exuded a sweet and pleasant smell. The witch brought the sweet smelling fog up to Christy’s face as Christy tried to resist breathing it in. Not being able to move, the only thing Ice-Ghost could do was yell out, “Christy, try not to breathe in the fog.” Although she tried, eventually, she had no choice, but to inhale. When she did, she instantly fell into a deep, frozen sleep. The witch then released Christy’s skates from the ice-weld.
“Put her in my chariot, Gloo, and hurry. Time is wasting.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“And be careful of those crystals”
“Yes, my lady.” Gloo then put Christy in the cauldron.
Gloo started to exit the witch’s cauldron when the witch asked him, “And where do you think you’re going?
“Well I thought…”
“Quiet, today you will fly with me. This is a special occasion, Gloo. For once, you shall have the honor of riding behind me to the castle. But, I warn you, never stand to my side, while we are in this chariot. You do not deserve such an honor.”
“Yes, my lady”
The ice-witch looked back at the Ice-Ghost and laughed. She leaned forward and pointed her long, thick finger at him. “Well, Ghost, I have triumphed as I had always expected, you wretched, soulless spook. For you to think that you could keep me away from my treasure forever was beyond even your pathetic foolishness.”
The Jubilant Queen
The witch stood upright and boasted, “I have triumphed. Now, I shall forcibly turn the hand of fate so that it offers to me, rather than takes. Parts of my world were beginning to thaw, but now it will stay frozen forever. With the help of Little Miss Know Nothing, the world will be mine forever.” The Ice-Witch cackled a wicked laugh as her cauldron began to rise. She stopped the cauldron for a moment. “Oh, by the way, Ghost, my rats haven’t eaten in a while, so do be kind and feed them.” The witch then let out a loud “Reeeeeeeeaaaaaccccht” and the ice-rats circled in on the Ice-Ghost. The witch laughed as she flew off toward her castle.
The Castle
Gloo stood behind the witch and kept silent. As they flew toward her castle, the witch began to think of cruel things to do to the girl if she did not cooperate. As they flew, the natural curiosity of the dwarf awoke and he decided to turn and have a look down at the ground. As he dared to turn around, the witch warned him, “Unless you have wings, dwarf, you had better keep your eyes to my back.”
The dwarf shakily responded, “Yes, my lady.” So, all that Gloo ever saw on his way to the witch’s castle was her backside.
When they arrived at the castle, Christy was brought to the Room of Enchantments. The witch had a small bed of ice brought into the room for Christy. There she lay in a deep frozen sleep, oblivious to her surroundings. While Christy slept, the witch walked over to a pedestal that held a large, faded brown leather book on it. It was the witch’s book of Magic, History and Lore. What she sought was information on the renowned ice-crystals and the skates. Long she read into her book until, finally, feeling fatigued, she stopped. Tired, frustrated and angry, she called out to her servant.
“Gloo, come here.” She waited only for a moment before hollering out again, “Gloo, come here at once before I curse your whole ancestry!”
Running into the room and panting heavily, Gloo said, “Yes, my lady.”
“Gloo,” the witch said. “I want you to take the skates off of the little warm-blood’s feet.”
Gloo, looking puzzled and frightened, said, “My lady, I am wondering if those skates and the crystals shouldn’t be touched by the hands of lesser folk?”
With nostrils flared and teeth showing, she replied, “I didn’t say that you should touch the crystals, which you should never dare, slug, but only the skates on which the crystals are imbedded!” she screamed. “You need not worry as the skates were made by the hands of a filthy mortal.”
Gloo, too frightened to look at the witch’s eyes, looked down and replied, “But, my lady, the skates were made by the hands of the mighty mortal, Dernier. The legend speaks:
True to his craft
Patterns unknown
To corrupt his thought
Is to be cursed unborn.”
For a moment, the witch gave the poem some serious thought. Then, she quickly said, “Fool, don’t bother me with silly folklore and rhyme. Do as I bid.”
Nervously, Gloo walked over to where Christy lay and looked down upon her quiet, peaceful face. As he looked at her, he thought to himself, Another fine mess you’re in, Gloo. He muttered to himself, “I am truly sorry.” Knowing that he should not defy the witch’s command, he began to remove Christie’s skates. As he attempted to untie her laces, a strange thing happened. Gloo’s fingers and hands began to disappear, making it impossible for him to perform this task.
