A blast of green light signalled to the Spell Keeper that his potion was working, and a thin green, translucent canopy enveloped the Zynador from its head to the tip of its tail. In turn, it also shielded the Spell Keeper, Macy and Romulus from further attack from the brutal storm.
“Superb,” said the Spell Keeper congratulating himself. “It’s never worked that quick before — but I’m not about to complain.”
“Excellent.” Macy lowered her battered and bruised hands from her head and stared through the translucent wall of thin film protecting them from the storm. “It doesn’t get much cooler than this.” She smiled openly as a wall of hailstones bounced off the protective skin and dropped harmlessly to the ground.
“Yes … you’re right. It is quite cold.” Romulus rubbed his head, which had become pot marked from being struck numerous times by the unforgiving hailstones.
“No. I don’t think you understand. I don’t mean cool as in cold, I mean cool as in…” She stopped and tried to think of an explanation Romulus might understand but couldn’t find the correct words to use. “…Well, I just mean cool.” Her head sank into her shoulders and her face beamed with embarrassment as she seemed to have confused herself. “I don’t know what I mean, actually … but who cares? I just hope this makeshift umbrella holds out.”
Romulus turned away from Macy and in the direction of the Zynador’s rear end. “Don’t look now, but I think you spoke too soon! The shield is breaking up,” he yelled.
Having been told not to look, it was obvious the opposite was going to happen. Both the Spell Keeper and Macy corkscrewed their necks toward the back of the Zynador.
“Damn and blast it,” cursed the Spell Keeper. “He’s right. Water is starting to seep in through a hole. I thought the potion had worked too quickly. That sometimes happens in stressful situations, such as the one we are in now.” The Spell Keeper turned to Macy and had a look of sheer dismay written across his face.
“It’s no use feeling sorry for yourself,” cried Macy. “You need to think of a way to get us out of this mess.”
The storm had intensified, and the devastation being wreaked across the Land of Tormencer evermore destructive.
Not only had the hailstones grown larger … they were the size of tennis balls now, but the wind had doubled to hurricane force, as it continued its merciless onslaught on everything in its path. Trees and boulders were no match for the ferocity of the storm’s muscle and were ripped out, sucked up, spewed back out and strewn across the ground like discarded and broken matchsticks, by a dozen or so tornado funnels. Then two loud blasts of thunder boomed out, swiftly followed by a huge electrical storm of red-hot lightning.
The Spell Keeper began to move his hands is a swirling motion, and for a brief moment a hole opened up in a group of clouds below. “Down there!” he cried, pointing towards the ground. “It’s Tormencer Castle. Romulus steer a course for the drawbridge across the castle moat.” The hole closed and the storm picked-up once more, knocking the Zynador off course. “Lookout, we’re going to crash.”
“I’m trying,” cried Romulus. “The Zynador seems to have other ideas. It won’t go the way I want it too.” A loud head splitting bang rang out, followed by a sudden and dramatic loss of height. The Zynador had been struck by at least one of a dozen or so lightning bolts exploding all around.
“Oh, no! We’ve been hit!” shouted the Spell Keeper anxiously. “Brace yourselves! We’re going down!”
The Zynador had suffered a catastrophic strike to one of its wing, which caused it to spiral out of control in a helter-skelter free fall toward the ground. But, just when it looked like all hope was lost … in a fortuities twist of fate … the Zynador and its trio of passengers narrowly escaped death by the skin of their teeth. Crashing through a mass of trees, the wounded Zynador finally came to rest on a desolate section of ground, cleansed of all vegetation by the storm.
At least they hadn’t crashed into the deep moat surrounding Tormencer Castle. If they had, they would almost certainly have drowned or been swallowed up by the fierce looking creatures spotted by Romulus, who now inhabited the moat. He’d never seen them before in all his time at Tormencer Castle. And he concluded that they must have been introduced by someone since the last time he was there. Though it didn’t take a genius to work out who that someone might have been, Kraken, of course.
