Fablehaven by Brandon Mull - Chapter 15 - The Far Side of the Attic

Summary

この物語では、主人公のグランマと孫たちが不思議な世界ファブルヘイヴンで起こる冒険を繰り広げています。グランパが誘拐され、危険な悪魔バハムートが解放される可能性があるという危機に直面しています。彼らは秘密の武器や魔法の書を集め、ゴーレムのウーゴを同盟者として迎え、グランプアを救出する任に就きます。グランプアが生きていることを確認し、孫たちはグランマと共に危険を冒して悪に立ち向かうことを決意します。この冒険は彼らにとって成長の機会であり、ファブルヘイヴンの未来を守るために重要な役割を果たします。

Takeaways

• 👵 この物語では、主人公のグランマは重要な役割を果たしており、孫たちに状況を説明し、危険な任務に彼らを連れて行くことを計画しています。
• 🔍 グランマは孫たちに、森の奥深くにある「忘られ教会」という危険な場所について話しており、そこには昔封印された悪魔バハムートがいると警告しています。
• 🛡️ グランマは孫たちに、森の生き物たちと共存するためのルールと、その重要性を教えてくれています。特に、教会に近づくことは危険であると強調しています。
• 🏠 グランマの家は破壊されており、その被害を修復するために過去の写真を使用して計画を立てています。
• 🐄 家では神話的な牛のヴィオラがいると語られており、その乳は森の生き物たちにとって不老不死の神酒のような効果があるとされています。
• 👦 セスとケンドラは、グランマの指示に従わなかったことによって大きな問題を引き起こし、祖父が拉致された原因となっています。
• 🤔 グランマは孫たちにいくつかの重要な質問を投げかけており、彼らが森の生き物たちと遭遇したかどうかを尋ねています。
• 🕵️‍♂️ セスは森でゴーレムの雨果に出会い、彼が祖父の救出に重要な役割を果たすとグランマから知らされます。
• 🧙‍♀️ グランマは森の悪党たちが謀っているかもしれないと疑い、特に邪悪な学生であるムリエルが教会に近づいているかもしれないと警戒しています。
• 🗺️ グランマは世界地図を出して、現在活動している森の保護区域と、過去に失われた保護区域を示しています。
• 🤝 グランマは孫たちに、森の保護区域が守られるべき理由と、その中にある強力な神器について説明しています。

Q & A

クローゼットの奥にある隠し扉はどのようなものでしたか？

クローゼットの奥には大きなコンビネーションホイールが付いた金属製の重い扉が隠されていました。

アティックのこの側には何がたくさんありますか？

アティックには長い作業台と壁に取り付けられたツール、奇抜な家具、鳥かご、フォネオグラフ、戦斧、吊るされた秤、マネキン、ビーチボールサイズの地球儀、段ボールなどがたくさんあります。

