The Andy Smithson Series: Books 1, 2, and 3 (Young Adult Epic Fantasy Bundle) (Andy Smithson Series Boxset): Dragons, Serpents, Unicorns, Pegasus, Pixies, Trolls, Dwarfs, Knights and More!

by L. EE

  Andy wandered over to Alden.

  “I’ve got all those potatoes left to peel—” he pointed to a stack of spuds about a foot tall in the neighboring sink “—but as soon as I’m done, I think my mom will let me play.”

  “I can help! You’ll get done faster.”

  “Are you sure? This is servant’s work, and you’re a guest.”

  “My mom always makes me peel potatoes for Thanksgiving.” Andy didn’t add that he hated the chore more than just about anything. This was different.

  Andy and Alden attacked the pile of spuds. They raced to see who could peel fastest. Peels flew into the sink, around the sink, on the floor, and in their hair and clothes.

  “Woohoo!” Andy yelped.

  The rest of the servants in the kitchen watched the spectacle unfold. One portly man kept raising his eyebrows and shaking his head. The short, bald man with curiously long arms, whom Andy had seen earlier testing the King’s breakfast, scowled. Alden’s mom kept looking up and smiling.

  When the pile had been decimated, they counted their spoils: 97 potatoes for Alden and 91 for Andy.

  “Oh, so close!” shouted Andy.

  “Not bad for a new recruit,” Marta laughed. “Clean up your mess and then Alden can go.”

  A few minutes later the boys headed out of the kitchen, their mouths full of cookies.

  “The festival starts in a few days. Do you want to come with me to the stables and watch me practice? I’m in the Tower Chase event with my pegasus, Optimistic.”

  I have no idea what he just said. “A pegasus? Really? That sounds like fun!” Andy covered.

  “Let me change into my riding clothes first.”

  They headed downstairs to the servants’ quarters. The floor around the stairs now had standing water, but in their shared excitement they paid no attention as their feet splashed.

  Alden led Andy down a lengthy corridor with doors jutting off either side. They stopped at a room at the end and entered. The space was smaller than any Andy had seen thus far. Two beds lined the stone walls on either side of a narrow window—one was neatly made, the other not so much. A small desk rammed against the near wall held a short stack of papers to one side and a candleholder in the middle. A fireplace with a roughly hewn wood mantel squatted opposite. To say the space was cozy would have been an understatement. Cramped was a better description.

  Alden headed for the wardrobe and pulled out what he called his equestrian uniform: a royal-blue jacket with tails and green riding breeches that were baggy at the top and tapered to the knee, making it look as if a hamster had burrowed in the top of each leg. Andy suppressed a snicker. He looks funny. Alden pulled on his tall black riding boots with a grunt.

  “They’re a little small. Mom says I need to stop growing; it’s costing her too much. Okay, I’m ready.”

  They headed back upstairs, past the kitchens, and out into dense, sunlit fog. Andy could not see five feet in front of him.

  “The fog’s really thick!”

  “This is normal.”

  “Normal? How can you see anything?”

  “Mermin told me it’s been this way ever since the curse.”

  Andy and Alden felt their way across a cobblestone terrace. Andy could barely make out a stone building they approached. It had two huge wooden doors, the kind you’d see on a barn. Carved in the middle of the right door was a round circle with the head and wings of a pegasus. The left door had fancy letters inscribed into it: “His Majesty’s Stables, Center for Advanced Preparation.”

  “Advanced preparation? Preparation for what?” Andy asked.

  “The Cavalry of Oomaldee is stationed here. They keep all of their pegasi in these stables and also use this facility to train.”

  They train pegasi?

  A statue of a knight in full armor greeted them in the immense foyer. The warrior held a lance level, charging into battle on his steed.

  “I think that’s Sir Lancelot. The King likes that guy a lot,” narrated Alden.

  They turned left and passed stall after stall filled with amazing creatures. Some stuck curious heads over the half doors as the pair passed. The animals’ fur came in a multitude of colors—orange, red, gray, green, purple, and more. Their heads looked just like horses, and they peered at the boys through large brown eyes with long lashes.