From under the right wing of the twisted and tangled mess of the unconscious Zynador, lying limp and dishevelled in a heap, out stepped Romulus, the Spell Keeper and Macy. They were a bit worse for wear from being struck multiple time by hailstones, but otherwise unscathed. And on top of their miraculous escape, the storm had burnt itself out and bright sunshine once again ruled the sky.
“Phew, that was close,” spluttered Romulus, nursing some rather large red marks on his head had hands. “Is anyone else hurt or is it just me?”
Macy gave herself the onceover. “I’m fine. My hands are a bit sore, but other than that, I’m okay.”
“I’m okay too,” winced the Spell Keeper rubbing his head. “A little sore and out of breath, yes, I must admit ... but nothing broken.” He looked up at the sky. “I wouldn’t want to go through that again, though.”
Macy attempted to add a bit of humour to the situation they all found themselves in. “It’s the best rollercoaster I’ve ever been on. I doubt anything is going to beat what we’ve just been through.”
The Spell Keeper shook his head to rattle his brain back into life. Such had been the force of the crash-landing, his back had been jolted, and he felt slightly winded. But he put a brave face on, as he didn’t want to worry the others.
Macy turned and looked at the Zynador, lifeless and crumpled in a heap on the ground. “Is it going to be okay?”
Romulus could see the look of concern written all over Macy’s face and made his way confidently over to the head of the Zynador. He crouched down and gently lifted one of its gigantic eyelids.
“They’re hardy creatures — take my word for it.” He released the eyelid and it snapped shut. “I’m sure it will be fine. It’ll have a sore head and wing I would imagine. But apart from that...” Romulus turned his attention to the Spell Keeper. “…What do you reckon?”
“Oh, of course, it’ll be fine. A little crash-landing is part and parcel for a Zynador.” He dipped into a side pocket and produced a black leather pouch. “A few sprinkles of my healing dust and it’ll be as right as rain.”
The Spell Keeper tipped a handful of grey dust from the pouch, wandered over to the Zynador and threw it over its head and injured wing.
After a short while of standing around waiting for a result, Macy broke the silence. “Nothing’s happened … it’s still out cold. So much for your healing dust,” she scowled.
“Patience, my dear. Patience.” The Spell Keeper had great confidence in his magical powers and potions. Time was still on his side and he wasn’t about to call the potion a failure. Not without giving it a little bit longer. And he was right to do so. “Ah, it’s working. There we are. I see movement. What do you say, Romulus? Am I right? Or am I right?”
“You’re right, as ever. Though I never doubted your wisdom or magical ability.” Romulus looked at Macy and shrugged. “The least you could do is congratulate him. After all, you didn’t show much faith in his healing dust.”
“Credit where credit’s due,” said Macy watching the as the Zynador regained its footing. “Sorry, Spell Keeper. I’ll have to learn to keep my big mouth shut more often.”
“It’s quite all right, my dear.” The Spell Keeper gave Macy a reassuring pat on the back. “To tell you the truth ... I wasn’t sure if it was going to work myself.”
With the successful treatment of the Zynador proof that his healing dust really worked, the Spell keeper sprinkled some on Macy’s head and hands, and those of Romulus, before tending to his own wounds. And within the count of ten, all their ailments had gone.
They left the Zynador to roam free a short dist
ance from the outer walls of Tormencer Castle, and then hatched a plan to get inside the castle unnoticed. But during the hours of daylight it was going to be dangerous. They had already been incredibly lucky not to have been spotted by Kraken’s Goblin Soldiers on crash-landing so near. With that in mind it was unanimously decided that they would wait until nightfall before making their move. It would have been foolhardy, not to mention, dangerous, to have attempted to sneak into the castle during the hours of daylight.
They retreated from the crash site and camouflaged themselves from being spotted behind a huge rocky outcrop, with the Zynador in tow.
“Aha, this will do nicely,” muttered the Spell Keeper. His excitement was aimed at a large pool of rainwater within the rocks, formed during the freak storm.
Macy seemed perplexed by the Spell Keeper’s interest in the pool of water and quickly came to her own conclusion as to why something so trivial had captured his attention.
“I’m not sure what it is you’ve got in mind, but if you think I’m going to drink water from a filthy stinking puddle, you’ve got another thing coming? Not unless you’ve got some water purifying tablets hidden on you?”