セスが窓を開けたことで起こったことは何ですか？

セスが窓を開けたことで祖父が誘拐され、家が荒らされ、不穏な力が森から侵入して家を蹂躙したと推測されます。

バハムートという悪魔がどのような存在ですか？

バハムートはかつてこの土地を支配していた力強い悪魔で、数百年間地元の住民を恐怖に追いかけていたとされています。

忘られざる教会とはどのような場所ですか？

忘られざる教会は1826年に建てられた教会で、後に悪魔バハムートを閉じ込めた場所となりました。

グランマはなぜセスとケンドラを危険にさらすことを心配していますか？

グランマはセスとケンドラが危険にさらされることを心配しているのは、もしバハムートが解放された場合、彼らも危険に晒されるからです。

グランドマはなぜ自分の家を避難場所としているのですか？

グランドマは家を避難場所としているのは、森の闇い存在が家を侵犯するのを防ぐためです。

セスとケンドラはなぜグランドマが危険な状況に直面していると気づいたのですか？

セスとケンドラはグランドマが危険な状況に直面していると気づいたのは、彼女が家に帰ってきたときの落ち着かなさと、荒廃した家の中の様子からです。

グランドマはなぜセスに対して責任を追及しないのですか？

グランドマはセスに対して責任を追及しないのは、彼が意図的に害を働いたわけではなく、彼も子供であり、大人たちも同じ過ちを犯したことがあるからです。

グランドマはなぜセスとケンドラを忘られざる教会に同行させたいと言っているのですか？

グランドマはセスとケンドラを忘られざる教会に同行させたいと言っているのは、祖父を救出すべく、彼らが危険に巻き込まれないよう、状況を理解させたいからです。

Outlines

00:00

😐 秘密の隠された場所

この段落では、主人公たちは隠された場所に関する話をしています。おばあさんは外で話すことが危ないと言って、家に帰ってから正確な場所を明かすと約束します。彼女は主人公たちが待つ間、計画を練り始めています。そして、彼らが帰る途中で、おばあさんは彼らの行動について褒めて、特にセスがトロルの足をマッサージしたことや、ケンドラが交渉の時にうまく虚張りをしたことを挙げています。

05:02

😔 家への帰りと責任の分担

家に帰ると、おばあさんは家が荒らされたのを見て、とても悲しんでいる様子です。窓が割れて家具が散乱しており、彼女は家に入るのがとてもつらいと言っています。おばあさんは家がこんな状態になるのはとても裏切りに感じると言う。その後、彼女は家の中を歩き回り、壊れた家具や写真を見ています。そして、彼女はセスとケンドラに責任を負うべきだと言いますが、彼らが故意に悪を働いたわけではなく、彼らもただの子供だという気持ちを表しています。

10:05

🔍 謎の痕と闇の勢力

この段落では、主人公たちはダレの謎の状態について話しています。ダレは魔法のようなものにかかっていると思われます。おばあさんは痕跡を見たが、何者かを特定できないと言います。彼女はフェスティバルナイトには多くの生き物が森を走り、通常は遭遇しないと説明しています。その後、彼女は家の中のいくつかの隠された場所について話します。

15:07

👣 闇の勢力と忘れられた教会

この段落では、闇の勢力について話しています。バハムートという悪魔が昔この土地を支配していたと説明されています。その後、彼は欧州人たちによって捕らえられ、教会の下に閉じ込められました。しかし、バハムートが脱獄しようとしていたことがあると言います。もしも彼が脱獄した場合、それは非常に危険なことになると警告しています。

20:08

😨 夜の星の社会と危険な計画

この段落では、夜の星の社会について話しています。彼らは闇の生き物を不当に閉じ込められていると主張しており、自然の秩序を乱していると言っています。おばあさんは、彼らが闇の生き物を解放しようとしているかもしれないと心配しています。そして、もしもバハムートが解放されたら、その影響は甚大になると警告しています。

🤔 決断と準備

最後の段落では、おばあさんは行動を起こす準備をしています。彼女は小さなクロスボウを取り出し、これでムリエルを倒すことができると説明しています。しかし、それは最後の手段として使用するものだと言います。もしもムリエルがバハムートを解放しようとしたら、危険が拡大する可能性があると警告しています。そして、彼女はセスとケンドラに危険を冒すことを望んでいないと言っていますが、彼らは自分たちの責任感から一緒に行くことを決心しています。

Keywords

💡バハマ

バハマはかつてこの土地を支配していた強力な悪魔です。彼は数百年間、地域に住む原住民を恐怖に駆り立てました。後にヨーロッパ人によって捕らえられ、教会の地下室に閉じ込められましたが、その経験は住民にとって耐え難く、多くの人がその地を去りました。バハマはこの物語の重要な悪の象徴であり、彼が解放されるかもしれないという脅威が物語の緊張感を高めています。

💡忘却の教会（The Forgotten Chapel）

忘却の教会はバハマを閉じ込めるために使われた教会であり、後に集会が止まり、人々の記憶から消えていきました。教会は物語の重要な場所で、バハマが再び解放されるかもしれないという脅威が絡み合っています。また、教会は主人公たちが祖父を救出する場所として重要な役割を果たしています。

💡ゴーレム（Golem）

ゴーレムはこの物語におけるヒューゴというキャラクターであり、主人公たちの味方となる強い盟友です。ゴーレムは元々土や石から作られており、魔法によって動く力を持っているとされています。物語の中では、ヒューゴが祖父を救出すべく重要な役割を果たすことが示唆されています。

💡フェアリー（Fairy）

フェアリーはこの物語に数多く登場する魔法生物の1種で、彼らは非常に美しく、時には小さなサイズで描写されています。フェアリーたちは物語の中で様々な役割を果たし、時にはヒントを提供したり、主人公たちの助けとなることもあります。

