The outer fence of Humbuggle’s manor had been violently trampled, wrought iron twisted like spaghetti. Huge sections of hedgerows were flattened or uprooted. The grand fountain had been smashed—chunks of marble and partially recognizable fragments of statuary lay heaped half drowned in the basin. A grove of smoldering trees near the house were carbonized down to fuming poles. One of the great pillars sheltering the porch looked like a broken tusk. A gray film of soot muted the entire estate.

“It must have been lovely,” Kendra said as they crunched along what remained of the pebbly path leading to the front steps.

“Up until today it was immaculate,” Virgil said. “Yet the manor still stands. Much of Humburgh cannot make that claim.”

“I saw a face in an upper window,” Merek said. “Ducked away as soon as I saw it.”

“Since the manor survived, you can bet the staff is inside,” Serena said. “Humbuggle’s servants were extremely dedicated.”

“How long were you there?” Kendra asked.

“A couple of years,” Serena said. “Not everyone knew me. Nipsies understand the value in hiding from big folk. But several members of the staff associated me with Isadore, who had a questionable reputation. If you don’t mind, I want to lie low. I’d rather not be seen in your company.”

When Kendra reached the front steps, the front door opened. An older woman glowered out at them, wearing a matronly outfit, left arm in a sling, her hair singed on one side. “No visitors this week,” she announced in an authoritative voice. “Be on your way.”

“Is Humbuggle here?” Kendra asked.

The matron scowled. “The lord of this manor goes where he pleases and answers to none, least of all you.”

“Has he noticed that his city lies in shambles?” Merek asked.

The woman frowned into the distance, eyes roving. “What’s that to him? He invited nobody here and promised them nothing. They came of their own accord and they reap what they sow, same as the rest of us.” The woman began to shut the door.

“Humbuggle knows me,” Kendra insisted.

The matron paused with the door mostly closed. “He knows everyone in this town.”

“He’ll want to talk to me,” Kendra pressed.

“Why might that be?”

“My brother won the Wizenstone from him,” Kendra said.

The woman huffed and shook her head. “I’ve heard some whoppers in my day, but that takes the cake. Be on your way now.”

“Ask Humbuggle, or else risk his displeasure,” Merek said. “Her brother is Seth Sorenson. This is Kendra Sorenson.”

“You’re telling me the Games are over?” the matron asked acerbically.

“Look around,” Virgil said. “The defenses are down. The pocket dimensions have collapsed. The arena is gone.”

“Says you,” the woman spat.

“Go see for yourself,” Virgil said. “Or send someone. Have none of you ventured out since the attack?”

“The Games have ended,” Kendra said.

The matron narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “You don’t know Humbuggle. Schemes within schemes within schemes, he has. This is all part of the smokescreen. Another trick. Another test.”

“The kind of trick where he lets dragons destroy the city?” Kendra exclaimed.

A tall man in a somber suit appeared behind the woman and whispered something in her ear. Her expression changed, eyes widening. She pulled the door open and stepped aside.

“It appears your audience is desired after all,” the woman said. “You may pass. Baynard will escort you.”

The interior of the manor showed none of the hardship experienced without. The opulent furniture and décor were in a state of order and cleanliness possible only through the steadfast attention of a dedicated staff. Floors gleamed, brass shone, flowers bloomed, glass was nearly invisible. All was tidy and polished. Only the soot on the exterior of the windowpanes betrayed the devastation the town had faced.

The solemn butler led them without making eye contact or conversation. One of his jacket sleeves was torn, but otherwise he looked impeccable, down to the gloss of his shoes.

Baynard opened a door to a sumptuous study. Heavy curtains were drawn over the windows, and shelves of dark wood supported books and curiosities from floor to ceiling on two walls. In one corner, a bulky suit of armor posed as if clutching a halberd. A dormant fireplace sat with logs ready. Behind a heavy desk of rich, reddish wood sat a dwarf with a forked beard. He was wearing spectacles as he studied an open tome.

“Thank you, Baynard,” Humbuggle said. “That will be all.”

The butler departed, shutting the door.

Humbuggle closed his book and removed his spectacles. “Welcome to my humble home. A pleasure to see you again, Merek. And, of course, Kendra. Along with my old friend Virgil. And Serena, tucked away.”

“We have questions,” Merek said.

“Everyone always does,” Humbuggle said. “Virgil, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

“It’s you,” Virgil mouthed, hardly making a sound.

“In the flesh,” Humbuggle agreed. He slid off his chair and came around the desk.

