by Tom Percival
‘Now!’ yelled Red as a cat sprang out of her hood. ‘Run! While they’re all distracted!’
As the guards scrambled around in a sea of black cats, the children leaped out of the web and darted down the spiral staircase to the level below. At the end of the corridor they could see Hansel and Gretel peering out towards them.
‘There they are!’ cried Rapunzel. ‘We’ve got to hurry – the guards will be down here any second!’
‘Yes!’ exclaimed a voice from behind them. ‘Yes. They will.’ Coming down the staircase was Mayor Fitch, surrounded by his personal bodyguards and more soldiers than you could even count.
Wolfie’s dad turned and flung himself at the soldiers, his teeth and claws flashing, but although he was able to hold the guards back, there was nowhere to go. The corridor was a dead end, and the only windows were heavily barred. They were trapped.
Eventually the guards managed to throw a huge net over the wolf, forcing him slowly to the ground. Once the Big Bad Wolf was tied up, Mayor Fitch stepped forward.
‘So, here we all are again!’ he exclaimed. ‘This is quite the reunion! Still, at least now you can see that I’ve won. I’m in control and nothing that you or anyone else can do is going to change that!’ His face had twisted up into a sneer, which he rearranged, putting on a fake, kindly smile.
‘Now you,’ Fitch said, jabbing a stubby finger towards the jailer. ‘Lock them up and throw away the key! We shall have to think of a suitable punishment for our most heroic rebels. Banishment won’t quite cut the mustard this time. We need something a bit more . . . extreme, don’t you think?’
His guards cackled as they dragged the children and the Big Bad Wolf into the cell with Hansel and Gretel. The jailer slammed the door shut, locked it, bolted it, drew the heavy wooden bars across, and then threw the keys out of the window.
‘What on earth did you do that for?’ barked Fitch.
‘What, sir?’ asked the guard, looking confused.
‘Why did you do that with the keys?’
‘Er, you told me to, sir,’ protested the guard.
‘It’s just a saying,’ groaned Fitch, rubbing his forehead wearily. ‘Very well . . . Guards!’
Three of his bodyguards ran forward.
‘Arrest this man, put him on the banishment boat with the others.’ Fitch shook his head in irritation. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before he’d have to banish the whole town. He was just starting to wonder what would happen if he did have to banish the whole town when there was a loud scream from outside.
‘Trolls!’ screamed first one voice and then loads more. ‘There’s a troll invasion!’
There was the chilling sound of hundreds of rhythmically thudding footsteps and then metal striking hard against metal.
Fitch grinned, and then whispered, ‘So . . . it begins!’
10
As the battle for Tale Town raged on, one figure stood calmly in front of the Story Tree. It was the troll leader Hurrilan. He looked across as one of the giants managed to pick up an entire platoon of Fitch’s guards and throw them one by one into the Tale Town river. The minotaurs were charging around creating chaos in whichever direction their horns pointed, and Humpty Dumpty was sitting on top of a very narrow-looking wall, throwing sticks, stones and insults down on to Mayor Fitch’s army.
‘You have a face like an elbow!’ he cackled out gleefully as he dropped a particularly big log on one unfortunate guard.
‘Your shoes don’t suit you!’ he shouted as he prepared to drop something else, then lost his balance and tumbled off the wall, to land with a crunch on the floor.
‘Oh dear . . .’ he groaned. ‘Can someone fetch me a new shell please?’
Hurrilan waved his hand through the air and a new shell magically appeared around Humpty Dumpty.
‘Wow!’ said Humpty Dumpty, looking surprised. ‘Thanks!’
‘Just be more careful next time!’ said Hurrilan, then turned his attention back to the magical branches that spread out above him. He smiled despite the chaos. Finally he was here . . . He could actually touch the Story Tree!
Softly Hurrilan whispered a short story beneath his breath and marvelled as a small silver shoot grew out of the tree. His finger ran along the shoot as it unfurled into a delicate leaf, and instantly he was transported into the world of the story he had just told – as if he were actually there.