💡魔法の保護（Magical Protection）

魔法の保護は物語の中で重要な概念で、特定の場所や生物を守るための魔法的な力です。特に、主人公たちが住む家や教会は魔法の保護の下にあり、悪影響から守られているとされています。しかし、その保護は特定の条件を破ることで失われる可能性があるという脅威も描かれています。

💡秘密（Secret）

秘密は物語の核心に位置しており、主人公たちが徐々に解き明かしていく重要な要素です。彼らは魔法の森とその住人に関する秘密を知ることで、彼ら自身の責任感も増していくと同時に、危険も増すことを理解し始めます。

💡謎の男（Mysterious Man）

謎の男とは、物語の中で何度か言及される人物で、その正体は不明です。彼は物語の謎を深める要素として機能しており、時には主人公たちが遭遇する事件や困難と関連している可能性があります。

💡騎士団（Knight）

騎士団は物語の中で暗闇や悪に立ち向かう勇気ある戦士たちを指し、彼らは主人公たちを守るための力となることがあります。騎士団は物語の善と悪の対決において重要な役割を果たしています。

💡魔法の森（Enchanted Forest）

魔法の森は物語の舞台の一つであり、様々な魔法生物が住む神秘的な場所です。森は物語の中で冒険と神秘的な出来事が起こる場所として描かれており、主人公たちの旅が展開される重要な背景となっています。

💡呪い（Curse）

呪いは物語の中で重要な悪の力として登場し、特定のキャラクターや状況に不運や災害をもたらします。呪いは物語の脅威や困難を象徴しており、主人公たちが克服しなければならない課題の一つです。

💡冒険（Adventure）

冒険は物語の主題の一つで、主人公たちが未知なる世界に飛び込む旅を描いています。彼らは危険と脅威に直面しながらも、勇気と友情を通じて成長し、最終的に目標を達成していきます。

Highlights

Grandma refuses to discuss the situation in the open, indicating the severity and secrecy of the matter.

Grandma reveals a plan to rescue Grandpa, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Kendra and Seth demonstrate exceptional skills in dealing with challenges, such as Seth's heroic act on the logs and Kendra's bluffing during negotiations.

Grandma explains the importance of Viola, the milk cow, and her role in the magical ecosystem of Fablehaven.

The absence of milk for the fairies could cause them to become ornery, hinting at the delicate balance of the magical world.

Grandma expresses concern over Hugo's absence from his chores, suggesting a disruption in the usual order.

The revelation that Warren is in a catatonic stupor adds a layer of tragedy and mystery to the story.

Grandma's encounter with the seders and haters highlights the complex relationships and power dynamics within the preserve.

The discovery of the ruined treehouse and damaged furniture symbolizes the violation of the home and the impact of the events.

Grandma's use of the copper triangle to summon Hugo showcases the magical methods of communication within Fablehaven.

The exploration of the attic and its contents reveals the depth of magical artifacts and knowledge preserved by Grandma.

The history of Bahamut and the Forgotten Chapel provides context to the potential threat and the importance of preserving Fablehaven.

Grandma's concern about Muriel potentially releasing Bahamut underscores the gravity of their mission.

The discussion about the Society of the Evening Star introduces a larger conflict and the potential involvement in the current crisis.

Grandma's explanation of the consequences of breaking the treaty rules highlights the delicate balance of power and safety within the magical world.

The children's insistence on joining the rescue mission demonstrates their courage and the sense of responsibility they feel towards Fablehaven.

Grandma's final decision to allow the children to accompany her reflects the trust and faith she has in their abilities.

