“No. I didn’t know that,” Mary smiled indulgently.
Soon they found where Grannie Maddam had been bedded down, but it looked like she hadn’t slept a wink all night.
Mary went to give her a big hug but then stopped in her tracks. Grannie was sitting hunched over, rocking herself with her arms folded in her lap and staring blank-eyed down at the ground. Something had obviously upset her.
“Oh, what’s up Gran, what’s happened?” Mary asked, rushing to her.
Gran looked up at her beloved granddaughter, tears welling up in her eyes. “Oh, it’s just that I’ve been up all night getting ter know me sister again. We’re getting on fine, but, well, … then she’s gone an’ told me that … Oh, thunderin’ thighbones! It’s hard ter say, Mary, it’s like havin’ me heart broke all over again, but it seems that me long dead husband is alive after all!”
“Whaaaaat!”
Grannie Maddam sat unmoving and said nothing in reply to Mary’s disbelieving exclamation.
Mary sat down with a thump next to her, in stunned silence. After a while Mary laid a gentle hand on her arm and said, “I’m sorry, Gran I was kind of surprised. Can you tell me more?”
“Well, it’s a long time ago, dear; a long, long time ago now. When I was up North in the Forest of the Mad Jester. It was back when I was just a young Witch, barely in me second decade of witchin’ ter tell yer the truth. An’ me an’ Jak, weren’t really s’posed ter be together at all then. He was of the Old Priesthood he was, an’ I don’t rightly know how it ‘appened but ‘appen it did! The Old Witch that we Witches all swore allegiance to, just didn’t hold with romances an’ such.”
“But what happened, Gran, why did you think he was dead?”
“Because I thought that old Hag had killed him, that’s why,” Gran answered bitterly.
Roger had quietly and tactfully sat down next to Mary and made sure that he kept silent while Mary coaxed Grannie’s story from her.
“The Old Witch had been ruling us Witches ever since the Witch Queen had disappeared years before; but that’s another story. She’d taken a bit of a shine ter me, an’ she got very angry when she caught me an’ Jak. We’d gone an’ crossed her by getting married. The Green Man of the North secretly wed us an’ we’d only been tergether fer less than a year when she found out. She got awful mad and banished me to the Forest of Lundun, so she could keep an eye on me, or so she said. I thinks she was actually jealous o’ me, that’s what I think!”
“But what happened to your husband?” Mary asked. “Why do you think she killed him?”
“Because he challenged her an’ tried ter stop me from goin’ that’s why. I was there … an’ I saw her kill him, wiv me own eyes. She just exploded him where he stood, without a by your leave. She broke my heart that day an’ I ain’t never spoke to her again since.”
“B-b-but then what makes you … and the Green Witch, I mean Flora, think he’s alive now then? Surely if you saw him getting blown up …”
“Becoz I’ve seen him, that’s why!” Gran snapped back at her, in despair. “Flora showed me in her grubby green pool, that’s why. He’s older and well-worn, but it’s the same man, it’s my Jak, in the Forest of Lundun somewhere. Oh, after all these years!” she groaned.
Mary didn’t want to press her anymore. She just leant over and kissed her Gran on the cheek. “It’ll be alright, Gran. We’ll find him. We’ll get the Dragon’s Egg hatched and then we’ll go together an’ we’ll jolly well find your Jak, you sees if we don’t!”
“Oh, if only we could, dear,” Gran sniffled, “but I don’t knows me own mind yet. Just give me a bit o’ time, Mary, an’ then I’ll tell you what I think I ought ter do. I’ll let you know first though, I promise.”
“OK, Gran,” Mary answered softly, “that’s a deal.”
Before anything further could be said or things descended into an extended, awkward pause, Master Scrat ran up to them. “Mistress Flora has asked for you all to come see her immediately,” he said. “She’s waiting for you in the Observer Tree now. There’s been bad news just come in.”
CHAPTER 17:
THE WAR COUNCIL
The War Council had been called early. They climbed up the stairway of the Observer Tree and went up the short flight of steps and entered the Green Pool Chamber. Roger let Mary and Gran take the lead and then Nimp and lastly himself. Captain Caprinus was already there.
Roger immediately felt the eerie atmosphere and ambience of the place and his eyes were drawn towards the strange green pool but then, just as with Mary, he felt his sight being deflected away.
