Dragon's Gold
Page 5
She immediately began flicking through the first book she came to and Cassie and Toby exchanged a worried look.
“What exactly are you looking for?” Toby asked quietly.
“A spell to bring my daughter home,” Moira replied and let the book fall shut. “She hasn’t been to visit me for nearly twelve years.”
“Where is she?” Cassie felt sad that her daughter hadn’t been to see her for so long. She wouldn’t like to be away from her own mother for that long.
“I don’t know. I just want to find her and ask her what I did wrong.”
“Maybe it’s nothing you did,” Cassie suggested. “You can’t force her to come home even if you do find her.”
“But I’m so lonely.” She paused and then looked at Cassie. “This could be your home if you like.”
“This isn’t my home,” Cassie said carefully.
“I know,” Moira said sadly. “I was hoping that if I kept the basket from you for long enough that you might like it here and stay.”
“You know about the basket?” Cassie was surprised.
“It’s one way of sending things from one world to another, but not usually people.” Moira brought out the basket and handed it to Cassie. “I’ll miss you.”
“Toby will be here to keep you company.” Cassie suddenly felt guilty for wanting to leave.
“He doesn’t want to spend time with an old woman,” Moira replied quickly.
“I like it here,” Toby said just as quickly.
“You do? So why do you sleep in the storeroom?” Moira looked confused but hopeful.
“Because you’ve never invited me in,” Toby explained.
Cassie smiled and knew that Moira wouldn’t be alone when she left.
“You can visit anytime you like.” Moira had her arm around Toby who didn’t look the least bit bothered by it. “All you have to do is say the basic spell for visiting friends.”
“I don’t know any spells basic or not. I made up all the ones I used here,” Cassie admitted thinking that it would be nice to visit again as long as she knew how to get home.
“Here.” Moira took a small black book from her crammed shelves and handed it to Cassie. “It’s just the basic spells but you can come back for another one when you’ve learnt all that.”
Cassie put the book into her pocket with her poems and got into the basket.
“I don’t know how to get back,” she said. “I’ve never thought past having the basket back.”
“I’ll send you to the same place and time so that nobody even knew you were gone,” Moira promised.
“Goodbye, Toby. Goodbye, Moira,” Cassie called as she closed the lid. “I promise I’ll visit.”
The lid shook above her and Cassie wondered what was wrong. Had she forgotten something? She pushed up the lid and stood up.
“What is it Toby?” she asked and stopped. Bobby. She had forgotten that he had been chasing her.
“Who’s Toby?” Bobby was caught of guard for a few seconds and that gave Cassie enough time to get out of the basket and leave the tent. Bobby was quick to follow and Cassie headed across a nearby deserted field. She was too tired to be doing all this running.
“Running away are you? Chicken... Chicken...” Bobby yelled and Cassie stopped suddenly. Why was she running away? She had overcome her fear of horses and had even been chased by a dragon. She wasn’t afraid of Bobby.
“What did you call me?” Cassie demanded and Bobby stopped a short distance away from her.
“I called you a chicken,” he shouted as if she was half a mile away. “A chicken that likes mud baths.”
“We’ll see just who the chicken is,” Cassie stated and Bobby looked suspiciously at her. “Chicken!” she said and pointed at Bobby.
To Cassie’s delight her magic worked back here at home and a large chicken stood where Bobby had been. She picked him up and walked back to the fair. She wandered around for a while but couldn’t buy anything because she had left her money on the island where she had met Galo.
“Hi.” It was Sandra and her friends again. “I see your brother didn’t catch you.”
“He’s feeling a little chicken,” Cassie commented and the chicken in her arms squirmed and wriggled.
“Will you be going to the local school?” Sandra asked.
“Yes.” Cassie replied and Sandra smiled.
“Well we’ll see you then because we have to leave now.”
Cassie grinned and waved as they left. At last her brother hadn’t managed to ruin things for her. She saw her parents coming towards her. It was good to see them after so long.
“What have you been up to?” Her mother asked.
“Hi Mum. Oh this and that. Nothing much.” Cassie replied.
“Is that for dinner?” She pointed to the chicken and Cassie almost laughed.
“No, I don’t think so. I think I’ll set it free,” Cassie replied.
“If you see Bobby remind him to meet us at the car at three,” her father said as they both walked away.
Cassie took the chicken behind one of the tents and put it down on the ground.
“Back how you belong,” she said hoping it would work. She hadn’t considered not being able to change him back.
“What happened?” Bobby cried as soon as he was himself again and Cassie giggled at the expression on his face.
“I guess you’re not going to call me a chicken again,” Cassie said trying hard not to laugh.
Bobby just stared at Cassie for several seconds and then took a step backwards.
“No I guess I won’t.”
Bobby turned and ran off leaving Cassie laughing as she pulled her spell book from her back pocket. Things could get very interesting around here.
Don't miss out!
Click the button below and you can sign up to receive emails whenever Pat Judd publishes a new book. There's no charge and no obligation.
https://books2read.com/r/B-A-HILE-OEVN
Connecting independent readers to independent writers.
Also by Pat Judd
The Magician's Apprentice
Dragon's Gold
Wish Fairies
Amanda - A Horse of Course
Bethany - Joins the Circus