Macy wasn’t so sure about leaving the Zynador behind and thought it would be useful in scaring away any Goblin Soldiers, should they get too close.
But Romulus was having none of it. “It’s too big to bring along. It’ll be spotted a mile away when we break cover. Anyway, if things don’t go as we hope, we’ll need plan to fall back on and the Zynador is going to be our emergency exit out of here.”
“Glad to see you’re brimming with confidence,” replied Macy. “You’re already thinking of an exit plan, even before we’ve started.”
Romulus shrugged. “It pays to be prepared for anything and everything.”
He was right too, and the Spell Keeper came to his defence.
“I know it’s not nice, but you’ve got to think about the unthinkable.” The Spell Keeper thumped himself in the chest and coughed up the chewed remains of a grasshopper, which had inadvertently flown into his mouth.
“Think the unthinkable?” Macy struggled to keep control of a bout of laughter brimming to the surface. “It doesn’t make sense.”
The Spell Keeper flicked the mashed up remains of the grasshopper’s legs, which had become entwined within his tangled beard, onto the ground. Much to the amusement of Macy and Romulus. “That’s not entirely true. It’s not impossible to think about something you don’t want to think about.” His speech was impaired as he spat the final bits of the grasshopper out.
Romulus broke away from the conversation and had spotted something going on at Tormencer Castle. “I don’t know what you’re both talking about, and quite frankly I don’t care. But if you’d like to look at the drawbridge, you’ll see it’s starting to retract.”
“Good Lord! He’s right you know,” the Spell Keeper had been caught unaware. “Come on, get a move on.” He lurched forward and set-off in the direction of the castle, blowing caution to the wind about the fact he might be seen. “Hurry up, you two … we need to move quickly if we’re going to make it inside the castle walls. Just keep low down, if you can. I can’t see any Goblin Soldiers, so hopefully they can’t see us.”
Hunched over, like a trio of old men, they made their way hesitantly toward the outer walls of Tormencer Castle.
“Shh, be quiet. I can hear voices,” whispered Romulus as he came level with the front of the drawbridge.
What he had heard were the voices of several Goblin Soldiers on the other side, trying to free the drawbridge chain, which had jammed.
“Do you have to do that?” asked Macy as she poked the outside of her ear with the tip of her little finger.
“Do what?” enquired Romulus.
“Spit, when you talk,” replied Macy sternly. “There are ways of telling people to be quiet without drenching them in saliva you know.” She removed her finger and rubbed her ear with the back of her hand.
“Sorry, I didn’t realise.”
“You’re doing it again!” she turned to the Spell Keeper and shook her head woefully. “He’s doing it again.”
The Spell Keeper was not interested in Macy’s minuscule gripe. A much bigger problem lay heavy on his mind — the drawbridge was on the move again. “You two had better stop arguing and engage your brains to something more useful. How about getting across the drawbridge before it closes, for instance?”
Luckily, in trying to free the chain mechanism the Goblin Soldiers, on patrol, had been facing in the opposite direction to that of the Spell Keeper and the others and had inadvertently lowered the drawbridge.
“This is our chance, come on.” Romulus signalled with a pointed finger and a handful of whispered words. “If we head over the drawbridge and to doorway over there, it will lead us to the castle kitchens and from there onto a way down to the dungeon.”
The doorway Romulus had alluded to was just past the drawbridge. And he knew it was going to take a great deal of luck for them to make it there undetected.
“But the door might be locked?” said Macy.
“No, don’t worry. All the doors leading to the kitchen need to be kept unlocked, so servants and food deliveries can move freely and without delay.”
Silence ensued as they continued to close in on the drawbridge. Though, something none of them had expected was the unwelcome presence of several giant crocodile like creatures snapping at their heels at the edge of the moat as they ran for their lives. Two enormous, evil looking fish, the like of which Macy had never seen before, jumped out from the moat and gnashed wildly at her with sharp pointed teeth. And razor shape fins cut through the air, and rock-hard scales pounded down all around them as they tried to avoid being hit. All the while the Goblin Soldiers had got the drawbridge working again and it began to close at an alarming rate.