“There is definitely some powerful magic at work here,” he thought.
Then he saw the Green Witch, standing next to Caprinus, with Jemima the Parrot perched on her left forearm. Jemima was obviously the one who’d been the bearer of the bad news.
“What is it, Flora, what news has Jemima brought us?”
“It’s bad news I’m afraid, Cora. Jemima has brought news from the Bower of Lundun. The Forest Powers convened there have warned that several incursions have been occurring simultaneously on all the borders of the Forest of Lundun and not just that of the Black Heath. This is as I already suspected, but there is worse news. There is now a swarm of Worm-minions, and other horrors too it seems, coming up from the Under Erf and amassing right opposite the Bower and along the South Bank of the River Tymes. The Bower of Lundun is now under siege. They have raised their only bridge across the river, the Bower Bridge. This means the usual route into the Heart of Lundun won’t be available to us, or to anyone. I am told even the Centaurs of the Ravensburn are now cut off.”
“I sees,” said Grannie Maddam, “this will affect our travel arrangements fer sure.”
“Why do we need to go to the Bower of Lundun anyway?” Roger politely enquired.
“Because it is the Great Heart-Tree that rules the Forest,” Grannie answered. “It is where the Powers of the Forest gather and where we will receive the greatest help and instruction on where to bring the Dragon’s egg to hatch successfully.”
“Yes, Cora, that is correct. But the enemy now know of our quest to bring the Egg to the Heart of Lundun. And I believe Morgrim has brought his plans forward, just to ensure that the precious Dragon’s Egg does not hatch. He well knows, if this Dragon, the last heir of the great Sivad dynasty is born, then by our most ancient of Prophecies, he will grow up to be the Golden Dragon; the only True Dragon with the power of all three Dragon Magicks. It will be Regor here, who will have the means to end the schemes and threats of the Fire-Worm Lords of the Core, once and for all!”
“By Einsteins Eyebrows!” Roger exclaimed. “Our Regor really is important then!”
“Zo, excuze me, your Witchynezzes, but how do we getz to the Bower of Lundun zen?” enquired Nimp. “Vee all know ver perilz that lie acrozz ver river az vell az ver dangerz of ver river itzelf. No vun can crozz ver River of Tymez unless zey go acrozz ver Bower Bridge.”
“Yes, usually that’s true,” the Green Witch answered him, “but these are not usual times. We must work together and trust in ourselves and our friends. It will be very dangerous, I agree, but I know of a way across and can advise a route for a small party to then follow to the Bower.”
Roger gulped and gave a quick worried look over to Mary. He knew they were both having the same premonition. “I think it’s going to be down to us!” he thought to her.
“Nose, Wodger, not jush yous. I finksh it will be down to me toos!” Regor suddenly telepathed, indignantly. The unborn baby Dragon was awake at last once more!
“Well, well, well, welcome to our War Council, Master Dragon,” the Green Witch mind-cast in reply, for all to hear. “I am sure you are right, but until we get you safely hatched you will not be able to fully fulfil your role. And you must be hatched in the heart of the Great Forest for the prophecy to come true. This may or may not be the Bower, but it must, by simple definition, be somewhere near.”
“Oh, I’m sure yoush
is right, Mishtress Florwa, but I finksh I should tellsh yoush that after my vewwy refweshing nap, I finksh I knows juss where I musht be born and by whens too!”
The members of the Witch’s War Council stood dumbstruck. Roger was the quickest to recover. He forgot all about telepathy though and just blurted out, “Regor! Are you sure? Well, go on, tell us then. Where and by when must you be born?”
“I can sees it in my Mindsh eye, Wodger,” Regor replied, “itsha hidden place called the Serpents-eye I fink and itsh near the Bower of Lundun, Mishtress Florwa is right. But I hash to hatch by the 8th of September, or I’ll juss withersh away an’ die in this stuffy ol’ shell!”
“We won’t let that happen, Regor,” Roger grimly telepathed to him.
“No we won’t!” agreed Mary. “Not for a freckle on a frog’s foot we won’t!”
“It’s funny you should mention Frogs actually,” the Green Witch said, eyeing Mary with a raised eyebrow, “as the route I suggest you take does actually involve quite a lot of Frogs.”