Gloo reeled back and said, “My lady, I cannot do this. If I keep trying, I fear I may completely disappear.”
The witch, looking mystified, turned to Gloo, “Well, try again. It’s not like you just completely disappeared. There are far worse things than just disappearing, fool. Now, try again!”
Every time Gloo tried, his fingers and hands disappeared, making the witch’s request impossible for him to do. The witch, becoming frustrated by this turn of unfortunate events, clutched her chin within her hand. With her index finger bouncing upon her lips, she once again pondered this outcome. The skates’ magic is great. I have always known this, but this is an interesting development. Perhaps I should just awaken the little tart and take her soul. Maybe then the skates will just fall off of her feet. Quickly, the witch responded to her own thoughts, No, no, too risky. Very well, I’ll play it safe for now. The witch turned and looked high onto her shelves of potions, powders, smoke fumes and elixirs. On her shelves were hundreds of vials that contained all of her contrivances. She stared at a vial that appeared to have a star-like glow to it. That vial contained the soul of Ice-Ghost. Looking at the vial, she smiled and then chimed out, “Fool, your time has come and gone. I need you no longer.” Her eyes continued searching.
The Battle of the Ghost
But now the fate of Ice-Ghost must be told. After the ice-witch left, the battle between Ice-Ghost and the ice-rats began. This battle was between the evil emissaries of the ice-witch, and Ice-Ghost, the son of Equaria and Luthia the beautiful whose stories are only told in the Klamazth. His father, Equaria, was a Gerent of the world Hene. His mother, Luthia, was from the world Aris. Since Ice-Ghost was half mortal, he was susceptible to a mortal’s death. However, from the lineage of his father, he was given some dexterity beyond the ordinary man. As Ice-Ghost stood with his feet frozen to the ground, the ice-rats began their assault.
The first to attack was Moldoff, the leader. Moldoff, with his keen sense of smell, could sense that the Ice-Ghost had greatness running through his blood. This knowledge triggered Moldoff’s insatiable appetite for the taste of fresh flesh and the blood of man. Saliva began to drip down the two large canine-like teeth that protruded from his muzzle. When Moldoff began his attack, the other rats knew to stand aside. Moldoff’s plan was straightforward and had always been effective. He would stealthily jump high onto his victim’s throat and slash it. The battle began.
High and mightily, Moldoff leaped into the air, but Ice-Ghost was quick and leaned his body aside. Moldoff only grazed his arm. Yet, because Moldoff’s canines were long and needle sharp, the point of his tooth ripped into Ice-Ghost’s clothing, tearing the surface of his skin. He quickly began to bleed tiny droplets of blood. Moldoff was, at first, disappointed to see that he had missed his target. Moldoff got satisfaction only when he saw tiny droplets of Ice-Ghost’s delicious bright red blood dripping down onto the ice. The blood gave Moldoff an even more insatiable hunger for the flesh and blood of Ice-Ghost.
Moldoff decided that he would move to the left of his prey and try
an attack from the side. Moving to Ice-Ghost’s side, he ran and leaped into the air, hoping to make this his final, lethal assault. Once again, Moldoff only succeeded in ripping some of Ice-Ghost’s clothing. Moldoff circled around Ice-Ghost again, but, this time, he had some doubts. Never before had he been unable to take down his prey with a single move. Ice-Ghost looked intently at Moldoff and they both stood silent. The other rats looked on in silent dismay until the second-in-command squealed out, “Kill him! Kill him!” The other rats squealed out in agreement, “Reeeeeeaaatcchhh.” Moldoff, looking back at his pack, began to quake from deep within.
Moldoff’s Pithy Requiem
Looking into the eyes of his prey, Moldoff decided to change his plan of attack. This time, he leapt at him from behind. Once again, Ice Ghost quickly leaned to one side to avoid the onslaught of Moldoff. However, this time, he was better prepared. When Moldoff leapt through the air, Ice-Ghost grabbed and held tight onto one of Moldoff’s large canine teeth. As Moldoff’s body flew past him, he jerked the large tooth with all of his might, causing it to snap in his hands. Moldoff, realizing what had just happened, squealed a deafening groan. With his remaining canine tooth, Moldoff, in a fury, spun around and tried to attack Ice Ghost again. However, Ice Ghost was quick to maneuver and, when
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