Ghosts of Sherwood

by T. S. Maynard

  “Achilles cannot be stopped. The more this land loses its magic, the stronger he grows. I’m protecting what I can before he destroys these lands. This is not the first time I’ve had to relocate. That’s why there are many stories and versions of Robin Hood, all of them true to some extent.”

  “Can I have the Book of Magic so we can get home?” Alex asked.

  “Who said it was a book of magic?”

  “King Arthur.”

  Robin handed Alex a dusty book with a tan cover titled The Wealth of Nations.

  Alex rubbed the cover and shook his head in disbelief.

  “What is it, Dad?” Sean asked as he peeked at the book.

  “This is the first book of modern economic theory. It describes market forces as an invisible hand.”

  “The invisible force that the people of Camelot worship,” Robin added. “It can no more show you the way home than it can save Camelot.”

  “I thought you only stole things that people take for granted.”

  Robin took a deep breath. “I made an exception with the book. I hoped I could break the cycle, but the Magician had already planted the seeds of destruction of this place.”

  “Where did he come from?”

  “The same place you did. For centuries, people have visited this realm from yours. At first, they came to observe and write stories, but The Magician was different.”

  “So, you killed him?” Alex asked.

  “Open the book,” Robin instructed.

  Alex flipped open the book and found an inscription.

  For my son,

  It is never too early to learn the principles of good business. One day you’ll inherit my kingdom.

  Your father, Lloyd

  Alex couldn’t believe it. This used to be his book. His father had given it to him as a present after his tenth birthday. Lloyd told Alex that he was no longer a boy, and it was time to grow up. When Alex tried to explain that he preferred his own books, his father offered a response similar to the one Alex gave Sean just the other day.

  Alex looked at his son with regret when a voice startled him from behind.

  “Hello, son.”

  Lloyd stood in the doorway.

  Chapter 11

  Alex stared at Lloyd, dumbstruck. What was he doing here? How was any of this possible?

  “When you were younger, I followed you through the cabin,” Lloyd said, attempting to explain. “I guess I couldn’t help myself when I got here. I started teaching them what I thought was right.”

  Alex shook his head in disbelief. “You’re The Magician?”

  Lloyd nodded.

  “Why didn’t you tell King Arthur the truth about who you are?”

  Robin chimed in, “That’s not entirely his fault. He left here for good when I threatened to steal you.”

  Lloyd stared at his son with pleading eyes. “I boarded up the cabin so you could never come back through. I didn’t realize I had already lost you.”

  “Why did you come back?” Alex asked.

  “When I got sick, I remembered the magic of this place. I hoped it could save me. I discovered that the ideas I left behind almost destroyed it.” Lloyd leaned forward and motioned to his son, then to himself. “But, I think we can save this place, Alex, you and I together.” He presented Alex with the book Legends and Fairy Tales.

  Alex cracked it open to a picture of King Arthur battling an army with Excalibur and the Knights of the Round Table.

  Lloyd pointed to the book. “This is the real book of magic. We can defeat Achilles. We just need the people to remember who they are. What do you say?”

  Alex snapped the book closed. “I say it’s time to leave. I need to keep Sean safe.”

  Sean looked up at his dad, disappointed.

  Lloyd turned to Robin. “Will you help me?” he asked, hoping that might sway Alex’s opinion.

  Robin shook his head. “It’s too late.”

  Disappointed, Lloyd nodded and held out his hand to Alex. “Very well. May I have the book?”

  Alex handed it over to his father.

  “If you go back to the clearing, the cabin is there,” Lloyd said. “Close the door, knock three times, and you’ll be home.” Lloyd turned to leave.

  “Where are you going, Dad?” Alex asked.

  “To save Camelot.”

  Sean tugged on Alex’s arm and whispered, “Let’s go with Grandpa.”

  “We’re going home, Sean.” Alex grabbed Sean’s hand and marched him out of the shack.

  Tears welled up in Sean’s eyes as Alex pulled him away from Sherwood. Alex and Sean hiked back to Silver and then rode back to the clearing. Tall grass blew in the wind, but the cabin was nowhere to be found.