“Oh noze, not therez!” cried Nimp. “That plaze iz zo vet ant damp ant moizt ant … vell, it’z full of all voze nazty ant noizy frogz!”
“Yes, I suggest you all rest a couple more days. During that time, Cora, that’s Grannie Maddam to you, and myself, will do what we can to heal the borders of the Black Heath. While Roger with Regor and Mary and Nimp get fully well and prepare for a trip up the Deep Ford Creek to the River Tymes. I have a good friend there who will help you across, I’m sure.”
“Who’s that then?” Roger asked.
“That is Gorfgib, the King of the Frogs,” said the Green Witch, smiling. “I believe you have met him before. I can assure you, despite appearances, Gorfgib is one of the most noble and courageous of creatures I know. Once you get across, to the Isle of Gods, you must then follow the north bank of the Tymes, upstream a few miles, and you will come to the Bower of Lundun.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad then, does it?” Roger piped up brightly.
“Don’t be fooled, dear,” Grannie Madden told him, “there’s more dangers on a mile of path on the north bank of the Tymes than you’ll find in a thousand miles on Humdrum roads!”
“Yes, that is true, but you now have powers too, and Cora and I will prepare you as best we can before you go, of course,” the Green Witch soothingly replied.
“Hold on just a beetle-brained minute there!” Grannie Maddam called out. “Sounds like yer assumin’ that I’m not goin’ with them. Well, whatever you says, Flora, I am! I’ve decided. I’m going to see that Regor gets ‘atched an’ then I’m goin’ to find my Jak, an’ you ain’t goin’ to talk me out of it neither. Me minds made up!”
The Green Witch smiled briefly and then put a convincing look of sisterly concern on her face. “Of course, Cora dear, it’s just that I thought you’d prefer to stay with me and take some needed time to recover properly. I could do with your help around my woods as well for that matter.”
“Some needed t-t-time t-t-ter recover!” Gran spluttered angrily. “What on Gaea’s Erf are yous on about, Flora? I’m as fit as a fairy-cat’s fiddle I tells yer, an’ I’m not bein’ persuaded ter abandon my ward by anyone, you hear!”
Roger smiled to himself, realizing that the Green Witch was actually very cleverly manipulating Grannie Maddam into accompanying them on their quest, but without her realizing it.
“Oh, right you are then, dear,” the Green Witch told her in a placating tone, “that’s all agreed then. The company will consist of yourself and Mary with Roger and Regor safely in his Rucksack, and of course, Mister Nimp, the Night Imp, continuing as your appointed guide.”
“What about Jericho, the Sabre-tooth tiger though?” Roger asked. “Wouldn’t we get on a lot quicker and more safely if we went with him?”
“I’m afraid not, dear. In fact, the opposite is more likely. You see, news would soon get about that a mighty creature like Jericho was abroad. It’s just the kind of thing that would attract attention and get to the ears of Morgrim’s spies in no time. And the same goes for taking any Hircumen with you. We need to keep this trip as small and understated as possible and we’ll be using them anyway for the same diversion tactics you used so successfully on old Hooter’s Hill.”
“Oh right, understood,” Roger said glumly. He’d have felt a lot more confident and braver too if he knew he was travelling on the back of the fearsome, giant cat.
“Good idea!” Grannie rumbled. “When word gets back to the Humdrums, an’ no doubt to Morgrim himself, then they’ll all be off, chasing in the wake of Jericho an’ a bunch of Hircumen, who’ll lead ‘em on a merry chase fer sures, an’ well away from the ways we’ll be goin’!”
“Exactly, Cora,” agreed the Green Witch. “I’ve worked out the diversionary tactics with Captain Caprinus here, and you can tell Jericho, please Cora. Now we must prepare for war!”
“The Hircumen are with you, your Ladyship,” Caprinus stated stoically. “We must protect the borders south of the Thames as best we may, to the last Hircumen if needed!”.
“An’ mees withs yous too, Lady Florwa!” Regor telepathed brightly, bringing a smile to the otherwise grim faces of the war council.
“May our plans meet with success,” the Green Witch said. “Now, if you, Cora, can please accompany the Captain and Nimp below to the camp and get things rolling, I’d like a quiet word with Roger and Mary. There is something they need to see.”
