The Grey Elf’s expression became serious as he clasped a hand on Shaun’s shoulder. ‘Now then, this ring: has the Great Wizard told you anything about it?’
Shaun shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. ‘Not much. He said you would explain, but it was somewhat an extraordinary experience, one I won’t forget in a hurry.’
‘Yes, I can imagine, but you will have to be very careful how you use it. As you have discovered, the Great Wizard has powers we lesser beings with magical abilities can only dream of, including the witches, and even the Dark Wizard fears him. You must feel truly honoured that he has chosen you to trust with that power in order to free our friends. He must have total confidence in your goodness: for many, once tasting such unimaginable supremacy, would be loathed to return it back to him.’
‘Well, that won’t be a problem for me. I will be pleased to return to plain old Shaun once we have achieved our goal but how do I control its power when confronted with danger?’
‘All you can do is to imagine in your mind’s eye what you want to happen – for example, if the witch raises her hand and you feel threatened, you point your ring towards her and picture her being rushed back or thrown up in the air, anything to disarm her, and it will happen. But you must control your feelings whatever you do. Don’t imagine her dead: that is not your place if anyone kills her it would be the Great Wizard himself and besides, it is something you would not want on your conscience. You would be haunted by the memory for the rest of your life: she would make sure of that. And don’t forget you will need to use the ring to free our friends from the witches’ control by releasing the amulets. Now be on your way: the Dwarf army is waiting for you to join them, and Herne will meet you when you reach the dark side. He will travel through the portal from the Magic Kingdom.’
They engaged in a warm embrace before Shaun stepped through the portal into the King’s private room. He looked puzzled to find the room empty: just as he was about to leave to look for the King or his guards, the door swung open and he strode in carrying the golden casket containing the magical hammer.
‘Good to see you again, Shaun,’ the King said as he placed the casket on the table. ‘You remember this?’
Shaun nodded his head. He felt a tingle run down his spine as he recalled the feeling of being superhuman and he gasped in awe, even though he had seen it all before. As the King opened the lid, a spray of golden rays flooded out: they were so strong they bounced off the ceiling and circled the room. And as the King removed the hammer from its resting place the rays grew brighter and stronger, filling the room with glittering, golden sprays before merging together and swooping down to slowly disappear into the shaft of the magical hammer.
‘You don’t need any instruction on how to use it. You managed with great effect last time. I’m sure the wicked witch would vouch for that,’ he said with a mischievous grin. ‘Just remember it can only be used for good deeds and this time it will protect my army and yourself from harm and hopefully bring back my son.’ He slipped the hammer into its pouch and handed it over to Shaun.
He opened the portal to the dark side to check it was all clear before ambling over to the door and ushering his chief guard into the room. ‘Is everything ready?’
‘Yes, Sire,’ said the Guard, bowing his head. ‘We are all armed and ready to go.’ He placed a friendly hand on Shaun’s shoulder. ‘With Shaun and the magic hammer we are confident we can bring back the Prince.’
‘Very well, be on your way.’ He wrapped his arms around Shaun. ‘Please bring him back but do not risk your own life. I want my son back more than anything, but not at the expense of you forfeiting yours.’
Outside the room Shaun could hear the buzz and commotion of the army of guards chatting excitedly, and he turned to the chief guard and nodded before stepping through the portal. The chief guard beckoned his men forward and ushered then one by one in an orderly procession to follow Shaun through.
They gathered silently outside the portal a short distance from the secret entrance as each one appeared, and finally when they were all assembled Shaun led them to the entrance, pulling back some of the vegetation to expose the opening.
Just then, Herne appeared from behind a nearby cragside and walked over to greet Shaun who introduced him to the Dwarfs. The chief guard looked up at this towering hulk and shook his head in disbelief. They had heard so many tales about him, but thought they were exaggerated, but if anything he was larger and more fearsome than the information they had been given.
‘I’m pleased we haven’t come here to do battle with you,’ said the chief guard as he turned to his army. ‘Looks like we will have an easy ride. Herne will be able to defeat the witches’ army by himself.’
