“What’s our second choice?” Mr. Smithers asked, though a part of him didn’t want to know.
“Our second alternative is to approach the main doors of the courtyard and try to listen in on the meeting.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Mr. Smithers said. “We’re surely to be spotted if those guards turn around.”
“That’s a chance we have to take,” Artemas said. “But notice the two doors. They open into the castle toward us. If we stay with our backs to the wall, we’ll be concealed in the shadows just enough to sneak down there, hide behind the open doors and listen in. We’ve got to hear what they’re going to do to our friends. We’ll leave before the meeting is over.”
Mr. Smithers shook his head. “I say it’s risky.”
“What other choice is there?” Christopher asked. “We can’t keep waiting for second chances. We may never get another. I say we try.”
After some quiet debating, Mr. Smithers finally gave in and agreed to the magician’s plan. Artemas led the way down the passage, staying as close to the brick wall as possible. They quickly neared the doors–ten more yards and they would be safe–and then their hopes were dashed. As the voices in the outdoor courtyard grew in volume, another set of voices within the castle seemed to be getting closer. A band of soldiers swiftly approached.
“We’re trapped!” Mr. Smithers said frantically. “I knew we should have gone back. Now what?”
“I thought everyone was at the meeting!” Artemas said. “We haven’t much time. Mr. Smithers, I hope you can act.”
“Act? Me! What do I have to do?”
“You’re dressed like a castle guard, remember? Now lead Christopher and me back up this corridor as if we’re your prisoners. And try to look angry.”
Artemas and Christopher walked back in the direction they had come from, with Mr. Smithers behind them, acting the part of their guard. Soon a group of soldiers turned the corner, led by a particularly large and gruesome troll.
“Move on!” Mr. Smithers shouted at the first sight of the patrol. “We haven’t all day, you know!”
When the troll saw the trio approach, he ordered his troops to halt. “What have we here?” he asked as Artemas and Christopher neared.
“These are two more intruders,” Mr. Smithers said as convincingly as he could. He hoped he appeared grim and unfeeling, but inside he was as scared as a mouse. “I just caught the sneaks trying to spy on Belthasar’s meeting. What shall I do with them?”
The troll smiled wickedly, his pointed yellow teeth glaring in the dim light. “Excellent work, soldier! And you’ve captured these hideous spies single-handedly. Belthasar will hear of your accomplishment.” He looked sharply at Christopher and Artemas. “What do you two have to say for yourselves? Speak up!”
“We were trying to help our friends!” Christopher said angrily. “Who do you think you are anyway?”
“I’m the one in charge, little worm!” the troll scoffed. “And you’re my prisoner.” He laughed and signaled for Mr. Smithers to join his group. “We're going to the meeting and will escort your prisoners there. They will join their friends in the festivities!” he howled, prompting the other soldiers to jeer at the captives.
Not knowing what else to do, Mr. Smithers fell in line with the other soldiers and was soon marching toward the courtyard. Artemas and Christopher were kept up front with their hands tied behind them. The troll in charge even confiscated the small sack of potions that Artemas had given to Christopher for safekeeping. No magic would save them this time. Though Christopher couldn’t imagine what would happen to him now, he was grateful that he would soon see Molly. If anything, they would be able to talk to each other before their doom was pronounced.
Belthasar howled in delight at the sight of the two newest prisoners entering the courtyard. Christopher and Artemas were taken onto a platform in the center. The night air was cold and blustery. There to greet them, downtrodden and grim, were Molly, King Rupert, Princess Rosalind and Ulric.
“I see you’ve decided to join our little party,” the King whispered to Artemas.
“We didn’t have a choice. But at least Mr. Smithers is still free. He may yet be able to help us.”
“Good thing he tagged along on our journey.” But the King said no more for Belthasar was about to speak.
He stood at the edge of the platform as a swarm of soldiers circled about. The stars above dropped their icy light. “First we had four prisoners, and now six!” he shouted to a chorus of rousing cheers. “But I’ll deal with them in a moment. First to the business at hand–the announcement of my Great Plan!”
