The Forgotten Spell (Legends of Green Isle Book 1)

by Constance Wallace

  “Hmm, don’t let size fool you. My name is Sonya,” the cat haughtily proclaimed. “And I can be just as scary as a dragon when I want to be.”

  “Gee whiz, I’m sure ya could.” Thomas chuckled softly.

  “You have such a pretty bell and all,” Miranda said, seeing the object draped around the cat’s neck. “Do you wear it for a purpose, because the sound gave you away. I always thought cats wanted to go unnoticed. Be sly and sneaky.”

  “If you must know, the fairies are angry with me,” Sonya snarled. “So they bewitched this stupid bell, and it can’t be taken off. They want to make sure anyone can hear me coming. See. The green ribbon has no clasp.”

  “Yeah, you’re right, there isn’t any clasp at all,” Miranda said as she felt along the ribbon on Sonya’s neck.

  “If the fairies don’t like this cat, then there’s probably a good reason,” Chester chimed in. “Perhaps we should let her alone.”

  “What did you do to make them so mad?” Matt asked as he squatted down beside Miranda to study the animal. He was curious at the particular punishment the fairies had dealt out on the animal, and inwardly agreed with the horse.

  Sonya walked around Miranda, purring softly, her tail swaying as she rubbed against the girl’s side. “I can become invisible.” She giggled and vanished. Matt and Miranda drew back in surprise, looking at each other in disbelief. In the next instance, Sonya reappeared in front of Thomas, making him jump. “See, I would sneak up on them and materialize, just like that,” she stated as she softly laughed. “Serves them right for being like they are.”

  “We really should be going,” the horse whinnied. “I think this feline is dangerous for us all.”

  “I gave many of those fairies a good scare, and nearly killed some of them from fear alone.” Sonya pretended to pounce at an imaginary fairy, her claws uncoiled as she swiped at the air. Her demeanor changed just as quickly and she sat down contently on Thomas’ foot, licking her paw.

  “If ya don’t mind, please don’t do it again. Gee whiz, I don’t like havin’ somethin’ appearin’ right in front of me, especially when I’m not expectin’ it,” the older boy demanded, shaking the cat from his shoe.

  “Imagine having a cat like Sonya at home. It would be fun scaring Mom, don’t ya think?” Ned said with a wide grin.

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen people from the other side,” she purred demurely. “Ever since I came through the portal with my master, I’ve been lost on Green Isle, unable to get out.”

  “Would you like to travel with us?” Miranda offered sweetly. “After we rescue our cousins and Matt’s brother Toby from that warlock, Uthal, we’re gonna go back home to Earth. You can come, too.”

  “We don’t know anything about this cat,” Matt interjected. “If the fairies didn’t like her very much, then maybe we shouldn’t either.”

  “Matt’s very correct in that assumption. We really should be going,” Chester stated firmly.

  “Ya’ll can’t judge her like that. She’s been stuck here without anyone and needs our help and all.”

  “I think you’re making a big mistake trusting her so quickly. There’s something about her...”

  “Nonsense.” Miranda dismissed Matt’s objections with a wave of her hand. She offered their assistance again to the cat. “We’ll show you how to get back. Do ya want to travel with us?”

  Matt stepped back, anger flashing in his eyes. He certainly didn’t want Sonya to journey with them. She gave him a bad feeling. It was an underlying uneasiness he couldn’t shake. “Miranda, I think this is a big mistake.”

  “It’ll be okay, Matt, I promise. She’s just a cat and all,” Miranda stated. “I don’t think she's gonna cause too much trouble.”

  “Yes. I would love to come with you,” Sonya replied, before Matt could protest further. “Maybe I could help you. I’ve got other powers you may find useful. There are things I can do besides become invisible, you know.” Sonya jumped up on Chester’s back and stretched. Matt watched as a look of terror floated briefly in the brown eyes of the horse.

  Chester reared up unexpectedly, whinnying loudly. “GET OFF!” the horse screamed. Kicking up his back hooves, he tried to launch Sonya into the air.

