by Isobel Bird
“These woods have long been known to us,” Spider said, overhearing Cooper’s question.
He talks like he’s three hundred years old or something, Cooper thought. Someone in one of the covens must have known about the cave and decided to use it in the Midsummer celebration. She wondered what other surprises there were in the woods. Were Annie and Kate having equally interesting experiences, or were they just wandering around looking for her? She hoped not. She wanted to think that they were having adventures of their own.
Bird led Cooper over to the circle of stones in the middle of the floor and motioned for her to sit. Now that Cooper was inside the cave and saw that it wasn’t a damp, nasty place, she was getting into things, and she couldn’t wait to see what came next. She thought Bird would sit beside her, but the girl said, “I must leave you now. But I will be waiting for you if—when—you return from your journey.”
“What do you mean?” Cooper said, confused. “You’re not staying? What about the others?”
“This testing is for you alone,” Bird said. “Spider will guide you.”
Before Cooper could protest, Bird slipped through the entrance, leaving Cooper alone in the cave with Spider. A moment later Spider emerged from the back of the cave carrying an armload of sticks, which he arranged in the ring of stones. Then he struck something against one of the stones, sending sparks into the air.
It’s a fire pit, Cooper thought as the sticks began to burn brightly. She wondered where the smoke would go, but it streamed toward the ceiling and disappeared, so she assumed there was some kind of vent up there.
Spider sat down directly across the fire from Cooper.
“You have accepted the challenge,” he said. “It is time for the dreaming to begin.” His voice had taken on a tone that Cooper hadn’t heard before. It sounded like the voice of someone who had done this many times, who was used to leading others. Spider suddenly seemed very old to Cooper. But he can’t be much older than I am, she thought. Was he really going to lead a ritual? Well, why not? Cooper, Annie, and Kate did rituals on their own. And Tyler, who was their age, often took part in his coven’s rituals. Maybe Spider really was a witch and was just putting on an act to get Cooper more into what was happening.
Spider opened a small pouch painted with symbols and decorated with feathers. He poured something that looked like sand into his outstretched palm and then tossed it onto the fire. A huge cloud of purplish smoke rose from the circle of stones, and for a few moments the flames themselves took on a purple color before returning to their usual orange and yellow.
The smoke, however, did not disappear. It hovered around them like a fog. Cooper thought she also detected the smell of flowers. She was surprised that the smoke wasn’t causing her to choke or making it difficult for her to breathe. But it just floated in the air, swirling around as if someone was stirring it with an invisible stick.
“Close your eyes,” Spider instructed her.
Cooper let her eyelids fall shut. The smell of the purple smoke was growing stronger, and that, combined with the warmth of the cave, was making her a little drowsy. She feared she might fall asleep, so she tried hard to concentrate on what Spider was saying.
“We have entered the Cave of Vision,” Spider said. “It is a doorway to another place, a place some of us know well but which you have never before entered. Tonight we will journey to that place. It will not be easy. There will be tests. Whether you succeed or fail depends on how well you perform these tests. Are you ready to begin?”
Cooper took a deep breath. She assumed that Spider was going to lead her on some kind of guided meditation. How hard could that be? She’d done guided meditations dozens of times. All she had to do was follow the words of the leader. Was that the big challenge Spider had been talking about? If so, she was sure she could handle it.
“Yes,” she said. “I’m ready.”
A moment later she felt the air around her change again. Spider had thrown something else on the fire, and the smell of flowers grew stronger. Cooper breathed it in, feeling it fill her head. It also made her more relaxed, almost as if she were drifting into that fuzzy state that occurred between waking and sleeping. I can’t fall asleep, she thought dreamily.
“You are walking down a path,” Spider said. “You have journeyed far, and you have a long way still to go.”
Cooper imagined herself walking on a path. That was easy. Then, out of nowhere, she felt someone take her hand. The sudden touch startled her, and she opened her eyes. Spider was standing beside her, the purple smoke blowing around him.
“Come with me,” he said.
Cooper stood up. She was confused. Where were they going to go? Wasn’t this supposed to be a meditation? What was he doing?
Spider led her through the smoke in the direction of the rear of the cave. Was there something back there? Cooper’s head swam, and she wanted to sit down. There was something strange about the smoke. She felt like she was dreaming, but she knew she wasn’t. She could feel the cave floor beneath her feet, and she could smell the smoke and feel Spider’s fingers around hers.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked him.
“To the doorway,” he answered. “It’s where the path leads you.”
Cooper expected to find a solid wall at the back of the cave. But as Spider led her to what she suspected was the farthest part of the cave she saw that a tunnel passed into the stone. Spider led her into it.
“I hope this leads out of here,” Cooper said, noting that the ceiling of the tunnel seemed to be getting lower as they walked. “I think I need some fresh air.”
“In a moment,” Spider said. “First you must pass through the doorway.”
Cooper was about to ask what this doorway was that Spider kept talking about, but before she could she found out for herself as they came to an opening in the tunnel. Something was covering it, so she couldn’t see what lay beyond, but she could feel a breeze coming through so she knew that they couldn’t be too far away from the outside.
