Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger Page 17

  “Kiro, look out!” Kendra cried, for now Creeegun had turned around and was charging at him again.

  Kiro threw a wild, excited look in Kendra’s direction. “Get Uncle Griffinskitch out of here!” he yelled, turning and running towards the edge of the light.

  “What are you doing?” Kendra yelled. “Don’t leave the light!”

  But even as she spoke these words, Kiro leapt from the glowing path, into the flattened expanse beyond. Instantly, he was transformed into the large and grotesque form of Trooogul the Unger.

  “NO!” Kendra screamed.

  Creeegun, who had been rushing straight towards Kiro, now skidded to a halt, his large tusked mouth dropping open in amazement.

  “Nowzum!” Trooogul growled, glaring at Creeegun and the Krake in triumph. “Youzum fightzum ME!”

  It took a moment for Creeegun and the Krake to gather their wits. One minute they had been attacking an Een and in the next an Unger! But Kendra could see that they were both enraged, and the thing most important to them now was a fight. The Krake, who was actually the closest to Trooogul, made the first move by baring his sharp fangs and leaping at the Unger. Trooogul grunted, and with a swat of his mighty claw, batted the smaller creature away as if it was nothing more than a bug. The Krake struck the ground with a squeal, and then lay in a motionless, crumpled heap. Now it was Creeegun’s turn. He lowered his rocky head and charged forward. He hit his former friend square in the chest, but Trooogul instantly regained his feet and the two young Ungers were soon embroiled in a vicious battle on the expanse of rock that lay beyond the path of light.

  “Gozum!” Trooogul roared at Kendra over the din of the fight and the collapsing maze. “Gozum, Little Star!”

  He spoke with such authority that Kendra felt compelled to obey. She turned her attention to Uncle Griffinskitch, who was lying on the ground moaning in pain. She put her hands underneath each arm and pulled the old man across the quaking ground, through the door and to the outside world. Just as they crossed the threshold of the door, the remainder of the temple came toppling to the ground, sending out a cloud of dust and rubble that knocked Kendra right from her feet. The last thing she was able to do before blacking out was to scramble on top of her uncle’s body, to protect him from the debris that was raining down from the obliterated temple.

  When Kendra returned to consciousness, the air had cleared and the sun was beaming kindly upon the land—it was the warmest she had felt in weeks. She coughed and felt the grainy taste of grit in her mouth. She looked down at herself and noticed she was covered head to foot in dust and grime. Then she blinked her eyes a few times, and realized her friends were all hovering around her.

  “Are you okay?” Ratchet asked her.

  Kendra nodded, and looked about, trying to gather in her surroundings. After all the noise of the temple’s destruction, the world seemed incredibly quiet. Nearby, she could see a pile of rock and stone; it was all that was left of the temple maze and the Door to Unger—but Kendra knew it would not remain like that for long, for a tangle of trees and bushes were already sprouting forth from it in earnest. She turned her head and noted the sound of a brook and the aroma of wild meadow flowers. Everything had returned to life in the formerly wretched land.

  Then Kendra remembered what had happened just before the final collapse of the temple.

  “Kiro!” she murmured worriedly. “And Uncle Griffinskitch! Where are they?”

  “There’s no sign of Kiro,” Jinx said gravely, helping Kendra to her feet. “Your uncle is here, but he’s in bad shape.”

  The old wizard was lying on the grass, mumbling incoherently. Kendra knelt beside him, and stroked his forehead, now beaded with perspiration.

  “Will he be okay?” she asked.

  “Something bit him on the shoulder,” Professor Bumblebean said. “What was it?”

  “A Krake,” Kendra sniffled.

  “Brush my brow!” Effryn exclaimed, hobbling forward. “I’ll be shorn if there’s anything more deadly than the venom of a Krake!”

  “Don’t you have something for him, Mr. Hagglehorn?” Kendra asked the little Faun.

