Chapter 58: The Ogre

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Grace was in the castle courtyard, practicing her archery as usual.  She shot several arrows into the target, then she retrieved them, and started shooting them again.

Robert had come down to watch.  Grace noticed him standing behind her.  “You’re late,” she said.  “I told you I would be in the courtyard at noon.”

“I know,” he said.  “The stairway was filled with goblins again.  I had to go out the backway.”

“I hate this stupid castle,” said Grace shooting another arrow.  “None of this craziness used to happen in the palace where we grew up.  I wish we were still back there.”

“You know you can never go back,” Robert said gently.

“I know.  But I wish it just the same.  I wish King Richard had never tried to kill us, and that we could have been left alone.”

“But then,” said Robert, his voice slightly hurt, “You would never have met me.”

“That’s true,” said Grace.  “I guess it hasn’t been all bad after all.  Even if you were a bit late just now.”

“It’s kind of you to forgive me,” said Robert.  “Do you want to take a walk outside, and get away from these goblins for a bit.”

“There are all over the forest now as well,” Grace said.  “At least the forest near the castle.”

“I’m sure we can find a quiet spot,” said Robert.

Grace retrieved her arrows again, and put them in the quiver over her shoulder.  Then, taking the bow in her right hand, and holding Robert’s hand in her right, they walked out the castle courtyard and into the forest.

“Do you have to bring the arrows with you?” asked Robert.

“It’s not very romantic, is it?” said Grace.  “But with everything that’s around these woods, I’d feel vulnerable without a weapon of some sort.  What about you?  Don’t you ever carry a sword anywhere?”

“I know how to use a sword, if I had to,” said Robert.  “But I don’t like carrying them around with me.  My father never did.  It’s not usually done with the forest rangers.  A wooden staff is more traditional.”

Grace laughed.  “Who knew forest rangers could be so conservative.”

“The forest folk are very conservative,” Robert answered back seriously.  “Always.  We value the old ways.”

“Okay then, where’s your wooden staff?”

“If there’s a time for fighting, I will find one.  But my father and I never carried them around when we were just out walking.  My father said it would interfere with his role as the peace-maker of the forest if people saw him carrying a weapon.”

Just then, as they were coming around a bend in the forest path, they met an ogre.  He was big and tall and ugly.  Both Robert and Grace stepped back in surprise.  Ogres had not been in this part of the forest before.

While Robert and Grace were still standing in disbelief, the ogre yelled a terrible yell, and rushed forward.  Grace, quick as lightning, reached into her quiver and fitted an arrow to her bow.  But the ogre knocked her down before she had a chance to fire it.  Once Grace was knocked to the ground, the ogre barred his terrible teeth, and was all set to devour her on the spot.  But Robert picked up the heaviest stone he could find and threw it at the ogre’s head.

The stone crashed into the ogre’s head, seeming to disorient him for a minute.  But he quickly recovered, and turned to attack Robert.  Robert had no time to defend himself before the ogre charged into him.  As Robert fell down, the ogre’s teeth sank into his arm.  Robert yelled in pain, and the ogre then bared his teeth and would have gone for Robert’s neck, except Grace’s arrow hit the ogre just then.  (While the ogre had been attacking Robert, Grace had had time to fit an arrow to her bow and fire.)  The arrow buried itself in the ogre’s back. 

Now, ogres are great big things with tough skin, so it is notoriously difficult to kill them with a single arrow.  You really need to cut off their head with a sword if you want to put them down permanently.  But you can still wound them and cause them pain with arrows.

The ogre screamed in pain and then straightened himself and turned to face Grace.  Grace had already fitted another arrow to her bow in this time.  She moved the bow up so that the arrow was pointing right at the ogre’s face.  “Go away,” said Grace.  “Leave us alone, and I won’t hurt you.”  The ogre screamed and charged at Grace, so she let the arrow go.  It pierced the ogre right in his eye.  He screamed in pain and anger and covered his face.  Grace fitted another arrow to her bow.  By the time the Ogre recovered himself, and uncovered his face to look at Grace again, Grace’s arrow was pointing straight at his other eye.  “You can still leave,” said Grace.  “If you walk away now, I won’t fire.”  The ogre put his head down, turned around and slowly walked away.  Grace knelt down to tend to Robert, but as soon as she knelt down, and the ogre, looking backwards, saw her bow had been lowered, he charged again.  Luckily, Grace was ready.  In a flash she picked up her bow again, fitted the arrow, and shot at the ogre once again.  She didn’t have time to aim carefully this time (otherwise she would have taken out his second eye) but she did manage to send an arrow through his hand.  The ogre stopped briefly and yelled in pain, during which time Grace readied her next arrow.  The ogre charged at Grace again, even faster now (the arrow through his hand had only served to make him angrier). But this time, she was ready for him and she shot it at his face.  The arrow blinded his second eye, and the ogre fell to the ground crying most piteously.  

