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Chapter Thirty

One easy boat ride and a hard hike later—made even harder by the hundred-pound key I was now lugging around—we made it back to Jah Beryge. I was gasping for breath before we'd even made it halfway up the spiral staircase. Sweat was gushing down my face to soak my shirt.

“Are you sure you don’t want any help with that?” Ethan asked, pointing at the key.

“After what…I went through…to get this,” I panted, “I'm not taking my hands off it…until that door is unlocked!”

Even after the nap I'd taken on the ride back, I was freaking exhausted. My inhaler was empty, all the extra energy it'd given me used up during the climb. But even though each of my limbs felt like they weighed as much as the key did, I could have jumped over the moon. Just a few more minutes…maybe an hour, at most…and I would finally be with my family again! There was just one last thing I had to do. Something that might actually be harder than all three Trials put together.

I had to betray the Brotherhood of Zanni.

Focus on what's important, I told myself. It's just a stupid hammer.

My mind flashed back to the meal I'd shared with them the night before. The way they had accepted me as one of their own, even cheered for me…

Three family members for the price of one hammer, I thought. Even Opisthia would say that was a bargain!

Opisthia…

I tried not to imagine the look he would have on his face when he found out what I'd done. It would probably be the same look he always had, but knowing him, he'd manage to get his feelings across anyway. The thought of the betrayal and disappointment shining in his little googly eyes was enough to make me wince.

He'll understand, I insisted to myself. He won't be happy about it, but he'll understand.

Then I'll just have to figure out how to live with myself.

My thoughts must have been painted all over my face, because Jade reached out and put a hand on my arm.

“Whatever happens,” she said with an encouraging smile, “we're with you.”

I tried to smile back, but couldn't, so I settled for hiking the rest of the way up the stairs in silence, until—

“CONGRATULATIONS, HENRY!”

The roaring cheer was so unexpected that I instinctively backpedaled, nearly going right over the edge of the stairs. Luckily, Ethan was there with his unexpectedly good reflexes, and he caught my arm before I could take the express elevator back down to the Jiggly Trombone.

What looked like the entire Brotherhood was there waiting for me. Suddenly the air was filled with glittering, colorful confetti as the monks raised a raucous cheer. A huge banner with the words “A TRUE HUNTER!” written in red, purple, green, and blue letters had been hung between two of the pillars.

“Well done!” Opisthia called to us, the crowd instantly parting to let him and Fatty through. “Well done, indeed! Let me see it!”

Not knowing what else to do, I held the key out toward him in both hands, like a knight offering a sword to his king. Fatty extended his arm, and Opisthia examined the key for a few seconds, as if he were making sure I had brought back the right giant golden key.

I paused, a pit forming in my gut. I hadn’t brought the wrong giant golden key back, had I? Had I?

Finally, the puppet sighed in a strangely nostalgic way. “After hundreds of years, I was beginning to think that I would never see this key again, and that George would remain locked in that room for the rest of eternity.”

“George?” I asked, confused.

Opisthia looked at me in a very I'd be winking right now if I still had eyelids way. “You're not the only one who names your weapons.”

I couldn't stop myself from wilting when I heard that. The hammer had a name? Great. Perfect! Now I couldn't shake the feeling that instead of just stealing it, I was freaking kidnapping the stupid thing!

“Ahh, but enough reminiscing!” Opisthia exclaimed. “You have fought hard and overcome things that would have destroyed a lesser klaon. Come! It is time to see the fruits of your labor!”

With that, Fatty turned and made his way through the crowd again, heading toward the Vault of Vulgar Humor.

“Stay strong, Henry,” Ethan whispered as he and Jade walked past me. After a few seconds of hesitation, I forced my feet to follow them. A large portion of the monks that had gathered to see me return came along behind us, but others stayed behind, apparently having other duties to attend to. Good for them. They wouldn't have to witness my most shameful moment.

It didn't help my mood when the ones who were following us started up an impromptu chant. “HEN! REE! HEN! REE!”

Just stop it, I thought, my heart in my throat. Go away! Stop looking at me!

We came to the vault, and Fatty stopped in front of the iron gate before turning to face us. Behind him, I could faintly make out the massive shape of Opisthia's old hammer.

My hammer…but not for long.

“Rider of Henries,” Opisthia said, his voice solemn as it resonated through the large room, “today is a day of celebration, but it is also one of grave significance. This hammer is a symbol of many things. Peace. Security. The everlasting preservation of joy. As the Hunter, you also stand for these things.”

I stand for myself and my own selfish desires, I couldn't help but think with another pang of guilt.

“By taking up the Hammer of the First Hunter, you are making an oath that will last for the rest of your life,” Opisthia went on. “A life that shall be utterly devoted to the protection of the human race, without whom our people would have faded from existence millennia ago.”

No, I thought, I’m helping a monster torture and kill them.

“An oath that you will strive tirelessly to see justice prevail, peace reign, and laughter proliferate in the smiles of everyone you encounter.”

Does proliferate mean to kill it stone dead? I wondered, fighting the urge to squirm under the Brotherhood’s gaze.