  “Do you want to pet one?”

  “Yeah!” gawked Andy, his eyes growing wide. He reached out his hand to touch one.

  “Don’t pet these pegasi. They’re trained for combat and they’ll bite.”

  Andy quickly withdrew his hand, checking it even though he knew it remained unharmed.

  After walking past at least a hundred stalls, Alden finally stopped, opened a door, and stepped in.

  “Hey girl.” Alden spoke softly and held his hand out, inviting the creature to sniff it.

  A second later she gave a low whinnying sound.

  “You have to let them accept you before you try to touch them. Here, put your hand in front of her nose.”

  Andy moved slowly to her head and stuck out a trembling hand. Two blasts of warm air hit his arm seconds later. “She’s got whiskers! They tickle.”

  The pegasus hesitated briefly and finally whinnied.

  “She likes you. Now you can pet her.”

  Andy stepped around and ran his hand down the animal’s neck. Her purple fur sparkled as he stroked it. “It’s so soft!”

  “They say it’s the softest fur of any animal. It keeps them light so they can fly.”

  Andy had not noticed the creature’s wings until now, but when Alden mentioned flying, the pegasus ruffled them to say she was ready to exercise. Her wings attached at the top of her back, just behind the withers. Andy’s eyes followed the lines of the feathers and saw they extended down even with her belly, ending just before her tail.

  Alden grabbed a halter hanging next to the door and, with the help of a step ladder, put it over her head, sticking the bit in her mouth as he did. She started to prance in the confined space, and Andy leapt up the stall wall to avoid being stepped on.

  “Sorry, she’s excited.”

  Alden tossed the saddle over her and adjusted it so the pommel was positioned just in front of where her wings started. He fed the strap under her belly and cinched it tight.

  “Come on, Optimistic. Let’s go for a ride.”

  Alden led her by the reins and Andy followed. Optimistic dwarfed Alden. Her shoulders towered at least three feet above him.

  “I got her from the King’s stock when she was first born two years ago. They didn’t want her. They were going to kill her because she was a runt.”

  “She’s not a runt anymore!”

  “I’ve been taking care of her, and now we have our first chance to show everyone she’s just as good as the other pegasi, maybe better!” Alden’s voice rang with determination, as if he had something to prove. Optimistic gave a whinny and tossed her head, echoing the sentiment. Andy chose not to pursue questioning.

  The three walked silently out into a sawdust-covered oval ring where several other pegasi trained with their cavalry masters. The men were dressed in work coveralls of royal-blue. At seeing them, the leader nodded in recognition. “Good luck in the Tower Chase, Alden. The field this year is seasoned and will not be easy to beat.”

  “Thank you, Major. I’ll do my best for the King!”

  They reached the other side of the arena and headed out of the building, back into the sunlit fog.

  “We need to train out here so we don’t get in the way of cavalry exercises.”

  “But how will you see?”

  Alden whistled and immediately several servants appeared, each leading a cow. “I need to train for the Tower Chase. Can you clear the fog, please?”

  At this, the servants walked their cows to positions designated by the King’s blue coat of arms. Andy lost sight of the ones who headed toward the opposite side of the ring.

  Alden handed Andy what looked like nose plu
gs and showed him how to put them on. “Breathe through your mouth,” he instructed. He led Optimistic several steps forward to a mounting platform and hopped on. “Ready!” Alden announced, sounding nasally.

  Andy heard mooing just like last night, followed by farting sounds, and then the fog started to thin and lift. This is too wild!

  After a few minutes, Andy could clearly see a dozen or more poles, ovals, and arrows floating in the sky above. I wonder how they stay aloft?

  Alden and Optimistic took off, the mare nickering with delight. Alden directed her around floating poles and through ovals—he had to time this perfectly with her rhythmic flapping or they would not fit, at least not together. He raced her vertically up and up and upside down, finally completing a loop only a few feet above the ground. Two obstacles later, Alden landed, beaming.

  “Our best run yet! We’ve got a good chance, I know we do.”

