“Follow me, the tree is nearby,” said Dongo.
Around them, the carefully maintained roads no longer resembled anything, grass grew in the cracks of the pavement, nature had resumed her rights over the constructions of men.
“What a waste,” said Golmuth.
They passed through several kilometres of forest where the trees were considerably older than the rest of the trees in Arboria.
“We are close,” said Dongo. “Look at the trees around you, they have been here for centuries. This part of the forest is extremely old, there are some legends about this place.”
“What legends?” asked Alexander, intrigued.
“Well, the legend of the trees that walk and talk, their battles with men, the birth of Arboria and so on.”
“Halt where you stand,” said the guards, drawing their swords.
In a swift movement, a giant branch came crashing down on the Sorceress’ guards and knocked them out.
“I have been waiting for you for a very long time,” said a voice that resonated like an echo.
“Ramenor,” said Dongo, ecstatic.
A gigantic tree with a radiant face etched onto the trunk greeted the companions. Enormous wrinkles ran down its face and it had large and very expressive eyes.
“You were waiting for us,” said Alexander.
“Yes, for a very long time, Alexander.”
“You know my name?”
“There are no secrets for me in Arboria. I know why you have come.”
“What can we do to defeat the Sorceress?”
“A long time ago, that Sorceress came to me to ask for help. In spite of my wisdom, I believed her words. She wanted to cleanse Arboria of the folly of man. At that time they started burning and cutting trees for their homes and killing animals for their food. I thought that this woman could help men to respect nature, to understand the nature around them. I wanted her to teach respect for animals and men to cherish every creature that nature permitted them to see. Unfortunately, I was wrong, and the time has come for me to fix that mistake.”
“What must we do?”
“You must burn me down. With the aid of Vulcaria, my death will destroy the Sorceress’ immortality. Only a brave and courageous man can make that sword flame, and you are that man, Alexander.”
“Me? Are you sure? I’m just a child.”
“As I said, I have been waiting for you for a long time, as has our common friend and ally.”
“Our common friend?”
A little squirrel appeared in the tree with a hazelnut in its hands.
“That’s the squirrel that stole Amy’s doll! That squirrel is the reason that we found ourselves here.”
“He is the true king of men. It was the Sorceress who transformed him into a squirrel many years ago. Allow me to present King Oden.”
The squirrel climbed onto Alexander’s shoulder and he stroked it gently.
“Alexander, I have chosen you. My roots are deep and connect to all the trees in Arboria, including the ones which make the portal and some of the trees in your world. One day, I saw you the among the trees surrounding the house at the edge of the woods, and I knew that you were the exact opposite of the Sorceress. That is why you are the one who will save Arboria. You have much love in you and you love nature as well. You are the chosen one.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
Ramenor lifted a little shoot from the ground.
“I am part of Arboria, just as you are. A part of me will live forever in this little plant. Now, it is time. You will still have to face the Sorceress. She has already made her move, and will attack Kratoa within the next few hours.”
“Few hours? How is that possible?” Alexander replied with fear.
“Gamar escaped and warned her.”
“We will never have enough time to warn our friends,” said Golmuth.
“You must go to Almeroth, the Orpes of air will help you. Hurry now, you will never be rid of the Sorceress as long as I am alive.”
“I will take care of your shoot as best I can,” said Alexander.
“I know,” replied the tree.
Alexander lifted Vulcaria and it burst into flame. He drove the sword into the tree and pulled it out. Ramenor caught fire. Soon, there remained only the trunk and a pile of ashes. The companions were sad to witness such a sight, to burn a tree so noble, but everything was the fault of that accursed Sorceress. They left Ramenor and crossed through the forest towards High-View. Alexander placed Ramenor’s shoot carefully into his pocket.
“I don’t see how the Air Orpes will be able to help us,” said Golmuth.
“Let’s find a way to get up to their kingdom,” said Dongo.
“I know how,” said Alexander.
His friends looked at him with surprise.
“Let’s go back to the rock of High-View.”
They climbed up the grand staircase to reach the summit of the great rock. Alexander remembered the stairs going up to the summit, the same summit that touched the clouds. A few hours later, Alexander’s intuition paid off. A cloud staircase was outlined at the top of the rock.
“I will stay here to cover your backs and guard the mirror,” said Antarus.
“I’ll stay with you,” said Golmuth.
Alexander and Dongo approached the stairway. When they were high above, they discovered an immense city of clouds. There seemed to be no physical object in sight, everything was made of clouds and white dominated the blue of the sky.
“Hello,” said an invisible voice.
“Who said that?” said Dongo.
“I did. My name is Harol, I am an Air Orpe.”
“Why can’t we see you?” asked Alexander.
“Because I am invisible,” said Harol, laughing.
CHAPTER 12: THE TRAITOR
Meanwhile, Silmaril, Hope, Amy and Meredith arrived at Rocaille with the help of the magic mirror. The mirror was kept in an old building at the centre of the town.
“How is it that the Sorceress has never used this mirror?” asked Hope.
