Macy Vickers and the Book of Spells

by Paul R. Melia

  Romulus turned to his right and fixed his gaze on a small hardwood cabinet, tight against the wall of the stairwell. “If my memory serves me right, it should be in here.” He unclipped a brass latch attached to the centre of two hinged doors and swung them open.

  “This should be good,” said Macy in anticipation of what she was about to see. “First a dinosaur—” a reference to the Zynador, “—and now a Flying Carpet.”

  “Ah yes, just as I thought.” Romulus leant forward, and his head disappeared inside the cabinet … and reappeared moments later with what looked like nothing more than a rolled-up bath towel.

  “Is that it?” laughed Macy. “You can’t be serious? That piece of old rag is never going to carry all three of us!” A peeved expression drifted across her face.

  “Looks can be deceiving,” replied the Spell Keeper, eager to get in on the action. “If you wouldn’t mind rolling it out. I’ll climb on board before my bunions finally get the better of me.”

  Macy was totally flabbergasted as Romulus threw the Flying Carpet into the air. Her look then turned to one of pure disbelief, as it unfolded into a door size piece of carpet and levitated knee high off the floor. It was a remarkable sight and something she wouldn’t forget in a hurry.

  With most colours of the rainbow to be found amongst the Flying Carpets fibres, its splendour was unrivalled, with thousands of red, blue, green, orange, and yellow strands woven in a tight stitch. And this was complemented by some fancy tassels of purple and turquoise hung around the edges to give it an extra special look.

  The whole carpet was elaborately held together with a magnificent gold thread which glistened against the stunning bright backdrop of the Spell Keeper’s green phosphorous glow stick. This gave the illusion that the Flying Carpet was nothing more than a hologram. It wasn’t though, as Macy found out when Romulus invited her to climb onboard.

  “Raise your foot and haul yourself up. Think of it as climbing a high step.”

  “A very high step!” Macy emphasised.

  “That’s it, now pull yourself up. Don’t worry. I was nervous on my first go.” Romulus detected a mild hesitancy in Macy’s approach. “When I first used it I thought it was going to collapse under my weight, but it didn’t.”

  The Spell Keeper had not needed a second invitation to climb aboard — he was used to the new challenge facing Macy. He hitched up his robe and exposed two thin milk white legs, then ungainly parachute rolled onto the Flying Carpet. He didn’t care how he got on, he was just relishing the opportunity to fly it.

  “This brings back memories, doesn’t it, Romulus?” he laughed. “Remember the first day you decided to try and fly it?”

  Romulus looked less than impressed at the Spell Keeper’s recollection. “It’s probably best if you don’t mention what I think you are about too.” Without moving his head, he shifted his eyes and glanced at Macy, who had by now managed the tricky manoeuvre of boarding the Flying Carpet. “Remember, we’ve got someone who has never flown on one of these before.” Romulus copied the others and climbed aboard.

  “Nonsense,” scoffed the Spell Keeper. “I’m not out to frighten anybody. She might find it interesting.”

  “I’m sure she might.” Romulus looked annoyed that the Spell Keeper had continued with the argument, but what could he do?

  What the Spell Keeper had recalled was that Romulus’s first flight on his new birthday present hadn’t gone according to plan. For a start, Romulus thought he everything there was to know about flying it, having been given instructions by the Spell Keeper. But he was in for quite a shock.

  “Ah, it was fun, I must admit.” The Spell Keeper sat cross-legged and relayed his story. “You were a bit sure of yourself on that day, weren’t you?”

  Romulus felt ill at ease and nodded weakly. “Do we really have time for this? I mean, we have friends and family to rescue … or have you forgotten?”

  “No, I haven’t forgotten. I just think it’s something worth mentioning. It won’t take long.”

  Romulus persisted. “It’s using up valuable time that we don’t have.”

  “Get on with it then, if it’s that important to you!” cried Macy.

  The Spell Keeper closed his eyes momentarily, and when he opened them again a look of dismay crossed his beard ravaged face. “Damn. I’m not sure I can recall what I wanted to say.”

  Romulus rolled his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. “That settles it. Let’s get on with the reason we are all here.”

  — CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE —

  Airborne Combat

  The Spell Keeper suddenly sat bolt upright, as if a thousand volts of electricity had shot through his body. “No … wait … I remember!” He shuffled his backside into a more comfortable position on the Flying Carpet as his memory finally kicked into gear. “Yes, it was in the Great Hall, wasn’t it, Romulus?”

  “Correct,” said Romulus lethargically.

  “Good, then I’ve remembered the right story.” The Spell Keeper cleared his throat with a couple of hefty coughs. “You decided you didn’t need much advice on how to fly your new birthday present and took it upon yourself to try it out by flying solo.” His voice rose up the pitch scale. “In fairness, you seemed a natural with your first couple of manoeuvres. Well, until you made the mistake of trying to fly around the Great Hall with your birthday banquet in full flow.”

  Romulus listened on, his face a mass of embarrassed red. “Your memory serves you well.”

  “Well enough,” smirked the Spell Keeper. “It’s okay flying in wide open spaces, even for a novice. But when you have three hundred party guests to navigate around, things tend to get a little trickier.” The Spell Keeper laughed out loud, wiped a tear from his eye and winked at Macy. “Young Romulus only tried to land the Flying Carpet on the banquet table.”

  Macy wore an ear to ear smile. “You’re joking!” She was really getting into the Spell Keeper’s story and urged him to continue, much to Romulus’s annoyance. “What happened next?”

  “Well, as you can imagine, dinner plates, food, jugs of drink, knives, forks … you name it, it all ended up on the floor. Not to mention a few dozen, less than amused birthday guests. And, ever since then, Romulus has been banned from using his Flying Carpet.” The Spell Keeper looked over at Romulus who was still smarting at the unwarranted revelations. “Is that why you hid it down here?”

  “You’re quick,” said Romulus sarcastically. “Now, have you’ve finished trying to make me look a fool? There are far more important things we need to be getting on with, or have you forgotten?”

  “Oh, temper, temper,” the Spell Keeper joked. “No, I haven’t forgotten.”

  Romulus’s flying credentials had been brought into question by the Spell Keeper’s story. But it was still decided that as he had a far superior knowledge of the layout of Tormencer Castle, he would be the best one to steer the Flying Carpet.

  The steering technique needed to fly the carpet was basic — lean left or right to turn, sit upright to go forward, lean forward to go down, lean back to go up and push down hard on the Flying Carpet to bring it to a halt... Reverse wasn’t an option. Romulus was eager to test his flying skills once again, and anxiously lent forward, aiming the front of the Flying Carpet down the stairwell. “Here we go. Hang on.”

  The Flying Carpet burst into life and shot down the stairwell at breakneck speed. Macy held onto the Spell Keeper as he grabbed the outer edge of the Flying Carpet.

  “We’re going too fast, slow down,” cried Macy, as her lips flapped in the swirling draught brought on by the Flying Carpet’s speedy descent.

  Romulus seemed to be enjoying every minute of the flight and grinned innately. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

  The Flying Carpet twisted and turned as Romulus negotiated the tight corners of the stairwell. And it was made easier to see where they were going, as they flew deeper and deeper down, with the welcome glow of dozens of fire torches lighting their way. It also me
ant that the Spell Keeper had no more need of his glow stick.

  “Thank goodness for that, my hands were beginning to overheat.” He let go of the Flying Carpet and placed the glow stick back inside his robe. “Phosphorous is nasty stuff. I wouldn’t have used it if it hadn’t been for the predicament we found ourselves in.” He glanced over at Macy fidgeting nervously beside him and noticed a worried expression on her face. “Don’t fret, my dear. Everything is going to be fine.”

  “I’m okay,” said Macy appreciatively. “But I’d feel a lot better if you’d hold onto the edge of the Flying Carpet again.”

  “Oh, yes of course.” He turned to face the front once more and did as Macy had requested.

  Macy wasn’t sure how they were not thrown from the Flying Carpet such were the acute angles it was taking. There were no seatbelts or any other form of restraining aids to hold them in place. Just, it seemed, a huge gravitational pull, which thankfully managed to keep their backsides fixed firmly to the carpets soft fibres.