  “No,” Effryn replied sadly. “There’s only one thing I know that can save someone from Krake venom—and that’s the nectar of a fireflower. But I’ve never seen a fireflower; why, I’m not sure they even exist. Baste my beard, but I don’t know where to find them.”

  Kendra smiled sadly down at her uncle. “I do,” she murmured quietly.

  KENDRA KNEW THAT SHE had to get Uncle Griffinskitch back to the land of Een as quickly as possible for it was there, and only there, that the fireflower grew. According to Effryn (and further supported by Professor Bumblebean) the Krake venom would claim the life of the old wizard if they did not get him the antidote soon.

  As such, they needed to leave straight away—which meant there was little time to search for Kiro. They spent a few hours scouring the forest that was now growing from the wreckage of the maze, but there was no sign of Kendra’s brother.

  “What do you think became of him?” Oki wondered.

  “He didn’t die,” Kendra declared. “That much I know.”

  “How?” Oki asked.

  “I don’t know,” Kendra replied. “It’s just a feeling.”

  “Well, your feelings have always served you well,” Ratchet told Kendra. “If that’s the way you feel, then you trust it. I think you’ll be seeing Kiro again before you know it.”

  Kendra smiled. Somehow, Ratchet always knew the right thing to say to make her feel better.

  “Do you think Kiro is still an Unger?” Jinx asked. “Or did he transform back into an Een again?”

  “I don’t know,” Kendra said. “But either way, he’s my brother.”

  “Come now,” Professor Bumblebean said gently. “We need to leave, Kendra, if we are to save your uncle.”

  They set on their way. The first thing that needed to happen was for Effryn to find where he had hidden Skeezle. This was not an easy task, for when he had left the tiny snail it had been at the edge of a barren wasteland—but now everything was lush and green. But find him Effryn did and at once he enacted his magic to enlarge the snail, along with his great collection of miraculous marvels.

  “We’ll let your uncle ride on Skeezle’s back, in the carriage,” Effryn told Kendra. “And I have a few medicines that may ease his pain and slow down the spread of the venom—so hopefully, we’ll get him back to Een in time.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Hagglehorn,” Kendra said.

  As they headed towards the land of Een, Kendra looked over her shoulder to gaze upon the former wasteland one last time. For a moment she thought she saw the distant silhouette of Trooogul standing amidst the forest trees and she let out a gasp. But a moment later the silhouette was gone.

  “Are you all right?” Jinx asked her, upon hearing her gasp.

  “Yes, thank you,” Kendra said turning to the grasshopper. “Let’s hurry on.”

  Had she just imagined seeing the great Unger? She wasn’t sure, but it made her feel better to think that she had.

  I will see him again, she told herself. I know it. There’s a connection between us, that much is sure.

  The small band traveled hard for the next few weeks, stopping only to rest and gather food. Uncle Griffinskitch never spoke once during this journey. His health declined steadily, and Kendra fretted continually that he might die before they could reach Een. Thankfully, now that summer had arrived, the weather was warm and the skies were clear, allowing them to make good speed. At last, they reached the edge of Een.

  “Home sweet home,” Oki sighed happily as they came upon the magic curtain.

  “Well, come on, my apprentice,” Ratchet said. “In we go.”

  He plowed ahead, expecting to step easily through the magic curtain—but he did not! Instead it was like walking into a wall of rock, and the hapless raccoon fell straight onto his rump.

  “What’s going on?” Kendra asked worriedly. “As E
ens, we should be able to walk straight through the curtain!”

  “Oh my!” Professor Bumblebean exclaimed. “How could we forget? Burdock Brown sealed the magic curtain before we left. There’s no way to get through!”

  “But we have to!” Kendra exclaimed. “We need to get Uncle Griffinskitch into Een. He’s not going to last much longer.”

  “This is outrageous!” Jinx snarled. “Why, I’d love to get my hands on that Burdock. Who does he think he is, keeping us out of our own land?”

  “I can get you through,” Effryn declared suddenly, and with these words, he produced the small silver bottle—the very one that contained the secret spell for opening the magic curtain.

