Firestar

by Anne Forbes

  Clara gave up. “Actually,” she said, with a quick glance at Neil, “he did disappear.”

  “Clara,” Neil said warningly.

  “He has a magic ring,” Clara said, “and he rubbed it so that he could bring us help.”

  Shona looked at her in disbelief. “A magic ring?” She repeated, her eyes round. “Are you nuts or something?”

  Clara took a deep breath. “Actually, Neil and I have magic rings as well. Watch!” Clara changed her ring over to the other hand and immediately disappeared.

  Shona’s mouth fell open but before she could say anything, Clara switched the ring back to her other hand and reappeared. “Want me to do it again?” she asked with a grin.

  “I don’t believe you just did that,” Shona gasped. “I mean … it isn’t possible!”

  “Yes it is,” Neil smiled. “Just watch me!” And he promptly did the same.

  Clara smiled reassuringly. “It’s okay, Shona,” she said. “I know it takes some believing but the fact is that we both have magic rings that can make us invisible.”

  Shona still looked white. “What are you?” she asked.

  Neil burst out laughing. “Cool it, Shona,” he smiled, “we’re not aliens or anything.”

  Shona looked nervously from one to the other, still unconvinced.

  “Okay, then. Just tell me — why, exactly, are we hiding here?” Neil asked.

  Shona glanced fearfully towards the glen. “We’re … we’re hiding from the giants,” she admitted.

  “And aren’t giants magic?” Clara asked.

  “Yes, but … but that’s all folk tales and legends. Hughie’s a great one for stories about kelpies and the like … but nobody really believes in magic. I mean,” she eyed the giants doubtfully, “they look solid enough but …”

  They turned their heads in alarm as there was a sudden, great noise from the far end of the glen where the giants now seemed to be milling around angrily. Neil counted fourteen in all and wondered worriedly what was going on. Although he didn’t realize it, the protective shield set by the Lords of the North had slid into place just in time. It stopped the giants in their tracks and try as they might, they found to their dismay that they couldn’t get into Glenmorven.

  The noise was tremendous as they heaved their weight again and again against the protective shield and, in their anger at finding their way so efficiently barred, many of them started to lash out at the mountains with great stone arms. Some turned and began to walk back the way they’d come but they were no longer the peaceful figures of before. They were now furiously angry and, as they stomped their way along, they thumped furiously at rock, cliff and crag; anything that stood in their way.

  “If you think about it, Shona, magic’s the only explanation,” Neil remarked. “As I said, if it isn’t magic then what are we doing here on the side of Ben Garchary, hiding from giants? It’s not a dream, is it?”

  Shona peered through the gathering darkness at the crowd of giants that were still clomping and clattering around at the head of the glen. “It has to be a dream,” she said in a very small, scared voice. “It has to be a dream because I can see a dragon flying towards us.”

  Neil and Clara jerked round and saw, not only a dragon flying towards them but, soaring above it, the winged shape of a great eagle.

  “Arthur,” Neil gasped. “He’s come to rescue us!”

  “Amgarad!” Clara’s eyes shone with delight. “Amgarad as well!” she said, excitedly. “What do you bet that Lord Rothlan’s in Morven!”

  Shona shrank back, petrified, and dropping the tiny kitten, opened her mouth and let out an ear-splitting shriek as the huge, winged shape of the enormous dragon swooped over the mountains towards them.

  “For goodness sake, grab the cat, Clara,” Neil said urgently. And, as Clara scooped up a dazed Ugly Mug from the heather, Neil jumped on top of a boulder, waved his arms wildly and yelled “Arthur!” at the top of his voice.

  Clara stuffed the frightened kitten down the front of her anorak and tightened the cord round the waist, hoping that the kitten wouldn’t try and scratch her way out. Ugly Mug, however, was not unintelligent. She much preferred the warmth and safety of Clara’s anorak to being carried in a bouncing bag and promptly settled herself comfortably in the folds of her sweater.

  “Amgarad,” Clara said in delight as the great eagle flew down beside her. “Did Lewis tell you that we were here?”

  The eagle settled his wings and nodded majestically. “Prince Casimir summoned Arthur to rescue you.”