Grace left the ogre crying on the ground while she took Robert back to the castle.

Chapter 2: Finn Departs

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By noon, the three of them were exhausted.  They came back to the house, went straight for the table, and collapsed into their chairs.  Margaret came around and poured hot soup into their bowls.  

Margaret had white hair, just like her husband Finn, but her face had aged much better than his.  Her face still looked soft and beautiful.  It was only her hands that showed her age.  When she poured the soup out, the wrinkles and veins on her hands were visible.

After she had served them their soup and bread, Margaret sat down at the table herself to join in the meal.

At first, Catherine, Carlyle and Finn were too tired to talk, so they sat in their seats and just ate their food.  Margaret let them eat for a couple of minutes, but then she began asking questions.

“Did you finish?” she asked.

Finn grunted.  “Finished.  All the logs are sawed and in the cart.”

“When will you leave?” Margaret said.

Finn wiped the soup off of his chin with his bread.   “Arthur should be coming around shortly,” he said.  “I’ll leave when he gets here.”

“And how long will you be gone this time?” Margaret asked.

“Same as usual.  It should take us two days to get down into the forest, and then two days to get back.”

“Can I come with you?” asked Carlyle.

“No,” said Finn flatly.

“But I can help pull the cart,” said Carlyle.  “I’ve never seen the forest.”

“Arthur and I can pull the cart fine.  Besides, your mother and sister need you up here.”

“We could all come,” said Catherine.  “That way you won’t have to split the money with Arthur.”

“You’ll stay here,” said Finn.  “And Arthur’s son, Alfred, will stay with you as well.”

Catherine groaned.

“What’s wrong?” asked Finn.

“I hate it when Carlyle’s friends stay over,” said Catherine.  “They always talk nonsense the whole night.  And Alfred is the worst of them.”

“I’m sorry,” said Finn, although his tone did not indicate any sorrow.  “But it needs to be done.  While I’m gone, you’ll need someone else in the house in case there’s another attack.  Alfred is old enough to help in a fight now, if he needs to.  But it’s also for his own benefit.  It’s not safe for him to stay alone while his father is with me.  Anyway, it’s already been agreed to.”

Catherine rolled her eyes, but didn’t argue.

“There’s one thing I’ve never understood,” said Carlyle.  “Why do the forest people always give you money in exchange for lumber?  There are plenty of trees in the forest.  Why don’t they just cut their own lumber?”

“Because,” said Finn, tearing off another mouthful of bread with his teeth, “You’d have to be crazy to make the trees angry when you’re in the forest.” 

“What does that mean?” asked Catherine.  But Finn ignored her question.

“Then why don’t the forest people come up here to cut down the trees,” asked Carlyle.

“They do, sometimes,” said Finn.  “But the mountains are dangerous.  There are all sorts of dangerous creatures that live up here that the forest people aren’t used to.  Plus they don’t know the area. You remember the group that got mauled by the bears four years ago?  Those were forest people.  They came up here to cut down some trees, and they didn’t realize how close they were to bear territory.  And because they weren’t used to watching for bears, they didn’t notice it when the bears started to creep around them.  And then when the bears did attack, they didn’t know how to fight them.”

“I remember you telling us about that,” said Carlyle.  “But you wouldn’t let us see the bodies.”

“You didn’t need to see the bodies.  Arthur and I brought what was left of them back to the forest, and their families paid us something for our trouble.  But ever since then, no forest people have come up here again.”

“Is it safer in the forest?” asked Catherine.

“Much safer,” said Finn.  “That’s why the forest folk don’t know how to handle themselves when they come up here.”