“How well do you know me?” Virgil asked.

“We’ve met many times, though I was in disguise. You paid sharp attention all along. Would you care to guess who I was?”

Virgil cleared his throat. “I’m not sure. Maybe the old flower woman on the corner leading into the plaza?”

“I wasn’t Midge,” Humbuggle said. “She was genuine. But as a disguise she would have served my purposes well—she saw nearly everyone come and go, and she took an interest in many while also merging with the background. An astute observation, as expected.”

“When did we meet?” Virgil asked.

“You knew me most often as Dante the briar troll,” Humbuggle said, altering his voice to match.

“No,” Virgil said. “That was you? Every time?”

The dwarf spread his hands in a kind of shrug. “One of my many personas. You engaged with me more than most. Thank you for guiding Seth in the proper direction.”

“Did Seth beat you?” Kendra asked. “Did he get the Wizenstone?”

“You set an important example for him at Stormguard Castle, Kendra,” Humbuggle said. “It was useful for him to see that obtaining the stone was not necessarily the best way to win.”

“Where is Seth now?” Merek asked.

“I see you’ve sprouted wings since we last met,” Humbuggle said. “You might be the finest trainer we ever had.”

“I was your prisoner,” Merek said. “You stole my memories and enslaved me.”

“I most certainly did not,” Humbuggle said. “Words have meanings—choose yours with care. You forfeited those memories in your quest to take my stone. I helped restore them to you. As Dante, I sent Seth to retrieve what you lost.”

“You caused me great harm, and in the end helped a little,” Merek said. “I suppose I knew you in the Games?”

“Most often as Driggs,” Humbuggle said.

“Ah,” Merek said. “You oriented me when I began.”

“I have also been many gladiators,” Humbuggle said. “I love a good death scene.”

“You fought in your own Games?” Kendra asked.

“I seemed to fight, yes,” Humbuggle said. “And I appeared to die many times. Anything to entertain.”

“Your city lies in ruins,” Merek said.

“A house of cards is bound to topple,” Humbuggle said. “It was a city built with borrowed power, its bricks mortared with ambition and greed.”

“Where is the Wizenstone now?” Virgil asked.

Humbuggle lowered his voice. “Can you three keep a secret?”

All three responded in the affirmative.

“So can I,” Humbuggle whispered. He pantomimed locking his lips and tossing the key aside.

“Really?” Kendra scolded. “You let us in here and now you’re not telling us anything? Where is Seth? We saved Titan Valley. You owe us.”

Humbuggle cocked his head, his face puzzled. “I thought it was the titan who drove the dragons away.”

“After we woke him,” Kendra said.

“And how did you wake him?” Humbuggle inquired.

“Seth cut the strings of the Harp of Ages,” Kendra said.

Humbuggle assumed an innocent expression. “And who gave him that task?”

Kendra paused. “You did.”

“You’re welcome for the rescue of Titan Valley,” Humbuggle said with a little bow. “It was my pleasure.”

“Seth did the work,” Kendra said.

“Let’s call it a team effort,” Humbuggle said. “Semantics get tedious.”

“What will you do now?” Virgil asked.

“Me?” Humbuggle asked. “Really?” He went and dragged a little suitcase out from behind his desk, laid it flat, and clipped it open. “As mayor of Humburgh, I will pronounce the township unincorporated.” He grabbed some papers from his desk and placed them in the suitcase. “Then I intend to hit the road.”

“What about this home?” Kendra asked. “Your staff?”

Humbuggle looked up from packing. “I have good people here. Some are strong in magic. They all have their uses. They kept the dragons at bay during the attack and drove off a rogue giant who sought me. They kept my house intact. But they are all here to win the Games. And the Games are over.”

“So you lost the Wizenstone?” Virgil asked.

“Kendra’s brother cleaved it with the Unforgiving Blade,” Humbuggle said. “He has the remnants.”

“The Wizenstone was destroyed?” Merek asked.

“And now, for the first time in a great while, I am free,” Humbuggle said. “Every possession is a burden—life will teach you that if you pay attention. I now wield less power, but I feel much lighter.” Standing on his toes, the dwarf raised both hands over his head and stretched.

“Where is my brother?” Kendra asked.

“Pushy, pushy,” Humbuggle chided. “Give a dwarf the chance to speak. I admitted you for a reason.”

“Why?” Kendra asked.