A wry smile broke across Herne’s face. ‘I just wish I could fight by your side: it would be a great honour for me, but sadly the Grey Elf has given me another task: once he takes control of the Dark Wizard’s portal inside the cave the Dark Wizard will know something is wrong and will send a large army to investigate. My job is to ride from here to try and delay their arrival, giving you more time to free the prisoners. But unfortunately I won’t be able to stop them, so when they are getting close to the cave at the front of the mountain I will blow my bugle, giving you enough time to return to your portal and back to the grotto. But do not remain in there, even if you are close to succeeding with your rescue plan: as long as the army doesn’t find you we will have another attempt later. I know you won’t want to turn and leave but this is not about your pride. It is all about our friends’ lives.’
The chief guard nodded his acceptance and they stood and watched as Herne returned to the crag and mounted his mighty steed before setting off. The Dwarfs looked on in awe as he and his faithful hounds took to the sky and were soon out of sight. The chief guard turned to Shaun. ‘You have some of the strongest and most powerful allies in Colgilor and we are proud to follow you into battle.’ All the Dwarfs drew their swords, raising them in a salute to Shaun. He responded by taking out the mighty hammer and lifting it above his head. ‘What are we waiting for? Let us go free our friends.’ He turned and slowly and silently entered the tunnel, with the guards following in total silence behind him.
Herne had some idea of the direction he needed to take but he had never travelled in that area before, as it was an unwritten law that it was totally forbidden, and if for any reason you mistakenly wandered in you would be severely punished. So where he could, he stayed in the shadows of the mountainsides or undercover in the various woodland areas, pressing on at full speed and at the same time watching out for the many predators, and of course the patrolling Dark Wizard’s guards. Luckily, that area was much the same as the rest of the land, dark and gloomy, the thick, grey swirling mist and black storm clouds above blocking out any light and making it easy to remain virtually invisible. After travelling for most of the day the air suddenly became thick and acrid, which snatched his breath away, making his eyes water, and from out of the gloom loomed a strange, eerie sight which brought him to a shuddering halt. A sinister yet majestic, sheer cliff face soared skyward, forming a towering crescent and screening the mountainous terrain which housed the Dark Wizard’s fortress.
Herne steered his horse up to the top of the cliff and gasped in awe at the landscape beyond. Rugged mountains rose from the deep valley floors, their sides fluted by the constant cascade of falling water and thunderous, roaring rivers snaking through the landscape, truly a forbidden area, and the dark mist of cloud hanging over like a mysterious shroud gave off a spine-chilling feeling of fear and danger. His eyes were drawn to the highest of the mountains which, unlike the others, was bathed in a pulsating aura with a dark halo wrapped around the peak and down the sides to the valley below. Standing either side of a large opening in the mountainside, two stone pillars rose from the valley floor, arching together to form an impressive entrance. He could just make out several armed guards gathered outside deep in conversation.
Herne stroked his long, wh
ite beard thinking of his next move. Obviously it was no use remaining there as, once the alarm was raised and the army sent out, he would struggle to get back to the cave and give Shaun and the Dwarfs enough warning. He glanced over his shoulder: they would probably take the same route as he had done, so without further ado he turned and set off back to put his plan into operation. He came to a halt a few miles further on. He had noticed when he flew through a deep ravine on his way there how narrow the pathway below was as it twisted and turned on its way through. He made his way along the path and as he turned a sharp bend he looked up to see giant boulders piled high, one above the other. A huge grin crossed his face as he steered his horse up to a ledge close to the top boulder, dismounted and cautiously inspected the position and stability of it, trying to rock it from side to side. Taking out his axe, he proceeded to hack at the vegetation which had taken root between the boulders and which was helping to secure them.