Thunderous applause flooded the courtyard. Christopher hardly paid attention as he edged his way over to Molly. “Are you all right?” he asked. “I’m sorry our rescue didn’t work out.”
“That’s okay, Chris. At least you’re here. That makes me feel much better.” Molly sighed and tried to hold back tears. “I wonder what Mom and Dad are doing now. And little Vergil. How I miss them!”
“So do I.”
“What if we never see them again?”
Christopher tried to comfort his little sister. “Don’t give up hope, Molly, no matter how awful things appear. We’re not beaten yet.”
“Stop talking!” one of the soldiers shouted. “Listen to what Belthasar has to say.”
Christopher wanted to lash out at the soldier, but thought it best not to provoke him. He listened as the Great Plan was announced.
Belthasar strutted back and forth along the platform with his hands clasped together. “My Great Plan is this! In three days, every soldier in this castle will assemble on the plains at the front gate. Then at my command, we will ride together until we reach King Rupert’s castle in Endora. We will overtake his kingdom, and this time WE WILL NOT FAIL! We will defeat our enemy once and for all!”
If a thunder storm had erupted above the castle at that instant, nobody would have heard it because of all the noise the soldiers made. They stomped and shouted with furious excitement, eager for battle to be waged.
“You will never defeat my people!” King Rupert shouted after the noise had subsided. “Though I may be your prisoner, my troops in Endora will not fall!”
Belthasar laughed. “My men outnumber yours by the hundreds. The only reason Malaban didn’t defeat you the last time is because he wasn’t smart enough to fight with all of his soldiers. I will come prepared for battle. Your reign over Endora will soon end!”
“And what do you intend to do with us?” Princess Rosalind demanded to know. “You kidnapped me once and I escaped. Don’t think you can keep me locked up for a second time!”
Belthasar smirked. “I can be a generous man. So I will let you decide your fate.” King Rupert and the others were stunned. “I will give you two choices. One–you can remain imprisoned here in my dungeon forever!”
“That’s not much of a choice,” King Rupert said. “What’s your alternative? Though I’m sure it will be as laughable as the first one.”
“Your second choice is this–I will set you free,” he said, pausing to see the wide-eyed amazement on their faces. “I will set you all free–if you assist me in defeating Endora!”
King Rupert’s jaw dropped. “That is an outrageous suggestion, Belthasar! I will never attack my own kingdom.”
“Certainly not!” Artemas said. “We will remain loyal to our King to the very end.”
“You bet we will!” Christopher added, accompanied by a nod of support from Molly.
Belthasar pondered their answer for a moment and shook his head. “You have made a terrible mistake. I offer you freedom, but you choose imprisonment for the rest of your lives. Is that your final decision?”
“Only a dishonorable soul like you would expect any other,” King Rupert said.
“So be it!” Belthasar stepped off the platform and signaled to the soldiers who had brought in the new prisoners. “Take these six intruders to the vault below the castle and lock them inside. Let them never
see the light of day again!” The soldiers quickly surrounded King Rupert and the others and ushered them out of the courtyard. Mr. Smithers went with them, pretending to jeer at the prisoners like the other soldiers were doing. “Enjoy your stay,” Belthasar shouted to King Rupert as he left, “because you’re going to be stuck here for a very, very long time!”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Another Rescue
The six captives were rushed through the castle corridors and down to the prisons in the lower level. After reaching the guardroom, they passed underneath the archway leading to the row of prison cells. “I don’t suppose we’ll get a cell with a sunset view,” King Rupert joked, trying to raise the spirits of his companions.
The troll in charge heard his comment and roared with laughter. “You’ll never see another sunset where you’re going!”
The soldiers marched them past each prison cell to the back of the corridor. There they halted in front of the iron door that Mr. Smithers had noticed on his first visit. The troll grabbed a torch from the wall and unlocked the door with a large key. He ordered another troll to open it and then the prisoners were herded down a narrow staircase into the suffocating darkness below.