Transcripts

chapter 15. The Far Side of the attic

Grandma refused to talk while they were

in the Ravine she wore a tower

thoughtful expression and hushed any

attempts at conversation Kendra waited

until they were back on the path beside

the covered bridge to try her question

again

Grandma Kendra began not here grandma

admonished we must not discuss the

situation out in the open she motioned

for them to huddle close and continued

in a hush tone let this suffice we must

go after your grandpa today tomorrow

might be too late we will return home

immediately get equipped and go to the

place where he is being held I will

reveal his exact whereabouts once we are

indoors Muriel may not yet know his

location and even if she does I don't

want her to learn that we know

grandma stopped whispering and heard

them along the path sorry if I have been

anti-social since leaving Nero she said

after they had walked in silence for a

couple of minutes I needed to devise a

plan you kids really did an exceptional

job back there nobody should have to

spend an afternoon rubbing a Troll's

feet Seth was heroic on the logs and

Kendra did some well-timed bluffing

during the negotiations you both

surpassed my expectations

I never knew you were a masseuse Kendra

said

I learned from La she has collected

expert instruction from around the globe

if you ever get a chance to receive a

massage from her don't turn it down

Grandma took some errant strands of hair

behind her ear she became distant again

for a moment pursing her lips and

staring remotely as she walked I have a

few questions for you too things we can

talk about in the open have you met a

man named Warren Warren Seth repeated

handsome and quiet white dare and dark

skin Dale's brother

no Kendra said they might have brought

him into the house on Midsummer Eve

Grandma prodded we were with Grandpa

Dale and Lena until after Sundown but

never saw anybody else Seth said

I have never even heard him mentioned

Kendra added me neither Seth agreed

Grandma nodded he must have stayed at

the cabin have you met Hugo yeah Seth

said he's awesome I wonder where he went

grandma gave Seth a measuring glance I

trust he has been attending to the

chores in the barn

I don't think so Kendra said we had to

Milk The Cow yesterday

you milked Viola grandma said plainly

astonished how

Kendra described how they had set up the

ladders and slid down her teats Seth

added details about how milky they had

gotten resourceful children grandma said

Stan had told you nothing about her we

found her because she was moving so loud

Seth said she was shaking the whole Barn

it looked like her utter was going to

explode Kendra said Viola is our milk

cow grandma said every preserve has such

an animal though not all are bovine she

is older than this preserve which is

founded in 1711. at the time she was

brought over from Europe by ship born

from a milk cow on a Preserve in the

Pyrenees Mountains she was about a

hundred years old when she made the

voyage and was already larger than an

elephant she has been here ever since

gradually gaining size each year

looks like she's about to outgrow the

barn Seth said her growth has slowed

over the years but yes she may One Day

become too colossal for her current

confines

she provides the milk to Ferry Street

Kendra said

more than the fairies drink it her

ancient breed is nourished and worshiped

by All Creatures of farida they placed

daily enchantments on her food and make

secret offerings to honor and strengthen

her in return her milk functions as an

Ambrosia Central to their survival it is

no wonder that cows are still considered

sacred in certain parts of the world

she must make tons of dung Seth said

Another Blessing her manure is the

finest fertilizer in the world coaxing

plants to mature much more quickly than

usual and sometimes to reach incredible

proportions by the power of her dung we

can reap multiple harvests from a field

in a season and many tropical plants

flourish on this property that would

otherwise perish to do kids happen to

put any milk out for the fairies no Seth

said we spill it all in the drain we're

just mainly trying to calm down the cow

no matter the absence of milk might make

the fairies a little ornery but they'll

get over it we'll see they get some

tomorrow at the latest so normally Hugo

milks Viola Kendra surmised correct it

is a standing order so there must be a

reason that he is not carried it out

during the past couple of days you've

not seen him since Midsummer Eve no

he was probably a sign to watch over

Warren at the cabin until summoned he

should come if we call

could something have happened to him

Seth asked a Golem may seem a little

more than animated matter granted

Elementary intelligence but most

creatures on this preserve fear Hugo few

could harm him if they tried he will be

our chief Ally in rescuing your

grandfather

what about Warren Kendra asked will he

help too

Grandma frowned you have not met him

because his mind has been ruined Dale

has remained on this preserve mainly in

order to care for him Warren is lost in

a catatonic stupor Fablehaven has many

stories his is another tragic tale of a

mortal venturing where he does not

belong Warren will be of no help to us

anybody else have asked like the seders

haters Grandma explained one of you met

saters I may have some Choice words for

your grandfather when we find him we met

them by accident in the woods Kendra

assured her we were taking stew from

what looked like a well and they warned

us they were actually stealing from an

ogres

those Rogues were protecting their

underhanded operation more than you

Grandma huffed they have been pilfering

her stew for years the Scoundrels didn't

want to have to rebuild their thieving

device probably sounded like too much

work

seders live for frivolity the ultimate

fair weather friends your grandfather

and I share a mutual respect with

various beings on this preserve but

there is not much more loyalty than one

would find out in the wild the herd

looks on as the sick or injured are

brought down by predators

if your grandfather is to be rescued on

such short notice it will be our doing

with none but Hugo to Aid us

it was late afternoon when they reached

the yard Grandma stood with her hands on

her hips taking in the scene the ruined

Treehouse the damaged Furniture strewn

about the garden the gaping glassless

windows

I'm afraid to go inside she muttered you

don't remember how bad it is Kendra