Then, flexing his huge muscles, he shuffled his feet into a safe, solid position before adjusting his shoulder against the boulder, and with an almighty heave and a bellowing roar he rocked it several times back and forth. Suddenly and as if in slow motion it teetered before cracking over the side and tumbling down the cliff face, setting off a chain reaction and dragging tons of rock and rubble with it. The sound was ear-splitting as it reverberated through the ravine, a thunderous explosion of sound resulting in the complete blockage of the pathway. He looked down. A huge, smug grin spread across his face as he remounted and set off back up onto the ledge. He paused for a few minutes, scanning the area and looking for an alternative route that the Dark Wizard’s army would have to take.
The only one he could see could mean a several-mile detour which would mean a considerable delay and give Shaun much-needed time. He continued back towards the cave, searching all the way for an advantage spot, somewhere he could remain hidden from view but would be able to see the army approaching several miles away. Finally he settled for a large crevice high up in a mountainous crag where he had a clear, panoramic view. He dismounted and settled down to keep watch.
Meanwhile, Shaun led the Dwarfs down the tunnel in total silence, coming to a halt a few metres from the entrance to the cavern. He could hear the sound of voices; he crept forward and peered inside to see Baba Yelka and half a dozen of her army in conversation. He turned to the chief guard, beckoning him to follow before bursting into the chamber, brandishing his hammer with the Dwarfs flooding in behind him. Baba Yelka screamed out a string of strange rhyme and, closing her eyes, she raised her hands. All of a sudden from out of the floor rose a huge, glass wall which continued up to the roof, completely isolating them from Shaun and the Dwarfs.
‘Now!’ she screamed in her spine-chilling, high-pitched babble. ‘I’ve been expecting you. I have a proposal for you to consider: I will exchange your Prince for Shaun’s hammer – a fair swap,’ she said before breaking out into her evil cackle. ‘I will even throw in your friends, Shaun. They have been staying with me for a while now. I’ve become quite attached.’ Her face broke into an evil grin as once again she snorted uncontrollably, her shoulders jiggling up and down.
Shaun stepped up to the wall. ‘It is not mine to give. Only the King could sanction such a deal, but first I and the Dwarf’s chief guard must see for ourselves that the Prince and the prisoners are alive and well.’
Baba Yelka shook her head. ‘Sorry, but that won’t be possible: you will have to trust me.’
Without warning the chief guard stepped forward and crashed his axe against the glass, but to his amazement the axe shattered into several pieces, leaving the wall intact. The witch screamed with delight as she did a little jig, and her army roared with laughter, but the joy was short-lived as Shaun smashed his hammer against the wall: there was an explosion of flashing coloured lights and the wall shattered and rained down to the floor before disappearing from view. Shaun raised his hand and sprinted forward with the Dwarfs following in full battle cry, their swords drawn. Baba Yelka disappeared but from out of several of the interconnecting tunnels the remainder of her army appeared, grouping in numbers in front of the exit Baba Yelka took, preventing Shaun from following her, and the battle was soon in full swing.
But her army were quickly in disarray, their modest weapons no match for the Dwarf’s indestructible swords and axes. But just as they are about to yield, Baba Yelka emerged from the tunnel with the Prince in front of her and holding a sword to his throat. Without a word being uttered, the fighting stopped and total silence filled the cavern. Baba Yelka’s army opened up to allow her to bring the Prince up to the front. ‘You will obey my orders or you will never see your Prince again, I will kill him on the spot. I want you to lay down your weapons and leave the cavern. That includes your hammer, Shaun. I will free the Prince once all of you have left and I have the hammer in my hand.’
‘Do as she says,’ said Shaun as he took the hammer out of its pouch and walked towards her, holding it by the head and offering the shaft to her. The Dwarfs laid down their weapons and stood in silence, watching Shaun approach her, his head bowed in defeat. But as the witch put out her hand to receive it, as quick as a flash Shaun pointed the Great Wizard’s ring towards her and the sword disappeared. The Dwarfs picked up their weapons and rushed forward, engaging once again in battle. Her army managed to close rank to allow her to slip away, once again taking the Prince with her.