He knew that this would happen, of course. Everyone knew how the Story Tree worked. It was just that he’d never seen it for himself.
But there it was! The first troll story in over two hundred years was now growing on the tree – just as it ought to be. Just as it had been when the trolls and the humans had first planted the Story Tree, all those years ago.
Hurrilan looked up at his story on the tree and smiled again, but was distracted by the sound of a spear zipping past his head. He spun around. There would be all the time in the world to explore the wonders of the Story Tree . . . later.
First there was a battle to win.
He turned to face Fitch’s army and ran towards them, brandishing the gnarled wooden staff with the red crystal on top that gave him most of his power. Wherever he pointed the crystal, huge bolts of energy shot out, turning soldiers to stone, or birds, or plants – and in some cases, nothing at all.
‘We have to get out of here, now,’ urged Hefferson as he ushered Fitch down the secret tunnel that led out of the palace, beyond the new wall.
‘Yes,’ agreed Fitch. ‘You’re right. It’s just . . . you know, the plan!’
‘Well . . .’ replied Hefferson, ‘unless that plan involves you being turned into stone by one of those trolls, then we’d better rethink it!’
He pulled Fitch along by the arm as they hurried down the tunnel after the rest of the Mayor’s bodyguards.
‘What’s happening out there?’ demanded Jack, who had lifted Betsy up to the barred window in the cell.
squawked Betsy, sounding shocked.
‘The trolls have won?’ gasped Anansi. ‘Fitch’s men have all been captured?’
said Betsy again, frowning.
‘I know that’s what you just said,’ replied Anansi. ‘It’s just that I can’t believe it.’ They all fell silent for a moment. It was obvious that Mayor Fitch wasn’t fit to rule Tale Town. He’d done an awful lot of really bad things, and that was before you included his plan to introduce a ten-hour-long school day, but even so . . . Was Tale Town now going to be ruled by Hurrilan? How was that going to be any better?
added Betsy excitedly.
‘Quartz is there too, so –’ said Hansel eagerly.
‘– perhaps he can help us?’ continued Gretel.
Just then Red’s mirror pinged. She flipped it open,
‘Quartz! You’ve got to help us!’ she exclaimed. ‘We’re trapped in a cell and . . .’ The view in the mirror suddenly changed as Quartz’s face slid out of view and another face replaced it. Hurrilan’s face.
‘I see . . .’ he said. ‘So this is how Tale Town always seemed to know my plans. You had a little spy!’
‘No! It wasn’t like that!’ insisted Red. ‘Quartz was just—’
‘Betraying me!’ interrupted Hurrilan. Then his image faded and the mirror only showed Red’s worried face.
‘I think that went pretty well, all things considered!’ said Jack hopefully.
said Betsy quietly.
‘No, you’re right,’ replied Jack. ‘We’re doomed!’
‘That means Hurrilan’s going to be looking for us,’ said Wolfie.
Hansel and Gretel nodded.
‘We need to –’
‘– get out of here!’ they added.
‘Great idea!’ sneered the Big Bad Wolf, who had eventually chewed himself free of the net. ‘But if you hadn’t noticed, we’re locked in and the keys got chucked out of the window!’
‘Hmm . . .’ said Rapunzel, smiling as she untied her hair. ‘However will we get them back?’ Seconds later her hair was cascading
out of the small window. ‘This is literally the oldest trick in the book!’ she said as her hair reached the floor. She gave her plaits a flick, and the ends wrapped around the keys and tied themselves into a neat little bow. Then she smiled, pulled the keys up, walked over to the door and unlocked it.
The Big Bad Wolf whistled between his teeth. ‘Impressive! If you kids ever want to come out huntin’ with me, then you’re welcome any time, and you can have your pick of the trophy – heads or tails.’
‘What do you mean, “heads or tails”?’ asked Cole.
‘Don’t ask . . .’ groaned Wolfie. ‘Dad, why don’t you get that wooden beam out of the way?’
‘Right you are,’ said the wolf happily as he heaved the huge bar out of the way as if it was made of cardboard.
