The Fairy Realm.
Warren gave the book from the future to the unicorn, who obviously was doubting a bit.
"How bad it could be? I will assume you will bring Kendra to the land of the unicorns for a nice day and give her a basic general tour. I don't see how any of that info could do any bad if someone just read that. Or you don't trust this group even after Zzyzx?" Vanessa said with a smirk.
Bracken glanced at the Blix, despite having been allies in a massive war, the two barely got along, the best they could manage was to just ignore each other with some occasional glares.
"I guess that no information from this chapter should realistically hurt." Bracken said slowly, as he looked at the page.
The Fairy Realm.
A pair of oars propelled the rowboat toward the tiny island, stirring up miniature whirlpools with each powerful stroke. Twelve graceful pavilions surrounded the modest lake, connected by whitewashed boardwalks. Beyond the pavilions, satyrs wrestled on green fields encompassed by hedge walls.
Kendra knew that most at Fablehaven feared the Fairy Queen's shrine. The typical trespasser would be immediately turned to dandelion fluff. It had happened before.
"We were told once that it happened, and you believe it's only dandelions? I'm sure a lot of cooler stuff has happened for trespassing." Seth said.
Kendra shrugged, as Seth looked at Bracken for confirmation.
"My mother has told me some fun stories about trespassers, apparently, there was someone incredibly greedy that wanted the area of a shrine, and the Fairy Queen turned him into a big cake, which a satyr found not too long after." Bracken told.
Newel and Doren looked at Seth in detail.
"Hm, Seth cake?" Newel asked.
"Sounds gross and hard to eat, would probably keep moving and jumping all the time." Doren answered.
"Ha, ha, goat cake doesn't really sound delicious either." Seth answered while rolling his eyes.
But today was more exciting than scary. Bracken sat opposite her in the rowboat, manning the oars, eyes on her as he guided the craft. Though she knew he was a unicorn, Kendra had never seen him in his horse shape. Bracken had become trapped in human form after surrendering his third and final horn to create an artifact that helped lock the demon prison. All Kendra had ever seen was a teenage boy who looked a couple of years older than her. His silver-blond hair, boyishly handsome features, flawless skin, and penetrating eyes hinted at his true identity—son of the Fairy Queen, a young man of astonishing power and purity.
"Well, thank you for telling everyone else again about me I guess." Said Bracken with a small laugh to Kendra.
She blushed a bit, and suddenly had a thought... will the books reveal the thoughts from her or Seth when it's their point of view!? That could lead to very awkward and uncomfortable moments.
And she suspected he might have romantic feelings for her. But despite her best efforts to crack his shell, he kept his distance. She was still hoping for a first kiss!
Right away, Kendra covered her face with her hands, as Bracken blushed deeply.
Seth instantly began to smooch and kiss with the air as he sent a devilish smile to his sister.
"I... those books are just exaggerations! They, need to add some flavour!" Kendra exclaimed, feeling incredibly awkward that just like that, the books basically revealed a confession.
"Kendra, they can't really add flavour, those aren't just some fantasy books, those are reality, our future, so in a not distant future..." Vanessa said as she looked at the future couple.
"I'm not really in the love business, because no dragon would be with me like that, but it was easy to notice what you thought to be honest." Raxtus pointed out, Kendra looked at him and he gave a nervous smile.
"It's true, but you shouldn't get so nervous about this, expressing yourself is good." Tanu commented.
Hank and Gloria were smiling at Kendra, while Stan and Ruth were in thought, Kendra slowly looked at Bracken, his perfect face was quite red... He looked back at her and made a sign to tell the girl they'll talk later about this, as he stopped looking at Kendra and the crowd around, and stared at the book, and kept reading to make everyone focus on it for now.
"Are you sure this is all right?" Kendra asked as the prow of the boat slid against the muddy bank of the island.
He flashed a reassuring smile. "I told you my mother granted permission. That is the definition of 'all right' in the fairy realm."
"No humans have ever been there?" Kendra asked.
"Never," Bracken said. "You're setting a new precedent. Mother kept it closed off to the outside world, especially after Gorgrog captured Father."
