Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven #5)(121)

Only then did he realize that he had forgotten the sheath.


Seth returned to the room where Morisant had perished and picked up the sheath. Without his torch, he would need the light from his blade to guide him out, so he held the sheath in one hand and Vasilis in the other. The coldness of this subterranean lair forgotten, Seth marched out radiating fervent heat.


The Alder Door opened as he approached, and he stepped out into the noonday sunlight. The door closed behind him. For a pregnant moment, the Totem Wall watched him in silence.


"Now, that is a sword!" the Hunter exclaimed.


Seth sheathed it, and experienced an immediate sense of loss. He suddenly felt tired, and clammy, and much smaller. The faces of the Totem Wall chattered and cheered as Seth crossed to the stump, scrambled up, and retrieved his things. He paused, studying the animated wall. The jubilant clamor was unintelligible. He heard no English.


Satisfied that the Totem Wall seemed content, he climbed down from the stump. Without a backward glance, Seth hurried to rejoin his friends.


Chapter 24 Civia


With an overcast sky hiding the sun, Raxtus landed silently on a side street near the grocery store parking lot. Remaining invisible, the dragon took off again, leaving Kendra and Bracken behind. Bracken raced along the sidewalk, bearskin cape flapping, Kendra at his heels. Jumping over the low bushes bordering the sidewalk, they dashed across the parking lot and hurried into the back of an


Warren waited in the driver's seat. "Nice outfit, Bracken. You really blend."


"Is she still in the store?" Bracken asked.


Warren checked his wristwatch. "Almost eight minutes. I've been tailing her for about two hours. The info you relayed from Niko took me right to her apartment."


"Good," Bracken said. "No sign of our adversaries?"


"Not yet. Without an evident threat, I didn't want to approach her solo. I'm not a unicorn, I'm not fairykind--I have no way to prove I'm an ally."


"Probably wise," Bracken agreed. "Besides, there wasn't much you could do to help her escape until Raxtus arrived. Our inside source at the Society told me a new assassin was dispatched to help bring down the last Eternal. He said the others have orders to wait for the newcomer before moving in. It should buy us some time. Apparently they tried to take her out a couple of weeks ago in South America but blew the chance. She's supposed to be slippery."


"Her name is Civia?" Warren asked.


"So I hear from our source," Bracken said. "The source also hinted that the new assassin they sent out might some how work in our favor."


"Let's hope your source is reliable," Warren said doubtfully.


"I'd rather not bet the fate of the world on it," Bracken said.


"Don't you have armor?" Warren asked Kendra.


"Everything I had got soaked," Kendra explained. "We had to stop and get dry clothes. I'm actually glad. Armor isn't my thing. I felt clunky."


"Armor gets much more convenient once people start trying to cut you open," Warren said.


"At least I look normal," Kendra said.


"I see you wrapped your sword in a sheet," Warren observed.


Kendra held it up. "Best disguise we could manage on short notice."


"I think we should let Kendra approach Civia," Bracken suggested. "We don't want to spook her."


"Approaching her could be dangerous," Warren cautioned.


"True," Bracken agreed. "Civia will be on the defensive and may react desperately. But Kendra will feel much less threatening than either of us, and you can go in with her to keep an eye on the discussion."


"Since I'm not dressed in animal hides," Warren said.


"I'm expecting a fight," Bracken said. "I'll wait out here. Sorry it took us longer than I had hoped to meet up with you. Raxtus had to rest for a couple of hours in Arizona. He has flown a lot of miles in very few days."


"No problem," Warren said. "I barely got to Texas ahead of you. My plane only landed three hours ago."


"Should I bring the sword?" Kendra asked.


"Leave it," Bracken said. "We don't want to make her even more nervous. Niko said her guardian is female, and is currently shaped like a bichon frise."


"A bichon frise?" Kendra asked.


"A female shape-shifter?" Warren wondered.


"A bichon frise is a lapdog with curly white fur," Bracken said. "I'm not sure how gender works with shape-shifters. But Niko called her female."


"Is Niko getting close?" Warren asked.


"He's not far," Bracken said. "Should catch up within the hour."


"We should probably get in there," Kendra said. "I'm scared the bad guys will show up again."


Bracken nodded. "What was Civia driving?"


"The little compact over there," Warren said, pointing. "Nondescript. She knows how to blend."


"Try to bring her back here," Bracken said. "Keep in touch with the stone."