Get inside and I'll tell you! Kendra said. I've never been gladder to see anybody. We have a big problem on our hands.288 289Satirical a.s.sistance Seth sat across the table from Kendra, looking totally sh.e.l.l-shocked. After he had told Kendra about the coc.o.o.n and pa.s.sing through Olloch, she had explained how Vanessa had been revealed while he was absent. So Vanessa was controlling Coulter, he said. That was why he suddenly seemed so disoriented. He woke up with the revenant right on top of us, and still managed to save me.

If we fall asleep, she may be able to control us, Kendra said.

How? He picked up another cookie from the plate Kendra had left at the center of the table. She had discovered the cookies in a cupboard.

Since she's a narcoblix, I think the drumants were a diversion so she could bite us in the night without anybody290worrying about the marks. You were bitten by drumants. Sowas I. So was Coulter. So was Tanu. But who knows if all those bites were actually drumants?

I bet you're right, Seth said, munching on the cookie.

You know, I fell asleep inside the coc.o.o.n a couple of times.

Once for quite a while. She might know I'm still alive.

To be safe, we better not fall asleep until we solve this problem, Kendra said.

You look tired, Seth said. Your eyes are getting bloodshot.

Vanessa gave me a sleeping drug yesterday, and I slept most of the day. But then I was up all night, and didn't want to risk napping today. Kendra yawned. I'm trying not to think about it.

Well, I had a good sleep after Olloch... got rid of me, so I should be able to go all night, Seth said. I agree we need to free Grandpa and Grandma, but we also need to find the key and keep it away from Vanessa. We have to protect the artifact.

For all we know, she may already have the key, Kendra said. She might even have the artifact!

I doubt it. It will be hard to get past that revenant. I mean, the thing just froze me with pure terror-there was nothing I could do. But maybe Vanessa knows a trick.

It can't be too easy for her, Kendra said. I think she sent you and Coulter to the grove as an experiment. I'm not sure she knows what she's doing.

Well, if she sent Coulter, she might send others, Seth said. She and that Christopher Vogel guy are here to get the291 artifact. They're going to find a way if we don't stop them.And they might hurt everybody they captured in the process.

You think we should go spy on them?

Right away. While we still have light. We don't have time to waste.

Kendra nodded. Okay, you're right. She stood and put a hand on Warren's shoulder. We're going to the house, Warren. We'll be back. He smiled up at her blankly.

I know some of these potions, Seth said, indicating the potions on the table.

Do you know which emotions are which? Kendra asked.

I'm pretty sure, he said. And I know these ones turn you small. Like under a foot high. And this one is an antidote for most poisons. And this one makes you resistant to fire. Or was that this one ?

Do you know which one was fear? Kendra asked.

That might come in handy.

This one is fear, Seth said, picking up one of the bottles. But we should bring all of them. He began placing the potions in the pouch. Oh, and this jar has something important. Seth unscrewed the lid of a small jar. He dipped his finger in and withdrew it with a pale yellowish paste on it. He sucked the paste off his fingertip.

What was that? Kendra asked.

Walrus b.u.t.ter, Seth said. From a walrus on a preserve up in Greenland. Works like the milk. It's what Tanu uses out in the field.292 Hopefully they haven't found the key yet, Kendra said.Grandpa hid it in a new place. Of course, we might not be able to find it either.

We'll figure something out, Seth said. We can't really plan until we check out what's going on. I should be able to use the glove to get a good look.

Kendra walked to the door, opened it, and spoke to the giant puppet. Mendigo, obey all the instructions Seth gives you as if I were giving them. She turned back to Seth. You ready?

Just a second, Seth said, carefully placing the final potions into the pouch. He kept the fear potion in his hand.

I lost my emergency kit, but gained a bag of magical potions and an invisibility glove. Pretty good trade.

They went outside. Mendigo, Kendra said, carry Seth and me to the yard as fast and as comfortably as you can, trying not to let us be heard or seen.

The wooden puppet slung Seth over one shoulder and Kendra over the other. Showing no sign of strain, Mendigo trotted briskly down the path away from the cottage.

Crouched, choosing their steps carefully, Kendra and Seth approached the yard. Mendigo waited several paces behind them, with orders to retrieve them and retreat to the cottage if they called. Kendra had tried to send him into the yard, but he had been unable to set foot on the gra.s.s. The same barrier that had kept Olloch out of the yard was in full effect for the limberjack as well.293 Seth squatted behind a leafy shrub near the edge of thewoods. Kendra settled in beside him. Look on the porch, he whispered.

Kendra raised her head to peek over the shrub, but Seth pulled her down. Look through the bush, he hissed. She leaned back and forth until she found a gap that let her see the porch.

Imps, she whispered.

Two of them, Seth said. The big kind. How could they get in the yard?

That big one looks like the imp from the dungeon, Kendra said. I bet they were both prisoners. They didn't enter the yard from the woods; they came up out of the bas.e.m.e.nt.

