Wyrmroost at all."

Raxtus groaned. "All right. I'll try. Sounds easier than flying across three provinces."

The group climbed back on to the dragons, and they took off, flying over more of the city. After several minutes, they could see the airport up ahead, where a plane had just taken off from a runway.

"All right," said Warren. "Get ready to descend."

"Clear the runway," said Raxtus, as he and Geminus began to fly down towards the airport. "I think I'm gonna crash."

"Raxtus, hang in there!" said Kendra. Please, just be careful!"

The two dragons landed upon the roof of one of the airport terminals, where their riders dismounted them once again.

"So, how are the five of us, let alone two dragons, supposed to ride on a plane?" asked David.

"Simple," said Warren. "We're not going to ride on a plane. We're going to ride on a plane."

"Say what?" asked Lance.

"Forget the tickets!" said Warren. "Not all of us have our passports on us, and it'd be too hard to explain our situation to the ticket agent. Besides, we can't bring the dragons along, so they'd just be lingering outside the plane anyway."

"So, which plane do we board?" asked Lance, scouring the airport's many runways.

"I'm going to go inside the airport and find out when the next plane to Calgary is. Thankfully, we're already in one Canadian city, so finding a plane to another one shouldn't be too hard. You kids wait here with the dragons, I'll be back soon."

"Now what?" asked David," while they all watched Warren leap down to a lower part of the roof.

"We wait," said Kendra. "Like Warren said to."

"You worried we'll run off?" asked Seth.

"Wouldn't be the first time."

"Where are we going to go?" asked Seth. "We're stuck on the roof of a busy airport!"

"Those fries I had with my lunch made me thirsty," said Lance. "I want a drink!"

"No one's going anywhere until Warren gets back," said Kendra.

"I've got some drinks in my supply kit," said Seth, opening his bag. He reached in and handed a juice box to Lance.

"What's that?" asked Kendra, pointing to a vial inside the bag that she managed to catch a glimpse of.

Seth smacked his head. "How could I forget? I was worried that Zavarok's presence might overwhelm David even with the bracelet, so Tanu offered this potion to me. But he said to drink it only in a dire emergency, since it's the only one he had."

"Please," said Raxtus, "if it'll weaken the presence within me, may I please have it?"

"I guess," said Seth, handing the vial to Raxtus. "Let's just hope David doesn't need it too."

Raxtus gulped down the potion. "Thank you. I don't know if it'll do much, but let's hope so."

Some time later, Warren returned, holding a slip of paper. "Sorry I took so long, but there was a big line. But I got info for the next plane to Calgary, as well as the runway."

"Where is it?" asked Kendra.

Warren looked around, then pointed to a plane that was moving down a runway. "There it is."

Suddenly, the plane began to rise, and Warren looked at his watch. "Oops."

"We're not missing our ride!" said Raxtus, as he grabbed hold of Warren and Kendra. "Come on Geminus! We've got a plane to catch!"

Seth, Lance and David leapt onto Geminus' back and the two dragons flew off towards the rising plane. Geminus flew ahead of Raxtus and landed upon the empennage of the plane.

"Come on, Raxtus!" said Geminus, as she extended her arms for Raxtus to grab hold of. He was only a few feet behind, but was still flying on his own.

"Hurry!" said Warren. "Before the plane starts going too fast!"

Raxtus stretch his arms forward, and just barely locked fingers with Geminus. The female dragon pulled him forward onto the plane, just as it took off into the sky.