The Dwarfs, having seen their Prince alive but still in danger, gave them an extra boost of urgency as they waded into her army, completely overpowering them as they surged forward like a herd of bulls, crushing everyone in their path. Some of her army managed to flee into the various tunnels; others were killed or wounded, and the remainder dropped their weapons and surrendered. They were quickly rounded up by the Dwarfs, and Shaun led them down one of the tunnels. He was thankful for his waystone as he would never have remembered which way to turn in the gloom with so many interconnecting tunnels. The Dwarfs looked a little unsettled as they entered her magic room, half-expecting the wicked witch to materialise before their eyes and they were pleased as Shaun did not stop, leading them through another tunnel to the chamber containing the prison cells. Shaun took a deep breath and hesitated for a moment, praying his friends inside were alive and well before stepping inside. His heart was beating like a bag of hammers, his throat was so dry, and his head in a whirl as he scanned the area. It was quite dark and he struggled to see as he approached the first of the cells.
He sighed out loud with relief tinged with sadness to see his friends still in the same position all shackled to the wall behind the iron bars, their heads drooping and their bodies sat in crumpled heaps. The Dwarfs stood behind him, shaking their heads in disbelief, and they slowly followed him as he approached each cell, using his gold ring and pointing it towards the locks to open them up.
The first was Geriba. Shaun entered the cell and knelt down beside him, gently lifting up his head, but there was no response. His eyes were dark and distant and his mouth flopped open: he was just an empty shell. His heart breaking, Shaun thought what a dreadful, unfeeling monster Baba Yelka was to do such a thing. Shaun stood up and turned to the Dwarfs, but before he could speak one of the Dwarfs sprang forward, dragging him away. Shaun spun round to see Geriba, his eyes wide open and flashing, jump to his feet and pull out a knife from his tattered garment. Shaun responded by pointing the ring finger towards the amulet on Geriba’s arm. It lit up and pulsated for a moment before opening up and falling to the floor. Slowly Geriba’s eyes calmed down. He dropped the knife and his face creased into a warm smile as though a light had been switched on in his head.
He moved his lips but no sound came out, but as Shaun wrapped his arms around him he whispered, ‘Shaun, again you saved my life,’ before breaking down in floods of tears which set Shaun away, and he struggled to stop himself breaking down. It was such an emotional reunion.
The Dwarfs helped Geriba out of the cell before herding Baba Yelka’s army inside and
locking the gate. All the prisoners safely secured, Shaun moved to the second cell to find Ferreira inside; two of the Dwarfs searched him to find that he, too, had a knife. Baba Yelka was obviously expecting them. He, too, was overjoyed to see Shaun and be freed; although he had been under the control of the amulet, he had still been aware of his dire situation and had given up hope of ever being released.
Shaun peered through the iron bars of the third cell and felt a great wave of relief wash over him when he spotted both Louis and Ava, their lifeless bodies huddled together. Louis’ arm was wrapped around her. Even though he was helpless, he had still managed to try and comfort his close friend. Again the two Dwarfs searched them and found that each had a knife. They stepped back, leaving Shaun to do his job: he immediately pointed the ring at each of the amulets. Louis’ lit up and pulsated before dropping to the floor, but as Ava’s dropped down beside it the pulsating of light arced across, linking the two and emitting an increasingly powerful array of throbbing lights and a deep, thunderous vibration which shook the ground beneath them and the startled Dwarfs immediately retreated out of the cell.
All of a sudden from the top of the cavern bolts of fork lightning came cascading down towards Shaun. The Dwarfs screamed out a warning, but he was prepared: he quickly stepped between his two friends while lifting up his hammer with both hands. A spray of golden rays flooded out and circled around and around the three bodies, surrounding them in a transparent, golden shield, and as each bolt of lightning hit the shield they fizzled out like a damp squib. The Dwarfs looked on in awe as Shaun stepped forward, and with a short, sharp strike of the hammer on each amulet there was a loud explosion before the throbbing lights and the deep vibration disappeared.
Louis was the first to stir. His eyes flickered several times before slowly opening. He must have thought he was dreaming as Shaun’s face was staring back down at him. ‘Hello, my little friend. You really had us worried: your father is in such a state.’
Return to Colgilor Page 11
