Wizard's Key (The Darkwolf Saga Book 1)

by Mitch Reinhardt

  “Crap,” said Sawyer as he tapped the screen of his phone. “I don’t have any bars. Jane, do you get anything?”

  “It’s in my purse,” said Jane dryly.

  Sawyer looked at Geoff.

  “Stay here with Jane. I’m going to look around a little,” he said. “Maybe I can find a phone or a road or some help.”

  Geoff nodded and watched as Sawyer disappeared into the trees in the direction of the mountain range. Soon the sounds of twigs snapping and leaves rustling faded as Sawyer moved through the underbrush of the forest. Geoff walked to Jane, who hadn’t moved.

  “Sawyer is scouting around,” said Geoff. “He won’t be gone long.”

  Jane only grunted. Her arm still covered her eyes and she was breathing deeply. Geoff noticed she was tightly clutching the grass beside her.

  “Jane—” began Geoff, but Jane immediately cut him off.

  “Geoff, please be quiet and be still,” she said. “This migraine really hurts.”

  “Okay,” whispered Geoff. He lowered himself onto the tall grass beside her as quietly as he could, which was difficult to do with only one good arm. He watched Jane lie there for a few minutes, wondering if she really was going to be okay. He glanced back in the direction Sawyer had taken but didn’t see any sign of him. Instead he caught sight of a familiar-looking piece of stone lying nearby.

  It was scorched and had intricate carvings on its surface. It was a piece of the archway, the piece Sawyer was holding onto. Their combined weight must have caused it to break off in Sawyer’s hand.

  Geoff picked up the charred piece of stone and examined it. He held the key next to the stone, hoping to reactivate it and send them back home. Nothing happened.

  “The key doesn’t glow anymore,” said Geoff quietly. Jane did not respond immediately. She just lay there beside him shielding her eyes.

  “Geoff? What key?” she asked finally.

  Geoff looked at Jane and realized she wasn’t there when he and Sawyer found the key. Nor had she witnessed the interaction between the key and the archway. Uh-oh, he thought. She’s going to be really upset with him when she finds out.

  “Geoff,” repeated Jane, “what key? What key was Sawyer talking about?”

  Geoff fidgeted in the grass, “I found…well…Sawyer and I found this strange key.” Geoff held it up so the sunlight reflected off its sparkling surface. Jane uncovered her eyes and looked at the white key in Geoff’s hand.

  “Then I placed it in the keyhole of the archway and this big whirlwind started blowing and I got sucked in. That’s when you and Sawyer tried to save me and then…we ended up here.”

  Jane was silent.

  “I didn’t mean for anything to happen, Jane. I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, Geoff,” moaned Jane as she turned her head away from him. “What did you do?”

  Geoff looked down and repeated, “Sorry.” Jane sighed. “No way this is real. This can’t be happening. It’s like a bad dream.”

  Geoff couldn’t look at her. He felt like crying. They were lost in an unknown forest and it was his fault. He stood up and surveyed the glade in which they rested.

  A large butterfly with wings of bright blue and green trimmed in black darted past his eyes and fluttered about Jane’s head, but Jane was oblivious to her visitor’s presence. It dipped and hovered just above her head. Another butterfly, slightly smaller and sporting red, orange, and white on its wings, soon joined the first one.

  The butterflies appeared to be attracted to Jane, maybe because of the perfume she wore. Geoff didn’t know what caused their behavior. Then two more butterflies joined the others and formed a collage of colors dancing about Jane. Every now and then one would land on Jane’s arm or head only for a moment before leaping back into the air again.

  Geoff blinked and watched. He had never seen such a performance from butterflies. He opened his mouth to say something, but decided not to disturb Jane. If she wasn’t feeling well because of a headache then the quickest remedy for her was to continue to lie down with her eyes shut.

  Geoff glanced up and frowned. The sun is starting to go down, he thought. Sawyer was right. They were lost in a strange, wild place. Who knew what dangerous animals roamed about in the forest after sundown? Geoff looked about for some shelter, but he didn’t see any possibilities from the clearing. He opened his hand and looked at the white stone key again. Still no tingling or electrical flashes; it felt like any other key now.

