Dectus strode to her, crouched, and carried her to the desk. The fairy gave a feeble smile and bowed her head. “I’m sorry it took me so long. I had to walk from the fairy shrine because my wing was damaged.”
Kendra felt deep alarm that something might have happened to Bracken. “What is your news?” she asked.
The fairy’s chin quivered and she collapsed, sobbing. “I never imagined I would utter these words. The Fairy Realm has fallen.”
“What?” Kendra asked. “Is Bracken all right?”
“Nobody is all right,” the fairy said. “Ronodin has claimed the Fairy Queen’s crown.”
Kendra could not move. She could find no words.
“That’s impossible,” Warren said.
The fairy shook her head. “The former Fairy King sent me to find you after Ronodin claimed the crown. My former king wanted me to tell you the fall of the Fairy Realm was his fault. He also wanted me to assure you that after I came through, he would seal off the Titan Valley fairy shrine.”
“How was the fall his fault?” Kendra asked.
“The former Fairy King let Ronodin inside,” the fairy said. “And many dragons.”
“Why do you call him the former Fairy King?” Kendra asked. “Was he killed?”
“Ronodin is the new Fairy King,” the fairy said.
“Then shouldn’t you be serving him?” Vanessa asked.
The fairy held up her hand. “This bracelet from the former Fairy King enables me to act independently of the new king.”
“Why would the Fairy King admit Ronodin to the Fairy Realm?” Kendra asked.
“I don’t believe he was himself,” the fairy said. “When he spoke to me, the former Fairy King was devastated.”
“Is Bracken alive?” Kendra asked, trying to brace herself for the worst.
“Before I departed, I believed he and the Fairy Queen had been captured,” the fairy said. “I cannot confirm their current fate.”
“What is your name?” Kendra asked.
“Gwendolyn,” the fairy replied.
“You’re injured,” Kendra said.
The fairy whimpered. “I feel faint.”
“Does this mean Ronodin controls the fairies?” Kendra asked, extending a hand to steady Gwendolyn.
“All fairies who serve in the Fairy Realm,” the fairy said. “And most other fairies everywhere. He also controls the astrids, nymphs, and satyrs who swore fealty to the crown. Especially those who remain in the realm. All except the unicorns. They had power to resist him.”
“This is a nightmare,” Kendra said.
“We tried to repel him,” Gwendolyn said. “Once Ronodin claimed the crown, we were helpless.”
“He had dragons with him?” Kendra asked.
“The dragons gave him clout,” the fairy said. “And some demons helped. A few wizards.” She coughed and stumbled. “I don’t feel so . . .” Gwendolyn collapsed flat on the table.
Vanessa rushed to the fairy’s side and stroked her cheek. “She’s unconscious but alive,” Vanessa reported.
“Could this be a trick?” Warren asked. “The Fairy Realm has always been untouchable.”
“That was before the fairies took over the demon prison,” Vanessa said. “The Fairy Realm was protected by purity. We saw the darkness gaining inroads there.”
“Forgive me,” Dectus said. “This must be reported to the Giant Queen immediately.”
“Of course,” Tanu said.
Dectus set Kendra and her companions to the floor, including the unconscious fairy. Then he crossed to the door, pausing to issue orders to Raza. “See that Kendra and her friends have any assistance they need.” Dectus exited.
“This is what Ronodin wanted all along,” Kendra said. “We have to get the crown from him.”
“Kendra,” Tanu said. “This is a tragedy worse than the fall of any sanctuary. But without a fairy shrine, we have no way to go help.”
“Be glad the Fairy King closed it,” Vanessa said. “He may have saved Titan Valley by doing so. If the shrine remained active, Ronodin would have unrestricted access to the sanctuary.”
“Can’t he get in anyhow because of the Games?” Kendra asked.
“That kind of access would require him to travel,” Vanessa said. “And at least it involves a screening process. The shrine would provide a direct inroad to the heart of the sanctuary.”
“What can we do?” Kendra asked.
“We can help this fairy mend,” Vanessa said. “And we do our part against the dragons. Now it is more important than ever that Titan Valley not fall.”
Kendra nodded, then succumbed to her tears. It was so frustrating! How was she supposed to help Bracken? And his mother! What would Ronodin do to them? She remembered how powerful she had felt while wearing the crown. And she was an amateur! Ronodin was an expert.
“Might the fairies rebel against him?” Kendra asked.
“I don’t know,” Tanu said. “Let’s hope so. Much better kings than Ronodin have been overthrown.”
“The demons were distracting Bracken and the Fairy Queen,” Kendra said. “But why would the Fairy King betray them?”
“He was in the demon prison for a long time,” Warren said. “Shackled to the Demon King. That had to have taken a toll.”
“It’s a disaster,” Kendra lamented, shaking with sobs. “Why do we even try?”
“Somebody has to,” Warren said. “This isn’t over. We’ll find a way.”
“Will we?” Kendra asked. “Whatever we do, we keep losing ground.”
“Let’s start with the Harp,” Tanu said. “We need serious firepower against the dragons. Right now, finding the Harp of Ages is our best hope.”
Kendra sagged. She didn’t want to find a harp. She had barely survived her previous excursion into a Dragon Temple. She wanted her brother back. And she wanted Bracken safe. Whenever an impossible situation had arisen in the past, she had always turned to the Fairy Queen.
Now that option was gone.
Maybe forever.
Kendra felt stupid for crying. Her face burned. Her nose ran freely. But she just couldn’t hold back the sobs.
She knew she would go after the Harp. She would do her duty.
But, for the moment, Kendra needed to mourn.
As the sun sank into the western mountains, goblins on stilts used poles with wicks at the tips to light streetlamps along the avenue leading away from the Arena Plaza. Strolling