asked she was a chicken remember Seth

said we ate our eggs

creases appeared on Grandma's brow it

feels like such a betrayal to have your

home violated she said softly I know

Sinister evils lurk in the woods but

they've never crossed that boundary

Kendra and Seth followed Grandma across

the yard and upped the porch steps

grandma stooped and picked up a copper

triangle attaching it to a hook hanging

from a nail

Kendra remember noticing the triangle

dangling among the wind chimes a short

copper Rod was linked to the triangle by

a chain of beads Grandma climbed the rod

noisily around the inside of the

triangle

that should bring Hugo Grandma explained

she crossed the porch and paused on the

doorway staring into her home

it looks like we were bombed she

murmured such senseless vandalism

she roamed the gutted house in a somber

days occasionally pausing to pick up a

damaged frame and examine the torn

photograph inside or to run her hand

along the remnants of a beloved piece of

furniture

Grandma climbed the stairs and went to

her room Kendra and Seth watched her rub

it through the closet finally

withdrawing a metal lunchbox

at least this is intact grandma said

hungry Seth asked Kendra slapped him on

the shoulder with the back of her hand

what is it grandma

follow me downstairs in the kitchen

Grandma opened the lunch box she removed

a handful of photographs helped me lay

these out the photos were of the house

each room was shown from several angles

the exterior was also displayed from

multiple perspectives in total there

were more than a hundred pictures

grandma and the children began spraying

them across the kitchen floor we took

these pictures in case the unthinkable

ever occurred grandma said Kendra

suddenly made the connection

for the brownies clever girl said

Grandma I'm not sure whether they'll be

up to the challenge concerning the

extent of the damage but they have

worked miracles in the past I'm sorry

This calamity befell US during your stay

you shouldn't be Seth said it happened

because of me

you mustn't assume all the blame Grandma

insisted what else could we do Kendra

said we caused it

Kendra didn't do anything Seth said she

tried to stop me the whole thing is my

fault

Grandma regarded Seth pensively you did

not mean to harm Grandpa yes you made

him vulnerable through your Disobedience

as I understand you were commanded not

to look out the window had you heated

that order you would not have been

tempted to open the window and your

grandfather would not have been taken

you must face that fact and learn from

it

but the full blame for Stan's

predicament is considerably more guilt

than you deserve your grandfather and I

are the caretakers of this estate we are

responsible for the actions of those we

bring here especially children

Stan allowed you to come here due to

your parents favor but also because we

need to start selectively sharing this

secret with our posterity we will not be

around forever the secret was shared

with us and a day came when the

responsibility of this Enchanted Refuge

fell on our shoulders one day we will

have to pass the responsibility on to

others

she took Seth and Kendra by the hands

and fixed them with a loving gaze I know

the mistakes you made were not

deliberate or malicious your grandfather

and I have made plenty of mistakes

ourselves so have all the people who

have ever lived here no matter how wise

or cautious your grandfather must share

the blame for placing you children in a

situation where opening the window with

kind intentions would cause such harm

and destruction and clearly the fiends

who abducted him are ultimately the most

culpable

Kendra and Seth were silent Seth

scrunched up his face

if it wasn't for me grandpa will be fine

right now he said fighting hard not to

cry and I would still be a chicken in a

cage grandma said let's worry about

fixing the problem instead of the blame

don't despair I know we can set things

right take me to Dale

Seth nodded sniffing and rubbing his

forearm across his nose he led the way

across the back porch weaving through

the garden towards their destination

there really aren't many fairies grandma

said I've never seen the yard so devoid

of life

there haven't been that many around ever

since they attacked Seth Kendra said

since Grandpa vanished there have been

even fewer

when they stood over the painted

lifestyes metal statue of Dale Grandma

shook her head I've never seen this

particular enchantment but that's

certainly Dale

can you help him Kendra asked perhaps

given sufficient time part of countering

acting and enchantment is understanding

who placed it and how

we found tracks Seth said he showed

Grandma the print on the flower bed

although the impression had faded a bit

it remained recognizable

Grandma frowned it doesn't look familiar

many creatures run wild on Festival

nights that otherwise we never encounter

which is why we take cover indoors the

print may not even be a relevant clue it

could belong to the perpetrator or to

the mount the perpetrator Road or it

could belong to something that just

happened to step there sometime during

the night

so we just ignored Dale for now Kendra

asked we have no alternative time is

short we can only hope that by rescuing

your grandfather we can shed more light

on what caused Dale's condition and find

a way to reverse the curse come

they returned to the house Grandma spoke

over her shoulder as they mounted the

stairs to the second floor there are a

few special strongholds within the house

one is the room where you have been

staying another is a second room on the

other side of the attic I knew it Kendra

said I could tell from outside there had

to be more to the attic but I could

never find a way in

you're probably searching the wrong

place grandma said leading them down the

hall to her room the two sides of the

attic are not interconnected when we get

up there I'll fill you in on my strategy

Grandma crouched and picked through the

broken nightstand she found a few

hairpins and used them to pile her hair

into a matronly bun searching more she

located the key she led them to the

master bedroom where she used the key to

unlock a closet door

instead of a closet the door opened to

reveal a second door this one made a

steal with a large combination wheel a

vault door Grandma began spinning the

wheel

four turns right to 11 3 left to 28 two

right to three one left or 31 and half a

turn right to 18.