  “Amgarad,” Neil called in sudden dismay, “come and look, quick! The giants are attacking Arthur! And, gosh, Archie’s on his back!”

  Actually, the giants had had it in for Arthur from the start. Why, Neil didn’t know, although Arthur told him later that it was a centuries-old hatred that had never died. He himself had forgotten the reason for it and so, probably, had the giants. But there it was. The minute they spotted him, there was complete and utter pandemonium.

  Fourteen enormous giants on the rampage was a breathtaking sight. Despite their size and clumsy movements, they entered into the spirit of battle with a wild determination that bordered on enthusiasm; grabbing rocks from the sides of the mountains and happily slinging anything and everything they could lay their hands on, at the dragon. Fortunately for Arthur, the giants were, to put it mildly, rotten shots — but the hail of largely unguided missiles that were sailing through the air was, nevertheless, impressive. Arthur’s magic, however, protected him and even when it seemed that a lucky shot would most certainly hit him, the rock was somehow deflected and fell harmlessly to one side.

  The realization that nothing seemed to be hitting the dragon, spurred the giants to greater efforts and, as the hail of rocks and stones grew heavier, Arthur was forced to veer away from the children, in case they were hit.

  Shona couldn’t believe her eyes as she watched Neil and Clara clutch at one another in anxiety as the dragon was pelted with rocks. And how come Clara seemed to be able to talk to an eagle? The fearsome bird was perched beside her, hissing angrily at the giants as they lobbed huge rocks around like so much confetti.

  Again Arthur’s magic came into play. Neil and Clara didn’t realize it at the time and, for a few minutes, their hearts sank at the thought that the giants might be winning; for before their startled eyes, the stone figures started to grow. Indeed, Clara put her hand over her mouth to stop herself from crying out in horror as she watched them shoot up until they were the height of skyscrapers. As they grew taller and taller, however, they also became thinner and thinner until they were little more than huge, rickety skeletons of rock and stone.

  It didn’t take the giants long to realize the dangers of such unexpected growth and they roared with rage as the magic spell took hold. Indeed, they promptly forgot about Arthur as the need to keep their balance became paramount. Now disastrously unstable, many of the giants grabbed at cliffs for support as they started to sway dangerously.

  Arthur hissed in satisfaction as the giants’ faltering steps became more and more perilous and swept towards the mountain top in a blaze of fire and smoke. He landed, wings outspread, on a jutting spur of rock, his wonderful eyes gleaming with excitement.

  “Come on, Neil,” he hissed in his dragon’s voice, “let’s get you out of here!”

  Clambering awkwardly down from the spur of rock towards them, Arthur blew a triumphant stream of sparkling fire. Neil and Clara were quite used to what they termed ‘Arthur’s fireworks’ but Shona was understandably terrified of the great red dragon that was only feet from them. She clutched frantically at Neil as the dragon blew another stream of sparkling, glittering fire.

  “Don’t do that, Arthur! You’re scaring Shona,” Clara said, rushing forward to hug him.

  “Hi, Arthur! Hi Archie!” Neil grinned as Archie slipped down from Arthur’s back. “It’s great to see you! Come and meet Shona.”

  Shona looked at Archie in fascinated wonder as he bowed to
her and gave her a reassuring grin, knowing that it wasn’t every day that she met faery folk. When Amgarad spread his wings, however, she looked more than a bit apprehensive and turned to Neil fearfully.

  “Look, there’s no time to explain right now,” Neil said, seeing the confused mixture of horror and disbelief on her face, “but it’s all magic. Archie is magic, the dragon is magic and so is Amgarad.”

  “Come and meet Arthur, Shona,” Clara said, tugging her hand. “He’s really not the least bit terrifying when you know him. He’s fabulous. Look at his wonderful eyes. He’s come to rescue us!”

  Shona was quite definite about it. “I am not,” she said determinedly, “I am not getting on that dragon.”

  Clara glanced up at Arthur. He did, she supposed, look quite fearsome. He was huge for a start and the swirling clouds of dust that the giants had kicked up made him look exciting, mysterious and … well, she could understand how Shona felt.

  “Neil’s flown on him before, Shona,” she said encouragingly, “and he loved every minute of it. Arthur’s a lovely dragon. He’s our friend and he won’t hurt you, I promise.”