  Alex searched the area, confused. “He said it was here.”

  They rode further into the clearing. As they neared the center, the area transformed, and the cabin revealed itself. They were on the opposite side of an optical illusion—a mirror of sorts. Alex backed the horse up a few feet, and the cabin disappeared. He moved forward, and it reappeared.

  As Alex dismounted, a rustle in the bushes caught his attention. It was the boy in the red hoodie. Their eyes met, and the boy shook his head in disappointment, then ran off into the forest.

  Alex entered the cabin with Sean, who didn’t make a peep. He just stared at the floor as Alex shut the door and knocked three times. When Alex opened the door, it was still nighttime.

  “Yes! It’s still last night. I can make my meeting.”

  “Yippee,” Sean said in a tone dripping with sarcasm. He shuffled his way back through the clearing.

  Alex followed his son back through the forest, across the green belt, and into Lloyd’s house. He glanced at the clock—almost midnight.

  Sean used to look at his dad like a hero, but as Alex helped him slip back into bed, he couldn’t even lay his eyes on his father—something that stung Alex’s heart.

  “You’ll understand someday,” Alex said.

  “I hope not.” Sean pulled the covers over his head and rolled to the other side.

  Lloyd hobbled up to the sealed gates of Camelot. A guard called down from atop the wall. “What do you want, old man?”

  “I wish to see King Arthur,” Lloyd replied.

  “Business hours are 9 am to 5 pm,” the guard said.

  “I’m The Magician.” Lloyd held up The Wealth of Nations.

  The guard’s face turned ghost white as he rushed to open the gate.

  Minutes later, King Arthur rushed into his office where Lloyd now waited. “Thank goodness you’re back. Your son came as you foretold, but he has left us.”

  “And he’s not coming back,” Lloyd said, his voice cracking from emotion.

  “That’s okay, you’re here,” Arthur said.

  Lloyd looked away from Arthur, embarrassed to meet his optimistic gaze. “Yes, what a relief. I need to address the people of Camelot.”

  Chapter 12

  Alex fell exhausted onto the guest bed. He grabbed his smartphone from the nightstand and discovered a new text message from Anna. It was her response to Alex’s request to have dinner instead of breakfast. The message read Can’t do dinner. Tied up the rest of the week.

  Alex put the phone down and buried his face in his hands. He understood the subtext; he’d lost her. His emotions got the best of him as tears streamed down his face. How did his life end up like this? He had no relationship with his father; he was a disappointment to his son, and he’d lost the love of his life.

  Alex slid off the bed and meandered through the hallways. All the artwork and artifacts throughout the house were virtually the same as when he was a child. Everything had a story and everything brought back a memory. The echoes from the past conjured up a ghost of himself as a young boy playing in these very halls. He wore a red hoodie and was having the time of his life battling imaginary villains with a heroic Robin Hood at his side. Alex watched his younger self with remorse and nostalgia. Back then, the world seemed full of possi
bilities and optimism.

  The boy continued playing throughout the giant house, and Alex followed until he found himself in the library. The ghost of the boy disappeared in front of the painting of his mother. Alex stared up at her with the heaviest of hearts, wishing more than anything that he could have met her, even just once. As he stared, he noticed something odd. In the night sky, there was now one solitary star. Alex looked closer, and the star twinkled.

  Meanwhile, Sean slipped his sneakers back on and snuck out the back door. His father might not want to help save Sherwood, but he sure did. He tiptoed across the patio before breaking into a sprint across the greenbelt. When he reached the trees, he settled into a jog. Pushing branches out of his face, the wicked howl from the strange creature in the woods brought goosebumps to his skin. Then, deep from within the darkest shadows of the forest, an enormous black wolf emerged. The beast snarled and snapped at the air. Snot flew from its snout, and saliva dripped from its massive teeth.