she pulled the lever and the heavy door

clacked open carpeted stairs led up to

another door Grandma went up first Seth

and Kendra joined her in the Attic this

side of the attic was even larger than

the playroom Grandma flipped a switch

and several lights dispelled the dimness

a long workbench dominated one side of

the room the wall above it covered with

tools supported on pegs handsome wooden

cabinets lined the other walls various

unusual objects littered the room a bird

cage a phonograph a battle ax a hanging

scale a mannequin a globe the size of

each ball a globe the size of a beach

ball Trunks and boxes were arranged in

rows on the floor leaving just enough

aisle space to access them heavy

curtains concealed the windows

Grandma motioned them over to the

workbench where they perched on stools

what's in all the boxes Seth asked many

things most of them unsafe this is where

we guard our most prized weapons and

talismans spellbooks ingredients for

potions all the good stuff you can tell

us more about Grandpa now Kendra said

Yes you heard Nero say that Stan and

Lena are being held the Forgotten Chapel

let me summarize some history to bring

the ramifications into view

long ago this land was possessed by a

powerful demon named Bahama for

centuries he terrorized the natives who

dwelt in the region they learned to

avoid certain areas yet even with these

precautions nowhere in the vicinity was

truly safe the natives made whatever

offerings the demons seem to require but

they still lived in fear when a group of

Europeans offered to overthrow the demon

in exchange for a claim to the lands it

haunted the incredulous local leaders

consented aided by Mighty allies and

potent magic the Europeans successfully

subdued and imprisoned the demon some

years later they founded Fablehaven on

the land they rested from Bahama

years passed in the early 1800s a

community comprised chiefly of extended

family had developed on this preserve

they built a number of dwellings around

the original Mansion this was before the

current house and barn were constructed

the old mansion still stands deep within

this property though most of the

flimsier structures around it had been

swallowed by time and the elements

although their homes are gone they did

construct one lasting structure a church

in 1826 thanks to human Frailty and

foolishness Bahama nearly escaped it

could have been a serious disaster

because none who remained on The

Preserve possessed the resources or

knowledge to contend successfully with

an entity of his power

although the jailbreak was prevented the

experience proved too unnerving for most

who lived here and the majority Departed

the prison that held the demon had been

damaged with outside help Bahama was

moved to a new holding area in the

basement of the church meetings there

ceased a few months after that and in

the intervening years it had become

known as The Forgotten Chapel

so bahamut's still there Kendra said

believe me we would know if Bahamut had

been loosed I doubt anyone in the world

has the capacity to recapture that fiend

if he were to get free His Kind have

been absent for too long imprisoned or

destroyed those who knew how to defeat

such foes have passed on with none to

replace them which brings me to my

greatest concern that Muriel might try

to release Bahamut

why would she do something that stupid

Seth cried Muriel is a student of evil

she was originally imprisoned for

tampering with such things if she

reaches the Forgotten Chapel first which

she may have already done assuming her

imps have uprised her of the situation

we will have to neutralize her in order

to save your grandfather if we allow her

enough time to release Bahamut we will

all need saving that is why I must try

to stop her immediately not just you

Seth said Hugo and I will handle this

you kids have done enough what suffix

claimed no way

retrieving your grandfather should not

be too difficult but if the worst case

scenario transpires and I fail

Fablehaven could fall

Bahama never agreed to the treaty that

protects this Sanctuary none of his kind

would he has a claim to this land and is

a being of sufficient power to overthrow

the treaty plunging The Preserve into

endless Darkness every day would become

like those fearful Festival nights and

this property would be forever

uninhabitable for all but the denizens

of Shadow any mortal trapped here would

fall prey to the horse too terrible to

contemplate

could that really happen Kendra asked

quietly