Spider stopped. “By entering the Cave of Vision and passing through it you have come to the doorway between the world of men and the world of Faerie,” he said solemnly. “Should you choose to pass through this doorway you will be entering a realm of magic. I cannot tell you what will happen there. Are you ready to risk this?”
Cooper nodded. “Sure,” she said, figuring that anything would be worth agreeing to if she could just get outside again and into the fresh air.
Spider nodded. “Very well,” he said. “Then you may pass through. On the other side there will be someone to greet you and act as your guide in the Faerie realm. Your testing has begun.”
A guide, Cooper thought. They were really going all out with their little game. Who was this going to be?
Spider stepped forward and swept aside whatever was covering the opening of the tunnel. Beyond it, Cooper could see shadows and moonlight.
“You may enter,” Spider said.
Cooper stepped out of the tunnel. Immediately the opening was closed up again, and she was standing by herself in the woods. I must be on the other side of the hill, she thought, looking around. But there was no one there to meet her, no guide as Spider had promised.
Then someone stepped from the shadows. Cooper gave a start when she saw who—or what—it was. It seemed to be human, but it was covered in leaves and dirt. It looked like one of the boys from Spider’s group, but even wilder.
“Who are you?” she asked. “And what are we supposed to do now?”
The boy cocked his head to one side and stared at her, but didn’t say anything.
“What’s your name?” Cooper tried, but the boy just scuttled away from her and stared some more.
He’s acting like a wild animal, Cooper thought with annoyance. Fine, if that was the way he wanted to be, she could play the game, too.
“Okay, Wild Man,” she said, coming up with a name for her new companion. “You’re supposed to lead me on the next part of this
trip. So lead on.”
The Wild Man looked at her for another moment. Then he turned and walked into the trees. I guess I said the right thing, Cooper thought, and hurried after him.
CHAPTER 7
“But I have to get the rest of my costume and get back to my friends,” Annie protested, following the Oak King out of the tent.
The king ignored her, striding into the woods. She scrambled to keep up. She really wanted to get back to the cabin to find her paws, but she felt as if she’d sort of agreed to take part in whatever it was the Oak King was doing. If it was part of the Midsummer ritual—and she was sure that it was—she couldn’t just quit. If she’d been selected to play a role in the celebration, she had to see it through.
Okay, she told herself. For right now you’re a hedgehog helping the Oak King. What would you do?
She had no idea. She didn’t even know who the Oak King was, where they were going, or what was expected of her. All she knew was that she was supposed to follow him. And that’s what she did. As the king made his way through the woods, she tried to stay right with him. Although he didn’t seem to be rushing, he walked quickly, and she had a hard time keeping up.
“It’s just like him to pick an inconvenient spot,” the king said irritably. Annie wasn’t sure if he was speaking to her or to himself, so she didn’t say anything.
“At least it gives me a chance to see the woods,” continued the Oak King. “It’s always at its best on Midsummer, although of course Yule is wonderful, too. Still, summer has a life to it that winter doesn’t. I’ll give it that much. But that’s as much Maeve’s doing as it is his.” He turned to Annie. “Although he’ll want you to believe that it’s all his work, you know.”
“You mean your brother?” asked Annie.
The Oak King nodded. “That’s right,” he said. “Arrogant fellow.”
“It doesn’t sound like you two get along very well,” Annie commented.
The Oak King laughed. “Oh, we get along well enough,” he said. “You know how it is with brothers—fight one day, make up the next. Have you any siblings?”
“One,” said Annie. “A sister. Meg.”
“And do the two of you fight often?” the king asked.
Annie shook her head. “Not so much,” she said. “But when we do it’s usually a big one.”
“That’s what I mean,” said the king. “My brother and I fight like anything. Of course, it’s only twice a year, and that’s probably less than most.”
“Only twice a year?” Annie said, puzzled. “It sounds like you schedule them.”
“We do,” said the king. “Midsummer and Yule. Every year.”
It seemed odd to Annie that the Oak King and his brother fought on set days. When she and Meg fought it was almost always because one of them had flown off the handle for no real reason. The last time they’d fought had been when Meg had accidentally spilled a glass of milk all over the paper Annie had just spent four hours writing for English class. Annie had reacted hastily, and Meg had run away in tears. But they’d made up quickly.
“What do the two of you fight about?” Annie asked.
The Oak King sighed. “That’s a long story,” he said, “and best left for later. Why don’t you tell me something about yourself first.”
“Like what?” Annie asked. She couldn’t really think of anything to tell the Oak King that would be interesting.
“What about your family,” the king said. “Apart from your sister, I mean. Tell me about them.”
“I live with my aunt,” replied Annie. “She’s great. We get along really well.”
“And your parents?” asked the king. “What about them?”
Annie felt herself tense up. She didn’t like to answer questions about her parents. Normally, she avoided talking about them with anyone but her closest friends, and even they didn’t know all that much.
Her companion sensed her hesitation and stopped walking. He turned and looked at Annie, who was trying to think of something to say to change the subject. But the king wouldn’t have it.
“Come, hedgehog,” he said. “What of your family? Surely you have a mother and a father?”