  “Look!” Macy pointed at their shadows bouncing of the stairwell walls. “It makes us look like giants.”

  “How fascinating,” said Romulus flippantly. “But shadows aren’t much good to us — it’s the dungeon we need.” Romulus would have been better sticking to flying the carpet, rather than poking fun at Macy as his momentary lapse of concentration looked to be a costly one. The Flying Carpet lurched to the outside wall of the stairwell and then over to the inside wall, and then it spiralled out of control.

  “We’re going to crash!” screamed Macy as the Flying Carpet picked up speed and plunged towards the cold, unforgiving steps below.

  “No were not… Don’t panic… It’s all under control.” Romulus’s voice turned to a high-pitch squeal as he fought to save the Flying Carpet from smashing into the stairs. He grabbed the front corners of the Flying Carpet, tilted the top of his body, and lent back. The Flying Carpet’s response was instant as it levelled out and climbed away from the stairwell floor.

  “Well done, Romulus. Nice piece of flying,” said the Spell Keeper, his beard wafting wildly in the air. “Couldn’t have done it better myself.”

  “Yeah, nice one,” said Macy reluctantly.

  “It was nothing,” replied Romulus. He acted calm, but if the truth be known, he had been just as frightened as the others.

  The scare they had received was nothing in comparison to what was to happen next as Macy, once again, took note of the shadows being cast on the walls of the stairwell.

  She tapped the Spell Keeper on the shoulder. “That’s strange. “What do you make of it?” She pointed towards the shadows. “There’s only three of us on this carpet as far as I am aware, yet there are four shadows on the wall?”

  “What did you say?” Her comments had alerted Romulus and he glanced over his shoulder.

  Macy picked up the look on his face, and it was one of complete shock and alarm. “What’s up? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.”

  Romulus raised an arm and pointed to the back of the Flying Carpet. Only this time the carpet stayed level. “There’s your fourth shadow.” His voice sounded weak and hard to hear against the sound of the wind caused by the Flying Carpet cutting a bullet path through the air.

  “What are you on about?” Macy turned and followed the direction Romulus had pointed, and his reaction became all too clear. Sat on the very edge of the Flying Carpet was Gordrick. “Where did you come from?” Macy tried her best to look calm, but on the inside, she was a nervous wreck.

  “Did I scare you?” Gordrick roared. “Oh, and what a nice surprise … we meet again, Spell Keeper. And I thought it was just Romulus and his annoying friend I’d been sent to capture,” he threw Romulus a glare. “I take it the Spell Keeper had a hand in you regaining your size?” he sneered. “Not that it is going to help you now.”

  Romulus didn’t answer — he was too busy trying to steer the Flying Carpet.

  Gordrick leant forward and made a grab for the Spell Keeper’s arm. But the Spell Keeper reacted quickly to the threat and pulled away. His action caused Gordrick to overbalance and fall, face first, onto the Flying Carpet. It wasn’t the best idea in the world to ruffle Gordrick’s feathers ... but needs must in a dangerous situation.

  “You’re not very quick for someone your size!” The Spell Keeper moved away from Gordrick and pulled Macy with him.

  “You’ll pay for your insolence,” blasted Gordrick as he regained his composure and dusted himself down. “Mark my words ... no one makes fun of me and lives to tell the tale.” He was in no mood to be messed about and threw back the long deep hood he used to hide his grossly disfigured face. His head was completely bald and covered in blood red boils, translucent open sores and green scabs, and his face wasn’t any better. A large bent nose, riddled with blackheads and similar in shape to a shark’s fin sat prominently between two, fist size cheeks. And long matted grey hair protruded from his nostrils and large, grey pointed ears. But what frightened Macy the most was Gordrick’s dark red mouth, which stretched from one ear to the other and easily placed him in the record books as the most hideous thing she had ever clapped her eyes on.

  Without ever bothering to ask how he had managed to find them, Macy took an enormous risk. She seemed to be running on autopilot as an impulsive reaction took control of her body. She pushed the Spell Keepers hand away, lunged at Gordrick’s chest, and used all the strength she could muster to shoulder charge him in the ribs.