Kendra shivered at the mention of the Demon King. She could still picture him, titanic in size, a vast tangle of contorted antlers sprouting from his bullish head. Chains had dangled from his wide belt, allowing him to drag around his most prized victims, including the Fairy King. After Kendra had killed the Demon King with Vasilis, the Fairy King had been rescued.
"I mean, he wasn't that scary, you killed him in seconds with like a single slash." Seth pointed out.
"I was using one of the most magic and powerful swords out there." Kendra argued. It was ridiculous to say the Demon King was just nothing.
"How is your father?" Kendra asked.
Bracken lowered his eyes. "Not much has changed since we found him. His body is whole, but he keeps to himself and hardly speaks. Others still have to feed him, though at times he will wander on his own."
"I'm so sorry," Kendra said.
"I'm sorry from the past too, that we have to read those conversations, I know it must be tough to talk about that." Kendra said, trying to look at Bracken despite the incident just a few minutes ago.
The unicorn smiled at her.
"Don't worry, if with those books we can stop a calamity, I'm willing to read and hear anything, no matter how tough, or awkward it gets." He said.
Kendra managed to smile back, and then blushed a bit when Bracken looked back at the book, maybe the situation wasn't ruined after all.
Bracken brightened. "It's not your fault. Kendra, you saved him. Most of us figured he was dead. I wish we had known! I would have mounted a rescue. Mother warned me his recovery would take time. After all, he was dragged around inside Zzyzx for centuries, chained to the Demon King. It's a miracle he survived."
"I can't imagine how horrible that would have been," Kendra said, trying not to picture it.
"We're lucky to have him back." Bracken vaulted gracefully from the rowboat and Kendra followed, unable to avoid noticing how clumsy and slow her efforts seemed compared to his effortless coordination. Watching her with eyes that made her feel like the only real thing in the universe, Bracken took her hand.
Three female heads popped up out of the pond not far from the island, and three eager smiles gleamed.
"Hi, Bracken," one of the naiads called in a flirty singsong.
"Pretty day," another remarked coyly.
"Care for a swim?" the third offered.
Kendra frowned. Normally naiads only welcomed men into their waters so they could drown them. But Bracken was different. Part of his superstar status among magical creatures meant naiads actually wanted his affection. Normally the aquatic maidens would have harassed the rowboat, but the crossing had been tranquil. Kendra had even seen Bracken carelessly throw off his shirt and swim with the naiads before, never experiencing any trouble.
"I can't imagine actually swimming alongside the naids, and not experiencing any trouble or attempted drowning." Warren said.
"A lot of men wish that they could do that. Do you?" Vanessa suddenly said to Warren.
"I prefer having my two feet in the land, just like my name says." Warren replied.
"Hi, Chiatra!" Bracken said. "Good to see you, Zolie! Hey, Ulline."
Kendra watched the naiads blush as their names were spoken.
"Sorry, I can't swim right now," Bracken went on. "I'm taking Kendra to the fairy realm."
Three sets of glaring eyes fixed on Kendra.
"Did you need somebody to sweep up the place?" Chiatra teased.
"Is she going to be sacrificed?" Zolie wondered.
"It's part of our job to forbid the unworthy," Ulline said.
"Be nice, ladies," Bracken said. "Your orders come from my mother. You know Kendra is coming with permission, as my guest."
Ulline and Zolie rolled their eyes and disappeared beneath the water.
Chiatra looked Kendra up and down with naked disgust. "I don't get it," she said before vanishing below the gently rippling surface.
"Your fan club doesn't approve," Kendra said. The naiads all had lovely faces. Kendra knew any of them would belong to Bracken in a heartbeat if he showed any interest.
"Don't waste any thought on them. They're silly and harmless."
"Unless they drown me."
Bracken furrowed his brow. "I'll talk to Mother. We ought to forbid that."
"Yeah, could your mom make it so the niads never try to drown anyone living here? I would like to see how it is there underwater" Seth said.
Bracken denied with his head.