Soon they were running through the passages of the castle. The battle outside was over and the trolls were celebrating in the Market Square, all completely fascinated by the Story Tree. Anansi peered through one of the windows and found a route that looked clear.
‘This way!’ he said, pointing out the route. ‘From there we can make our way into the woods and head back to the hideout without anyone seeing us.’
‘But what then?’ asked Jack. ‘I mean, it looks like Fitch has gone and Hurrilan’s in charge now.
But what about everyone else? What about all the townsfolk? What’s going to happen to them?’
‘There’s nothing we can do about that right now,’ said Red. ‘There aren’t enough of us, and besides, you know what Hurrilan’s like – he thinks we’re on Fitch’s side. We need to wait until everything’s calmed down a bit before we speak to him, otherwise it’s just—’
‘Otherwise it’s just what?’ asked a cold voice from the end of the corridor. It was Hurrilan.
Everyone stood very still, apart from Jack who bent down and picked Betsy up, whispering something quietly as he did so.
Nobody spoke as a group of five armed trolls came slowly closer. When they were about five metres away, Jack spun around and helped Betsy flap out of the window.
‘What was that?’ demanded Hurrilan.
‘I think it was a bird,’ replied one of the trolls.
‘Really?’ said Hurrilan. ‘It’s going to take a lot more than a bird to get you out of this.’
11
‘The last time I saw any of you,’ said Hurrilan, ‘was after I had taken you in, given you shelter, warmth, food . . .’ He looked at the children sharply as his soldiers led them through the town towards their makeshift prison by the riverbank. ‘Of course, that was before I knew you had betrayed me. That Rufaro had betrayed me.’
It wasn’t like that!’ protested Anansi. ‘My Uncle Rufaro was—’
‘Oh, I know what your uncle was doing!’ spat Hurrilan furiously. ‘Plotting with Mayor Fitch! I just feel a fool for not realizing sooner! Anyway, don’t you worry. Rufaro and your mother are perfectly safe –’ he tapped the crystal on the top of his staff – ‘trapped in here.’
‘Hurrilan!’ called out a tall water troll as she hurried over. ‘Some of the humans are trying to leave their houses now that the fighting has stopped.’
‘They will remain inside,’ said Hurrilan curtly. ‘Place an armed watch on each house. Until we can tell who’s on Fitch’s side and who isn’t, it’s not safe to allow them out.’ He glared at Anansi. ‘And it’s very hard to tell who’s on Fitch’s side. Isn’t it?’
‘But my uncle wasn’t on Fitch’s side!’ protested Anansi. ‘He was helping us to get Quartz back home. He was trying to help you! Fitch’s men followed us. It was them who lied, not my uncle!’
‘Yes, yes, I’m sure,’ Hurrillan said impatiently. ‘But that doesn’t explain why you were all safe and sound, hiding away in Fitch’s palace during the battle.’
‘We’d been captured!’ protested Red. ‘We were prisoners!’
‘You didn’t look like prisoners to me,’ spat Hurrilan.
‘We’d escaped!’ said Ella.
‘How convenient.’ Hurrilan turned to the troll on his right. ‘Make sure they’re, securely locked up, but separate them first – they’re very resourceful.’ He turned to walk off when there was a dramatic, squawky splash from the river next to them.
A very wet, very cross Betsy splashed up through the water, glared at Hurrilan and shrieked,
‘Of course! The talking hen,’ said Hurrilan, kneeling down close to Betsy. ‘So . . . what exactly makes you think that I should set them free?’
said Betsy gravely.
‘You have proof that they’re telling the truth?’ Hurrilan paused for a moment. ‘Very well, I shall indulge you. Where is this proof?’
There was another splash as Lily also swam up to the riverbank.
‘Here!’ she exclaimed, holding out the secret Story Tree branch that she had been growing down in her cave. ‘This will explain everything!’
Hurrilan stood there for a moment, a look of awe on his face.
‘Is that a cutting from . . . the Story Tree?’ he asked. ‘How did you get it?’