“Well if it’s safer in the forest, then why do we live up here in the mountains?” asked Catherine.  “And why don’t you ever let us come with you when you go into the forest?”

“Too many questions,” said Finn angrily.  “Why can’t I ever eat a meal in peace?”  

There was a knock on the door.  Instinctively they all reached for their weapons.  “That’ll be Arthur,” said Finn.  “Everybody relax.”  Although Finn still kept his hand on his sword.

“It’s me, Finn,” came a voice from outside.  “Open up.”

Finn walked over and undid the latch.  Arthur stepped into the doorway, and with him came a gust of cold air.  Arthur had a healthy pink looking face, and a full head of brown hair, and a thick curly brown bread.  With broad shoulders and a big chest, he fully looked the part of a mountain woodsman. 

“Whoa! What is that smell?” Arthur bellowed as he came into the house.  

“You know what it is,” said Finn in a tired voice.  “It’s Margaret’s collection of plants and herbs.  As usual.”

“Hello Margaret,” said Arthur.  “Glad to see you haven’t lost your touch.  Still keeping your medicine cabinet fresh, I see.”

“Hello Arthur,” Margaret replied.  “Yes, I’m still collecting the useful herbs and roots.  If you ever get sick, you know where to find me.”

Arthur laughed.  “I promise, you’ll be the first person I visit,” he said.  “Hello Catherine.  Hello Carlyle.  My you two are getting big.  How old are they, Finn?”

“Fifteen this year,” said Finn.

“Getting old enough to finally help out around here,” said Arthur.

“Getting old enough to bother me with a lot of questions,” said Arthur in a grumpy voice.  “How is Alfred doing?”

Arthur stepped aside to reveal his son, who was standing behind him.  “Fourteen this year.  And getting strong and tough, just like his father.”

Alfred grimaced in embarrassment at this, but then he caught Carlyle’s eye and let out a small laugh as if to say, “How ridiculous that he’s embarrassing me this way”  Carlyle laughed back, and pretty soon Arthur joined in the laughter as well as he tousled Alfred’s black hair with his big hands.  Alfred put up with the tousling briefly, and then slowly stepped out of his father’s reach.

Arthur was slightly smaller than Carlyle and Catherine, but because he was constantly running around outside and getting into fights, he did indeed look strong and tough.  

“Alfred, I appreciate you staying with my family,” said Finn.  “There shouldn’t be any attacks this week.  We gave them something to remember when we fought off the last attack.  But just in case, Catherine and Carlyle will show you where the weapons are.”

“Yes sir,” said Alfred.

“Do you want any soup?” Finn asked Arthur.

“No, the boy and I already ate,” said Arthur.  “We should get going.  It’s past noon already.”

Finn started stepping outside.

“Don’t forget your coat, Father” said Carlyle, running after Finn.

“It’s alright,” said Finn, patting Carlyle affectionately.  “It’s actually not as cold at the bottom of the mountain as it is at the top.  We’ll be fine in the forest without coats.”

“Bring it anyway,” said Margaret.  “Just in case.”

Finn recognized the tone of voice, and knew better than to argue.  “Yes dear,” he said.

“I still don’t understand why we can’t all come,” said Carlyle.  “I want to see the forest.”

“When you’re older,” said Finn.

“But why?” asked Carlyle.  

“When you’re older,” said Finn again firmly, and he patted Carlyle on the back again.  “Take care while I’m gone.  You too Catherine.  And take care of your mother, both of you.”

“And stay inside if you can,” Arthur added.  “There are rumors that the goblin army is marching through these mountains again.”

“You be careful as well,” said Margaret.

“I’m bringing my sword, as always” Finn said.

Finn and Arthur walked to the cart.  They each had a sword strapped to their back, which they then threw onto the cart.  Finn threw his coat onto the cart as well.  Then they each grabbed one of the shafts, and with a great pull, set the cart in motion.

From the doorway, Carlyle, Catherine and Alfred watched their fathers pull the cart down the mountain path until they had disappeared out of sight.

“Right,” said Alfred.  “Who wants to go exploring?”

Chapter 57: Vivian Practices Magic

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After Talon and Catherine had drilled Vivian thoroughly in all the different conjugations, she finally felt ready to try the spell.