“I don’t know,” Silmaril replied, “I don’t think Rocaille has enough riches to be of interest to the Sorceress. She has always found this town unappealing.”
“I hope the others are doing alright,” said Meredith.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure they are fine. Come now, we have to go and see a friend of mine.”
They crossed through the town on the rock and turned left near the statue of Theodoril. At the very end of the street was a little establishment with the inscription “Thunder” above the entrance. Silmaril went in without knocking.
“Hello, Danril.”
“Silmaril! It has been a long time, my friend.”
“We are going to need four ponies, we have to get to Kratoa as soon as possible.”
“Going to see the gnomes?”
“Yes.”
“Excuse me, sir, but are your ponies fast?” said Hope.
“Ah, she’s good is that one. You know, little one, my ponies are the fastest in all of Arboria.”
“It’s true,” said Silmaril.
The children and Silmaril went into the courtyard of the establishment and chose their ponies.
“Ready, children? Here we go!”
Silmaril’s pony set off at once and sped away as fast as lightning.
“These ponies really are quick,” said Meredith, watching the figure of Silmaril grow ever smaller in the distance. They went so fast that they descended the almost vertical rock-face without the need for the cage and finally arrived at Kratoa just a few hours later.
“Alarm!” cried the gnomes.
“Miss Hope! Miss Hope!” exclaimed a breathless gnome, running up to them.
“Please, call me Hope. What is your name?”
“Geror, madam.”
“What’s the matter, Geror?”
“Gamar, our former chief, he has escaped!”
“Don’t worry, it’s not your fault Geror,” said S
ilmaril. “Warn your friends and search the town, he cannot have gone far.”
“No, you don’t understand, he has been missing for several days. It happened just after you left for Vulcania.”
“We have to search the town, he might still be hiding there. Show me all the secret places in the town,” said Silmaril.
After several hours, Silmaril and the gnomes had still not found the missing former chief even though they had carefully searched every nook and cranny of Kratoa.
“Do you think he could have got out through the tunnel?” asked Meredith.
“I don’t know, but it changes all of our plans,” said Silmaril. “I have to go back to Rocaille and warn the dwarfs to be ready for battle.”
“Why? I don’t understand,” said Meredith.
“Gamar knew of our plans. If he warns the Sorceress, our plan of attack will be doomed to fail. I will tell the dwarfs to prepare for war.”
“You’re right, Silmaril,” said Hope, “go to Rocaille and warn the dwarfs.”
“I’ll leave at once with the Kirantorus. I will be able to travel even faster.”
Silmaril bid the girls farewell and set off for the Rockery. Unfortunately for our companions, Silmaril had been right: just a few days after his escape, Gamar went straight to Avengard to warn the Sorceress.
She sat pensively in the throne room, her eyes staring into the depths of the chamber.
“My Queen, the guards have found that gnome who was prowling around outside the castle,” said Zgard, throwing Gamar down at the feet of the Sorceress.
“What do I care for a miserable gnome? Kill him.”
“No! No, my Queen, I am the ruler of the gnomes in Kratoa. I have come to warn you of an imminent attack.”
The Sorceress laughed coldly. “An imminent attack? With what army?”
“Gnomes, dwarfs, Orpes and all species capable of fighting, including humans from the other world.”
“Humans from the other world? The children?” asked the Sorceress with interest.
“Yes, my Queen. The very same ones who escaped you two years ago.”
“So these children have come back to Arboria. Why?”
”They wanted to free their friends. They wanted to lure you into a trap and do battle with you.”
“The dwarf and the ice giant?”
“Yes,” Gamar answered timidly.
“In that case, we shall strike first. Where are they? Where is this pitiful army?”
“A little group left Kratoa a few days ago to rally more warriors but I don’t know where they are now. The others are at Kratoa.”
“Then we will attack Kratoa at once and erase that miserable cave from the map.”
“My Queen, I have checked and the prisoners are still here. May I suggest that we reinforce Avengard’s defences?” said Zgard.
“There is no need. We are going to surprise them. These children are insignificant, they are not dangerous. I will crush this miserable rebellion and kill all those who take part.”
“My Queen, I insist.”
“Enough! Prepare your army and march.”
“Should I take the sword and shield?”
The queen stood up from her throne and struck Zgard.
“Do you think me stupid enough to take the only weapons capable of destroying me?”
Zgard kneeled and lowered his head.
“Your wish is my command, my Queen.”
“Very good. Go now. As for you, little gnome, if I learn that you have set a trap for me, I swear to you that I will turn you to stone and put you in my personal collection.”
“I ask only that my sovereignty over Kratoa be returned to me and nothing more.”
“Rest assured, you will soon be the king of a ghost town. You will be the last gnome alive down there. In the meantime, you will remain here with Tobias.”
Meanwhile, at Almeroth.
“You’re an Air Orpe?” asked Alexander.
“That’s right.”
“Why can’t we see you?”
“We’re essentially made from air. Sometimes we can take form using dust or earth, but of course, these are very difficult to come by in the clouds.”