  The children, shocked at his outburst, quickly moved away from the horse’s hooves. Leaping to the ground just in time, Sonya regarded Chester directly, her eyes coolly studying him. “I wouldn’t have hurt you, friend,” she hissed.

  “Don’t call me friend,” he shrieked, flinging his head back and forth. “I remember who you are now.”

  “Do you really? Whatever it is you think you know, that was very long ago,” Sonya interjected defensively, her tone changing. “Many years have passed since then. How would you have remembered it, anyway?” she snarled as her cat face distorted strangely, the feline features briefly morphing into a hideous mask of rage.

  “Time may have passed since your treachery, but you still have the powers your master gave you. We can’t be assured you won’t use them against us,” he exclaimed as he repeatedly pawed the earth.

  Matt grew mesmerized by the heated exchanged between the two animals. Something bad had happened, he gathered, long ago, and this cat had caused it. A thing so awful, that it made Chester extremely upset. Matt was on the verge of stepping in when Sonya drew back in alarm. She froze, attentively listening to a sound the others couldn’t hear, her ears twitching.

  “Someone’s coming,” she whispered as she hunched her body, crouching low to the road. “Run,” she commanded, darting back under the bushes.

  In Moments, Matt heard the sound of running horses in the distance. He squinted against the sun, trying to make out the shimmering mirage along the horizon. The watery figures soon shaped themselves into two knights, both encased in golden armor and on black horses. They urged the steeds at full gallop towards the friends and Matt wondered if they were even going to slow down or just run over them. When the knights grew near, the boys stepped to the side of the road, except for Miranda, who stood her ground, defiantly glaring at the knights bearing down on her. They stopped inches from the girl, causing debris and dust to encircle her body. Matt couldn’t believe she wasn’t scared.

  “Good grief,” she muttered angrily, wiping the dirt from her face. “How very rude of you. There are gentlemen in the south where I come from, but certainly not in this land.”

  One of the knights lifted the front piece of his helmet and regarded the slim figure of Miranda. Bowing his head slightly in apology, he moved his horse closer to the boys. “Are you the four friends of Miss Dalila and DaGon the Dragon?” the knight asked curtly.

  “Yes we are. Who are you?” Matt replied stiffly.

  “I’m the head guard for the King and Queen of Ellyllon. We’ve been sent with horses and orders that you ride the reminder of your journey to Elven lands.” Another knight approached just as the head guard motioned with his hand. Matt saw four white horses tethered together behind the new rider, their saddles polished and gleaming with a red and gold insignia. “The royal house is anxiously awaiting your arrival. Hurry,” the guard commanded, urging the friends to climb upon the animals.

  It took just a minute for them to balance their feet into the stirrups and center themselves on the saddles. Seated snuggly, Matt reached down and grabbed the reins to his horse. He felt empowered upon the beast. This was certainly something he wasn’t used to.

  Sonya had come out of her hiding place under the leaves of the bush. Matt watched in concern as the mysterious feline jumped up into Miranda’s arms. Her claws dug into the leather horn when the horse bucked slightly in anticipation, and her eyes glowed strangely. Matt grew worried when he saw Miranda shelter the cat in between her arms, but horses bolted down the road before he could voice his opinion to her. He made a mental note that he would have to keep an eye on both of them. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a small seed of caution planted itself.

  Chapter Nine

  Several hour
s passed before the group finally reached Ellyllon. Matt was awed by its construction. The Elf castle had five tall towers that seemed to touch the clouds. An outer wall of white stone surrounded the inner buildings, and Matt guessed it strengthened them against attack. Cradled within the sloping hills and grassland, the elegant Elf city stood out in the quaint countryside, an emblem of superiority. A decorative iron and wood gate slowly pushed outward, allowing the riders to enter single file into the confines of the inner sanctuary. Matt stared at the knights standing guard on the walls. Their gold armor shone in the sunlight. “No wonder it glowed in the moonlight last night,” he commented to no one in particular.

  “These stones were quarried by mountain ogres ages ago,” Sonya stated in reflection. “Back in time when those of Ellyllon weren’t so proud.”