“You, Henry Rider,” Opisthia said, actually using my real name for once, “are, and forever will be, a symbol of what klaonkind should stand for. You are the light that pierces the darkness of fear and sadness. You are an unbreakable wall standing between innocence and evil. You are,” he paused and looked at Ethan and Jade, “a friend to all who need you.”

Who left her oldest friend to rot in a dungeon, I thought, teeth clenched against the fountain of shame that was quickly rising up inside me, threatening to explode like a shaken up bottle of soda.

“Henry, present the key to me,” Opisthia said.

Moving slowly, feeling like I had cement blocks tied to both of my feet, I stepped forward and held out the key. To my surprise, Fatty took it in one hand as if it only weighed a few pounds, and turned toward the gate.

“Today, it is my honor and my pleasure,” said Opisthia as Fatty pushed the key into the giant padlock, “to pass on to you my most prized possession. Though a part of me is reluctant to part with it, my heart swells with pride at the thought of all the good you will—”

“STOP IT!”

Everyone went as still as statues while my voice echoed through the vault. “STOP IT, STOP it, stop…” Now, even more than before, I could feel every eye in the room on me. Curious. Surprised. Suspicious.

Slowly, Fatty turned around so that Opisthia could face me, the key inserted into the lock but left unturned.

“What is wrong,” he said, the strength and authority in his voice feeling like a cold slap to my face, “Rider of Henries?”

I felt Ethan's hand on my arm, and he frantically whispered, “Henry, stop! Your fam—”

I brushed his hand away and stepped forward. I couldn't force myself to raise my head and look at the puppet, couldn't stop the tears from spilling down my cheeks, couldn't block the faces of my family out of my mind. I knew what I was giving up. I knew it was probably the wrong thing to do. But I couldn't just stand here and listen to Opisthia sing my praises, knowing that I was going to commit the ultimate, most unforgivable betrayal possible as soon as he was done.

Mom, Dad, and Grandpa Teddy would be the ones who paid the price for this. I could only pray that, wherever they were, they would be at least a little bit proud of me for making the honest choice.

“Henry?” Opisthia asked again.

“I am,” I forced myself to say, my voice quavering, “none of those things!”

Opisthia didn't respond at first, and the silence was nearly enough to crush me with its oppressive weight.

“Explain,” he finally said. His voice was neither cold nor warm. Not accusatory or comforting.

I glanced back at my friends. Ethan was staring at me, his face pale. Jade frowned, but she nodded to me anyway.

This was it. I had already opened Pandora's box. There was no going back now.

“Three days ago,” I said, “my family was kidnapped.”

Surprised mutterings swept through the crowd of monks, then abruptly ceased when Fatty raised his hand. Opisthia only looked at me, silently commanding me to continue.

“The kidnapper's name is Ichabod Hench. For the past year, maybe longer, he’s been abducting humans from all over the world and hooking them up to these…” I paused, flinching at the memory. “These evil machines. He uses mind control to force them to laugh until they die, and then bottles that laughter in the hopes of selling it.”

Nobody else spoke. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. Should I tell them about Legion? No, I decided. He didn't play into what had brought me here, so explaining how Ichabod’s mind control talismans had malfunctioned and created a monster made of twelve human consciousnesses mashed together would only confuse matters further. I could tell Opisthia about him later.

If there was a later…

“I've spent the last year fighting him, trying to expose him and shut down these farms,” I said. A familiar anger reignited in my chest, but it was nowhere near strong enough to burn away my shame. “Three days ago, he struck back where he knew it would hurt me the most: my family. He took them captive and said he would kill them if I didn't bring him your hammer.”

More muttering. Louder this time. Fatty raised his hand again, but the voices continued to whisper for a few seconds before trailing off.

“I was going to…” My throat closed up, and my legs gave out, bringing me to my knees in front of Opisthia.

“Henry!” Ethan and Jade yelled in unison. They were by my side in an instant. They were such good friends. I didn't deserve…they deserved so much better than…

“I was going to complete the Trials so you would give me your hammer,” I said as fast as I could, before my emotions made talking impossible, “and then I was going to give it to Ichabod so he would give my family back!”

I fell forward onto my hands and knees, tears spattering on the floor beneath me. Raising one fist, I punched the marble floor. Pain lanced up my arm. Good. I did it again, and again, and again, until I began to leave specks of blue blood behind on the stone.

“I'M SORRY!” I yelled at the top of my voice. “I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY!”

“Henry, stop it!” Jade said, grabbing my arm. I didn't fight her. There was no energy left in me to fight with.

There was nothing.

“That is,” Opisthia said at last, speaking slowly, “quite the story, Henry.”

“I know you probably don't believe me,” I said, my voice numb. “I don't blame you. But I'm telling the truth. Ichabod Hench is an evil klaon who doesn't care who he has to hurt, or even kill, to put money in his pockets. No matter what you do to me, you have to stop him!”

“And you are certain that it is him? You are absolutely sure that you haven't made a mistake?”

I nodded.

Opisthia hummed thoughtfully. “Well, I must admit, this puts me in a…somewhat awkward situation.”

I looked up at him, confused, and he turned to look at Fatty. Fatty raised his hand and lowered his hood, revealing…

My mouth fell open.

“Hello, Henrietta,” Ichabod said wryly.


NEXT CHAPTER 2/4/26