With just enough room for them to fit through, Macy, Romulus and the Spell Keeper managed to clamber onto the very end of the drawbridge, and hauled themselves up and over it, leaving the ferocious beasts behind to sink back down into the dark depths of the moat. Though it had been a frightening few minutes for all concerned.
Their arrival within the grounds of the castle had been more of a challenge than any of them could ever have expected. But at least they had made it, and the rescue mission was well underway.
“That was exciting,” said Romulus nervously. He wiped his brow and led Macy and the Spell Keeper to the all-important door that would gain them enter into the inner sanctuary of Tormencer Castle. He knew it was essential they remained unseen for as long as possible.
“Exciting?” said Macy. No, it wasn’t.” She tugged on the Spell Keepers robes. “What were those things in the moat? They were hideous. I know we spotted some of them earlier on when we flew in on the Zynador, but I didn’t realise they were so disgusting.”
The Spell Keeper shrugged. “As Romulus mentioned earlier, my dear … they were probably conjured up by Kraken to help protect the castle from attack. But as for what they are, well, only Kraken will know the answer to that question, probably.”
Romulus changed the subject to a more concerning undertaking. “Once I open this door, there is no turning back — I hope you both understand!”
“Well, we’ve come this far, so we might as well go all the way.” Macy’s words were spoken as though she was trying to convince herself more than anything.
The Spell Keeper was getting restless. “Of course we’ve got to carry on. Let’s do it. Open the door before the Goblin Soldiers get wind of our presence. Standing out in the courtyard isn’t the best place to be.”
Romulus gingerly opened the door and they moved hesitantly over the threshold. The kitchen was a substantial size and catered for all those who lived and worked in Tormencer Castle. It was filled with all manner of cooking and baking equipment, and food in abundance. It was also very much a hive of activity, and brimming with dozens of Goblin Soldiers, guards, cooks and servants.
The kitchen was one of the hottest parts of Tormencer Castle, as it housed four huge cookers, which not only generated heat for cooking, but also supplied heating for all the rooms in the castle using an ingenious maze of pipes that ran throughout all the internal walls and floors.
As luck would have it three storage units used to hold hundreds of pots, pans, plates and cutlery, shielded Romulus, Macy and the Spell Keeper from all those working in the kitchen. Romulus crouched down and scurried towards a door near the end of the furthest storage unit and waved a hand at Macy and the Spell Keeper for them to follow him. In a whispered voice he also gave out some instructions.
“We have to get out of here fast … before we get spotted. I’ve found the entrance that leads down to the dungeon. But you must keep low down.”
Macy and the Spell Keeper did as Romulus asked, squatted down, and tiptoed over to him. All the while Romulus kept a lookout for any sign that they had been rumbled. But he needn’t have worried as Macy and the Spell Keeper made it safely across the kitchen, and all three crept through an arched doorway Romulus had located.
The room they entered was a tight squeeze and resembled a long passage
way. Fire torches lit-up a mass of huge black marble slabs used to construct the walls and ceiling … and dotted around as far as the eye could see were a dozen or so doorways leading to all parts of Tormencer Castle.
As they walked stealthily down the passageway, Romulus stopped outside a grubby looking faded green door.
Macy was getting impatient and made a tentative move to open the door. “This place stinks and gives me the creeps.”
“No!” cried Romulus. “It isn’t the door we’re looking for.”
Macy pulled her hand away. “Why stop outside it then?”
Romulus scratched his chin. “I’m trying to get my bearings and wanted to show you it as it’s one door that no one should ever open — unless they have a death wish, that is.”
“What are you on about?” asked Macy pointedly.
Romulus took a step back from the faded green door. “The only thing behind it is a long drop down a rusty garbage chute, leading to the moat and into the gaping mouths of the hungry beasts patrolling the waters below.”