She went to her mother’s room.  Talon and Catherine stood watching her.  Her mother, Benevois, was sitting on the bed, still in frog form, but managing to read a book.  The pages were big, but she was able to turn the pages by hopping to the side of the book, picking the pages up in her frog hands, moving the pages,, and then sitting on the book to read the page.  Benevois looked up when they walked in.

Vivian began the chant.  Benevois looked concerned.  “Vivian, dear, what are you doing?”

Vivian was humming softly now.  She broke the hum briefly to say, “It’s all right mother.  I’m here to help you.”

Benvois did not argue.  She simply said, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Trust me mother.”  Vivian continued the chanting.  Eventually, Benevois was transformed from a frog back into a human.

“You did it,” said Benevois.  She embraced her daughter happily and kissed her.

Vivian collapsed onto a chair.  But it was not exhaustion in her face.  It was a look of rapturous delight.  She had done it.  She looked very happy and pleased with herself.  

“It felt good, didn’t it,” said Catherine.  “It always feels good when you release the energy like that.  So much better than keeping it pent up inside you.  People like you and me aren’t meant to keep the energy pent up inside us.”

“It did feel good,” said Vivian.  

“Imagine feeling like that all the time,” said Catherine.  “Every day.  Every hour.  It can be yours.”

Vivian feebly tried to resist.  “It’s dangerous to release too much magic like that.”

“Dangerous for who?  There are plenty of things in this world that need fixing, and you can fix them.”

Vivian tried another route.  “I don’t want to lose control.”

“You don’t have to lose control.  Look at Talon.  Has he ever lost control.”

“There are,” Talon said carefully, “two different kinds of magic.  Both are to be used cautiously, for neither are without its costs.  But one kind is relatively harmless, and the other-”

“Black magic,” said Catherine.  “Yes, you can call it by its name.”

Talon nodded.  “Black magic, then.  Black magic has its costs.”

“It does,” said Catherine, in a voice that was almost cooing.  “But it also has its benefits.  You can feel very powerful when you use black magic.”

Vivian was getting frightened now.  “I don’t ever want to use black magic,” she said.

“Of course not.  And no one is making you,” said Catherine.  “We only want you to use the type of magic that you’re comfortable with.”

Benevois stepped forward and put her arm around her daughter.  “I think you should go now,” she said to Catherine.

“Of course,” said Catherine.  “It’s your room, after all.  Just remember that you could be turned back into a frog at any moment if I choose.  It is only because I like your daughter that I’m allowing you to return to human form.”

“I don’t need favors from you, Catherine,” said Benevois.

“You did once,” said Catherine.  “I remember when I was Queen of this castle, and you were just a girl.  I am queen of the castle again, and you will supplicate me like you did before.”

“That was a long time ago,” said Benevois.  “And many things have changed.”

“Things are changing back,” said Catherine, and she turned around.  

Catherine and Talon left the room, and closed the door.  “Don’t ever trust her,” said Benevois.

“I won’t,” said Vivian.

“Promise me.”

“I promise I won’t,” said Vivian.

“I agree with that,” said a voice.

“Midor?” Vivian turned.  “Where are you?
“On the windowsill.  My friends Sandi and Stuart flew me back here.”

“What about my father?”

“He grew tired of my company.”

Benevois sighed.  “I suppose that was only a matter of time,” she said.  “I didn’t think he was going to put up with you forever.  Still, I do hope he’ll be alright in the forest.”

“He should be fine,” said Midor.  “Benjamin the Mouse and Jacob the Frog will look after him and make sure he doesn’t get into trouble.”

“So why did you come back then,” asked Vivian.  “Why not continue on your own through the forest.”

“Because I was worried about you,” said Midor.  “And now I see I was right to be worried.”

Vivian straightened up indignantly.  “You underestimate me as always Midor.  I’ve been handling myself.  I’ve only gone along with Catherine as far as it was necessary to change mother back into human form.”

“I know.  But Catherine wants to tempt you into dark magic.  I don’t like it.”

“You think Catherine is smarter than I am?”

“I think Catherine knows things about the seduction of black magic.  Things that we don’t know.  And that makes her dangerous.”

“Agreed,” said Vivian.  “She is dangerous.  But I’m keeping clear of her.  I’ll be alright.”