  There was a loud thrashing sound from the underbrush behind Geoff. He turned in time to see Sawyer emerge from the greenery carrying a thick tree limb over his shoulder like a club. “Hey, guys,” Sawyer said, “I found a stream just over the next hill. The water looks crystal clear and clean. You can see all the way to the bottom and there are fish everywhere.”

  “You didn’t drink any of the water, did you?” asked Geoff.

  “Yeah, a little.”

  “Sawyer,” said Jane from under her arm, “you’re supposed to boil water from a stream before you drink it. There could be parasites and all sorts of bacteria in it.”

  “I don’t think so,” he said. “Not in this water. It tastes good. Anyway, how the hell are we going to boil water?”

  “Um,” began Geoff, trying hard not to sound like a know-it-all geek. “In the scouts we boiled water using large green leaves as a bowls.”

  “Yeah?” said Sawyer. “Green leaves? How do you make a bowl with leaves? And how are we gonna start a fire?”

  “I think I can try using the bow and drill method for maximum friction. We need to find some dry wood and a flat rock and I’ll try to use my shoestring to make a bow.”

  “Are you serious? Are you some kind of Eagle Scout or something? You can do all that?”

  Geoff looked at Sawyer and realized how he must have sounded. A wave of self-doubt washed over him. He was talking so fast he did actually sound like a know-it-all.

  “Maybe. I think so.”

  Sawyer cocked his head to one side with a smirk while he regarded Geoff’s plan.

  “Okay,” he said finally. “We can look for leaves and dry wood on our way to the stream. It’s not far; maybe fifty yards. I didn’t see any trails or roads or any other people. Looks like we’re all alone.”

  “It’s starting to get dark. Maybe we should also look for shelter,” said Geoff.

  “Okay. Then in the morning we can continue looking for a way home. How’re you holding up, Jane?”

  For a few seconds Jane didn’t respond to Sawyer. Then she simply nodded twice and said, “Good.”

  “Do you feel up to walking?”

  Jane didn’t reply. She slowly raised her head and groaned. Sawyer walked over to her and helped her stand. Jane took a step and stumbled, but Sawyer caught her.

  “Watch out. Easy there. I got you. Take it nice and slow. Hey, Geoff, get on the other side of her.”

  Geoff hurried to help Jane as Sawyer led them into the trees. Jane placed her arm around Sawyer’s shoulder and clutched her forehead while Geoff wrapped his uninjured arm around her waist. He glanced up at her and saw she was grimacing with each step. As they left the glade a shadowy new world opened up to them. Rays of sunlight filtered through the canopies overhead like spotlights, with an occasional bird darting through them.

  After a minute or so, Geoff’s eyes had adjusted to the dimly lit forest. His vibrant surroundings reminded him of pictures he had seen of tropical rainforests. The trunks of the tallest trees were gigantic, something he hadn’t realized until he was closer. He marveled at their magnificence.

  Strange, these trees must be ancient, thought Geoff, but there aren’t many dead trees or even leaves on the ground.

  He could hear the sound of rushing water now. They were nearing Sawyer’s stream. Geoff realized his mouth was s
till dry and the thought of a nice cold drink of water appealed to him. The going was relatively easy, only a few dips and hills along the way.

  “How are we going to get back home?” asked Jane.

  “No idea,” said Sawyer. “Wouldn’t it be nice to bump into a park ranger right about now and get a ride to civilization?”

  “Tell me about it,” said Jane.

  Geoff didn’t say a word, but he also wished they would find a way back home. The sooner the better, too, because he didn’t like the thought of sleeping overnight in the forest unprepared. They had nothing. No food, no gear, no medical supplies. They didn’t even have an aspirin for Jane’s headache. Geoff couldn’t help it; he was miserable. They were lost and it was his fault. If he could go back, he would never have touched that key.

