*****CUT VERSION*****
After having climbed down the stairs, they found themselves in a large underground chamber. Their torches were able to illuminate the area just in front of them.
“Robert,” came a voice.
“Father!” Robert yelled. Robert ran to the end of the chamber, where they saw a man suspended in the air. “Father, what are you doing here?” Robert asked.
“The sorcerer Talon has imprisoned me like this,” said the man. “I am held suspended in the air by his spells.”
Robert tried to pull his father out of the air, but it was impossible to move him.
“You can not break me free by human strength,” said Midor. “You need to use the spells.”
“I have the spell book here,” said John. “What spell is it?”
“It’s the unbinding spell,” said Midor.
John flipped through the book, trying to find the spell. Grace held the torch for him.
“You must hurry,” said Midor. “Talon will be here any minute. He comes every night to give me food and water.”
“Why has Talon done this to you?” asked Robert.
“I was travelling through this land to try to see your mother,” said Midor, “When I discovered these underground chambers. Being curious, I went down to explore.”
“You always loved exploring,” said Robert. “There was scarcely an inch of the forest that you didn’t explore.”
“And the knowledge of the forest served me well when I was a ranger,” said Midor. “But in this case, I wish I would have stayed above ground. I discovered a very dark secret down here in the chamber. Talon has used this chamber to open up a portal to another world.”
“A what?”
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Robert called out to the night air, “Oh, night birds of the forest, I, Robert, son of Midor, seek your guidance.”
“That shout will wake the whole castle,” said Thomas.
“I’m surprised they can sleep as it is,” said Grace.
There was a flutter of wings, and an owl flew down from one of the trees. “Son of Midor,” said the owl. “What do you seek?”
“The hollow tree,” said Robert. “My father told me to find it. I don’t know which hollow tree he meant.”
“There are many hollow trees in the forest,” the owl replied. “But I know which one he meant. Follow me.”
There was the sound of someone else running over. A female form emerged out of the shadows and into the moonlight. “It’s Marcia,” said Thomas.
“Are you crazy?” said Marcia to Robert. “You’re going to wake the whole castle. Grandfather will be furious when he finds you out at night.”
“Marcia, what are you doing here?” said Thomas. “You were supposed to be watching the door.”
“Susan is watching it.”
“You left Susan in charge of the door?”
“She’s 12. She’ll be fine.” Marcia then looked over at Henry. “Hi Henry,” she said, and there was a shift in her voice.
“Marcia, you shouldn’t be out here,” said Henry. “I don’t want you getting hurt by the spirits.”
“I don’t see why you all can be out here and I have to stay inside,” Marcia said.
“She’s got a point,” said Thomas. “We should all go inside.”
The owl meanwhile was perched on a nearby tree branch, looking from person to person as he followed the conversation. “Should I come back another time?” asked the owl finally.
“No, I am ready,” said Robert. “Lead and I will follow.”
A groaning sound seemed to come forth from the woods. It got gradually louder and louder. Soon it was discernible as words. “Son of Midor, beware, beware, beware, beware,” it said in a hollow voice.
In the shafts of moonlight, images were beginning to appear. Glowing white, they could see ghosts beginning to become visible all around them. The groaning sounds and the shrieking sounds got louder.
“We aren’t afraid of you ghosts,” Henry shouted. “Begone and trouble us no more.”
“That’s not going to do anything,” said Thomas, in a voice that now sounded panicky.
“Hold on,” said John, leafing through the book. “There’s a spell in here to banish the ghosts. Ah, here it is. Callo Te Malo.”
They waited, but the spell seemed to have no effect. The ghost seemed to become more and more numerous. Each ghost was glowing, and the effect of all of them was to light up the area of the forest.
Then, there were more footsteps, and the figure of Susan came running up to them. “Look out,” said Susan. “Talon’s coming. You woke him up with all that yelling. He’s coming and he’s real mad.”
“Susan, what are you doing here?” asked Marcia. “You’re supposed to be watching the door.”
“It’s okay. Peter’s watching the door.”
John looked through the book and tried another spell on the ghosts. It also had no effect.
And then, they saw Talon stride through the forest towards them. He wore long robes that trailed behind him. He looked furious. He waved his hands and uttered something in a guttural language that no one could understand. Immediately all the ghosts flew towards Talon to attack. Talon uttered spell after spell, casting his arms about as he did. With each spell, one of the ghosts would scream, and then dissolve into nothingness. Within minutes, no ghosts were left.
“What are you doing out here?” yelled Talon. “Are you mad? Get back in the castle where it’s safe.”
“I told you he was mad,” said Susan.
“We’re going to find my father,” Robert yelled back. Then Robert nodded to the owl. “Lead us to the hollow tree.”
“Fools, you don’t know what you’re doing!” Talon screamed. He raised his arms in anger, and robes fluttered in the wind. “I forbid you to go any further.”
“You’d better listen to him,” said Thomas. “You don’t want to make a sorcerer angry.”
Robert stepped towards Talon. “Don’t you hear that voice?” he asked. “Can’t you hear my father yelling for help?”
“Get back in the castle!” yelled Talon, his face throbbing with rage.
“But my father!”
“We’ll talk about this in the morning. It’s not safe here.”
“I can’t. My father said to go to the hollow tree.”
“Prince Robert, you are putting the lives of everyone here at risk,” Talon said.
Robert looked around. “He’s right,” Robert said after a minute. “Everyone go back inside with Talon. I’ll go on alone.”
“We’re not leaving you,” said Henry and Grace at the same time.
A new figure came running. It was Peter. “Grandfather’s coming!” he yelled.
“Peter, what are you doing?” asked Susan. “You were supposed to be watching the door.”
“There’s no point no,” said Peter. “All this yelling woke everyone up. Dad, Grandfather, Grandmother, everyone. They’re all coming out now. And Grandfather is really angry”
“Go back inside all of you,” said Robert. “I’ll go on and face the spirits alone.”
“Lead me to the hollow tree,” Robert repeated yet again to the owl.
“Okay, follow me,” said the owl, and he flew off slowly. Robert started following the owl. Talon uttered another one of his guttural cries. There was a flash of light, and the owl fell down motionless. “He’ll be alright,” said Talon. “He’ll sleep like that until morning.”
“Why did you do that? What don’t you want me to find?” asked Robert.
“I am protecting this castle,” said Talon.
“Where is my father?” asked Robert.
“I promise you, Prince Robert, we will talk about everything in the morning. But now, for your own safety, you need to return to the castle.”
“I always figured there was something strange about you,” said General Graten to Talon. “You know where his father is, don’t you? You know where that voice is coming from.”
“I know many things!” Talon yelled. “Some of the things I know are too terrible for any of you to know. I protect this castle from unseen evils.”
“What’s everyone doing out here?” came a voice. It was King Carlyle. He came striding out still in his pajamas, but with an angry look on his face. “Susan, Peter, Thomas, Marcia, get back inside now, or you’ll regret it!” Susan and Peter ran back toward the castle quickly. Thomas and Marcia stayed.
***** am behad grabbed Talon by the robes. Talon uttered another guttural cry, and Robert was knocked backwards to the ground as if hit by a sudden wind.
“Robert!” Grace yelled out in panic.
“I’m okay,” Robert said. “Just knocked me over, that’s all.”
“I beg you, prince Robert, do not touch my clothes,” said Talon. “Sorcerors can get very bothered if someone touches their robes.”
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