Grannie Maddam just nodded. It seemed to Roger that the two Witches had already decided that Roger and Mary would need some specific education addressing their ignorance of this wild, New world of wonder, within the Great Forest.
After the others had left, the Green Witch gestured for them to come over to the Green Pool. “You need to appreciate what is at stake, all three of you. Are you still with us, Regor?”
“Yesh I yam, Misshtresh Gween Witch; I’m all years!”
“What!” Roger cried out, not immediately understanding the unborn baby Dragon. “Oh, right, ears!” he sighed, as the penny dropped.
“Come close to the edge of the pool, both of you,” the Green Witch commanded. “What you will witness now is not what is, but what could be. Through my Green Pool I have the power to show other possible realities. Look now upon the Inglande that would exist if it were not for our Magic and the Powers of the Great Forests.”
Roger stepped to the edge of the pool, balancing his rucksack containing the Dragon’s Egg as he leaned over and peered into its mysterious, opaque surface.
“Careful!” Mary whispered. “Who knows what’d happen if you took a bath in that pool?” She quickly fell silent though as the pool once again stirred. Strange, spiraling ripples appearing, as it slowly rotated and then steadily turned, spinning faster and faster.
Roger stared, fascinated. The pool swirled beneath him like a giant, green Catherine wheel. It was once again clearing and he could now see patterns and forms taking shape within its emerald fog. The scene slowly came into focus and he found himself looking down, as if from a great height. The scene below him was somehow familiar. Then it came to him. “It’s just like when we left our bodies in the forest fire and went up into space and visited Gaea!” he thought.
He could see below him the whole country of Inglande spread out and as he stared he realized that he was falling toward a great black blot that surrounded the River Tymes near to its estuary.
Roger realized that it sat right over where the Forest of Lundun should be. “That ugly smudge can’t be our forest, can it?” he wondered.
But it was – and it wasn’t a forest.
The viewpoint they were looking from had now slowed and they had stopped falling. They were now high above where the Forest of Lundun should be. He could see across the whole landscape, one that should have shown miles and miles of wild, green trees. But now there were no trees to be seen at all. The landscape had become a dark, smoky panorama of tarmac, brick and concrete.
“This is what the Humdrums c
all a ‘City’,” the Green Witch told them. “This particular City is the City of London, as it is called in this reality. As you can see it is full of buildings and smoke and traffic. This is where most of the Humdrums live. In this and in other Cities and some large towns too. In this reality there are no Great Forests!”
“But that’s just mad, no forests! You mean, none at all, Flora?” Mary cried out, aghast.
“None at all,” Flora answered gently.
Roger stared disbelievingly down on the scene unfolding below. He could see more detail now. A winding, grey river wound its turgid way through the cityscape. Wherever he looked he saw row upon row of grim houses, all with smoking chimneys. And there were also wide areas full of industrial buildings, factories, warehouses and such. There were also tracts of wild wasteland and derelict buildings. And weaving in between all these buildings was a complex network of roads.
Many of these, especially in the central area of the city, were full of cars and lorries and buses, all pouring out more pollution and joining that of all the factories and chimneys.
“This is just like that Hell they taught us about in State Sunday School!” Mary whispered.
“No dear, this is Lundun ‒ without the Forest. This is a reality where Humdrums have followed a course heading for self-destruction; and not just that of Nature,” Flora replied. “In this reality, Humdrums have followed a purely material path; one bound only by the acquisition of wealth, authoritarian law and a blinkered worship of science as their only Gods. This is what awaits our own reality, if we fail in our duty to stop the Humdrums and Morgrim destroying our own Forests.”
“I think we’ve seen enough!” Roger said, feeling sick at the sight spread below him.
“Yes, agreed. Now, go and rest as needed and do get yourselves prepared. I will take you to the border of my realm myself and from there it is but an hour’s walk to the Deep Ford Creek. We will leave at dawn in two days’ time. Be ready!”
The two days went by quickly. During which period, they found time to talk and rest and explore, as well as readying themselves with clean clothes and new kit for the perilous journey ahead. The Green Witch even allowed them to have free range throughout her woodland realm and even to climb and explore the Observer Tree as well if they wanted. Mary wanted, but Roger didn’t, not that much. Roger only went into the Observer Tree, accompanying Mary, a couple of times.
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