  The sound of rushing water grew louder as they reached the top of the next hill. Below, not more than twenty yards away, was a stream with the clearest water Geoff had ever seen. It was just as Sawyer described. Even from this distance, Geoff could see the bottom of the streambed. Small flashes of silver zipped along the bottom. As Geoff watched, the fish seemed to be playing a game of tag, or maybe they were dancing in the current.

  “There ya go,” said Sawyer proudly. “Boil the water if you want, but it tastes great.” Lush green grass grew everywhere. Here and there more patches of wildflowers grew, providing colorful landing pads for bees and butterflies. Geoff looked downstream then upstream. His eyes widened.

  “Hey, guys, what’s that?” asked Geoff as he pointed upstream. Sawyer and Jane looked in the direction he was pointing.

  “Wow,” said Sawyer. “How did I miss that?”

  Chapter Four

  An Eventful Night

  Jane’s mouth dropped open as she stared in wonderment and disbelief.

  “Yeah, wow,” said Geoff, trying to decide if what he was seeing was real.

  “Oh man,” said Sawyer. “It’s just like the Vikings from the Middle Ages, right Geoff?”

  Geoff slowly shook his head. “I don’t think the Vikings had anything like this.”

  The shattered remnants of a once great walled keep lay before them. Its dark gray moss-covered stones had provided ample protection from intruders and the elements alike. Most of the walls had long ago fallen away, revealing a small courtyard overrun with trees and thick with ivy.

  The keep itself was nearly three stories high. The aged roof had collapsed, leaving only a few rotting beams jutting toward the sky. Over time, the stream had invaded the courtyard, winding through it and under what remained of the walls before cascading into a clear blue pool below.

  Jane looked at Geoff, who was grinning as his eyes roamed over the courtyard and then the keep, then back to the outer wall.

  “I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Geoff. “It’s like an old keep from the Middle Ages. Like in dad’s books. He would love to be here right now.”

  As Jane looked at the ruins, her heart sank.

  “Geoff,” she asked, “where are we?”

  She pointed at the ruined keep. “There’s nothing like this back home. I’ve seen ruins of old castles in Italy. This looks like one of those.”

  “I really don’t know. This doesn’t look like Italy or anywhere in Europe,” said Geoff quietly.

  Jane shivered and spun around.

  “What is it?” Geoff asked.

  “I…I just had a feeling we were being watched.” Neither Sawyer nor Geoff said a word. They scanned the forest for a minute, then their attention returned to the remains of the keep.

  “Guys!” Jane stamped her foot. Her head pounded from the activity, which angered her. “I mean it. I think someone is watching us.”

  “Hello!” called Sawyer suddenly, cupping his hands around his mouth. Jane winced. She put her hand up for quiet and stepped back.

  “Oh,” said Sawyer, realizing what he had done. “Sorry.”

  Jane’s breathing became heavier and her eyes welled up with tears. Between Sawyer’s shout and her stamping her foot, her head began pounding again. She sank into the thick grass by the stream and lowered her head as tears slid down her cheeks.

  “Are you going to be okay?” Sawyer’s voice was quiet. Jane sniffled and nodded.

  “I’ll go look around. Geoff, you stay here with Jane.”

  “Okay,” whispered Geoff.

  Sawyer turned and walked back into the forest, scanning for other people. Jane’s head was throbbing so much it felt like it was going to explode. She had closed her eyes tightly, but she could hear the sound of cloth tearing and then she heard Geoff lightly splashing in the stream.

  “Here, Jane,” she heard him say as he placed a cold, wet cloth over her forehead. She opened her eyes a little and looked at Geoff. He had torn a strip of cloth from the bottom of his shirt and wetted it in the stream. The cool water soothed Jane’s aching head and dulled, or least somewhat numbed, the throbbing.

  “Thanks,” she said as she took a deep breath. Geoff, careful not to further injure his right shoulder, lowered himself onto the ground next to Jane. She could tell he was trying to be still, but he was restless and fidgeting.

  “Nervous?” asked Jane.