Macy followed Romulus’s lead and stepped away from the door. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll make sure to remember it should we come this way again.”
— CHAPTER TWENTY —
The Flying Carpet
They continued to walk down the passageway in search of the entrance they would need to use if they were going to travel undetected into the bowls of the castle, where Hangaku, Olivia and Jack were being held against their will.
Macy wrapped her knuckles against the walls of the passageway. “How do you know they’ll still be there?”
“I don’t,” replied Romulus. “But I can’t see a reason why Kraken would want to move them to another part of the castle. I mean, why take the risk of them escaping? No, they will still be in the dungeon.” A broad smile drifted across his face as he took six paces forward and placed a hand against the wall in front. “Prepare to be amazed,” he scoffed, right before a section of the marble wall sank in.
The sound of marble grinding against marble caused Macy to place her hands over her ears. “It’s like dragging a fork between your teeth — it goes right through you.”
Romulus was wary of any Goblin Soldiers nearby hearing it. And with that thought weighing heavily on his mind he hurriedly stepped through the marble entrance and beckoned for the others to follow.
“Get a move on. You never know who could be around.” He walked into semi darkness, and the only light forthcoming was that of the passageway fire torches behind. But it didn’t last long as the entrance slammed shut and the room was plunged into complete darkness.
“I don’t like it,” Macy cringed, and was barely able to get her words out. “I don’t like it one bit. I’m touching the end of my nose with my hand, but I can’t even see it. How are we going to find our way around if we can’t see?”
“Ah, yes, sorry. I completely forgot. Once the entrance seals itself, there is no light at all.” Breathing heavily through his nose Romulus could be heard, but not seen, as he shuffled his feet across the gravel carpet floor.
“There’s no need to be scared, my dear,” said the Spell Keeper calmly. “I am a Sorcerer, after all. So, shedding a little light on the subject isn’t exactly going to tax my powers very much.” His confident words gave a reassuring hug of comfort to Macy. She had seen his magic potions in action and knew he had it in him to help them see where they were going. Suddenly, a blinding flash of white and gold signalled that the Spell Keeper was working on the light deprivation problem. And within a slow count of ten, the room blasted into life with the welcome intervention of a bright, surreal glow of green light, emanating from a test tube held in the Spell Keeper’s hand. “There we are, no problem.”
“Nice one,” said Romulus.
The Spell Keeper was well pleased with himself. “I always knew this little beauty would come in handy one day. It’s amazing what you can do with a few drops of phosphorus and a couple of other secret ingredients.”
Macy looked distinctly calmer. “Nice one … a glow stick. For a moment I thought we were in real trouble.”
“Oh, nonsense!” cried Romulus. “I knew the Spell Keeper wouldn’t let us down.”
Macy turned to look at the Spell Keeper. “I remember my mum and dad getting me one of them once, at the fun fair. But it wasn’t as bright as the one you’re holding. What do you call it?”
As with most things within the Land of Tormencer, Macy was expecting a different name to the one she used to describe the Spell Keepers light, but she was in for a shock.
“It’s a glow stick, as you’ve already mentioned.”
“Ah, I was expecting something rather move adventurous then that. Why not call it … I don’t know — a fire light, or something fancier?”
“Because it’s a glow stick, not a fire light, that’s why,” said the Spell Keeper somewhat confused by Macy’s question.
“Fair enough,” said Macy as she turned toward a passageway on her left. “Is that the way to the dungeon?”
Romulus nodded. “It’s a long way down, but it’s one of the quickest and safest routes.” He informed Macy of a huge subterranean labyrinth of passageways, tunnels, rooms and of course a dungeon, directly underneath Tormencer Castle, and she was overwhelmed by his revelation.
“Are you telling me there is another castle under the ground?”
Romulus looked at the Spell Keeper. He already knew of the scene under Tormencer Castle that Romulus had described. “Not exactly another castle … more like a large underground extension...” Romulus splayed his arms wide, like a fisherman exaggerating the size of his catch… “A very large extension.”