"The water there is their territory, we could make it so you can cross in boats without risk of being drowned, but it would just annoy the naids if people could casually go down there. They would be forced to obey, but it wouldn't be nice." He explained.
Seth sighed, maybe someday...
He led the way to where a spring bubbled up out of the ground. A two-inch statue of a fairy stood nearby atop a small pedestal. A silver bowl rested close at hand as well. It had been some time since Kendra had visited the Fairy Queen's shrine.
"How do we cross over?" Kendra asked.
"Simple," Bracken said, but he suddenly seemed hesitant.
"What?" Kendra asked.
His posture slumped a little. "There has been a lot of buildup to this. I don't want you to be disappointed."
"Really? I will literally visit the Fairy Realm, and you think I'll be disappointed?" Kendra questioned.
"I'm sure it will be a desirable view in some months, but it is disappointing how you will have to look at a worse version." Bracken answered.
"Why would I be disappointed?"
Bracken grimaced. "The splendor of the old fairy realm was unreal. We sacrificed all that to create a new prison for the demons. Zzyzx was a mess when Mother and the others claimed it and began to transform it. This new home is still developing."
"It makes me sad to think of the demons wrecking your old realm."
"It's what got them inside," Bracken said. "In all their millennia of evil, none of them even saw the fairy realm. The chance to go there and spoil it was too hard to resist. Especially when the alternative was to fight dragons. Before they knew it, our old home became their new prison."
"And their prison became your new home," Kendra said.
"It was available," Bracken said. "Like our previous realm, the prison was a pocket dimension tied to your reality. The demons left the way open, and we were free to move in. There was lots of space. We've put in loads of work. Don't forget, Zzyzx held many of the most powerful demons in the world for thousands of years. It wasn't just a mess—it was horrifying. Nobody can purify like unicorns. And beautifying is what fairies do. But plenty of work remains."
"Can I help?" Kendra asked.
"Who knows?" Bracken replied. "Your fairykind status makes you a powerful source of magical energy."
"I'd love to be your battery," Kendra said. "I can't wait to see your home."
"Hm, what kind of battery?" Seth asked with a smirk, Kendra answered by throwing a pillow from the couch right into his face.
"I'll show you a lot," Bracken said. "Mother won't let anyone inside the palace yet. She refuses to accept anything short of perfection there."
"Maybe I can drop by again," Kendra said.
"Once we set the precedent of you visiting, I expect Mother will keep having you back. It is very difficult to get to know my mother. I'm only beginning to understand her myself. But when you killed Gorgrog, you made a friend for life."
"I hope so," Kendra said. "The Fairy Queen has always been good to me." "She doesn't grant fairykind status to many," Bracken said. "Mother liked you even before you freed her husband. After the battle at Zzyzx, I don't think she has more respect for any human."
Kendra thought about the barrage of fairy kisses that had made her fairykind. Since that day she had understood the languages of the fairy folk and didn't need special food or drink to see the magical creatures at Fablehaven or elsewhere. She could energize magical items, see in the dark, speak several languages, and who knew what else? Her abilities were still emerging. How would the Fairy Queen feel if someday her only son proclaimed his love for a human girl? Would Kendra's fairykind status make her more acceptable?
Kendra blushed. Why was it necessary to keep repeating her feelings!? That was most likely unimportant compared to things like... the dragons and such.
The unicorn had stopped for a moment once again, but quickly kept reading a few seconds afterwards.
"Do you think we'll see your mom?" Kendra asked.
"She spends a lot of time in the palace with Father," Bracken said. "If we run across her, she'll probably be in horse shape. She likes to go for runs in that form."
Kendra had been surprised to learn that the queen of the fairies was actually a unicorn. Unlike Bracken, she still had her third horn, so she could take horse shape whenever she pleased. She could also appear as a beautiful woman.
"Ready?" Bracken asked.
"What do I do?" Kendra asked.
A rippling glare of whiteness accompanied a disorienting sensation. Kendra recalled a similar feeling when she stood in the shallows on a beach while the water pulled away. As the seawater withdrew all around her, she had seemed to be in motion while standing still. She felt that same way now.
