Fablehaven: The Complete Series by Brandon Mull Read Free Book Online Page B

of the boardwalks. Kendra followed more slowly, absorbing the scene. It looked like the setting of a fairy-tale wedding. She counted twelve pavilions, each unique. One had a small white quay projecting into the pond. The little pier was connected to a floating shed that had to be a boathouse.
     
    Kendra strolled after Seth, whose ruckus was sending the swans drifting toward the far side of the lake, leaving V-shaped ripples in their wake. The sun broke through the clouds and gleamed upon the water.
     
    Why would Grandpa Sorenson keep a place like this a secret? It was magnificent! Why go through all the trouble of maintaining it if not to enjoy it? Hundreds of people could gather here with room to spare.
     
    Kendra went to the gazebo with the pier and found that the boathouse was locked. It was not large; she guessed it held a few canoes or rowboats. Maybe Grandpa Sorenson would give them permission to paddle around the pond. No, she could not even tell him she knew about this place! Was that why he had told them about the ticks and made rules against venturing into the woods? To keep his little Eden hidden? Could he be so selfish and secretive?
     
    Kendra finished a complete lap around the pond, walking on clean wooden planks the entire way. Across the pond Seth yelled, and a small flock of cockatoos took flight. The sun retreated behind clouds. They needed to get back. Kendra told herself she could return later.
     
* * *
     
    Kendra was concerned when she cut into her steak. The middle was pink, almost red at the center. Grandpa Sorenson and Dale were already taking bites.
     
    “Is my steak cooked?” Kendra ventured.
     
    “’Course it’s cooked,” Dale said around a mouthful.
     
    “It’s pretty red in the middle.”
     
    “Only way to eat a steak,” Grandpa said, dabbing his mouth with a linen napkin. “Medium rare. Keeps it juicy and tender. If you cook it all the way through, you might as well eat shoe leather.”
     
    Kendra glanced at Lena.
     
    “Go ahead, dear,” the woman urged. “You won’t get sick; I cooked it plenty.”
     
    “I like it,” Seth said, chewing on a bite. “We have any ketchup?”
     
    “Why would you go and ruin a perfectly good steak with ketchup?” Dale moaned.
     
    “You put it on your eggs,” Lena reminded him, placing a bottle in front of Seth.
     
    “That’s different. Ketchup and onions on eggs is a necessity.”
     
    “That’s sickening,” Seth said, upending the bottle over his steak.
     
    Kendra took a bite of the garlic potatoes. They were tasty. Mustering her courage, she sampled the steak. Bursting with flavorful seasoning, it was much easier to chew than other steak she had eaten. “The steak is wonderful,” she said.
     
    “Thank you, dear,” said Lena.
     
    They ate in silence for a few moments. Grandpa dabbed his mouth with his napkin again and cleared his throat.
     
    “What do you suppose makes people so eager to break rules?”
     
    Kendra felt a jolt of guilt. The question was addressed generally and hung there awaiting a response. When nobody answered, Grandpa continued.
     
    “Is it simply the pleasure of disobedience? The thrill of rebellion?”
     
    Kendra glanced at Seth. He stared at his plate, picking at his potatoes.
     
    “Were the rules unfair, Kendra? Was I being unreasonable?”
     
    “No.”
     
    “Did I leave you with nothing to do, Seth? No pool? No tree house? No toys or hobbies?”
     
    “We had things to do.”
     
    “Then why did you two go into the woods? I warned you there would be consequences.”
     
    “Why are you hiding weird old ladies out in the forest?” Seth blurted.
     
    “Weird old ladies?” Grandpa asked.
     
    “Yeah, what about that?”
     
    Grandpa nodded thoughtfully. “She has a rotten old rope. You didn’t blow on it?”
     
    “I didn’t go near her. She was freaky.”
     
    “She came to me and asked if she could build a shack on my property. She promised to keep to herself. I saw no