it would not be the first time grandma

said preserves have fallen ever since

they were instituted the causes are

Myriad usually stamining from Human

Folly some have been reclaimed others

fell Beyond Redemption currently there

are at least 30 Fallen preserves in the

world perhaps most unnerving are the

recent whispers about the Society of the

evening star

Maddox told us about them Seth said

Grandpa got a letter warning him to be

on the lookout Kendra added

traditionally the fall of The Preserve

was an uncommon occurrence maybe one or

two a century about 10 years ago rumors

began to circulate the Society of

evening star was working Mischief again

around the same time preserves began

falling at an alarming rate

four have fallen over the past five

years

why would anyone do that Kendra asked

many have sought to answer that question

grandma said to regain riches power we

who Safeguard The Preserves are

essentially conservationists we don't

want to see the Magnificent magical

creatures of the world go extinct we try

not to discriminate against creatures of

Shadow we want them to survive as well

but we do compartmentalize them when

necessary members of the Society of

Evening Star mask their true intentions

with rhetoric alleging that we

wrongfully imprisoned creatures of

Darkness

do you Seth asked the most violent and

malevolent demons are imprisoned yes but

that is for the safety of the world in

pursuit of endless Carnage and unlawful

Dominion they clashed anciently with

good humans and creatures of light and

are paying a heavy price for losing

many other Sinister entities were

admitted to preserves only on the

condition that they would agree to a

certain limitations agreements they

entered into voluntarily a common

restriction is that they are not

permitted to leave The Preserve so the

society considers many of these

creatures to also be incarcerated they

argue that the covenants of The

Preserves create artificial rules that

upset the natural Order of Things

they consider the majority of humanity

expendable their premise is that chaos

and bloodshed are preferable to just

regulations we disagree

do you think the evening star people are

involved in kidnapping Grandpa Kendra

asked Grandma Shrugged possibly I hope

not if so it was done with great

subtlety there are powerful limits to

how an outsider can intrude on a

preserve and our preserve is more secret

than most

Grandma opened the drawer and pulled out

a rolled parchment unrolling it she

revealed a map of the world large dots

and X's were located on diverse portions

of the map aside from the labeling of

major cities

the X's Mark Fallen preserves grandma

said the dots Mark active ones

Fablehaven isn't marked Kendra noticed

sharp eyes grandma said there are 37

active preserves noted on the map and

five unmarked preserves of which

Fablehaven is one even among the most

trusted in our community very few people

know about the unmarked preserves none

know of them all

why Seth asked special artifacts of

great power are hidden on those five

preserves

what artifacts Sev asked excited

I cannot say I don't know most of the

details myself the artifact here at

Fablehaven is not in our possession it

is guarded at an undisclosed location on

the property evildoers particularly the

Society of the evening star would like

nothing more than to collect the

artifacts from their hidden preserves

so there are many reasons Fablehaven

must be protected Kendra said Grandma

nodded your father and I are prepared to

give our lives if necessary

maybe none of us should go after Grandpa

Kendra said can we get help there are

some out there who will come to our Aid

if summoned but I need to stop Muriel

and find her grandfather today nobody

could reach us that quickly Fablehaven

is protected by secrecy at times this

becomes a hindrance I do not know of

what spells bind Bahamut but I'm certain

that given sufficient time Muriel will

find a way to unravel them I must act

now

Grandma slid off the stool walked down

an aisle opened a trunk and withdrew an

ornate box embossed with vines and

flowers

from the box she removed a small

crossbow not much larger than a pistol

she also took out a small arrow with

black Fletching and ivory shaft and a

silver head

cool Seth cried I want one

this start will slay any being that was

ever mortal including the enchanted or

Undead if I can Lodge it in a lethal

place

where's lethal Kendra asked the heart

and the brain are surest witches can be

tricky this is the only Talisman I am