When the whiteness dissipated, Kendra stood in a blossoming field. The cloudless sky was a golden orange with streaks of red and yellow. Peculiar flowers thrived in all directions, flaunting colors more luminous and bright than any Kendra had ever seen. The blossoms were of such diverse shape and size that Kendra wondered whether they were tropical or if perhaps they existed only here.
Bracken's apprehension had led Kendra to envision a charred landscape with clusters of flowers beginning to grow and shoots of young grass coming up. She certainly had not expected flawless gardens stretching across rolling countryside to the limits of sight.
Many in the room were reading very interested, only the dragon and the unicorn out of the presents had seen either Fairy Realm, and this one will be like that months later, so at least they'll listen the details as much as they can.
"I'm sure you never expected a Blix to start hearing a description of your realm, am I right?" Vanessa asked.
"Blixes have never showed much interest on the place to begin with, this is quite the first in many things." Bracken answered.
"It's beautiful," Kendra gushed.
"It's a start," Bracken said. "A big improvement from before. Come this way."
He escorted Kendra to a broad, shallow stream where shimmering water tumbled down a series of rocky shelves. Several fairies waded in the silvery flow. All were taller than Kendra, built with the lithe athleticism of ballerinas, with bright, extravagant wings and lovely young faces.
"Big fairies," Kendra said. "Like the warriors at Zzyzx."
"Fairies tend to be full-sized here," Bracken said. "Would the tiny fairies at Fablehaven grow if they visited?" Kendra asked.
"Most would, but Mother wouldn't trust the majority with such power," Bracken said. "Fairies can be so foolish."
"I heard that," said an extremely fit fairy with striking red hair and glittering green eyes. She fluttered over and landed before Bracken, legs wet to the shins.
"The fairies here are exceptions to that rule," Bracken explained smoothly. "Tinori, meet Kendra."
"Hello," Kendra said, trying not to feel intimidated as she looked up at a face that belonged on a fashion magazine cover. Thanks to her fairykind status, Kendra knew that fairies were supposed to obey her. But she wasn't sure if that applied to these larger ones.
"They would, your status applies to most fairies in general, really only Mother can actually overrule your orders." Bracken explained.
Kendra looked down, so she was literally second in power at ruling the fairies literally just behind the Queen herself... so much power, Kendra felt nervous about potentially doing some terrible order that could ruin everything.
When she looked up, Kendra saw Bracken giving her a soft smile, she calmed down, with someone like him, it would be very hard for her to ever use her power wrong.
"I remember you," Tinori said with a broad smile. "You killed Gorgrog."
"Yes," Kendra said, grateful to have some notoriety. "You must have been at the battle."
"I lost most of my left wing," Tinori said, spreading her elaborate wings wide. Both looked perfect to Kendra, with colors like stained glass backlit by sunlight. "It's been healed, of course."
"They're so pretty," Kendra said.
"You," Tinori said, bopping her on the nose with a fingertip, "know the way to a fairy's heart." She gave a squinty, self-satisfied smile and flitted away, her wings allowing her to turn gentle skips into soaring leaps.
"She's a little jealous," Bracken whispered. "You're so radiant."
Kendra glanced at her hands. They looked normal to her. Ever since she had become fairykind, certain magical creatures would comment on her radiance. Kendra had never really perceived it.
"At least she spoke to me," Kendra said. None of the other fairies had glanced her way.
"Tinori has more confidence than most," Bracken said. "You know how fairies get. This is their special realm. You're the first human to come here. You killed the Demon King. You shine brighter than any of them. It's a sure recipe for envy."
"Could you describe that radiance of mine some more? I'm actually curious, is it like an aura around me, like a spotlight or...?" Kendra asked.
"You outright have a nearly blinding shine." Bracken stated.
"I can confirm, I can perceive it, and my senses are pretty good due to being a dragon, sometimes I had to focus my eyes more on you since the light can sometimes make you a silhouette." Raxtus stated.
"And your emotions can change how your light is perceived, if you are angry or determined, you can be seen like a volcano, but one that can erupt light instead." Bracken finished.