  “But I thought you wanted to sell it to the Elders,” Kendra said to the Faun.

  “Indeed,” Effryn returned. “But I’ve had a change of heart, Kendra, or I’ll be shorn. If not for you, I’d have never escaped that dreadful maze. Why, it’s the least I can do, to give you this whisper.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Hagglehorn,” Kendra said, taking the bottle from the Faun.

  She removed the cap, put it to her ear, and listened to the spell.

  “Did you hear it?” Oki asked anxiously after the girl had replaced the cap.

  Kendra nodded. She turned to the curtain and repeated the incantation that she had heard. The curtain was invisible of course, but once she had spoken the enchantment the air in front of her seemed to shimmer—and Kendra knew that the curtain had parted for her.

  At last, they were home.

  KENDRA SAT ON THE SPROUTING STOOL in Winter Woodsong’s cluttered room and welcomed the warm sunshine that was beaming through the open window. It had been three weeks since the girl and her companions had returned to Een, but it had not been until today that she had been able to leave the house and come to Faun’s End. This was due to Uncle Griffinskitch; for even though the nectar of the fireflower had saved his life, the old wizard was still very weak and Kendra had been very busy nursing him back to health.

  Now that her uncle was on the mend, Kendra had taken the opportunity to visit Winter Woodsong. Professor Bumblebean had related all of their adventures to the old sorceress, but Kendra knew Winter would want to see her in person. So here she sat, watching the ancient woman as she bustled about in the corner of the chamber, making some dandelion tea.

  “You certainly look livelier, Elder Woodsong, since the last time I saw you,” Kendra commented, not sure what else to say. She still felt uncomfortable around the old sorceress, especially when it was just the two of them alone.

  “You’re kind to say so,” Winter said, shuffling up with a cup of tea for her.

  “Will you return to the council, then?” Kendra asked.

  “No, I’m afraid not,” Winter replied. The old woman found a stool and with a wave of her staff cleared it of a pile of books so that she could sit down next to Kendra. “Burdock Brown rules the Elders now,” Winter explained. “He would never allow me to take my seat, for he knows I would oppose him on so many of these cruel things he is trying to do.”

  “Someone needs to stop him,” Kendra blurted.

  “Indeed!” Winter agreed. “But it will not be me. No, I prefer the solitude of my chamber these days. I guess it comes with old age. If only the fireflower would cure that! But I’m glad to hear, child, that the flower has helped your uncle recover.”

  “Yes,” Kendra said, taking a sip of her tea. “He’s almost his old self again.”

  “Which means a lot of ‘humphing,’ I suppose,” Winter said, a twinkle in her eye.

  “I suppose,” Kendra said with a laugh.

  For a time they sat there quietly, drinking their tea. It always seemed to be that way with Winter, Kendra realized. You could sit for several minutes with the old woman, without a word being said.

  Then finally, Winter spoke. “Well, it seems you have solved the mystery of what became of your family,” she commented.

  “Many questions have been answered,” Kendra said forlornly, “but still I have no family.”

  “Ah, but you do,” Winter said. “They’re just not with you at this moment.”

  Kendra nodded and absent-mindedly reached into her pocket to toy with her brother’s compass. She carried the compass with her everywhere now; just having it next to her made her feel better somehow. It was like having a tiny piece of Kiro with her.

  “Is something on your mind?” Winter asked.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Kendra said after a moment. “It’s . . . well, it’s about my brother. What if Kiro is still an Unger? And what if my parents are too? Is there any way to change them back, now that the door has been destroyed?”

  “I’m afraid I don’t know,” Winter replied. “The Door to Unger has been closed forever. That is a good thing, for it means no Een will ever know its curse again. But for those who still carry the curse? Well, we can only hope there is a way to bring them home one day.”

  “I’m determined to find my family,” Kendra told her. “I suppose there will be another journey for me, yet.”

  Winter chuckled, her face crinkling with wrinkles. “Child, I think there will be many journeys for you ahead. I’m afraid you’re just not the stay-at-home type. You’re too much like your mother.”