Down, down it sloped, far below the castle where the air grew cold and stale. There wasn’t a single window anywhere. The only light came from the troll’s wildly flickering torch. King Rupert and Artemas puffed and panted when they reached the bottom. Ulric and Princess Rosalind were also tired but said nothing. Christopher and Molly simply felt alone and unwanted.
The steps opened into a small room which was as black as the night sky. A few soldiers grabbed some more torches on the wall and lit them. Soon the room was ablaze in an eerie red and yellow glow, revealing an empty stone chamber with an iron door built into one of the walls. A metal wheel protruded from the center of the door which controlled the locking mechanism. At the chief troll’s signal, a short bulky goblin walked to the door and turned the wheel. A sliding bolt grumbled inside the door. Finally a dull clanking sound echoed and the wheel stopped turning. The goblin pulled with all his strength until the heavy door slowly opened. The air seemed even darker inside if that was possible.
“Here is where you’ll spend the rest of your lives!” the troll guard said. “I hope you find your quarters enjoyable.”
“More enjoyable than your presence!” King Rupert snapped back. “But don’t think you’ve heard the last of me!”
“Oh, I think I have.” He motioned to his troops. “Untie them. Those ropes won’t be necessary now. There is no escape from the vault.”
When Princess Rosalind’s hands were free, she ran up to the chief guard. “At least let the children go!” she pleaded. “They are so young. They don’t deserve this cruel fate.”
“Stand back!” he warned. “The children will receive the same punishment as everyone else. No exceptions!”
“Don’t be afraid for us, Princess Rosalind,” said Christopher. “Molly and I won’t abandon any of you.”
“We’re here until the very end,” Molly added.
Princess Rosalind gazed at the children with both pride and sadness. “How brave such young people can be in the face of evil. It is an honor to know you both.” She gently kissed Molly and Christopher on the forehead. “There is more courage within the two of you than in all the soldiers in this miserable place.”
“Enough!” the troll shouted. “You’ve had your say. Now into the vault! All of you!”
The soldiers shoved the six prisoners into the chilling blackness. They watched helplessly as the goblin who had opened the door, slowly closed it with a sinister laugh. The light from the torches grew dimmer and dimmer until they were entombed in darkness. The wheel turned. The bolt inside creaked and rumbled until the door was securely locked. All was now deathly quiet. The prisoners were trapped, confined forever beneath the castle in utter darkness and despair, and without the slightest hope of escape.
No one spoke for what seemed the longest time. The dreadful finality of the situation had numbed their senses. Molly finally managed a few words.
“Is everyone here? I can’t see a thing.”
“We’re here,” King Rupert assured her. “That’s all we seem capable of doing–just being here. Without any light, our plight is hopeless. And who knows how long the air inside will last.”
“I might be able to help,” Artemas spoke up. “If I had some wood, I may be able to start a fire.”
“It’ll take a bit of doing, but if we all feel around we might turn up something,” Ulric said. “Just be careful so you don’t run into each other.”
Everyone searched about, though at first it seemed like a madhouse. People stumbled and bumped against one another and there were a few stubbed toes as well. King Rupert finally directed each person to a separate area of the chamber to search.
“The floor and walls are stone,” Christopher said. “So I guess we can’t dig our way out.”
Suddenly Princess Rosalind shouted. “I found a piece of wood on the wall! It feels charred at the top. Probably an old torch.”
“Bring it to me. I’m over here,” Artemas said.
Rosalind found the magician and handed him the torch. “I hope you can start a fire, Artemas.”
“I hope my magic works this far under the ground.”
Everyone held their breath in anticipation of some light to brighten the dismal surroundings. Artemas didn’t disappoint them. In an instant, a blue and yellow flash shot up to the ceiling like lightning. Artemas now stood there holding a flaming torch. The darkness dispersed and King Rupert inspected their prison.