Like in the book, Kendra glanced at her hands, such a powerful light that could nearly blind, yet the one that could perceive it the least... was Kendra herself.
The tiny fairies back at Fablehaven had been generally nicer to Kendra since she became fairykind. She supposed their sizes were so different that it was easier for them not to view her as competition.
"This way," Bracken said, leading Kendra toward a bridge composed of smooth, rounded stones in several shades of blue.
She passed a fragrant flower the size of a barrel and a shrub twinkling with numberless glittery petals. The perfume in the air was almost rich enough to taste.
"Seems like you're already finished," Kendra said.
"This area is more polished than some," Bracken said. "But the land needs more shape and character. Some big trees would add a lot—ancient groves, or forests in their prime. And we have very few structures. We can do grass and flowers quickly."
"It's a paradise," Kendra said.
Bracken winked. "Trust me, it'll be more impressive in years to come."
As they crossed the bridge, a pair of astrids landed in front of them, brawny men with golden, feathery wings. Removing gilded helmets crafted to resemble the heads of owls, they bowed low.
"You look familiar," Kendra said to one of them.
"I'm Denwin," he replied. "This is Peredor. We were both at the battle of Zzyzx."
"Prince Bracken," Peredor said, "Jubaya has announced that she will confer with us."
Bracken raised an eyebrow.
"What a less convenient timing there..." He stated.
"Who is that Jubaya?" Seth asked.
"One of the remaining demons." Explained the unicorn.
"Demons are still lurking there, despite it being your own realm?" Questioned Vanessa.
"You know how they work, they are filled with tricks and defenses." Bracken defended himself and kept reading.
"Now?" Bracken asked. "I'm giving Kendra a tour."
"I believe that is why we got the offer," Peredor said. "Jubaya expressed interest in conversing with her."
"Absolutely not," Bracken said.
"Was that you actually saying that in the book, or you reacting to that statement?" Vanessa then asked.
"The book says it, but I would basically say it now anyway." He answered.
"Why would a demon want to speak with me?" Kendra asked worried.
"Which demon wouldn't want that? You literally just killed their king. I'm sure the two of us are famous among demonkind." Seth bragged.
"I wouldn't consider that a thing to be proud of." Stan said, glaring at Seth.
"You are not helping." Kendra said to her brother.
Wondering what is going to happen, Bracken quickly kept reading.
"Who is Jubaya?" Kendra asked.
"A demon," Bracken grumbled.
"You still have demons here?" "Not all of the demons exited Zzyzx with the horde," Bracken explained. "We've purged most who remained, but a few have proven tough to root out."
"You can't get rid of her?" Kendra asked.
"She's hiding in a sludge pit," Bracken said. "There is ancient magic there, deep and dark. Plus her touch corrupts. Unicorns have temporarily purified the top layer of sludge, but the pool becomes tainted again immediately."
"This opportunity could bring her to the surface," Peredor said.
"Out of the question," Bracken replied. "The risk is too great."
"How can I help?" Kendra asked, a little offended that nobody was checking her opinion.
"I will agree with myself, I fought in the demon war and battled the demon king, why can't I help against one demon in your own realm?" Kendra asked slightly annoyed.
"You believe some random demon will just kill Kendra? Wow, I guess you really consider your troops incompetent." Seth said.
Seth could perfectly understand the feeling of being denied something, and being "Why though?" so this time, he agreed with his sister.
"It's not about that, I just don't see a point to bring any risk at all in the day that Kendra would just enjoy the Fairy Realm." Bracken argued back.
"You can't just expect any day to be truly free of any risk, especially knowing that magic creatures exist." Warren then said.
"What is life without some adventure?" Doren asked.
"I don't like Kendra being put in risk if possible... but I have to agree with the general argument, you can't choose for her." Ruth said to Bracken.
The unicorn sighed, he will just try to protect Kendra for at least one day, and everyone tells him that he was in the wrong for ignoring her opinion. And Bracken knew, that ignoring her was wrong.
"Chiefly as bait, so to speak," Denwin said.
"The demon requested you by name."