Annie cleared her throat. “Yes,” she said reluctantly, “I do have a mother and a father. Or I did once.”
“Once?” said the Oak King. “Meaning you don’t now?”
“No,” said Annie. “They’re dead.”
“How?” the king asked immediately.
Annie was taken aback. Usually when she said that her parents were dead people started apologizing all over themselves, as if she was the one who was dying and they’d somehow offended her. But the king simply stared at her expectantly, waiting for an answer.
She wasn’t sure how to reply. Who was this man asking such personal questions? He didn’t even know her. She didn’t have to tell him anything she didn’t want to. But she was surprised to find that another part of her wanted to tell him. For reasons she couldn’t understand, she liked him. She didn’t know anything about him, yet she felt close to him.
“It was a long time ago,” she said finally.
The king gazed at her silently. She knew he was waiting for her to tell him her story. But she just couldn’t. As much as she liked him she couldn’t talk about that. This was Midsummer. It was supposed to be a happy time. She didn’t want to spoil that.
“I think now I must continue on my way,” the Oak King said after a moment. “The time for meeting my brother is not far off, and I have much to do before then.”
He began walking again.
“Wait,” Annie called out. “Don’t you still need me?” She had thought that she was supposed to be traveling with the king wherever he was going.
“I’m not sure that you will want to be part of this,” the king said, sounding serious. “I think perhaps your journey with me has ended.”
“But why?” Annie asked. “I thought you needed my help.”
The king sighed. “My way is difficult,” he said. “You are tired. Perhaps you have done enough for this Midsummer night.”
“But I want to help you,” Annie insisted. She didn’t understand why he suddenly didn’t want her along. He had seemed so insistent before that she accompany him. Was he angry because she wouldn’t answer his questions about her parents? She was afraid she’d disappointed him somehow.
The Oak King looked at her face for some time without speaking. His eyes seemed incredibly sad to Annie. Then he nodded.
“Perhaps you need to come with me after all,” he said. “Perhaps you will be ready when the time comes.”
“Ready for what?” Annie asked. She was pleased that the king was going to let her accompany him, but she still didn’t know what they were going to do. “Time for what?” she asked, trying again.
But the Oak King was already walking away.
As she followed the Oak King through the forest, Annie hoped that he would tell her more about what they were doing, but he didn’t. She wondered what could be awaiting them when they reached wherever it was they were going. The king had said that she might not be ready for it, whatever it was, but she couldn’t imagine what he was talking about.
The Oak King didn’t talk very much as they walked, only pausing occasionally to point out various things to her like the calls of birds or the fleeting shadow of a deer or rabbit running into the trees. Annie was amazed at how much he saw that she didn’t, how connected he seemed to be to the world of the woods. It was as if he was as much a part of them as the trees and animals themselves.
They’d gone quite a way without seeing any other people when suddenly Annie heard voices ahead. It sounded like many people enjoying themselves. Hearing them, the Oak King stopped.
“It seems we are here,” he said. “Come, little hedgehog. It is time for it to begin.”
Finally, Annie thought. Now I’ll find out what this is all about.
They walked into a large clearing and found themselves in the middle of what seemed to be a party
. Torches were lit all around the glade, illuminating a long table piled with food and drink. People in fantastic costumes were gathered around it, talking and laughing. When they saw the Oak King and Annie they cheered joyfully.
“At last you are here,” said a man who jumped up and ran over to embrace the Oak King. Annie saw that it was the man dressed as Robin Hood, the very one she’d met earlier on the path.
“I see you found what you were searching for,” he said to her.
Annie smiled inside her mask. Robin was clearly having a good time, as was everyone else at the table. She didn’t see anything about the party that would be unpleasant, and she wondered again why the Oak King had suggested she remain behind. Didn’t he want her to have fun on her first Midsummer celebration?
“Come, my lord,” said Robin, putting his arm through the king’s and leading him to the table. “We’ve set a place for you at the head.”
The Oak King settled into a large chair at one end of the table. Robin motioned for Annie to take a seat beside him and Maid Marian, and she did. Then Robin lifted his glass.
“A toast,” he said. “To our once and future king.”
The people around the table raised their glasses and cheered. “To the king!” some said, while others simply added “Hurrah” and “Likewise.” Annie raised the goblet in front of her. She had to remove her mask in order to drink, and as she took it off she saw people stealing glances at her, as if they’d been waiting to see what she looked like beneath the hedgehog head. Ignoring them, she took a sip from her glass, raising the edge of her mask to reach her mouth.
“What is this?” she asked. The drink was sweet and thick, and she’d never tasted anything like it.
“It’s mead,” Maid Marian informed her. “Made from honey and who knows what. The boys spend all week making it.”
“It’s good,” Annie said, taking another sip.
She realized suddenly that she was famished. She hadn’t eaten anything since the sandwich at the cabin several hours before, and her stomach began to growl as she smelled all of the food on the table. There was fresh baked bread and roasted chicken, platters of fruit and hunks of cheese. It looked like one of the spreads Kate’s caterer mother would make, and Annie was dying to eat some of it.