The vault was low and circular, about twenty feet in diameter. It had been dug out of the rock, and loose stones were still scattered about. At a few points along the ground lay the remains of three or four skeletons, the bones slowly decaying to dust. Molly nearly screamed when she spotted them.
“Seems we aren’t the first prisoners to be locked away here,” Ulric grimly commented. “Those poor fellows have probably been trapped inside here for years.”
“I hope we don’t end up like that,” Molly said. “There must be a way out!”
King Rupert tapped on the vault door and sighed. “I’m afraid not, Molly. We’re trapped.”
Christopher ran over to Artemas. “Why can’t you open the door with magic? You unlocked the door by the moat to get us inside the castle.”
Artemas examined the door and frowned. “This door is too large, too heavy and securely locked. Why, it would take all of my strength just to move the bolt inside a mere fraction of an inch. The door I opened to get inside the castle had only a tiny lock. And even that taxed my powers at the time.” Artemas sat on the ground. “And there’s another reason why I can’t open the door,” he added.
“What is it?” Molly inquired.
“I sense that a magic spell has been cast upon the door. No doubt Malaban placed the spell on it himself when he had this vault constructed. Probably as a precaution to keep people like me from escaping.”
“Just our luck!” Christopher muttered.
“So even if I had the strength to open it with magic, I wouldn’t be able to override a sorcerer’s spell.” Artemas sighed and shook his head in defeat. “King Rupert is right. We’re trapped!”
In the meantime, the troop of soldiers outside the vault retreated up the stairs, celebrating their victory over King Rupert and his friends. Mr. Smithers stayed in back of the group, hoping to run away as soon as he had the chance. After marching out through the guardroom and back up to the main level of the castle, the troll in charge dismissed the soldiers. They quickly scattered in all directions. It was late into the night and most of them would be retiring after a busy day.
Mr. Smithers followed two goblin soldiers from a safe distance, not knowing where else to go. He still wasn’t familiar with this section of the castle. After passing through several corridors, his eyes lit up when finally spotting a place he knew well–his kitchen. As soon as the t
wo soldiers were far ahead of him, Mr. Smithers slipped inside the empty room and closed the door. He was safe at last.
“My kitchen!” he whispered. “Now I know which part of the castle I’m in. What luck! I haven’t eaten since this morning.”
Mr. Smithers gobbled up a few crusts of bread lying on one of the counters and drank some water from the barrel in the corner. For dessert he helped himself to the apples in the sacks along the wall. After having his fill, he knew the others would be hungry when he rescued them. “If I rescue them,” he wondered. “How will I ever get back to that vault?”
The answer to that question had to wait. For now he emptied one of the apple sacks about halfway so it was light enough to carry. He also gathered every last scrap of bread he could find and placed them in the sack with the apples. “Not the fanciest meal,” he thought, “but it’s better than starving.”
Slinging the apple sack over his shoulder, Mr. Smithers left the kitchen and found his way back to the hiding place by the moat without being spotted. Since a guard wasn’t patrolling outside the door at the moment, he had little difficulty getting inside. The darkness was smothering. Mr. Smithers, feeling lonely and upset, gazed at the stars outdoors. Even though he hadn’t been captured, he knew he could never leave the castle until his friends were free. Everything depended on him.
He paced about the tiny room, munching on an apple. “Now what do I do?” he thought. “I have to get back to the prisons, but how do I slip past the guards down there? And since I don’t have Artemas handy to conjure up a spell, I’ll need to get a weapon, too. Oh, there are so many details to this job.” He rubbed his whiskers. “It’s not easy being a superhero!”
Mr. Smithers thought and planned and paced until his brain and feet were equally sore. Midnight rolled around and dawn would soon follow. He felt he had to do something before daylight or else he might not get another chance. Besides, how long could King Rupert and the others survive in that vault with only a limited amount of air inside?
The Endora Trilogy (The Complete Series) Page 12