“I hope so,” said Midor.

“So you’re just back in this castle to keep an eye on me?” Vivian asked. 

“Something like that.”

“You have no other agenda here?”

“Nothing comes to mind.”

“You know,” Vivian said, twirling her hair slightly, “I could probably reverse Catherine’s spell and turn you back into normal size.  She taught me how to reverse the frog spell on Mother.  She’d probably teach me how to reverse your shrinking spell.”

“She probably would,” Midor agreed.  “If for no other reason than because it will lead you further down the path she wants you on.”

“Yes, I know.  But I’m smart enough to walk the line.  I can take the magic spells I want from her, without getting transformed like she did.  And we have to turn you back to regular size sooner or later.  You can’t go through the rest of your life like this.”

“I was hoping to get to the land of the fairies.”

“But you said it yourself.   No one can undo a magic spell unless they know what the spell was.  Only Catherine can tell us how to reverse her own spell.”

“Magic isn’t my area of expertise,” said Midor.  “But my understanding is that it might be possible for someone to try to guess the spell.  The fairies could try to undo it.”

“Listen to yourself. ‘might’, ‘possible’ ‘could try’.  It’s a long shot and you know it as well as I do.  Catherine is right here, and she would help us.  And it’s not even black magic.  We can’t have you wandering around only 6 inches tall, not when there’s so much that you need to do.”

“I hate to say it,” said Benevois, “But it sounds like my daughter is probably right.  I hate trusting Catherine, but what other choice do we have?”

“No,” said Midor.  “No, I don’t like it.  Listen, Vivian, you know how I feel.  I’ve always felt it was wrong for you to hide your gifts.  I’ve always felt that if you wanted to do magic, you should do magic.  You know that.  But don’t do it under Catherine’s tutelage.  You know she’s looking for a chance to mislead you.  Come with me and we’ll go to the Elves, and you can learn magic from them.  Or the fairies can teach you.  Or we’ll bring you to the forest druids, and learn their spells.  You can do all the magic you want, but don’t let Catherine teach you anything.”

“But what about you?”

“I’ll take my chances with the fairies.  Or I’ll be 3 inches tall for the rest of my life.  I don’t care.  I can still help the forest and help the animals negotiate with each other just as well if I’m 3 inches tall as I can when I’m 6 feet.  My wits and patience have always been what’s helped me in the forest, not my strength.”

“You're over-reacting, and you don’t trust me.  It’s just one spell.  I’ve already done one spell on my mother, and it has caused me no ill effect.  Besides, we can’t have you spending days wandering the forest hoping that the fairies can help you.  There’s going to be trouble in this castle sooner or later, and I want you by my side to help me.”

Midor relented.  “Fine.  One spell.”

Chapter 56: King Carlyle Explores the River

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King Carlyle was buffeted around by the rushing water for what felt like an eternity.  If he had still been in his human body, he might have drowned.  But he found that as a frog, he didn’t find himself gasping for air or swallowing water when the current pushed him down.  Instead, it simply felt natural for him to be under water.

He didn’t emerge until the rushing water slowed to a slow current.  He was now in the middle of a much slower moving river.  His first instinct was to swim for shore, but then he slowly realized that he had no idea where he was.  Truth be told, he was a bit vague on where exactly he had been in the forest  even before the meeting with Lucius.  But he hadn’t wanted the others to know that he was lost without Midor, so he hadn’t let on.  But after having been picked up by Lucius and dashed through the forest, and after having gotten carried away by the river, he now well and truly had no idea where he was.  So he just let the slow current take him drifting down the river.

After floating for some time, he got bored and decided to swim beneath the surface for a while.  Somehow in this frog body it felt like a natural thing to do.  So he lowered his head, kicked his legs, and found himself swimming under the water.  

He saw a big bass fish sitting near the bottom of the river.  “Hello,” said the bass.  “I haven’t seen you in these parts before.  Are you new to this river?”

King Carlyle was surprised to discover that he could hear the voice of the bass perfectly even though they were both under water.  He had never had the occasion to be in the body of an amphibian before, or any aquatic creature for that matter, and so he had no idea how they usually communicated.

He decided to open his mouth and attempt a reply.  “I am,” he said.  “I come from a different part of the forest altogether.  It’s a very long story.”