"That doesn't sound too bad," Kendra said. After all, she had defeated the Demon King and faced his fierce army. Here she would be surrounded by allies. What could Jubaya do? "How dangerous is she?"
"We have a dozen of our best warriors in place," Peredor said. "We could get another dozen there. I'm confident we could protect you. And maybe capture her."
Bracken frowned. "What about Mizelle?"
"She's on her way," Peredor said.
"Who is Mizelle?" Kendra asked.
"One of my sisters," Bracken said. "She leads the warrior fairies."
Kendra laid a hand on Bracken's arm. "If this would give you a chance to catch the demon . . . "
"She's cornered," Bracken said. "That's never a safe scenario. A desperate demon could get vicious. I'd rather seal up the sludge pit, leave her there until the end of time."
"You are now sounding a bit too desperate to protect your princess, just leaving a demon in there forever? Seriously dude?" Seth pointed out.
Bracken sighed, this situation was making him look like a joke.
"Begging your pardon," Denwin said, "but can you imagine your mother leaving such an impurity in her realm, sealed up or not?"
"You're right," Bracken said, folding his arms.
"Let me do it," Kendra urged. "I'll be careful."
"I don't like it."
"You have plenty of people to protect me. This could be a chance to get rid of some trouble. Let me do this. I insist."
Bracken sighed. "From what I understand, Jubaya isn't much of a fighter. But she'll undoubtedly play mind games."
"I'll play them right back," Kendra said, feeling brave. "I've been on much riskier adventures than this."
"You know, I'm glad to see my future sister is actually becoming willing to do dangerous things by herself, maybe she'll be funnier to hang out with in a decade." Seth interrupted.
"I will never go with you to steal treasure alongside two goat men." Kendra answered.
"Shame, would be interesting to see if you could have some amazing treasure hunting powers." Newel sighed.
Bracken shook his head. "Don't be so sure. Jubaya wants access to you for a reason. She sees an opportunity."
"I'll keep my guard up," Kendra said. "So will you. It's an opportunity for us, too."
"Very well," Bracken relented. "But at the first sign of trouble . . ."
"You'll bail me out," Kendra finished.
"Shall we transport you?" Denwin asked eagerly.
"Probably for the best," Bracken said.
Peredor scooped Kendra into his strong arms, cradling her, and sprang into the air, powerful wings turning the leap into flight. Looking down at the receding bridge and stream, Kendra saw Bracken rising as well, dangling from Denwin's ankles, using the astrid like a hang glider
The higher they rose, the more blooming fields and winding streams Kendra could see. Zzyzx had apparently been a very large place, and so was the new fairy realm. In the distance, Kendra could see other astrids heading their way, light glinting off golden feathers and armor.
From her loftier vantage point, Kendra also noticed some parts of Zzyzx the fairies had not yet reclaimed. Off to one side, a row of harsh, fanglike rocks interrupted a series of low, green hills. Sickly fumes steamed from a dark chasm that cut across an idyllic garden like a wound. And up ahead churned a bubbling pond of oily sludge.
The persons in the room could see the pretty sad faces in the unicorn and dragon's faces, having both seen the Fairy Realm on its full glory, reading about it being tainted like that was clearly not nice for them.
Peredor swooped down and landed in tall grass within view of the roiling pond. He set Kendra on her feet as Bracken landed beside them. The reek of the pond overpowered the aroma of the nearby flowers with a foul stench like molten tar and sulfur.
"The fairy realm is huge," Kendra said.
"It's big," Bracken agreed. "Even up high we couldn't see more than a fraction of it. But the sky here does not extend to outer space like it does on Earth. Our atmosphere eventually fades away. And if you go too far in any direction, the ground dwindles to nothing as well."
"Can you fall off the edge?" Kendra asked.
"It would take great effort and powerful magic," Bracken said. "As you get to the edge, you ordinarily get turned around and head back toward the center. Same if you fly too high—you start heading down when you thought you were going up."
"Hm, the edge of a magic pocket dimension, probably either something cool, or an infinite fall for all eternity." Warren said.