We've seen what they can do, Seth said, backing away from the shrub. Imps are tough. We can't risk them spotting us.

Kendra retreated with Seth back to where Mendigo stood waiting. The shadows were long as the sun dipped toward the horizon. How do we get past them? Kendra said.

I don't know, Seth said. They're fast and strong. He put on the glove and vanished. I'll go in for a closer look.

No, Seth. They're on the lookout. They'll spot you. You can't hold still and run away at the same time.

So we give up?

No. Take the glove off. She didn't like talking to his disembodied voice.295 Seth reappeared. I'm not sure we have many options.It's front door, back door, or a window.

There's another way in, Kendra said. And we might be able to use it.

What way?

The brownie doors. They lead in through the dungeon.

Seth frowned pensively. But how would we... wait a minute-the potions.

We shrink ourselves.

Kendra, that is the best idea you've ever had, Seth said.

But there's a problem, she said, folding her arms. We don't know where the brownies enter. We know they pa.s.s through the dungeon and into the kitchen, but we don't know where to start.

My turn, Seth said. Let's go ask the satyrs.

You think they'll help us?

Seth shrugged. I have something they want.

Do you know how to find them?

We can try the tennis court. If that fails, there's a place where I leave them messages.

I wonder if the fairies would tell me, Kendra said.

If you can get any to speak to you, Seth said. Come on, if we hurry we can get there before sundown. It isn't far.

They really built a tennis court?

A nice one. You'll see.

Seth ordered Mendigo to pick them up, and then guided the limberjack around the perimeter of the yard to the path that would lead them to the tennis court. Mendigo jogged down the path, hooks jingling. As they neared the court, they could hear arguing.

I'm telling you, it's too dark, we have to call the game, one voice said.

And you say that makes it a draw? the other voice replied incredulously.

That's the only fair conclusion.

I'm up 6-2, 6-3, 5-1! And it's my serve!

Doren, you have to win three full sets to take the match. Count your blessings-I was getting ready to make my move.

The sun isn't even down!

It's below the trees. I can't see the ball in these shadows.

You played some solid games. I'll grant that you had a fair chance of winning had we continued. Sadly, nature has intervened.

Mendigo left the path at Seth's prompting and started through the undergrowth toward the hidden court.

Can't we start again tomorrow at the same score? the second voice tried.

Unfortunately, tennis is a game of inertia. Restarting cold wouldn't be fair to either of us. Tell you what. We'll begin earlier tomorrow, so we can get a full match in.

And I suppose if you're behind and can find a cloud somewhere in the sky, you'll say there's a chance of showers and call the game. I'm serving. You're welcome to return it, or you're welcome to stand there.

Mendigo pushed through the bushes at the edge of the297 tennis court. Doren stood waiting to serve. The racket hehad broken while swatting Olloch had been beautifully mended and restrung. Newel stood at the net.

h.e.l.lo, Newel said. Look, Doren, we have visitors.

Kendra, Seth, and... Muriel's weirdo puppet.

Would you kids mind if I serve one last game? Doren asked.

Course they'd mind! Newel shouted. Terribly rude of you to ask!

We're sort of in a hurry, Kendra said.

We'll make it quick, Doren said with a wink.

In this blackness, one game could be all it takes to cause a serious injury, Newel insisted desperately.

It isn't very dark, Seth observed.

Line judge says we should play on, Doren said.

Newel shook his fist at Seth. Okay, one last game, winner take all.

Sounds good to me, Doren said.

That isn't fair, Kendra mumbled.

No problem, Doren said. He hasn't broken my serve all day.

Enough chitchat! Newel called grumpily.

Doren tossed the ball up and blasted it over the net.

Newel returned the blistering serve with a limp lob, allowing Doren to rush forward and hit a winner at a vicious angle. Doren's next two serves were aces. The fourth serve Newel returned briskly, but after a fierce volley, Doren took the point with a wicked slice that died before Newel could reach it.298 Game, set, match! Doren trumpeted.Growling, Newel ran over to the shed and started bashing his racket against the wall. The frame cracked and several strings popped.

Booooo, Seth cried. Poor sportsmanship.

Newel stopped and looked up. Has nothing to do with sportsmanship. Ever since the brownies mended his racket, his shots have more zip. I just want to level the playing field.

I don't know, Newel, Doren said, tossing his racket and catching it. Takes quite a satyr to handle a racket of this caliber.

Relish the moment, Newel said. Next time we'll be playing under the light of day, and we'll have comparable equipment!

Funny you guys should mention brownies, Seth said.

We need a favor.

Does the favor involve demons trashing our shed?

Newel asked.

I took care of Olloch, Seth said. We need to know how the brownies get into the house.

Through the little doors, Doren said.

He means we need to know where their entrance is so we can get in through the little doors, Kendra clarified.