  Andy watched the pair train for the next two hours, awed by the beauty and grace of the pegasus coupled with Alden’s command of the animal. They were one, inseparable, seemingly reading each other’s thoughts, dancing together.

  When Alden finally finished, boy and beast both dripped with sweat. He hopped off Optimistic and announced to the servants, “I’m done!” He pulled off his nose plugs, and Andy followed his lead.

  Whew! That stench is so bad!

  “I need to cool her down and brush her. You don’t need to stay.”

  Vigorously waving a hand in front of his face, Andy sputtered, “Hey, thanks for letting me watch you practice. You’re really good!”

  “Thanks.” Alden couldn’t suppress a laugh at Andy’s hysterics.

  “See you later,” Andy waved as he headed for clean air.

  I’m definitely going to need to ask Alden about that stench, but not right now. Why do they do that?

  He walked back across the sawdust-covered arena, past the men training. The Major waved and Andy reciprocated. He had just entered the stable area when he saw a servant who looked similar to the man he’d seen in the kitchen earlier. He was short but with more hair, and just like the other guy his arms extended nearly down to his ankles. His nose was beak-like and bumpy. He watched the cavalry train, but when his bulging, frog-like eyes caught sight of Andy, he frowned and darted into the nearest aisle between the stalls.

  That guy’s not very friendly.

  Andy navigated the cobblestone terrace and reached the back door of the castle. He didn’t think anything of the fact that it stood ajar, and shoved it open. Seconds later, a heavy wooden bucket that had been teetering on the top retched its skuzzy contents, drenching Andy as it plummeted.

  “Ow! Gross!”

  Boisterous laughter ricocheted through the corridor as Andy sputtered and crouched, pulling hands over his head.

  The brown furry menace that had assaulted him twice yesterday jumped on his head then bounced to the floor. Andy grabbed after it but narrowly missed. “Argh! Yeah, you better run!” He rubbed the growing bump on his head as he dashed after the villain, which continued its ear-piercing shrieks.

  Heads popped out of rooms as he rushed by, cheering him on.

  Around a sharp corner, up the grand staircase, and through the double doors of the dining hall he raced. The boggart nearly escaped when it plunged under the long communal dining table, but Andy hurdled the obstacle and continued pursuit up the circular stone stairs, taking them two at a time.

  The pest glanced over its shoulder and raised an eyebrow as Andy narrowed the gap, but a stitch in his side aided and abetted the nuisance as he neared the fifth floor. Andy held his side, forcing himself up two more flights. Cresting the landing, a furry behind and two short, scrawny legs struggled to propel the balance of the creature under a hulking metal door.

  “Hah! Gotcha!” Andy fell panting before the door and swiped at the palm-size appendages…just as they disappeared under the door. He yanked on the handle but found it locked. “Crap!” His fists pummeled the metal as victory shrieks started on the other side.

  Andy collapsed like a lawn chair to the floor and waited for his breathing to slow. Shrieks soon ended, but tinkling metallic sounds flowing under the door quickly replaced them. Andy turned furrowed brows to the carob-colored surface, then stood and examined a sign affixed to it: Admittance Only by Order of His Majesty. A gold plaque above the door declared this to be the royal treasury.

  Is this where I woke up yesterday? Andy rubbed the bump on his head. That thing’s making a mess of the place again. I better tell the goldweavers.

  Shouting from downstairs interrupted Andy’s musings. “The servants’ quarters are flooded! Three feet of water! Come quick! Everyone needs to bail!”

  Chapter Four

  The Flood

  A line of servants stretched out the front door from the entry hall down the stairs to the servants’ quarters on the floor below. Buckets floated up and down the stairs in the hands of anxious servants as they attempted to bail water back into a moat surrounding the castle. The King led the charge, barking orders.

  Andy spotted a gap between two servants on the steps and hastily joined, grabbing the overflowing bucket thrust at him.

  “Uhh,” Andy grunted as the sloshing water made him lose his balance. He lurched down a step, nearly trampling the stout servant below.

  “Easy laddie,” the lady cautioned.

  “Sorry.”

  Andy’s hand found purchase on the rough wall and he steadied himself then stepped up.