  Sean dashed away, and the wolf gave chase. Retreating to the mansion wasn’t an option. It was too far, and the wolf was too fast. Sean had to reach the cabin; it was his only chance, but even that seemed unlikely. The wolf closed the gap at an incredible pace, and as it prepared to pounce for the kill, an arrow landed in front of it. Startled, the wolf skidded to a stop.

  Sean turned and found his dad standing by the cabin door with his bow drawn, ready to fire another arrow. The wolf considered, then turned tail and ran.

  A giant smile spread across Sean’s face. His dad came back. “I guess the wolf’s not so bad after all,” he said.

  “Let’s go.” Alex picked up a huge sack and entered the cabin.

  The entire population of Camelot gathered in the bailey. Fear filled their eyes, but they had a small twinge of hope as Lloyd stepped atop the wooden stage with King Arthur right behind him.

  “Citizens of Camelot. You know me as The Magician,” Lloyd shouted.

  The crowd cheered. Lloyd was the savior they’d been dreaming of.

  “But there’s nothing magical about what I’ve done here.”

  The crowd quieted to a hushed stupor.

  One citizen yelled out. “Use the Book of Magic!”

  Lloyd held up The Wealth of Nations. “This book can’t save us.” He tossed it aside and held up the book of legends. “But this book can show us how to prevail.”

  Alex and Sean entered through the gate unnoticed, just in time to see the crowd turning on Lloyd. Citizens shouted insults and booed.

  “I pushed you to pursue a life of business because that’s what I’m good at,” Lloyd said.

  Alex listened, almost in a trance, as if Lloyd spoke only to him.

  “I couldn’t see that there were other things that you’re good at—like the arts, games, or helping people. Instead of trying to turn you into me, I should’ve been learning from you.”

  The boos from the crowd became louder. A few people threw rotten vegetables at Lloyd.

  Touched by Lloyd’s words, Alex pushed his way through the crowd, carrying his heavy sack. He climbed up onto the stage and made brief eye contact with his father as he stepped beside him.

  Lloyd wanted more than anything to give his son a hug in that moment. He didn’t hear the “boo’s” or feel the weight of the pressure to save Camelot. The only thing that mattered was his boy had come back.

  Alex held up his hands to quiet the crowd. “Listen! The Magician has made mistakes, but it took courage to come back and set them right. I think that deserves our attention.” He grabbed the book of legends from Lloyd. “This book talks about magic not of this place or some invisible force, but of you. What the Magician has shown us is that it’s never too late to get back what you’ve lost.” Alex stared down at his son. “We’ve all neglected those things that matter most to us. And now we’re all standing here with a chance to fight side by side for another shot. The only question that’s left is are you going to take it?” Alex dumped the sack out, revealing all the swords from Lloyd’s mansion.

  Alex’s words and the sight of the weapons inspired the crowd. Maybe they had a chance after all.

  “Who will fight with us?” he asked.

  The crowd let out a roar and raised their arms with fists clenched. When the rally subsided, an ominous space-age techno beat filled the air, causing Alex to freeze. There was something familiar about this sound. A clavinet loop began playing over the beat. There was no mistake now. Alex knew this song all too well. It was the theme song that played during the introductions of the Chicago Bulls players before every home game, including the dozens where his favorite New York Knicks were destroyed.

  A guard pointed in the distance. “Achilles’s army nears.”

  Chapter 13

  The army marched closer and closer while the haunting but powerful space-age ballad continued to thunder through the skies. The song shifted gears as a drum beat pounded away, followed by an intense guitar riff that sent shivers down the spines of all the inhabitants of Camelot.

  “Close the gates!” King Arthur shouted as he jumped down from the wooden stage and ordered soldiers and knights into position.

  Citizens shrieked in fear. Mothers whisked their children away, fathers grabbed anything they could use as a weapon, and the gates of Camelot slammed shut.

  Arthur, Lloyd, Alex, and Sean climbed the steps to the rampart. Before them, a vast army of fierce warriors marched in phalanx formation.