  At the same time, the Spell Keeper pulled out a purple silk pouch containing his special wormhole dust and threw the fine gold and silver contents at the central column of the stairwell. Instantly a large hole opened, and Romulus instinctively steered the Flying Carpet through it. The hole was barely big enough for the Flying Carpet and most of its passengers to fit through. A combination of Macy’s lunge, the Spell Keepers wormhole dust, and Romulus’s flying caused Gordrick to lose his balance and slam into the outer wall of the column. With a terrifying scream Gordrick plunged onto the stairs below.

  The Spell Keeper had to be on the ball again. For as Macy had taken her life-threatening lunge at Gordrick, her own momentum had carried on through, and now she hung dangerously over the back end of the Flying Carpet.

  Jumping forward like a goalkeeper trying to save a crucial penalty, the Spell Keeper gripped hold of Macy’s ankles and held on for all he was worth. “I’ve got you,” his voice broke up due to the enormous stress and strain of keeping hold of her as the Flying Carpet passed through the column and came out the other side. “You’ll have to help me. Try pulling yourself up. I don’t know how long I can hold onto you.”

  “I’m trying. This isn’t exactly where I want to be.” Macy was in real danger of being thrown from the carpet, and her arms flailed wildly over the end of it, narrowly missing the stairwell walls.

  Romulus could see the problems his two friends were experiencing but could do nothing to help. If he went to their aid, the Flying Carpet would spiral out of control and crash. Instead, he decided to remain seated and try to guide it to a safe spot to land. All the while his concentration was being eroded by the constant droning of Gordrick’s threat filled ill-tempered voice as it bounced off the walls. Luckily for Gordrick the Flying Carpet had been low to the ground when Macy had pushed him off, and he had suffered only minor cuts and bruises, but nothing life threatening.

  Final Romulus had managed to reach the bottom of the stairwell and guided the Flying Carpet through an open door, into a massive room, known as the Great Hall. “I’m not sure how long I can keep us in the air,” he shouted, his neck was at full stretch and his chin level with his shoulder. “Hopefully having more room to manoeuvre will help.”

  “Yes, well it’s one thing talking about it, and another thing doing it — just do your best, for all our sakes.” The Spell Keeper was becoming increasingly agitated and it showed in his abrupt tone.

  Macy could not hear any of Romulus and the Spell Keeper’s conversation, the noise fro
m the Flying Carpet motoring through the air drowned out their voices. She knew they were trying everything they could to help her, and she could certainly feel the grip of the Spell Keeper’s hands wrapped around her ankles. Such a tight grip, in fact, the blood was having a tough time pumping through her veins, and pins and needles began to kick in through lack of circulation.

  Romulus swung the Flying Carpet over to the left, to avoid one of many huge pillars dotted around the Great Hall. This caused Macy and the Spell Keeper no end of problems as they both tried to ensure her safety. Again, the Flying Carpet took an acute turn … only this time it dropped in height as well. Romulus heard a massive scream behind him but carried on facing forward.

  “Hold on!” he yelled, fighting with every bit of strength he could muster to keep the Flying Carpet under control. “Until I can find a clear space away from all these confounded pillars, it’s going to be a bit of a hair-raising ride.”

  Unbeknown to Romulus, Macy’s predicament had become less of a problem. With all the sharp turns and detours coming thick and fast … the last one being the Flying Carpet’s loss of height … the Spell Keeper had managed to drag Macy back on board.

  Romulus looked as though he was getting the upper. “I can see a good spot up ahead. I’ll try and put us into a hover, so you can pull her back to safety.” Romulus was still oblivious to the fact the Spell Keeper had pulled Macy back onto the Flying Carpet. That was until she tapped him on the shoulder and caused him to almost jump out of his skin.

  “It’s me, Macy. I’m safe.”

  — CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO —

  The Dungeon Reunion

  Romulus turned his head and was astounded by what met his gaze. “What are you doing here? The last time I remember seeing you, you were hanging off the back of the carpet.”

  The distraction caused by Macy’s sudden reappearance was to be a serious error, as dozens of Goblin Soldiers descended on the Great Hall and formed a huge ring below the Flying Carpet. In addition, seeing the dire predicament they were now in Macy freaked out and jumped on Romulus’s back.