  “You gotta keep up,” the man on the step above admonished, empty handed. He waved his fingers, motioning for Andy to pass him the offending bucket posthaste.

  Andy groaned, muscling the now half-full bucket up to the man, then ducked as an empty pot passed overhead. He spotted Alden laboring at the bottom of the steps far below, thigh-deep in muddy water.

  Not used to physical labor, Andy’s arms and back soon ached. I may be a guest, but I’ll show them I can be tough. I’m not stopping until they do. The regime went on for what seemed like hours. With each bucket he passed, blisters formed then burst, leaving his hands raw and bloodied.

  When will this end?

  Some while later, Andy moved aside as the King and Mermin made their way down the steps. The sovereign gave Andy a smile as their eyes met.

  A few minutes later, the sound of something rough sliding across the stone floor could be heard below, followed by the echo of a heavy door closing.

  Uh oh, that sounds familiar, Andy fretted.

  Still the bailing continued. Andy’s back ached and he thought his arms might fall off. Soaked to the bone, he shivered in his wet clothes.

  The King made his way back up the stairs with Mermin in tow. He raised his hands and everyone halted.

  Phew! A break.

  “This was very serious,” began the sovereign. “One of the sections of seals had been slid out of place, allowing water to gush in. If Alden hadn’t reported it when he did, the breach could have washed out the bottom floors of the castle, making the entire structure unstable.”

  Excited murmurs erupted.

  “Have any of you seen someone tampering with the seal or know anything about this?” the King questioned.

  It was an accident! I didn’t know what I was doing. I was just exploring! The last thing I wanted was to hurt anyone. If I tell them I did it, they’ll probably all hate me and never want me around. Alden won’t be my friend anymore. What would they do to me? No, I’m not saying a word.

  The monarch’s inquiry met only a chorus of wagging heads and more murmurs. The King and Mermin exchanged glances.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” the sovereign asked his wizard.

  “Abaddon.”

  He nodded. “Let’s discuss this later.”

  The King started barking orders again, and the bucket brigade resumed. They bailed until the floor of the servants’ quarters, as well as the steps to the dungeon, had no standing water.

  “No telling how much water got in
the dungeon,” Andy overheard the King say to Mermin. “We’ll deal with it later. I don’t feel like battling those creatures right now.”

  “I quite agwee,” replied Mermin, wiping his brow.

  Creatures? In the dungeon? The image of the distended door flashed across Andy’s mind and he swallowed hard.

  A hush lingered over dinner. Only a handful of those present attempted conversation, and then only for necessities. Neither Marta nor Alden said a word as exhaustion, coupled with the reality of how close they had come to losing the castle, sunk in.

  I did this, Andy chided himself then sighed, drawing a look from his green-haired friend across the table.

  Alden turned back to Marta and patted her shoulder as she swiped a hand across her eyes.

  Andy wanted to go hide when dinner ended, but Marta halted his retreat. “I think Alden would appreciate a friend right now. Why don’t you come with us?”

  Andy opened his mouth, then closed it again.

  “What is it?” she queried.

  Andy hesitated but finally spit out, “I’m sorry for your loss.” I’m such a fraud! And a loser!

  She nodded. “Thank you.” Then pulling back her shoulders and taking a steadying breath, she put an arm around her son. “It won’t get any easier.”

  The trio descended the stairs to the servants’ quarters.

  Wailing and shrieking echoed down the corridor as they reached the moist landing. Mud coated three feet of the wall and revealed the crest of the travesty. Andy peeked in quarters as they passed: a burly man shook his head surveying one room. In another, a dark-haired maiden in a smudged dress quaked as she held her head in her hands. A small child with a dirt-striped face held her mother’s hand with wide eyes in a third. No matter how many rooms he surveyed, the result was the same.

  “Ha, ha, ha!” cackled a girl’s voice. Raucous clapping followed. “You burn inside…buurrn! Ha, ha, ha!”

  “Imogenia. Stop!” admonished a man’s voice.

  What? Who? Andy shook his head then chanced a glance around.

  “Something wrong, Andy?” Marta inquired.