“I see,” said the bass.  “Well, welcome.  My name is Larry.  Since you’re new here, I’ll give you the usual warnings.  Watch out for the pike.  He likes to eat small frogs like you.”

“You must be mistaken,” said King Carlyle stubbornly.  “That would violate the rule of the forest.”

“The rule of the forest?” said Larry the bass incredulously.  “The rule of the forest is not enforced here under the water.  It’s barely enforced above the water, as a small animal like you must surely know.  Who would be around to enforce it under the forest?”

“Who would enforce it?” asked King Carlyle.  “We all come together to enforce it, surely.  That’s how any good law is enforced.”

“I’ve given you my warning,” said Larry the Bass lazily.  “If you choose to ignore it, then I can’t help you.”

“I must say,” said King Carlyle.  “This is not a suitable welcome for a new traveller like myself.  Haven’t you anything more constructive to say?  Wouldn’t you like to show me around.”

“Your majesty, there you are!” came another voice from under the water.  It was Jacob the frog, who was swimming towards him.

“Oh, hello Jacob,” said King Carlyle.  “I was just talking to my new friend Larry here, who told me I should beware of the pike.  Apparently the pike likes to eat frogs like myself.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” said Jacob.  “Your majesty should know that these waters have very little rules to them.”

“Your majesty?” said Larry the bass.  “Why do you call him that?  Do you frogs have kings now?”

“It is the human king,” Jacob explained, “Transformed into the body of a frog.  I am only using the term of address that he is accustomed to.”

“Human king?”

“Yes, the king of the big castle.”

“What big castle?  I’ve never seen it,” said Larry.

“Ah, you fish,” said Jacob, in a tone that was almost pitying.  “You only know what is in the river.  We frogs know everything that is in the waters, and everything that is in the land.”

“You speak as if it were an advantage to know both worlds,” said Larry.  “But it is not.  When you are in the river, the only thing that will keep you alive is knowing about the river.  When the pike comes, you need to know where the best hiding places are, and where the quickest escape is. Your knowledge of castles up on the land will do you no good down here.  I’ve seen many an animal perish because they did not know this river well enough.  It is much better to know one place well than to know two places only half well.”

Jacob didn’t argue.  “You may be right,” he said.  “But still, I couldn’t spend my whole life in just one place.  Maybe it is just the way we frogs are made, but I need to get up and explore different places.  I spent my entire youth in the water, you know.  Not here, but in a pond about a couple miles from here.  I knew all the parts of it inside and out.  But once I grew my legs, it was time for me to leave the pond and explore.  And I’ve never regretted leaving it.”

While they were talking, a whole school of small fish swam by.  King Carlyle watched them with fascination.  He was unused to seeing all the different animals that were in the river.  “Hello,” King Carlyle said to them.

They all chorused “hello” back in unison, and kept swimming.

“It seems nice down here,” said King Carlyle.  

“We should be returning to the surface soon, your majesty,” said Jacob.  “Our friends will be looking for us.”

King Carlyle felt like he needed a breath of fresh air anyway.  A frog, he was beginning to learn, can stay underwater for a long time, but must come up eventually for air.  So he didn’t argue with Jacob.  He kicked his legs, and they emerged at the surface of the water.

It surprised King Carlyle that when they got to the surface, the world they had left, the world beneath the river, seemed so hard to see beneath the water.  The surface of the river looked like one unbroken sheet, and you could never guess it held so many fish and plants below it.

They looked for John and Benjamin and the dragons, but they did not see them.  Jacob called out their names, but there was no response.  

“Where could they be?” asked King Carlyle.

“We must have gotten swept further down the river than I thought,” said Jacob.  “Shall we swim to the shore and wait for them to find us.”

“It’s nice and cool in the water,” said King Carlyle.  “I would just as soon stay here.”

“Ah, that’s your frog body,” said Jacob.  “You’re beginning to feel what a frog feels. You want to stay in the water because frogs like water.”

“Possibly,” said King Carlyle thoughtfully.  “And yet, we can travel faster by water, can we not?”

“We could, your majesty,” answered Jacob.  “If we only knew where we were going.”

“Yes, true,” said King Carlyle thoughtfully.  “Well, at any rate, we will be safe from cats here in the middle of the river.  I just wish we didn’t have to worry about that bothersome pike.”

