In Deep Dark Wood (15 page)
Authors: Marita Conlon-Mckenna
M
ia cried and cried after Bella’s death. Rory, Conrad and Gwenda were unable to console her. All the people of Dwarf Vale and Dragon Wood came to pay their respects to Bella Blackwell, filing past the coffin that lay, guarded by two dragons, on the table in the Great Hall. Wizards and witches and magicians from all over remembered well the old woman they called ‘the Great Sorceress.’ Bella had asked to be buried in her beloved woods. The sad band of mourners carried out her final wishes.
Conrad had organised everything for the funeral ceremony, and when they returned to Blackwell Castle, Rory realised how well his friend had taken to running both the castle and the dragon school.
Conrad’s jet-black hair hung loose about his shoulders and he wore a cloak of heavy purple velvet. He seemed different now, more than just a mere woodsman. But he was kindness
itself to Mia and asked her to sit by him as they ate.
Mia’s skin was pale and her eyes still red-rimmed and raw. Rory didn’t know if he was imagining it or not, but a small freckle or stain had appeared on her cheek, in the shape of a wing – a dragon’s wing.
‘Conrad, what did Bella mean about the Great Mage returning?’ asked Mia softly.
Conrad looked uncomfortable, toying with the food on his plate.
‘Bella was talking about the most powerful magician of all, who controlled these lands and this world and, of course, the dragons.’
‘Do you think that he is coming back, Conrad?’
Conrad nodded, his brown eyes serious as he answered Mia’s questions.
‘It is true, the old magic is born again,’ agreed Conrad. ‘You can sense it throughout the land. With the return of the dragons, the giants, dwarves and elves are all stirring too.’
‘I will miss Bella so much’, she said softly, ‘but I think that she didn’t mind dying because she knew that the Great Mage had already come and would take her place.’
Conrad stared into Mia’s eyes. ‘What are you saying?’
‘I am saying that I have watched the dragons and how you speak to them, and how they understand what you want without you even having to say anything. I have seen how you know your way from one end of this castle to the other, and how Gwenda and the rest of the dwarves and elves bow down and respect you. And I know that you saved my brother’s life
and guarded him in the Wood and guided him safely to me.’
‘For one so young, you have great wisdom, now I know why Bella chose you to be her apprentice,’ replied Conrad dryly.
Rory had no idea what Mia was going on about. He didn’t want his sister and his friend arguing and having a stupid fight.
‘Are you the Great Mage, the mighty magician, the dragon keeper?’ challenged Mia.
Conrad nodded. Rory couldn’t believe it! He’d expected Conrad to throw back his head and laugh at Mia for saying such a ludicrous thing, to slap his thigh and make a joke, to stand up and protest and say Mia had got it all wrong. Instead, he sat there, nodding.
‘Is it true?’ demanded Rory, staring hard at his friend.
‘Aye, it’s true!’ said Conrad, looking him straight in the eye.
‘I knew it was you from the very first second I saw you!’ smiled Mia triumphantly.
‘I’m sorry Rory, I didn’t mean to deceive you, but out there in Dragon Wood we met as equals and I was happy to join you on your quest. I knew that Bella had taken your sister. That was why I sent the Shadow Hound to bring you across into my world.’
‘You brought me here!’ said Rory angrily ‘You did!’
‘Well, I played some part in it, but much of it you did yourself. Magic and the dragons have always been a part of my life, part of my destiny, and now they have become part of yours. With Bella’s death it is now my turn to guard Dragon Wood and to ensure that these young dragons will be safe, and that there will always be a place in the world for ancient
wisdom and deep magic,’ explained Conrad.
Rory sat down, finally ready to listen.
‘From the time of the great druids, my family has learned the lore of ancient magic and protected it,’ explained Conrad. ‘It was the great Dracon himself who decided to safeguard old magic and create a world where giants and dragons and dwarves and elves could all remain safe, protected from humans and from time.’
‘I still don’t understand,’ murmured Mia ‘Who is this Dracon? Was he your father, grandfather?’
‘Dracon was, Dracon is, and Dracon will be,’ said Conrad firmly, ‘and now I am he.’
Rory still couldn’t believe that Conrad was the all-powerful Great Mage and had been all along.
‘But what about back in the woods? What were you doing there?’
‘My friend Rory, all heroes must be challenged. You passed the test of courage and resolve well, as did your sister.’
‘What about Bella?’
‘Bella was one of the wisest magicians who ever lived. She devoted her life to the dragons. Dracon entrusted her with the dragon eggs and tiny orphan new-borns, and he knew she would protect and guard his dragons and their wood.’
‘I wish she hadn’t died,’ said Mia softly.
‘I know,’ answered Conrad, ‘but she has taught you much, even in a short time. Good lessons are never wasted.’