The Spell Keeper looked more than a little puzzled. “My dear. I wouldn’t dream of asking you to drink the water. It’s not my intention at all.” He poured a colourful turquoise mixture, from a glass bottle retrieved from the belt around his waist, directly into the centre of the muddied pool.
“Where have I seen that before?” asked Macy inquisitively. “Isn’t it the same stuff you used in your cauldron to show us pictures from within the castle?”
“How very observant of you, my dear. Indeed, this is my handy size All-Seeing Eye emergency kit. Obviously, the picture isn’t going to be of the same quality as when it was produced in the protective sanctuary of my cauldron. But needs must… This dirty rainwater pool will just have to do.”
He placed a hand over the pool of discoloured water and began to make slow circular movements. This in turn caused the water to ripple, and after the desired effect had been reached the Spell Keeper withdrew his hand.
“I can’t see anything,” said Macy. Her eyes turned from squint to slits.
“Give it time. Remember how you doubted me before, when I healed the Zynador?” whispered the Spell Keeper under his breath. He waved Romulus and Macy forward, and still under the power of a whisper, he began to speak. “If it doesn’t work, all is not lost.” Macy knelt beside the Spell Keeper and he pulled out two white tablets from a pocket on the inside of his long robe. “Are these what you mentioned before?” he smiled. “You did say water purifying tablets earlier, didn’t you?”
“Oh, very funny,” bleated Macy “I was only joking about drinking the water. It wouldn’t matter if you put a hundred tablets in it, I still wouldn’t drink it. Anyway, the potion you added seems to be doing its job. Look!”
All three heads turned and gazed at the picture starting to develop in the makeshift All-Seeing Eye. And just as the Spell Keeper had predicted, it was not as clear as when he’d used the same potion in the cauldron. But it was soon corrected after he placed the two white tablets into the water.
“This should work. They are water purifying tablets after all.” Although still not up to the quality of the day before, a picture could be made out and it was all that really mattered.
“It’s Jack and Olivia!” screamed Macy ecstatically.
Romulus couldn’t believe what Macy had done. “Keep your voice down, will you,” he snapped. “If you’d take a closer look, you’ll see they are still being held captive in the dungeon, deep down in the underground depths of the castle.” He threw Macy a vexed glare “If you carry on shouting like that, we’ll be joining them… Which I have no intention of doing, I might add.”
Macy looked on sheepishly and apologised for her over the top reaction, before turning her attention once more to the picture. But her over exuberance was nothing compared to Romulus’s, after studying the picture of the dungeon further.
“I don’t believe it … look … my sister!” Romulus spewed out his words in a high-pitched squeal, and leapt to his feet, with both of his fists tightly clenched.
“Hang on a minute. Didn’t you just have a go at me for going over the top?” ranted Macy. “If anyone is going to get us caught, I’d put my money on you.”
“Yes, okay. Maybe I was a bit harsh on you,” Romulus relented. “But look … can you see? It’s my sister, Hangaku; she’s back to her normal size. Kraken must have lifted his spell on her.”
“He’s right.” It was the Spell Keeper’s turn to have his say. “Well I never. Kraken turning soft. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”
Romulus harnessed a stare toward the Spell Keeper. “I wouldn’t go as far as to say Kraken has gone soft. But who cares? It’s going to make it a lot easier rescuing her, now she is her normal size once again.”
— CHAPTER NINETEEN —
The Drawbridge Dash
Having seen enough of the dungeon, the Spell Keeper placed a hand once more over the All-Seeing Eye and repeated the process he’d carried out earlier. As the picture melted into the discoloured water he took his hand away. And as he waited patiently for something to happen Macy and Romulus seemed more than pleased with what they had already seen. It felt as though a great weight had been lifted off their shoulders at seeing that Kraken had not mistreated any of their friends and family.
“Ah, here we go again.” The Spell Keeper bent right over the water in the pool and inadvertently obscured Macy’s vision.
“Hold it … I can’t see a thing now you’ve moved in the way!” Macy poked the Spell Keeper in the ribs and yanked at his robe.
