Free The Grimjinx Rebellion by Brian Farrey Page A

the Athenaeum.”
    â€œOkay,” I said, “that means there’s only one other place she can be.”
    Callie nodded grimly. “The Black Door.”
    I pointed to the dome and the faint sunlight. “The others will be awake soon. We can’t risk them finding us near the Black Door. We need another diversion.”
    â€œPlease,” Maloch said, “no more exploding cakes.”
    â€œNo time,” I said, rummaging through my pouches. “Cal, you said you could beat the magical defenses here. Think you can take on a gaolglobe?”
    I mixed ground paggis root and jellyweed in my palm. The harder I stirred with my finger, the more the concoction started to crackle and fizz. Callie’s eyes widened as she realized what I was going to do. “Do I have a choice?”
    â€œYou two keep them busy,” I said, “and I’ll get Aubrin. Meet me outside the servants’ barracks. And try not to get caught.”
    I threw the concoction in the air. It sparkled and hissed like fireworks, lighting up the dark and echoing off the trees. Far away, the gaolglobes responded, turning from blue to red. The pulsing spheres shot through the forest, headed right for us, howling loudly enough to wake the entire Creche. Soon, everyone—the servants, Gobek—would be here.
    â€œThis is the part where we run,” I said.
    The three of us shot through the forest, pushing aside branches and tall grass. The spheres had grown brighter, lighting our path with deep crimson. We split up, zigzagging to lose the spheres as they drew nearer.
    I lost sight of the others and charged blindly ahead. It was purely by accident that I came across the clearing where we’d first entered. There, just ahead, was the exit. If I could get there before Mavra and the others showed up . . .
    Holding tight to Tree Bag, I ran. I glanced over my shoulder, looking for the sphere. Nothing. I was going to make it. And just as I thought I was safe, it dropped from above.
    Pop!
    Crimson light exploded around me. The gaolglobe vanished and I was left in darkness. There was no way the herbs in my pouches were strong enough to counteract it. So why—?
    I didn’t have time to worry about it. I slipped through the door, back into the Creche.
    â€œIt’s coming from the Athenaeum!” Mavra’s shrill voice filled the corridor. I turned and ran in the opposite direction, disappearing around a corner just as the servants arrived on the scene. The Aviard girl pushed her way to the Athenaeum door, ordering everyone to back off until Gobek arrived.
    Under my breath, I wished Callie and Maloch good luck, then I tiptoed down the hall and made my way to the Black Door.

12
    Beyond the Black Door
    â€œA liar with a poor memory leaves a trail of unfortunate truths.”
    â€”Ancient par-Goblin proverb
    F or as ominous as everyone had made it out to be, the Black Door wasn’t so scary up close. It didn’t even have a lock. I guess it didn’t really need one. Who wanted to go in there, what with all the unholy screaming?
    I pressed my ear to the cold, black wood. No howling. No sounds of torture. This was getting better by the minute. Checking to make sure my pouches were at the ready, I ducked inside.
    Tiny orbs of green-blue fire floated above, dimly lighting a slender passage. I crept along the wall, hugging the shadows. Even behind the door, I could hear the wailing of the gaolglobes. Good. That meant they hadn’t caught Maloch and Callie.
    I walked until the narrow hall opened up into an oval room filled with lit candles. The smell of animal fur and sweat nearly knocked me over. Cages filled with mythical monsters—very much like the ones I’d seen in the Palatinate Palace months ago—sat stacked atop one another, creating a small maze across the room.
    Hunched over, I moved among the cages. The creatures snarled and cooed menacingly as I passed. Each wore a control