“A frog’s life is full of peril, your majesty,” answered Jacob.  “We must do our best to avoid trouble, and always stay where it is safest.”

“Let’s explore the bottom of the river, for just a bit,” said King Carlyle.  And before Jacob could argue with him, he kicked his legs and swam back down to the bottom of the river.  

Jacob followed after him as quickly as he could.

Near the bottom of the river, King Carlyle passed by the green seaweed that grew in clumps.  He passed by numerous other small fishes, and he spoke to them briefly.  He was passing by the bank of the river, when he saw a small cave.  A miniature woman was standing at the entrance.

“Hello,” said King Carlyle.  “And what are you?  Are there water people in the river?”

“What do you mean what am I?” the small woman asked indignantly.  “This river is my home.”

“A thousand apologies,” said Jacob, who was catching up to King Carlyle.  “He’s from the surface, and he does not know anything about the water sprites.”

“Water sprites?” asked King Carlyle.

“Small fairies that live under the water.  They live in small little holes or caves in the river bank.  They’re completely harmless,” said Jacob.  “Unlike the naiads, who also inhabit this river.”

“Naiads?  What are they?  Why are they dangerous.”

“Naiads are also water spirits, but they resemble the form of a human maiden. They're not dangerous to us frogs,” said Jacob.  “But they are dangerous to humans.  They fall in love with human men, and sometimes drag them into the water, forgetting that humans cannot breathe under the water.”

“Something to remember if I ever return to my human form,” said King Carlyle.  “Will we see any Naiads down here?”

“We might,” said Jacob the frog.  “They are often around.”

“What strange frog is this?” asked the water sprite.  “He knows nothing of the rivers or the waters.”

“He is a human, transformed into a frog by dark magic,” Jacob explained.

“Ah, well then, human frog, come in and visit with us, and we will teach you all about the ways of the water.”  The water sprite gestured with her hand towards the small hole in the river bank.

King Carlyle turned to Jacob.  “Is it safe?” he asked.

Jacob nodded.  “The sprites are friendly,” he said.

So they swam in.

It was pitch black inside the whole, but the Water Sprite began to glow, and turned herself into a source of illumination to light the way.  They swam a short way, and then there was a room with miniature chairs and a table under the water.

There was also, at the top of the room, a little pocket of air, which Jacob and King Carlyle used to take breaths.  (Frogs can hold their breath a very long time under the water, but they do breathe air.)

They sat at the table, and Jacob and King Carlyle related to the Water Sprite all that had happened to them so far.  (Occasionally they needed to swim up to the air pocket to get some more air, but frogs can hold their breath for a long time underwater, as King Carlyle was discovering.)  When they got to the part about Midor, the Water Sprite immediately lit up in recognition.  “Midor! Of course I know him,” she said.  “How is he?”

“He is as well as can be hoped,” said Jacob.  “But he has been shrunk by the same witch who transformed the King.”

King Carlyle grumbled angrily to himself about how everyone in the forest knew about Midor.  When Jacob and the Water Sprite asked him what he was upset about, he responded, “Midor is not really all that great.  I don’t know why everyone keeps talking about him as if he were special.”

“He’s done so much to help the water sprites,” said the sprite.  “We all admire him.”

“Well if Midor has done so much to help the forest, then how come the friends of Midor are left wandering around on our own?” said King Carlyle.  “He doesn’t sound all that wonderful to me.”

“I would remind the King,” said Jacob, “That we didn’t have any problems until after Midor left us.  Those animals would never have attacked us if Midor had been with us.”

“But then why couldn’t Midor have left the forest with instructions to leave us alone?” asked King Carlyle.  “Or better yet, to help us to our destination?  He’s always creating crises in order to appear that much greater when he comes in to save the day.”

“Midor lives in the forest as one of us,” said Jacob the Frog.  “When he is in trouble, he asks for help.  When he is not in trouble, he does his best not to bother the animals.”

“Well, there’s trouble now if I ever saw it,” said King Carlyle.  “With Catherine back in the castle, we’ll all have trouble.”

“It won’t affect us here in the bottom of the river,” said the Water Sprite.

“It will when monsters and ghosts take over this forest,” said King Carlyle.  “Just like the last time.”