‘We will have to return to our own world and our family soon,’ insisted Rory. ‘Though how we will get back now I’m
not sure.’
‘Bella left you a gift,’ Conrad announced, ‘it is time you received it!’
Gwenda appeared carrying a gold casket, which she placed on the floor in front of them.
‘It was Bella’s wish that you should have this, Mia.’
Mia raised the lid, gasping with surprise. It was the flying coat! There it lay, carefully folded, the multicoloured feathers flattened and dull, waiting for her to use it.
‘It’s mine! Look Rory, this is the coat I was telling you about! Do you know what this means?’
Pulling the coat from the casket to show her brother, she swirled it round her shoulders. The feathers filled out and changed colour.
At the bottom of the casket lay a second coat of a different hue. Gwenda, blushing with pride, pulled it out and placed it across Rory’s shoulders.
‘And this one is yours. Bella left it for you.’
Rory stood staring in disbelief. Imagine the old witch leaving him something too!
Conrad hugged him close.
‘You and Mia are not my prisoners. You are free to come and go as you please. Now, with these coats, you have no excuse, my friend!’
Mia looked at her brother. ‘Are we going home, Rory?’
Rory nodded, not trusting himself to speak. ‘Yes Mia!’ he eventually stuttered, emotion choking him. ‘We’re going back to Glenkilty!’
R
ory and Mia rose early the next morning. Gwenda cooked an enormous breakfast and expected them to eat every last crumb. Rory’s stomach was churning with excitement and nerves and poor Mia looked like she hadn’t slept a wink all night. Rory did his best to eat heartily; he knew how much trouble the dwelf girl had taken to prepare the meal. Mia just picked at the scrambled eggs and nibbled half a potato cake.
As soon as breakfast was over, Mia jumped up from the table and ran upstairs, through the castle and out to the courtyards. Conrad was already there, working with the dragons in the early morning sunshine.
Mia went from one dragon to the other bidding each of them farewell. How had they grown so big in such a short time? She patted Arznel, the black dragon blowing hot air at her down his nose.
‘You’ll be blowing fire next, Arznel!’ she joked, tickling him under the chin.
When Mia came to Rana, she noticed the tears in the dragon’s eyes and stroked her very gently.
‘Now, don’t you go making me cry too!’
Dink, the boisterous green dragon, was his usual self and butted her with his snout, looking for attention.
‘I promise I won’t forget you either, Dink.’
Gosha nuzzled her, licking her hands, and Flett and Frezz pushed at each other trying to get closer to her.
‘Now, no fighting!’ she warned them, giving each of them a kiss on the snout.
Oro stood totally still with his head bent as Mia tickled his golden belly one last time.
Trig stood back from the rest and Mia went and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. The blue dragon would always be her favourite. Trig hung his long neck and bent his head close to hers. Mia looked at Conrad who nodded at her, understanding the silent communication between dragon and master. In an instant the young girl was on Trig’s back, and the dragon lifted from the grey stone courtyard, turned smoothly, and took off across the castle’s ramparts, out into the morning sunshine.
Rory ran after them, a look of surprise on his face. Conrad held him back, as Trig and Mia flew skywards. Mia held on tightly as Trig circled smoothly, taking in the timeless beauty of Dragon Wood, Silver Lake, Dwarf Vale and Blackwell Castle. Mia was filled with joy as she flew with the dragon, her hair blowing in the wind. She would remember every second of that perfect dragon flight for the rest of her life.
Slowing down, Trig began to glide. Approaching the castle, his lonesome dragon roar broke the stillness of the morning air. As he landed, Mia knew that the strong bond between her and the blue dragon would forever remain unbroken.
‘I’ll return,’ she whispered to him. Trig looked at her with mournful eyes.
‘It is time to leave,’ said Conrad. ‘The sky is clear and there is a good strong breeze. You must both make ready!’
Rory and Mia put on their flying coats, making sure they were securely fastened. The coats fitted perfectly over their arms and legs.
‘The coats are fine,’ murmured Conrad. ‘You must take good care of them and keep them in a safe, dry place. Remember that the feathers need to be used every so often or they will become stiff and useless.’
Mia stretched her feathered arms and pushed her hair off her face. Gwenda fussed over her like a mother hen, putting bread and sausage in her pocket in case she got hungry during the journey. How could Mia ever thank the dwelf girl for all her kindness? Rory and Conrad shook hands, respect and deep friendship in their eyes.
‘I will miss you, brave Rory. Remember that you are a magician’s son, too!’ warned Conrad. ‘No matter what you say or do, you can’t change that!’
It was almost mid-morning by the time they eventually left the castle. Rory and Mia held hands, and stood with arms outstretched on the ledge of the main courtyard. Then they looked at each other nervously and jumped!
