“A little wooden leg,” Daphne said, picking it up and examining it. “It looks like one of Pinocchio’s marionette legs.”
“How did it end up in the armory?” Veronica asked.
The group grew quiet.
“It can’t be him,” Granny said.
“Mom, what other explanation can there be?” Henry said.
“Wait! Are you telling me that Pinocchio is the spy?” Sabrina asked.
Granny’s face fell. “Poor Geppetto. He’ll be heartbroken.”
“What do we do?” Veronica said. “Should we confront him?”
“Follow me,” Mr. Canis said as he hobbled toward Pinocchio’s tent. Once there, he used his cane to lift the tent’s flap. Inside were nearly a hundred finished marionettes, along with several thick reams of wood and a carving knife. On one wall of the tent was a bloodred handprint.
“Anybody have any doubts now?” Henry said. He dug through a pile of marionettes until he found one with a missing leg. It fit perfectly with the one Sabrina had found in the armory. He tossed it angrily onto the pile.
“Where is he?” Canis asked.
“It appears the party is over,” a voice said. Everyone turned to find Pinocchio standing behind them. He stood calmly, as if he was not ashamed of his crimes.
“Why?” Sabrina cried.
“He’s going to grant me a wish.”
“Who?” Henry demanded.
“The Master. He’s going to make me a man,” the boy said.
Sabrina rushed to Pinocchio and shook him by his shirt collar roughly. “Explain yourself.”
“The Master came to me. He offered me my heart’s desire—to grow into a man. I can’t expect you to understand. Do you have any idea what it’s like to be seen and spoken to as a child every day?”
“Uh, yeah?” Daphne snapped.
“Try it for hundreds of years! Forced to play with other children, never allowed to grow or mature because I am trapped in this body. I wanted life from the Blue Fairy, but look how she cursed me. The Master has promised to give me what I most desire.”
“And if people die in the process?” Granny cried.
“You see him as your enemy,” Pinocchio said. “But he can be your friend. He can give you anything you want. You could wish everyone back to life. That princess that died, Briar Rose, he could raise her from the dead. All you have to do is ask.”
Uncle Jake glared. “We need to put him somewhere he can’t get into any trouble.”
“I can help with that,” Puck said as he drew his wooden sword.
Just then, a horrible sound filled the air. Sabrina knew it well and the look on her sister’s face confirmed it.
“A dragon!” they cried.
Others recognized the sound as well and the celebration turned to chaos. People ran like nervous rabbits, screaming and crying. Everafters fell to the ground and were trampled by others. In the madness, Pinocchio pulled free from Puck and darted into the crowd, disappearing from sight.
Puck was eager to go after him but Granny stopped him. “Let him go. We’ll catch him later. For now, we have to get everyone to safety.”
“Get to your posts,” Robin Hood shouted as he charged through the courtyard.
Charming climbed on top of a table and commanded everyone’s attention. “Remember your training. We can fight this thing!”
But when a violet-colored dragon with the face of a cat appeared on the horizon, Sabrina could see the prince’s confidence melt away. The creature circled the fort like an overgrown vulture preparing to feast on the body of a dead coyote. Sabrina could taste the fear in the back of her throat, but struggled to remain calm. She turned her attention to Geppetto, who stood in the courtyard aiming his bow and arrow toward the sky.
“You can fire arrows at it all day,” Sabrina told him. “They’re not going to help.”
“I have to do something. They have to be stopped,” the old man said.
“They? How many are there?”
“Three just swooped over the fort,” the old man said as he pointed north. “They came from that direction. One blasted the west wall. I sent guards to put out the fire but the water tower valve is broken. There’s no way to get any water out of it.”
Sabrina’s father and Granny Relda raced across the courtyard with Elvis close behind. The big dog was barking hysterically. “I just spotted another seven flying in from the south,” Puck shouted.
“Everyone through the portal, now!” Henry shouted. Guards rushed toward Charming’s cabin, where the magical escape hatch was kept.
“But we should fight,” Puck argued.
“I thought you weren’t a hero!” Sabrina said.
“Who says villains can’t kill dragons?” he teased. “Besides, it will look great on my résumé!”
Mr. Canis shook his head. “Not this time. You have to get to safety.”
“C’mon, girls,” Veronica said as she grabbed Sabrina and Daphne by the hands. Before they could take a step, a white dragon with orange stripes across its belly crashed to the ground in front of them, blocking their path. A dozen knights raced to the beast and attacked it with their swords.