by Kevin McLeod
Chapter 15
The children were led on to the Longship, helped every step of the way by Vikings, and greeted by Jake who still didn’t want to miss a chance to lick a face. Each child was cheered as their feet touched the Longship for the first time. Peter and George took their turn, and Jake bounded over to Peter who had no choice but to pick him up. Charlotte ran up to George giving him a huge hug and kiss on the cheek, causing him to blush so strongly that even the night could not hide it. Granddad and Arto were last to climb on board and just as they had joined Peter and George the gryphon returned shrieking and squawking at Granddad.
‘Look over there, the Portal to the witches’ world.’
Everyone on board turned and watched as the portal came into view. A large almost impossible circle appeared to be sitting on the sea. Inside there were glimpses of a strange red and green ocean and a purple sky. The huge witches' ship moved closer and closer before finally, in a flash of brilliant light, it disappeared through the portal. The portal closed and instantly the rain stopped, the wind died down, and sea became calm.
‘What happens now?’ Peter asked, looking at Granddad.
‘Now we go home and return all these children to their parents.’
‘How will you explain the witches and the Shadow Walkers and all the things that have happened?’ asked George.
‘The Elders can take care of that; their magic doesn't only kill evil creatures it can be used to make people forget.'
‘There are so many people, though, so much has happened, how can they do it?' James asked.
‘We can freeze time for those left behind in the cove, and we can erase the memory of their children being taken from them. The children themselves will have their memories changed; there is no need for them to remember this horrible ordeal,’ Elder Thomson said.
‘The spell does not last longer than a day. If we had not made it in time to stop the witches taking the children to their world there would have been chaos when we returned to the Cove,’ he continued.
‘What about the Master, where did she go and Tolldruck, was he killed?’ Peter asked.
‘I don't know the answer to either of those questions, but we must assume they are alive and for that reason, we must assume they will return,' Granddad said.
With this chilling thought in all their minds, the group fell silent and became lost in their thoughts as the Longship headed for home.
When they arrived in the underground harbour, the children were led away by the Elders to be taken home and to have their memories of this night removed.
‘I won’t remember any of this in the morning, will I?’ Charlotte asked Granddad.
‘No, you will have no memory of it and neither will your parents,’ he replied.
She turned to George and Peter and hugged them both.
‘Thank you for saving us, thank you for bringing us home.’ She held George’s hand for a minute then was led away with James.
As they walked through the mansion taking in all the damage that had been caused by the fights and by Tolldruck, the boys wondered how they could hide such a mess when daylight came.
‘Magical things can happen while we sleep,’ Granddad said with a wink.
Peter and George hugged Arto and shook hands with the three Vikings before going into the games room and collapsing on two large bean bags. Within seconds both exhausted boys were fast asleep.
‘They fought well Jacob, he will need more training and he will need to realise his full potential, but he will make an excellent warrior, a fine guardian.' Arto said as they watched the boys sleeping.
‘Come, it is time we all rested,’ Granddad replied.
The boys woke to daylight and the sounds of Granddad busy in the kitchen. Confused, they looked at each other before scrambling to their feet and running out into the hall. All the damage from the previous night was gone. The dragon was back on the rug in the hall. They ran into the study to find Arto was in his rug.
‘What’s going on?’ Peter said, looking at George.
‘I’m not sure, let’s find your Granddad.’
They found him in the kitchen preparing breakfast as if the previous night had not happened.
‘Granddad, what happened? Where’s all the mess, and the damage?’
‘I told you last night, magical things can happen while we sleep,’ Granddad said. ‘The guardians are no longer needed in this world, all who survived have returned to their places where they will wait until they are needed again.’
‘What do we do for the rest of the holiday, do we go home? I am so confused.’
‘You and I have much to discuss, and you have much to learn. Something tells me the Master will not wait one hundred years to return this time. Her sisters died, and she will be looking for revenge,’ Granddad said.
‘Oh no, mum is going to be calling me this morning, what do I tell her?’
‘You tell her it has been quite an adventure so far,’ Granddad said with a smile.
Epilogue
Deep below the mansion, in the darkest coldest cave, the injured beast crawled out of the water and rested. He was exhausted and in pain, but he would survive. Movement caught his eye, but he was too weary to move or defend himself. The Master appeared by his side placing her hand on Tolldruck's head.
‘Patience my friend, we will heal you and then we will have our revenge. I have summoned someone very special. We will not be so easily defeated next time.’
Tolldruck stretched his hideous mouth into a weary smile. He knew who the Master spoke of; the only living thing he feared.
The Shifter was coming, and with him would come victory.
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