“We have made a long journey to come here.”
“I can imagine. It is very rare for us to receive visitors at Almeroth.”
“Can you help us? A terrible battle is about to take place and our friends are in danger.”
“We are peaceful, we do not make war.”
“If the Sorceress wins, there will be no living creature left in Arboria,” said Alexander.
“We know the Sorceress by her reputation, but we cannot intervene. I am sorry.”
“Could you at least help us to deliver a message?” asked Alexander.
“A message? Yes, with great pleasure.”
“You have to warn our friends about the coming attack.”
At the same time in Kratoa, Hope and Amy were coming out of the underground town to get some daylight when, to their great surprise, it suddenly turned to night.
“Look at that. The days are weird, I thought it was the middle of the day,” said Amy.
“Something is not right, it is the middle of the day!”
A voice on the wind whispered in Hope’s ear.
“Hope,” said the voice, “I have come to warn you. The Sorceress knows, she is coming, she is going to fight you.”
“Alexander, is that you?”
“Alexander is beside me,” said the voice.
“Alexander, can you hear me?”
“Yes,” said the voice, “Hope, you must hurry, warn everyone.”
“There aren’t enough of us, Silmaril and the dwarfs are not here yet, they’re at Rocaille. They will be here in a few hours.”
“Then I shall warn him as well,” said the voice.
Hope set off running down the stairs towards the town in order to warn the gnomes.
The conversation over, Alexander thanked Harol.
“What are you going to do now?”
“We have to get to Rocaille as quickly as possible.”
“It will take us days to get there,” said Dongo.
“Don’t worry, my friends,” said the Air Orpe, “there is a way...”
At Kratoa, Hope warned the gnomes of the income danger.
“They’re coming, they’re coming! That’s why it’s dark outside!” she shouted.
Immediately the gnomes got to work. They had already made stone weapons in the previous days. Little by little, the whole underground town was evacuated and the gnomes changed into dwarves, Orpes and any other creature that resembled a warrior. In spite of her best efforts, Hope found herself at the head of the army. Never had she imagined for a single moment that they would ever be in such a situation. Before the entrance to Kratoa were a few trees and a large field at the end of which stood a hill. It was very dark and the tension was palpable.
“We’re not ready,” said Meredith.
“I know, but we have no choice,” answered Hope.
“And me, what should I do?” asked Amy.
“Stay in the town and hide.”
“I’m scared, Hope.”
“Don’t be, our friends are coming to rescue us.”
She hugged her sister and let her run off towards the town. She stepped in front of the troops, her legs trembling. She imagined the terrible moment when she would see a host of warriors appear on the hill and run towards them with their weapons. She drew her sword and turned towards the gnomes.
“My friends, in just a few hours we will enter into a fierce battle. I would like us to be more numerous, but even though our force is smaller than the army of the Sorceress, I am glad to be surrounded by the most courageous creatures in all of Arboria. Whatever happens on the crown of that hill, have no fear. Our friends are coming to help.”
“I hope you’re right,” Meredith whispered.
“So do I,” answered Hope.
CHAPTER 13: THE FINAL BATTLE
“Ho
pe, wake up,” said Meredith, shaking her friend.
“What is it?” she said as she opened her eyes.
“They’re here. The army of the Sorceress is on top of the hill!”
Hope lifted her eyes in the direction of the hill. The Queen’s army was standing at the top, motionless, thousands of warriors and mages surrounded by bluish shields and Fire Orpes. The men parted and a woman with a cadaverous complexion, dressed in black and purple, stepped forwards. At her side, Zgard brandished his sword in his hand.
“Is this the terrible army that dares to defy me? You are pathetic. I pity you. Know that none of you shall be spared, you all will die. Those of you who survive the battle will have the honour of being transformed into statues, just as it was at the battle of Kherr.”
The Sorceress turned to Zgard and nodded. Zgard let out a cry and the whole army started running down the slope.
“Ready,” said Hope, her stone sword in her hand.
The battle began and it was an incredibly violent one. Cries of pain and blood were everywhere on the field. Blows were exchanged on all sides, and the bodies of the gnomes resumed their original form as soon as they died. The mages were untouchable behind their shields.
“Hope, we can’t get through the mages’ magic shield!” shouted Meredith.
“Focus on the warriors until we can find a solution!”
Gnomes disguised as Ice Orpes moved to attack the other warriors. Hope and Meredith were striking with their swords on all sides but the weapons seemed to be getting heavier and heavier. A man fell before Hope but she resigned from delivering the fatal blow. Never had she imagined killing a man with her own hands. A gnome with the appearance of an Ice Orpe did it for her. Hope remained paralysed before the body of the Queen’s warrior. Suddenly, she came to her senses and had a genius idea.
“Gnomes, transform into mages!” she cried.
At once all the gnomes turned into mages armed with shields. And this time, they resumed the fight on an equal footing. The mages did not know if they should attack or stop the fight because it was impossible for them to tell friend from foe.
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