  Kendra smiled and found herself gazing upon the stone carving above Winter’s bed. It had only been two months since Kendra had last seen the picture, but somehow it seemed liked years.

  “The scene looks different to me now,” Kendra remarked.

  “How so?” Winter asked.

  “Before I thought I saw a great battle between Eens and Ungers and the other monsters,” Kendra replied.

  “And now?”

  “I don’t know,” Kendra said. “It’s almost as if . . . as if somehow the figures are all dancing together. Isn’t it strange that it seems so different to me now?”

  “Ah, such is the magic of art,” Winter said, a twinkle in her old eyes. “You think the art has changed, but it has not all, child. It has remained exactly the same.”

  “Then what is it?” Kendra wondered.

  “Why, it’s you, child!” Winter remarked with a merry laugh. “The change has been in you.”

  Full size Map here

  Readers Respond

  to Kendra Kandlestar

  Lee Edward Födi shares some of his favorite letters

  My favorite Kendra Kandlestar book is Kendra Kandlestar and The Door to Unger! My favorite part is when Kendra and Troogul are in the underwater cave and Kendra finds Kiro’s compass. My favorite character would have to be Uncle Griffinskitch because of his signature “humph.”

  ~ Matthew, age 10

  I love your book Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers! It is the best book I have ever read! My favorite characters are Jinx, Kendra, and Oki! Kendra because she is kind, think for herself and of other too! Jinx because she has courage, muscle and, best of all, power. I wish I was her. Oki is a very funny character, since he always thinks about onions. I will read this book a lot in my lifetime.

  ~ Carmen, age 10

  Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger is fantastic! It rocks! And the illustrations are really good; they’re fantastic! I want to draw like you!

  ~ Danny, age 10

  I have read the book Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers and Kendra Kandlestar the Door to Unger. It was really good. My favorite character is Oki. I like Oki because he is really funny. On the first book he was thinking about onions but on the second book he started thinking about turnips.

  ~ Shaira, age 11

  Your books are extremely cool and awesome. My favorite character is Oki because of his “EEKS” and “Don’t think about onions” (Uncle Griffinskitch taught him that). My favorite parts are when Uncle Griffinskitch “humphs”. My favorite book was Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger.

  ~ Alex, age 7

  I love this book, The Box of Whispers, because it’s so magical. My favourite characters are Kendra because she is magical, Oki be
cause he is cute, and Jinx because she is so powerful. This book is magical and adventurous.

  ~ Bella, age 10

  I thought the Door to Unger was a really good book. My favourite scene was when the Door to Unger collapsed. My favourite character is Ratchet Ringtail because he is a funny inventor with inventions that don’t quite work.

  ~ Matt, age 10

  I like how you wrote Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger. My favorite characters are Kendra because she is brave, strong and she has a mind of her own and Oki because you draw Oki so cute. I wish there is the third book of Kendra Kandlestar.

  ~ Kathlene, age 10

  I just finished your second book the other night. I just cant wait to get the rest of your books. I hope you do lots! They are me number ONE books. My favorite characters are Jinx, Uncle Griffinskitch, Kendra, and Oki: Jinx because she is strong, Uncle Griffinskitch because he humphs lots, Kendra because she is the main character and Oki because he is honest.

  ~ Freddy, age 9

  I stayed up all night reading Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers. I couldn’t stop reading. It was a great book. I love the detail. It definitely brought it to life. I found the idea interesting because everyone kind of has a box of whispers of their own. Some people choose to open it and some choose to keep it locked.

  ~ Willow, age 11

  I have just finished reading The Door to Unger. I have also read The Box of Whispers. Every night my mom and I would take turns reading a couple chapters. We both loved your books so much we looked up your web site. Mom and I both love Trooogul and Kendra, the way they teased each other just like brothers and sisters “wouldzum.”

  ~ Amanda, age 10

  I want to have my hair like Kendra, but I think I will look very wierd. Even if I have my hair like that, I am not wearing it to school. I need your advice. Should I?