‘Ah, yes . . .’ said Wolfie hesitantly. ‘Well, that’s kind of a long story.’2
Hurrilan bent closer to the plant. ‘And you managed to cultivate it?’
‘Yes,’ exclaimed Lily. ‘It’s been easy! I’m a totally brilliant gardener!’
Hurrilan smiled ever so slightly. ‘Well, that is good news,’ he said. ‘I shall listen to what you have to say. But mark my words, if this is a trick, you will all pay the most serious price imaginable.’
‘Detention?’ gasped Jack.
Hurrilan looked confused. ‘No! Worse than detention!’
‘You don’t mean . . . no pudding – ever again?’
‘What? No! I mean The. Most. Serious. Price. Imaginable.’
‘Having to wear pants made of something really scratchy with the label still in them?’
‘Oh, forget it!’ Hurrilan shook his head. ‘But this had better not be a trick!’
Then he reached out, and lightly touched the tiny silver tree . . .
Hurrilan found himself immersed in a whole world of stories. Some of them he recognized, but he’d never seen them from this angle. He saw himself and his old friends Rufaro and Adeola embracing, after not seeing each other for decades. He saw how happy it had made Rufaro. He saw the sadness on Anansi’s face when his uncle and his mother, Adeola, were trapped inside the magic crystal. He saw the truth about Mayor Fitch, and how Rufaro had never been anything but Fitch’s enemy; how, over the years, Fitch had been lying to manipulate the people of Tale Town into fearing the trolls. And he saw the children – Red, Jack, Anansi and all their friends – fighting against that fear in any way they could.
At last Hurrilan knew that Fitch had been lying all along. As the world of the Story Tree faded away, he looked around at the expectant faces.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly, turning to Anansi. ‘You were telling the truth, and so was your uncle. I promise, as soon as we have this situation under control, I’ll free him and Adeola.’
‘NOW!’ screamed a voice from the top of the half-built wall that surrounded Tale Town. ‘Turn it on now!’
Jack spun round to see Fitch on the wall, surrounded by his bodyguards and hundreds more soldiers.
‘Defensive positions!’ yelled Hurrilan, grabbing his magical staff, but he was too late. A crackling buzz filled the air as the whole wall vibrated with power. Strips of metal that ran along the stone began to glow – a dim, hesitant light that increased in waves until it was soon blinding. The whole wall was glowing, pulsing with an energy that seemed thick, solid and heavy enough to make Jack’s head ache. But if it made his head ache, it was doing something much worse to the trolls. He watched as they fell to their knees groaning, or leaned back against nearby walls, too weakened to even stand. The trolls looked at each other, eyes wide with panic and worry. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
Without warning, bright bolts of light came bursting out of the small b
rass circles in the wall. One struck the staff in Hurrilan’s hand, sending it flying. He had to dive out of the way of another that nearly hit him full in the chest. Each bolt of light struck a different troll, knocking them off their feet and leaving them dazed on the floor. Jack watched as one troll scrambled up and tried angrily to use her magic. The look of horror on her face when nothing happened was awful.
‘There’s nothing you can do!’ Fitch shouted. ‘Now I have control of all your magic! And just imagine what I can do with it. Whole cities built in a moment, whole armies destroyed at the wave of my hand! To think that you had all that power and you did nothing with it. It’s pathetic!’
‘No,’ shouted Hurrilan. ‘To have all that power and not abuse it. That’s real strength!’
‘It doesn’t look like that from up here!’ Fitch laughed as a bolt of light shot down, crashing into Hurrilan, throwing him backwards to lie still on the dirt.
12
Fitch clambered down from the wall. In one hand he carried a small wooden box with a brass barrel on the front, which he held out threateningly as he marched into Market Square.
‘It’s over, you hear? Over!’ barked Fitch, looking down in disgust at Hurrilan, sprawled on his back beneath the Story Tree.
‘You see your leader?’ he shouted to the assembled trolls. ‘Lying there, helpless? When he wakes up, he’ll swear an oath to serve me. To do whatever I say.’