  It was one of the giants that eventually persuaded Shona that it was safer to climb onto Arthur’s back with the others than stay where she was. One giant had grown so tall that his head was more or less on a level with them and as the rocky, eyeless head appeared above the rim of the corrie, Shona gave a yell of fright.

  “Here, take my hand, Shona,” Neil said, “and I’ll help you up onto Arthur’s back. Clara, you go first.”

  Arthur dropped his wing obligingly so that Clara could clamber up and perch behind his neck; then Shona, too, scrambled up and settled herself behind Clara, her arms clutching her tightly round the waist.

  As Neil climbed up behind her, Archie then ran up to Amgarad and Shona’s eyes widened as he seemed to melt into the great eagle. Clara, however, hid a smile as she, too, watched Archie merge with the enormous bird; for poor Archie was more accustomed to merging with humble pigeons and it had long been his ambition to merge with an eagle. Now, at last, he had his wish and she was happy for him. She watched as Amgarad’s wings flapped strongly and, with effortless ease, he soared upwards over the top of the mountain.

  “Archie’s merged with an eagle at last,” she said, turning to look at Neil whose eyes were following Amgarad’s flight enviously.

  Arthur flapped his wings as Amgarad soared into the sky. “Our turn next,” Neil said, warningly. “Hang on everyone!”

  Instinctively, they gripped Arthur’s sides with their knees, clinging tightly to one another as Arthur blew a stream of fire and smoke, flapped his great wings and soared effortlessly into the sky.

  In the last rays of the setting sun, they could see where he was heading, for the mountain stood sharply outlined against the night sky. Like Amgarad, Arthur was making for Morven.

  27. Inside Morven

  Shona looked down as they soared over the mountain top and as the glen unfolded beneath them, her eyes searched the gathering gloom to see if she could see signs of torchlight. Her parents, she knew, must be worried about them.

  “You all right, Shona?” Neil asked.

  She nodded her head. “I’m fine,” she said with a grin. “It’s because I can’t believe it’s happening,” she admitted. “I just know I’m in a dream. How can I be flying on a dragon’s back? It’s impossible.”

  Neil smiled, glad that she had relaxed, and as they drew nearer to Morven, pointed out Glenmorven House and Hughie’s cottage. He frowned in sudden alarm as he had expected Arthur to land somewhere close by so that they could get home quickly and reassure the Fergusons that they were quite safe. Arthur, however, didn’t seem to be losing height at all and, instead of landing, they passed over Glenmorven House. It was then that they realized he was heading for Morven, itself. He wasn’t slowing down either and as the mountain loomed large in front of them, Neil gave a sudden yell of alarm. “Arthur, slow down! We’re going to hit the mountain!”

  “Amgarad!” Clara yelled, her eyes frantic with shock. “Amgarad, look out!” For the great bird was swooping at speed towards the rocky sides of the mountain. Clara hardly dared look. She was sure he was going to hit it. “Amgarad! Nooooo!” she cried.

  Amgarad didn’t exactly hit the mountain; he seemed to disappear through it.

  Neil cottoned on immediately to what was happening. “We’re going to do the same,” Neil shouted as the girls started to scream. “Hold on tight! We’re going … throuuuuuuuugh!”

  There was no impact. They flew clean through the rocky slopes without feeling a thing and their screams tailed off as they realized that they were quite safe and flying through a vast, brightly lit cavern inside the mountain. At last, Shona thought, looking around in wonder. At last I’m inside the mountain. I always thought there was something magic about it and now I’m going to find out what it is. Peering over Clara’s shoulder she could see a raised dais at the far end of the hall, where high-backed, silver thrones curved in a wide half circle.

  Arthur’s claws slid and slithered over the polished expanse of cream-coloured marble and as he came to a somewhat undignified halt in front of the thrones, a tall, white-haired old man rose and moved towards him. Arthur sank to his knees and bowed low.

  Lord Alarid touched his head. “Well done, Arthur,” he said gently. “We were wise to ask you to rescue the children.” He looked at them, smiling at the amazement on their faces. “Welcome,” he said, “welcome to the Court of the Lords of the North.”

  Formal introductions were then made and Lewis’s lips twitched in a smile as he saw the wonder on Shona’s face as they met the gloriously robed magicians.