“Well, excuse me! I’m adding more of my potion to try and sharpen the picture quality.”
“Ah, sorry. I didn’t realise.” Once again Macy had put her foot in it.
With enough of the magic potion added the Spell Keeper leant back, and as he’d predicted the picture, now visible on the surface of the All-Seeing Eye, was much clearer than before.
Romulus gasped. “I recognise that place! It’s the Great Hall of Tormencer!” He moved closer, crouched down and placed his hands on the ground as he spotted his parents. “Look, there on the banqueting table.” Romulus was visibly shocked as he saw both his parents locked in a small, knee high, birdcage.
“Are you sure it’s them?” asked Macy.
“Of course, I’m sure,” shouted Romulus. “He may have taken pity on my sister … although I still find it hard to believe … but Kraken hasn’t a heart when it comes to my parents.” In a flood of tears at the sight of his parent’s ordeal Romulus leapt to his feet and vented his anger towards the castle walls. “Don’t worry, help is on its way. Kraken is going to pay for this—” his voice grew louder, “—he’s going to pay, I swear.”
“For goodness sake, keep quiet, and get down will you,” pleaded Macy. She grabbed Romulus by the arm and yanked him to the ground. “Remember, it wasn’t that long ago you were telling me to keep quiet. You’d better get a grip, otherwise we’re all going to end up in the dungeon and that won’t help anyone.”
“I am trying. But what would you do if it was your parents trapped in a cage? How would you feel?”
Suddenly, their worst nightmare looked as though it was about to unfold right before their eyes. Ten, ugly, helmet clad heads appeared at the top of one of the corner turrets defending the castle. They were the heads of Kraken’s Goblin Soldiers, alerted no doubt by Romulus’s outburst.
“Look what you’ve done!” shrieked Macy. “We’re in for it now.”
“I’m sorry,” said Romulus apologetically. “It was stupid of me, I know. But again, what would you have done if it had been your parents in the picture?”
Macy was unimpressed. “I wouldn’t have shouted my mouth off. I know that much.”
Romulus jumped on what he saw as double standards. “You were loud enough when you spotted your two fr
iends in the dungeon.”
Macy knew he was right and chose not to answer back.
Anyway, the Spell Keeper had heard enough and tried his hand, as he had before, at being a peacemaker. “Now then. That will do. The last thing we need is to be bickering amongst ourselves.” He swung an arm round to emphasise their hiding place. “We’ll be all right here. They might be able to see in the dark, but I doubt the can see through rock. Hopefully, they’ll think it was the wind or something.”
“The wind?” laughed Macy fretfully. “Oh yes, I’m sure.” She shook her head, clasped her hands as if to pray and looked up at the heavens for help.
It must have worked as the Goblin Soldiers slowly drifted away from the turret walls and back inside. “Well done,” smiled Romulus, patting Macy on the back.
“Yes, my sincere congratulations,” whispered the Spell Keeper. “If all else fails having a good pray is well worth trying.”
Macy looked stunned by all the adulation coming her way. All she had done was clasp her hands together; she hadn’t been praying, or anything of the sort. But it didn’t matter, the Goblin Soldiers had gone and the potential for disaster had been averted — for now at least.
With the onset of nightfall, Tormencer Castle was lit-up like a lighthouse, with the help of dozens of mystical orange glowing fire torches spanning the outer walls. It was going to be hard for Macy and the others to get close to the castle without being seen. But it was made even more difficult from the extra lighting generated by the full moon, set dead centre over the castle.
One thing was in their favour though. They had noticed a lapse in security by some of the Goblin Soldiers guarding the entrance to the castle. The drawbridge was down, and the enormous metal portcullis was up, and buried deep in its cavity wall.
Romulus and the Spell Keeper had decided to leave the Zynador behind. It would be of no use to them anyhow, having only recently regained its senses and sporting a mammoth size bump on its forehead and some minor tissue damage to its right wing. Although the Spell Keeper had done his best to repair the wounded beast, it was inevitable some form of visual damage would remain such had been the ferocity of the storm and damage it had inflicted upon the Zynador.
Macy Vickers and the Book of Spells Page 16