  “A little,” said Geoff as he glanced about. “I’m not sure I like this place. It’s beautiful, but a little spooky.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  They lay in the tall grass for the next several minutes listening to the sounds of the forest. Occasionally she could hear Sawyer call out, but he was far enough away that his shouts no longer bothered her. The cool, wet rag on her forehead was working better than any medication. This is amazing, she thought. My head feels better. Much better. The pain isn’t so bad now.

  After nearly twenty minutes, Sawyer returned.

  “I didn’t see anyone,” he said. “Not a soul. I guess if someone was out there they must’ve left.”

  “Someone was definitely out there,” insisted Jane.

  Sawyer regarded Jane for a moment, then shrugged. His eyes moved to the ruined keep. He scratched his head as he studied the debris around the structure.

  “Looks kinda like a haunted castle from here,” he said. “Think I’ll go check it out.”

  Jane carefully sat up, still keeping the cool rag on her forehead.

  “No, Sawyer. I don’t think we should separate again. We should stick together.”

  Jane’s voice was quiet yet firm.

  “Relax, said Sawyer. “I’m just going to have a closer look. I’ll be right back. Don’t worry.”

  With that, Sawyer climbed a small, steep hill and clambered over a broken section of the outer wall. Jane and Geoff struggled to their feet and followed Sawyer, stopping at the wall. Jane looked at the ruined structure that lay crumbling within, and then the courtyard. She wasn’t convinced they would be safe inside. Sawyer walked to the remnants of the inner keep and disappeared into a large fissure in the wall. Jane glanced at Geoff, who was looking over the courtyard.

  “Geoff,” she said quietly, “what are we going to do? What’s happened to us?

  “I wish I knew,” said Geoff. “I don’t see any landmarks I recognize. Look at this forest. The trees are huge. Everything is green and growing. It’s like a fairy tale setting.”

  A few minutes later, Sawyer emerged from the keep, brushing his pants off as he approached them. “At least we have a place to sleep tonight.”

  Jane let out a small incredulous chuckle. “In there? Are you serious?” Her voice quivered.

  “At least it’s shelter,” said Sawyer. “Where else are we gonna to sleep tonight? Out in the woods?”

  He walked to a waist-high section of the outer wall, stood across from Jane, and placed a hand on the cool, rough surface.

  “I don’t wanna stay here either. But it�
��ll be dark pretty soon, so if you got a better idea let’s hear it.”

  Jane looked out at the forest again, hoping to see a sign of civilization or anything familiar. Finding nothing of the sort, her gaze returned to Sawyer. He had leaned against the wall and was looking at her, waiting for an answer. Jane sighed. Sawyer was right; they had nowhere else to go and it was getting late in the day.

  “Look at this,” said Geoff. “The stones in the wall are pitted and worn with age, but they’re nearly two feet thick.”

  He ran his hand over the large stones.

  “I wonder what happened here. The people who lived here… where did they go?”

  “Dunno,” said Sawyer as he jumped over the crumbled section of the wall, landing beside Geoff.

  “The place is a mess,” he said, motioning with a thumb over his shoulder. “We’re gonna have to clean up a bit. It’s all overgrown, but it should do for the night.”

  He pointed at Geoff. “Leaves for a bowl and firewood, right? Let’s go find some. I wanna see if you can do all that stuff you said earlier.”

  “I better go too,” said Jane. “Geoff’s shoulder is hurt and I can help carry wood.”

  They set off to look for the materials needed to build a fire and boil water. The sun was setting by the time they returned with armloads of tree limbs, twigs, and leaves. Finding large green leaves was easy, but they had to search much longer to find dry limbs from dead trees because there simply weren’t many dead trees.

  Inside the keep, they found themselves standing in what had once been a beautifully landscaped courtyard. At least a dozen trees had grown and overrun the area, and a tangle of shrubs made it difficult to navigate through it.

  Jane watched the rippling stream that had cut a swath through the middle of the courtyard, washing some sections of the wall away. The light from the setting sun made the surface of the rushing water sparkle and glint. Tall, thin reeds tipped with yellow and white flowers sprouted along the edges of the stream. The overgrown, mossy remnants of a carved stone fountain and two benches lay strewn about the courtyard.