  “Shona,” Lord Alarid said, kindly, “we are pleased to meet you at last. We have watched you grow up over the years and know that you love Morven.”

  “I … I’ve always felt it was a special mountain,” Shona admitted, shyly, “but until now I didn’t know how special. It’s … it’s wonderful!”

  Neil, meanwhile, scanned the hall and breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Archie, who had obviously demerged safely from Amgarad, talking to Lewis and the MacArthur at the side of the dais. Thank goodness, Lewis was okay.

  Standing tall and impressive to one side of the dais was a magic mirror. Neil eyed it almost fondly. Magic mirrors had played a large part in their lives and were powerful objects of magic. So, thought Neil, that’s how Arthur and Archie had appeared so quickly to rescue them. They must have come from Edinburgh through the mirrors. Amgarad, he noticed, had already flown to perch on the arm of Lord Rothlan’s throne and spread his wings in greeting as they approached. All the lords were present and as they bowed their way along the line, Lord Rothlan and Lady Ellan rose and hugged them warmly, as did Prince Casimir.

  Shona, who still half-believed she was in a dream, eyed them in amazement and some wonder. The magicians; for they must be magicians, Shona reckoned, seemed absolutely delighted to see Neil and Clara and obviously knew them well.

  Ugly Mug caused a stir when she jumped down onto the floor and, seeing Shona, pranced happily towards her. Then she saw the dragon and her fur stood on end in tiny spikes as she backed off, hissing and spitting furiously. Arthur, however, batted his wonderful eyes at the kitten and as Clara bent to pick her up, a stream of magic comforted the little creature.

  “Lewis has been telling me about the stone giants, Neil,” Lord Rothlan said. “You mustn’t worry, you know. The old lords have put a protective shield round Glenmorven so they won’t be able to get in.”

  “Why are they so anxious to get into the glen, Lord Rothlan?” Clara asked. “Do they want to come to the mountain?”

  “We don’t know the reason, Clara,” Rothlan answered. “We think the first attack released them from Firestar’s spell but we don’t know why they want to come here.”

  “We heard about Firestar from Hughie,” nodded Neil. “Was that the explosion that shot through the top of the mountain?”

  Rothlan
nodded. “Firestar was ready for the second attack. It wouldn’t let itself be caught out a second time.”

  Clara suddenly grabbed Neil’s arm. “Look,” she whispered, “look, Neil, over there. There are some of the little creatures we saw on the hill.”

  “We call them the Rumblegrumbles,” Lady Ellan said with a smile as she saw their heads turn. “They look after Firestar and the Lords of the North.”

  “Their hair sort of grew when we saw them,” Clara frowned at the memory.

  “It depends on how anxious they are,” Prince Casimir said, looking amused. He beckoned to the hobgoblins and as they trotted over in their waistcoats and flappy trousers, looking shy, he smiled at them reassuringly.

  “When they’re really worried you can hardly see them for tendrils!” Lady Ellan whispered.

  “This is Rumbletop and Rumbletumble,” Casimir said. The hobgoblins shifted on their little hooves, tugged at their waistcoats and bowed.

  “We saw you on the mountain, didn’t we?” Clara said, crouching down to be at their level.

  There was a nodding of heads and funny little grins as the hobgoblins pulled their lips back from their front teeth in winsome smiles that made them look totally idiotic and absolutely charming.

  Then they saw Shona and ran up to her, pulling at her jeans and jumping up and down. “Shona, this is wonderful! You can see us now, too!”

  “As well as who?” Shona laughed.

  “As well as Hughie,” Rumbletop said, his yellow eyes shining as the other hobgoblins gathered round her excitedly.

  “Hughie?” Shona sounded startled. “Hughie can see you? He … he never told me!”

  Rumbletop’s grin faded at the note of dismay in Shona’s voice and as all the hobgoblins’ tendrils started to sprout, he looked at Prince Casimir in consternation.

  Lady Ellan, seeing Shona’s distress, put an arm round her shoulders. “Hughie found his way into Morven when he was a boy,” she consoled her, “a bit like Neil and Clara going into Arthur’s Seat. He’s always loved the Rumblegrumbles and they still visit him.”