  “Look up. Gee, those are the biggest things I’ve ever seen in my life.” Thomas pointed to several large red flags fluttering from the tops of four of the towers. Streaming out in waves, the gold edging reflected the light of the sun, just as that on the knights’ armor.

  “What’s the image on it?” Ned asked, trying to glimpse the centered object as the flags whipped in the wind.

  Miranda squinted, cupping her hand over her eyes. “It’s a big bull.”

  “It’s the mark of the Royal House of Ellyllon, an emblem of strength,” one of the knights replied.

  “King Angus overrates himself,” Sonya replied hatefully, clawing the air at the knight. “His choice of symbol lacks imagination, just as the choice in his royal name.”

  “Mind your tongue, feline. You presence here will be most unwelcome to the queen and king,” Chester demanded in between breaths, as he slowed his pace. Huffing, he apologized. “I believe my age is catching up with me. That walk was rather tiresome, and it might be best for me to retire to some hay and a warm stall.”

  Matt regarded the horse in concern. He sometimes forgot that the horse was old, ancient in Earth terms, and for some reason it brought to mind Toby. How was he? Was he scared? Was he suffering? He tried not to think about what could be happening to his little brother. It made him angry and sad all at once. He didn’t want to imagine what Toby was going through.

  Matt turned his attention to the Elf inhabitants in the market area. The scene reminded him of the one etched on the oak door at the entrance to Stewart Manor. Toby had been afraid of that door. Did his brother sense something then? It all seemed like a dream, until now. Being here changed that. Now he was in another world where Elves were real, not imaginary. The thought made the back of his neck tingle. He urged his horse forward, following the knights as they guided him and his friends through many turns and narrow corridors until they stopped in front of the largest tower. It rose above all the others, its golden roof shining in the afternoon sun, stretching upward like a finger pointing to the brilliant blue sky above.

  Sonya jumped from the horse’s saddle and disappeared into the crowd before Miranda could catch her, the sound of her bell becoming lost in the noise. Matt saw her tail flicker before she vanished into the busy streets, and was glad she was gone.

  “Where’s that cat off to now? My goodness, how rude not to say anything,” Miranda exclaimed under her breath.

  “Hopefully she won’t come back,” Matt answered in irritation.

  “We can’t be so unkind and all to her,” Miranda replied quietly. Her eyes reflected something Matt couldn’t decipher. Whatever it was, it made him feel somewhat guilty at saying what he had said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be that way.” Matt didn’t want to upset her. She meant very much to him, and the feelings he had about her made him feel protective.

  Dismounting, the children handed the reins of the horses to young Elf boys waiting attentively. Chester said goodbye as he headed to the stables. “Centuries old horses don’t last long on fast jogs.” His gait was slow as he rounded the corner and disappeared. Matt felt sorry for the old horse. It was funny, but he considered Chester a longtime friend even though he had known him only for a short while. Perhaps it was because Toby had been so kind to Chester and his feelings for the horse were feelings he sheltered for his brother.

  The friends stood against the wall of the tower, not certain of what to do when the knights left. The elaborate gilded windows and archways around them begged closer inspections, but they didn’t dare venture forth. Matt marveled at the beauty of Ellyllon. Yet, there was something that made him feel like the city wasn’t what it seemed and he couldn’t put a word to it. Uneasiness shadowed him, one that started with their meeting up with the cat.

  “You’ve made it,” a familiar voice called out gleefully. Matt recognized it and smiled. Darting from the direction of a massive oak door leading into the tower, Lily circled around Matt’s head, talking excitedly. “We became so worried until Mother flew from the dell to tell us Queen Onagh wouldn’t see you until this morning. King Angus was kind enough to allow us to stay here last night as we waited for your arrival. DaGon is with them and they’re anxious to meet you. Come through here.” She motioned for them to follow.

  Cautiously, the four entered the darkness of the tower, their steps echoing within the vastness of the interior. Standing just out of the sunlight they allowed their eyes to adjust to the dimness. Matt was surprised to see an expansive elegant hall, decorated with marble and dark wood. Archway after archway separated long walls lined with enormous stained glass windows.

  “Have ya’ll ever seen anything like it before?” Miranda asked.