The entrance to the passageway was narrow and not very high. In fact, as Macy moved nervously along it, her head almost touched the ceiling. The green light from the Spell Keeper’s glow stick gave the passageway a shadowy and claustrophobic feel to it as Macy and the others travelled further inside.
After little more than a dozen steps Macy decided to leave the front and let Romulus take-up a position at the helm.
“I don’t fancy this myself,” remarked Romulus as Macy drifted in-between him and the Spell Keeper. “It must be at least six months since I last came down here. I mean, look at the state it’s in.” The walls looked as though they had seen better days with cobwebs in abundance knitted in every conceivable nook and cranny. And an unhealthy coating of thick, smelly, yellow grease and slime, stretched from the ceiling to the slippery floor, and gave an uncomfortable feel to the whole place. “I tell you something … once Kraken has been dealt with, I’m going to make sure the cleaners pay this part of the castle some special attention... Mark my words.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” said Macy, pinching the end of her nose. “What’s that smell? I hope it doesn’t get on my clothes, or there’ll be hell to pay.” She checked her sleeves to make sure nothing had contaminated them, though keeping the grease and slime off them was going to be almost impossible. “It really does stink around here — it’s worse than the crypt and must be unhealthy.”
“It depends on what the Goblin Soldiers have been eating,” said Romulus coldly.
“What do you mean?” asked Macy.
“It’s probably the sewers. They run through the walls.”
Macy placed a hand over her mouth and nose. “Oh … very nice, I don’t think!”
They began to descend a solid stone spiral staircase and the smell increased as they ventured further into the depths of the castle.
“Don’t worry, the sewers are well buried. Unless there is a leak, the only problem should be putting up with the smell. It’s the state of the floors and walls that are more of a concern to me.” Romulus was about to continue his damning condemnation of the condition of the passageway and spiral staircase when his attention was suddenly grabbed by a more discerning cause. “I don’t believe it! Why didn’t I think of it before? Why walk when we can fly?”
“Excuse me!” Macy’s voice sounded strained.
“I’m not sure I heard you correctly? Did you just say, fly?” She stopped in her tracks, which in turn caused the Spell Keeper to nudge into the back of her.
“Yes, you’re hearing is fine. We’re going to fly the rest of the way.” Romulus, who’d continued to walk on, even though Macy and the Spell Keeper had come to a halt, finally stopped. “Or maybe you’d prefer to keep walking instead?”
“No, no, I’d rather fly. As long as it’s not as wild as our last flight.” Macy looked all around and stretched her arms out. “How is a Zynador going to fit down here? Surely it’s too tight for it to stretch its wings?”
Romulus stood amazed at what Macy had said, and for a moment he seemed dumbfounded. “I’m not talking about bringing a Zynador down here! What do you take me for? I’m thinking about a favourite birthday present I received three years ago. The Spell Keeper will know what I’m talking about. Or at least he should do … he did make it for my birthday after all.”
Macy and Romulus looked to the back of the queue, towards the Spell Keeper. He in turn, unaware he was the centre of attention, craned his neck to look behind, and turned back as he realised they were both looking at him. “Who, me?” He pointed at his chest with the glow stick. “What was it you said, again, Romulus? I didn’t quite catch what you were talking about.”
“The birthday present you made for me?” said Romulus. “Come on. It was only three years ago,” he joked. “You must remember … the Flying Carpet?”
Macy’s ears pricked up. “Flying Carpet? Are you kidding me?”
“Oh yes, I remember.” The cogs inside the Spell Keeper’s head began to turn. “What about it? Don’t tell me it’s down here?” He removed a foot from its shoe. “On second thoughts, tell me it is, my feet are killing me.”
Macy went all spangly eyed. “Seriously? a Flying Carpet? Where is it?”
Macy Vickers and the Book of Spells Page 17