The feathers caught the wind and they could feel the muscles tighten in their arms as they began to fly. In only a few minutes, Conrad, Gwenda and the dragons fell away below them and disappeared from their sight.
Who could say how long they flew. At one point, a curious goose circled them, curious to know what type of birds they were, and a flock of gullion almost crashed into them and sent them off-course. Rory was pleased to see that the giants had made a start on the huge bridge that would span the swamp and eventually link the territories of Terra and Arbor.
The sun disappeared and it began to rain, but the waterproof feathers clung snugly to their bodies as the children flew on. Day changed to night and soon they only had the moon for company. Hour after hour Rory and Mia flew, until they were exhausted. They had to stop themselves falling asleep – the rhythmical sound and movement of the wings made them so drowsy!
Eventually, the darkness began to leave the sky and streaks of early light appeared on the horizon.
‘How much further!’ yawned Mia. ‘My arms and legs hurt.’
Rory hadn’t a clue, but he knew that the terrain had changed. It had become more familiar.
‘Is that the church tower?’
The children felt a growing sense of excitement as they recognised familiar landmarks. After all, Conrad had said that everything at home in Glenkilty would be as they left it.
‘There’s Mulligan’s farm!’
‘Look Rory, there’s our school!’
‘There’s the main street!’
All tiredness disappeared as they followed the curve of the winding road that led out past the lake. Far below stretched the giant trees of Glenkilty Wood. Mia could see the grey tiled roof and the tall chimney of their own house and the various greens of her mother’s herbaceous border.
‘We should land in the wood,’ said Rory, ‘in case anyone sees us.’
It was a difficult landing. Both children clipped the branches of trees and almost fell through the dense foliage to the ground. The magpies and rooks cawed in uproar at the two strange birds that had invaded their woods. Brushing themselves off and slightly shaken, Rory and Mia took off their feathered coats and folded them carefully.
‘Where will we hide them?’
Rory looked around, searching for a suitable hiding place. He found a large, dry hole in the centre of a chestnut tree, and placed the flying coats carefully inside.
‘We’ll come back for them later!’
Mia felt nervous and the ground seemed to tilt and wobble beneath her feet as she and Rory walked towards home. What would their mum and dad say, how could they possibly explain their absence? They crossed over the back fence and pushed through the hedge. The back door stood wide open. Jackie ran towards them, frantic with delight, barking madly, and flinging her small body at their feet, nearly tripping them up in the process. Mia gasped when she looked at the empty house next door. Trailing thick green ivy covered every brick and corner
of the house and dusky pink roses clambered round every door and window, and by the front door was a huge bush of white and yellow daisies.
‘Rory!’ she gasped alarmed. Conrad had promised everything would be as it was before!
‘Mia, just close your eyes and think of … before!’ urged Rory.
‘Everything should be as before!’ Mia chanted aloud, letting the image fill her head and feeling a swell of tingling magic ripple through her fingers and toes.
‘Look!’ shouted Rory in excitement. Before their eyes the house next door began to change. The ivy retreated as the roses shrivelled, and the white daisies disappeared into the grass. It was incredible! Suddenly, the hall door opened and Granny Rose and her two friends stumbled out.
‘Oh, dear me!’ groaned Daisy Donovan, ‘I’ve a splitting headache.’
‘What are you doing in there, Granny? Are you feeling all right?’ asked Mia.
‘Mia, child, there you are safe and well after giving us all such a fright!’
‘It’s all right Granny,’ assured Rory. ‘I told you I’d find her and bring her home.’
The three old women seemed slightly bewildered and confused.
‘It was the strangest thing,’ murmured Ivy Harrington, ‘We came in to try and find you, Mia, and that nasty neighbour of yours, well, she put a spell on …’
Rose Murphy nudged her best friend, giving her a warning glance. The three old woman looked at each other. Their twinkling old eyes met, and shared a silent secret.
Daisy and Ivy walked back to the Murphys’ driveway, and climbed into their battered green mini. The children and their grandmother waved goodbye as they drove away.
Relieved, Rose Murphy hugged her grandchildren, wrapping her arms around them as they walked back across the lawn. ‘Your Mum and Dad will be home in two days, then we’ll all be back to normal. I’ll not ask you two where you’ve been,’ smiled their Granny, fixing her gaze on them. ‘I’m much too old and much too wise to do that. All I’ll say is, I’m glad you’re back!
Mia turned back towards the witch’s house. It was empty now. Tears filled her eyes when she remembered Bella, the old Dragon Woman, and the good and bad times they had shared. The great sorceress’s Olde Magick book was tucked safely under her arm, for there was much a young apprentice needed to learn if she wanted to be a great magician…