  “Erulisse designed this hall after the old palaces of her people,” Lily informed them as she fluttered around Miranda’s head. “It’s a reminder to her of a different time, before the death and destruction Uthal brought to the magic creatures of Earth and Green Isle.”

  Matt stared at the red and white diamond-shaped tiles that dressed the floor, expanding in size at the middle of the hall. The tiles surrounded rows of white marble columns that supported the roof and gracefully reached upwards to the blood red cathedral ceiling like pale arms. He walked slowly down the hall examining the pictures in the glass. Each window seemed to depict scenes of the Elven history and reminded him of the time he first saw the interior of Stewart Manor.

  “Gee whiz, doesn’t he look powerful?” Thomas asked. The older boy pointed to a hunting scene that showed the Elf King slaughtering a beast Matt didn’t recognize.

  “What’s that thing he’s killed?” Ned stopped next to his brother.

  “That would be a mountain ogre. King Angus hunted the last of them from ApHar Mountains over a thousand years ago,” Lily answered before speeding away.

  “Thank goodness for that,” Ned said as he strolled to the next window. “It looked nasty and I certainly wouldn’t wanna meet up with one.”

  “You’re such a big chicken. Are ya sure you’re my brother?” Thomas exclaimed adamantly. He punched Ned in the arm.

  “Ouch,” Ned winced. “Of course I’m your brother. Do ya always have ta be hittin’ on me?” he whimpered as he rubbed his arm.

  “Gee, maybe if you weren’t so afraid of everything, I wouldn’t.”

  “Okay. Enough is enough,” Matt admonished lightly. “I don’t think we need this journey to be one of constant bickering between you guys, agreed?”

  “Gee whiz, Matt, I was just playin’. He knows I’m only kiddin’, right?” Thomas laughed as he rubbed Ned’s head playfully.

  “Yeah, he’s just joshin’,” Ned replied somewhat reluctantly.

  “I’m going to tell the king and queen you’ve arrived,” Lily called out from the bottom of the staircase at the back of the room. “Stay here,” she instructed.

  The friends lingered at the back end of the hall examining the other glass windows. Intent on their study, they were surprised to hear Sonya’s voice. “There’s a particular window that all of you should see. It’s down at the very end,” the cat whispered from the shadows, her tone low. “This side of the hall.”

  “Where are you?” Miranda called out q
uietly. “We can’t see you.”

  “Come back this way. It’s a most impressive picture of King Angus’ ego. Go to the last one on the left.”

  Miranda was the first to do as the cat instructed. Looking up at the last window, her face grew pale and her expression changed. She called loudly to the three boys. “Look at this one, will ya?”

  Sonya materialized and jumped from a bookcase against the wall. She padded toward the back of the room and the sound of her bell could be heard as she traveled up the staircase. Matt watched her go up the steps and wondered why she felt the need to pop in and out of their company at whim.

  “This must be him.” Matt hurried to Miranda’s side. He looked up to where she pointed. In the windowpane, the scene showed a dark cloaked figure reaching out with a black, claw-like hand. The misshapen figure was chained to a pillar, his body bent, as he appeared to tear at the air. The Elf King, off to one side, poised above the bound man, and pointed something at him that resembled a stick. A white light streamed from the tip of the stick and encircled the black figure.

  “Yes, you’re right. It’s the Dark One, also known as Uthal or the Black Warlock. He has many names.” The voice startled the friends and they turned quickly to see who had come behind them. A slender Elf, dressed in a white and green silk tunic, brown leather leggings and a small gold leaf crown perched high upon his brow, smiled down at them. His eyes twinkled with merriment as he gazed at the four, sensing their wariness. “Lily has told us so much about you.” The Elf laughed gently. “Won’t you do me the honor of being my guests in our suites?”

  “Gee, who are ya?” Thomas inquired with reservation.

  “Oh. I’m sorry. Introductions are necessary aren’t they? I’m King Angus, ruler of Ellyllon.”

  “So, you’re the person in that window? The one fighting Uthal?” Miranda asked softly.

  “You were a part of the war that happened then?” Matt added.