“I was no slouch before I claimed the Wizenstone,” Humbuggle said, twisting at the waist and holding the stretch. “I made plenty of mischief without it, helped kingdoms rise and fall. This dragon war concerns me.” He twisted the other way.

“Now that they tried to burn down your house?” Kendra asked.

Humbuggle waved a dismissive hand. “My real estate here has become a bad investment. When Seth broke the Wizenstone, this town was doomed—if not by dragons, then by giants. To enjoy my freedom, I need a world where I can live. The dragon war places that in jeopardy.”

“Don’t tell me you intend to help us?” Merek asked.

Humbuggle took a small jar from his desk and placed it in the suitcase. “You slayers created this mess. Dragons don’t naturally collaborate. There was never meant to be a dragon army! Concertedly hunting them made them band together. And then confining them to sanctuaries allowed a shared unrest to ferment over the centuries. The previous dragon war was nothing compared to the avalanche Celebrant has set in motion. Prognosticators often err in forecasting the end of the world—but this time there is a real chance of it.”

“What can we do?” Virgil asked.

“Don’t seek to bridle the uncontrollable,” Humbuggle said. “The brief season of quiet you produce will not be worth the explosion that follows.”

“You think we should let dragons overrun the world?” Kendra asked.

“At this stage, we must do our best to stem the tide,” Humbuggle said. “In a fight for survival, you do what it takes to live on. Learn as you go. Your brother is learning plenty.”

“Is he?” Kendra asked.

“From the best teacher,” Humbuggle said.

“Who?” Kendra asked. “You?”

Humbuggle laughed uproariously. “No, silly girl. The best teacher is pain.”

Kendra worried what Humbuggle might be implying. “Is Seth hurt?”

“More than anyone can measure,” Humbuggle said. “His memories were restored, which meant he had to confront actions that disgusted him. Some lessons are learned only through suffering.”

“Where is he?” Kendra asked.

“I lost track of your brother after Celebrant captured him,” Humbuggle said.

“Celebrant has him?” Kendra asked.

“The Dragon King caught up to him shortly after Seth destroyed the Wizenstone,” Humbuggle said. “Having just regained his memories, your brother was in no condition to put up a fight. He departed in Celebrant’s custody and could be anywhere by now, if in fact he still lives.”

Kendra ached inside. “Did Celebrant harm him?”

“Celebrant took him captive,” Humbuggle said. “I watched in secret. If the Dragon King meant to kill your brother, he had the opportunity.”

“Any clue where they went?” Kendra asked.

“Far from here, I suspect,” Humbuggle said.

“What about my cousins?” Kendra asked. “Knox and Tess?”

“They were at Terastios, I believe,” Humbuggle said. “By all reports, Terastios was demolished and the Giant Queen perished, which does not bode well for your relatives, or for the satyrs accompanying them.”

Kendra staggered and felt Merek steady her. “What should we do?”

“That is for you to decide,” Humbuggle said. “I gifted you some information it might have taken you a long time to learn. You came with questions, and I gave freely. I hope it helps against the dragons. We all stand to lose if the dragons reign supreme.”

“Why not help us?” Merek asked.

“I just did,” Humbuggle said. “Under these conditions, any demon would do the same. We have no love for dragons. We learned long ago that they cannot be harnessed without misfortune for whoever holds the reins.”

Humbuggle crossed to the door.

“You’re leaving?” Kendra asked.

“As should you,” Humbuggle suggested. “Without the Giant Queen, this sanctuary is at the center of a power vacuum. Get clear until after the dust settles. You can take a moment to deliberate in this room. I’ll leave orders for my staff to let you depart in peace. But I can’t promise they will hold to my orders much longer. Good luck.”

Humbuggle opened the door, stepped out, and closed it.

“He just gets to waltz out of here?” Kendra asked.

“I’m not sure what more he could do for us,” Merek said. He turned to the satyr. “I assume he was telling the truth?”

“I think so,” Virgil said. “Humbuggle can be deceptive, but I’m not aware of any outright lies. Doubtless he had his own reasons for what he chose to share. He always does.”

“I agree,” Merek said. “He knew nothing definitive about Knox and Tess. Do we start by seeking them?”

“Terastios is demolished,” Kendra said. “Could you fly around Humburgh? Have a look?”

“Let’s see what we can find,” Merek said.

“I’ll watch as Merek flies,” Serena said.

“Virgil and I will search on the ground,” Kendra said.

“What about your brother?” Virgil asked.

“We don’t know where to start,” Kendra said. “For now, Seth is on his own.”