  One soldier held up the boom box to make sure every man, woman, and child knew who had arrived. Then Yannis stepped forward with a microphone in hand. “Introducing the leader of the greatest army of all time, from Northern Myrmidon, at 6’6”, the mighty Achiiiiilleeees.”

  The electric guitar riff seared through the air, and Achilles strode out in front of his men, wearing a red and white basketball jersey with the number 23 emblazoned on the front. He smiled and flexed his muscles. Now this was a theme song and an entrance befitting his awesome stature and prowess. When he was three hundred yards from the gate, he held up his fist, signaling the army and music to stop. They complied without hesitation and in perfect unison.

  “People of Camelot, I am Achilles.”

  Alex’s heart raced. He leaned his back against the wall and slid down into a ball as his childhood fears came flooding back. No one could beat Achilles or the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls. This was his worst nightmares joining forces and coming true.

  “Send down your best warrior. If he defeats me, my army withdraws, and you all live. If he loses, I will spare your women and children.” Achilles pulled out an hourglass and set it down on the grass. “You have until the sands run out to decide.”

  Arthur looked down into the bailey at his knights. “Who desires the honor?”

  The knights side-eyed one another, hoping someone else would step forward.

  “Sir Lancelot?” Arthur asked.

  Lancelot held his arm. “Tennis elbow. Doctor says at least two weeks before it’s ready to go.”

  “Anyone else?” Arthur stared into the eyes of each man.

  No one met his gaze, and no one moved an inch.

  Alex’s face was green, like he might throw up at any moment. “No one can defeat Achilles. He’s invincible.”

  Lloyd knelt down beside Alex. “I will fight him, son.”

  Alex shook his head, “No way.”

  “It’s my fault he’s here. Maybe I can end this before anyone else gets hurt,” Lloyd said.

  “He’ll kill you.”

  “I’m already dying.”

  Alex swallowed hard and did everything he could to keep himself from bursting into tears. After so many years of not wanting to see his father, all he wanted now was to spend one more day with him.

  Lloyd patted Alex on the shoulder. “Besides, we have an advantage. You know how to beat him.”

  “I do?” Alex asked.

  “How’d they stop him in the book?”

  Sean shouted, “His heel! His weakness is his heel. I
read that story last night.”

  Alex pulled himself to his feet as he remembered the story. “That’s right. When his mother dipped him in the River Styx to make him invincible, she held him by his heel.”

  “It’s settled, then. I’ll strike his heel,” Lloyd said, even though he was as unsure as Alex.

  King Arthur stepped forward and offered Lloyd a sparkling steel sword and brass shield. “It’s time.”

  Lloyd held up his hand. He needed one more moment. He knelt down to his grandson and gave him a big, tight hug. “I’m glad I got to meet you, Sean.” Lloyd then gave Alex a long, fatherly hug. “I love you, son. Always have.” He let go and took the sword and shield from Arthur.

  Lloyd made his way down the steps, and Alex called out, “I love you too, Dad.”

  Outside the walls of Camelot, Achilles paced the field like a hungry tiger. The massive gates creaked open. Achilles squeezed his sword and smiled. Time for blood. When Lloyd stepped out, Achilles pointed at Lloyd and scoffed. “This is your hero?”

  Lloyd shuffled onto the battlefield, and even just the weight of the sword and shield tired him out.

  Achilles motioned to Arthur on the lookout wall. “Where is the honor in this?”

  Lloyd neared the mighty Achilles and kept reminding himself, “Go for the heel. Go for the heel.”

  Atop the massive wall, Alex watched the action unfold, with Sean by his side. He had a bow and arrow at the ready.

  “I thought Grandpa has to fight him alone,” Sean said.

  “I’m not leaving my dad. If I can get a shot at his heel, I’m taking it.” Alex drew back his bow, but as he took aim, his face dropped.

  “What’s wrong?” Sean asked.

  “Look at his heel.”

  As Lloyd stepped closer, Achilles turned to get his shield from one of his men. Lloyd looked down and saw what Alex saw—armor-plated boots that protected Achilles’s heel.

  Chapter 14