"Well, anyone not immortal wouldn't fall for all eternity, they'd die of hunger, thirst, or old age if they somehow got all those resources for years." Tanu pointed out.
"A withering body falling forever, I guess it doesn't sound as good." Warren said to that.
"Strange," Kendra said.
"This is not actually a world—just a pocket dimension attached to your world."
I would speak with the girl! The words hit Kenda's mind like a shout, though her physical ears detected nothing.
"That is a demon talking, alright." Seth commented, remembering his time at Living Mirage and talking with Nagi Luna. Why do demons always have to shout right in their minds?
Perhaps a conversation can be arranged, Bracken thought back calmly.
You wish to capture me. I will not let that occur. But I may strike a bargain.
We're listening, Jubaya, Bracken answered.
Withdraw your troops from my pool, Jubaya expressed. If you let me speak to the girl alone, I vow to cause her no harm, and at the end of our conversation, I will surrender myself, if you pledge to transport me to the new demon prison.
You would exchange your freedom for private words with Kendra? Bracken replied.
Do you call this freedom? Jubaya challenged. I intend to trade imprisonment among enemies for imprisonment among my kind!
Why now? Bracken pressed. You could have asked for such a transfer months ago.
I have my reasons, Jubaya answered. And you have my terms.
"Can she lie?" Kendra asked Bracken.
"Yes, they can lie indeed..." Seth muttered in such a low tone, that only the dragon heard him, and looked at the kid for some seconds.
Meanwhile, Seth still felt the guilt from trusting a demon and getting a friend killed, and everyone else in risk.
"Certainly," he said quietly. "But demons tend to keep their formal vows. All magical creatures do. Our natures allow certain oaths and promises to bind us. It is partly how preserves like Fablehaven were founded and how rules were established."
"Then I'll do it," Kendra said.
"Jubaya promised to cause you no harm," Bracken said. "Agreements to confer during a truce are difficult to break. But she might tell you things that could lead you to harm."
"This solves your problem," Kendra said. "It gets her out of here. And who knows? Maybe I'll learn something useful."
"Or something hurtful," Bracken said. "I've been shielding my half of our conversation from her mind. Because you're fairykind, your mind is already protected. Jubaya can only see the thoughts you deliberately project to her. Go ahead and accept if you must."
When should we talk? Kendra thought at the demon.
Immediately, Jubaya replied. Have the warriors back away. Send Kendra to my pool with your first horn. She will need it for us to interact properly.
Very well, Bracken responded, then turned to Kendra. He pulled a straight, spiral horn from a leather sheath at his waist and handed it to Kendra. Pearly white and silky smooth, the horn was the length of a dagger. Unicorns shed their first horn after childhood and the second toward the end of adolescence. Both retain magical properties, including the power to purify anything they touch. To certain beings, that purification could be deadly. Kendra had used this very horn to slay a venomous dragon.
"That time was still awesome... besides... Mendigo." Seth said.
Kendra tried to not think about that, Mendigo wasn't sentient like Hugo and just followed orders, yet was also so useful... and he was just instantly destroyed by the dragon's powerful poison.
"Many still cannot believe that Siletta was killed by two kids. Dragons can feel a dragon slayer, even more so by looking, it was some fun times with how everyone reacted." Raxtus told, Seth and Warren laughed a bit at that.
"I'm shielding our conversation again," Bracken said. "I was going to give you this anyhow as a precaution. Perhaps she anticipated me. Or she might have a trick up her sleeve."
"I'll be careful," Kendra said.
Bracken gave a nod. "Very well. We'll be close by if you need us."
"This is the end of the chapter." Bracken stated to the crowd.
"I guess that the next chapter will be the talk between Kendra and the demon, I'd be interested in reading that." Vanessa said.
Bracken sighed, and slowly passed the book to Vanessa, neither looking at each other as the Narcoblix grabs the book and checks the next page.
"The next chapter is called: Jubaya Speaks." She announced.
Author's note:
Soo very sorry for this delay, last month of the year, was occupied and thinking on other stuff, but now I should be far more free for a while!