“The last time?” asked the Water Sprite.

“She doesn’t know anything about it,” Jacob explained to King Carlyle.  “Ghosts can not penetrate the water.  At the river bottom, they know nothing about it.”

“Oh, well, lucky for them,” said King Carlyle grumpily.

“Would you like to stay for dinner?” the Water Sprite asked.  “The others will be back soon, and we’re going to be having a huge dinner--all the green seaweed the river has to offer will be for dinner tonight.”

“That sounds delicious,” said Jacob.

“That sounds horrible,” said King Carlyle.

“Your majesty, you should give it a try,” said Jacob.  “Now that you’re a frog, I think you’ll find you’ll enjoy what frogs usually find delicious.”

“I shall try it,” said King Carlyle.  “But it’s like I told Midor, I need to get changed back to my human body as fast as possible, or I will wither and die on this frog’s diet.”

In a short time, many more Water Sprites returned to their home, just like the original Water Sprite had told them they would.  Jacob explained to King Carlyle that the Water Sprites had been busy all day playing in the river, and also helping the water flowers to grow.

“Water flowers?” said King Carlyle.  “I never heard of flowers under the water.”

“That’s because they only grow where the Water Sprites tend to them,” said Jacob.  “You can only see it in the most magical places in the river.”

“Just what we need,” King Carlyle said sarcastically.  “More magic.”

“It’s a magic forest,” said the Water Sprite, who must have noticed King Carlyle’s tone.  “The whole forest is filled with magical creatures, and it makes it so much more interesting for it.”

“Well what about this pike that I’ve heard so much about?” asked King Carlyle.  “If they have so much magic, why don’t they take care of the pike?”

“They don’t have that kind of magic,” said Jacob.  “Magic for fighting or killing is black magic.  The Water Sprites only have magic for helping the river bed plants grow.”

“Yes, I know all about the black magic,” said King Carlyle ruefully.  “It’s a particular problem in my family.  So what do the Water Sprites do about the Pike?”

Lydia, which was the name of the Water Sprite who had first invited them in to their house, heard them talk, and she interjected here.  “Oh, that pike,” she said.  “He’s been a terrible source of sadness for us Water Sprites.  He’s eaten several of us.”

“It is sad,” said another Water Sprite named Justin.  “All we Water Sprites do is bring happiness to the forest and help things grow.  But that awful pike doesn’t care about anything.  He just likes to eat small creatures like us.”

“I had no idea this rampant eating was so wide throughout the forest,” said King Carlyle.  “I thought all of this was abolished centuries ago with the new common laws.”

“The thing about laws, your majesty,” said Jacob, “Is that they wouldn’t exist unless there were some creatures who needed to be bound by them.”

“Well, just you wait until I get back into my human body,” said King Carlyle.  “I’ll catch that pike myself with my own two hands.  Then I’ll bring him back to the castle to see that justice is served.”  King Carlyle was carried away by the passion of his words, and spoke loudly.

“Careful about talking too loudly,” said another Water Sprite.  “Sound can travel quickly in these waters.  If he hears you, it’ll be trouble.”

“They’re right,” said Jacob.  “You’re not back in your castle yet.  You need to be careful, your majesty.”

“It’s all right,” said King Carlyle.  “I learned a long time ago that it doesn’t do to watch your words too much.  You can’t live your life cowering in fear.”

But just then, a shadow passed over the entrance to the Water Sprites home.  It was the pike.  He tried to thrust his way into the hole, snapping his teeth.  The hole was just a little bit too small for him, and he was stuck at the edge of the hole.  He backed up, and then tried to push his way through again.  The Water Sprites screamed in terror and then swam to the edge of the room.  Only King Carlyle did not appear frightened.  “I’ve dealt with bullies like this many times in my castle,” he said.  “Ogres, trolls, goblins, dragons, you name it, I’ve faced it down.  It doesn’t do to be too scared.  Sometimes you just have to confront a bully.  Then King Carlyle yelled at the pike: “You, Pike, leave these Water Sprites alone.  I’ll come out and face you myself.”

The pike stopped trying to get into the room, but only because it was chuckling to itself.

“That’s right,” said King Carlyle,  “Keep laughing,” and he swam out to face the pike.