certain will slay Muriel you're gonna

kill her Kendra whispered only as a last

resort first I will try to have Hugo

capture her but the stakes are too high

for us to Sally Forth without a

Fail-Safe if the Golem should

unforeseeably disappoint me I lack the

skills to subdue Muriel myself believe

me the last thing I want is her blood on

my hands killing a mortal is not quite

as grief as a crime as killing a

mystical being but it would still

dissolve most of the protection afforded

to me by the treaty I would probably

have to banish myself from The Preserve

but she's trying to destroy the whole

preserve Seth complained not by directly

killing anyone grandma said the chapel

is neutral ground if I go there and kill

her even if I can justify the act the

protection of the treaty will never

again be mine

I heard Dale shooting guns and stuff the

night the creatures came through a

window Kendra said creatures were

invading our territory Grandma explained

regardless of the Reason by coming into

this house they would surrender all of

their protections under those

circumstances Dale could slay them with

no fear of Retribution meaning his

status under the treaty would remain

secure the same principle would work

against you if you were to venture into

certain forbidden areas of Fablehaven if

you are thus stripped of all protection

it would be open hunting season on

Kendra and Seth which is precisely why

those areas are prohibited I don't get

who would punish you for killing Muriel

the mystical barriers that protect me

would be lifted and the punishment would

naturally follow you see as Mortals we

can choose to break the rules the

mystical creatures that seek Asylum are

not afforded that luxury many would

break the rules if they could but they

are bound as long as I obey the rules I

am safe but if I lose protections

afforded by the treaty the consequences

of my vulnerability would inevitably

follow

so does that mean grandpa is alive for

sure Kendra asked in a small voice they

can't kill him or anything

Stan has kept the rules pertaining to

Bloodshed and so even on their night of

revelry the dark creatures of this

preserve would not be able to kill him

nor would they be able to force him to

go to a place that would enable them to

kill him imprisoned torture driven

insane turned to lead maybe but he has

to be alive and I have to go after him

and I have to come with you Seth said

you need backup Hugo is my backup Seth

scrunched his face resisting tears I'm

not gonna lose you guys especially when

it's my fault Grandma Sorensen embraced

Seth sweetheart I appreciate your

courage but I am not about to risk

losing a grandchild

won't we be in just as much danger here

as we would be if we were with you

Kendra said if the demon gets loose

we'll all be fried

I mean to send you away off The Preserve

grandma said Kendra folded her arms so

we can wait outside the gate until our

parents get back tell them you were

killed by a demon and insist they can't

go to the house because it's really a

magical preserve that has fallen into

darkness

your parents do not know the true nature

of this place grandma said nor would

they believe it without seeing

exactly Kendra said if you fail the

first thing dad will do is go straight

to your house and investigate nothing we

could say would keep him away and he'll

probably call the cops and the whole

world will find out about this place

they wouldn't see anything grandma said

but many would die inexplicably and

actually they could see the cow even

without the milk because Viola remains a

mortal being

we came in handy with the troll Seth

said and no matter what you do or say

I'll follow you anyways Grandma tossed

up her hands sincerely children I think

all will be fine I know I described a

dire scenario but things like this

happen on preserves from time to time

and we normally get them resolved I

don't see why this would be any

different Hugo will mend the problem

without serious incident and if it comes

to it I am a crack shot with the

crossbow if you'll just wait outside the

gates I'll come for you before it gets

too late

but I want to see Hugo palmyrial Seth

insisted if we're supposed to possibly

inherit this place someday you guys

won't always be around to protect us

from danger Kendra said wouldn't it be a

good experience for us to watch you and

Hugo handle the situation maybe we can

even help

field trip Seth cried Grandma eyed them

lovingly you kids are going up so fast

she sighed