Chapter 3: Catherine, Carlyle and Alfred Go Out

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“Don’t go too far,” Margaret warned them. “Stay within yelling distance of the house.  Alfred, you remember what your father said about the goblin army.”

“I don’t think the army’s here yet,” said Alfred.  “And even if it does come, we’ll be able to hear it long before we see it.  Goblin armies aren’t quiet”

“We promise to stay close to the house,” Carlyle said, to reassure his mother.

They walked along the mountainside.  The snow was beginning to melt now that the midday sun was out.  The trees were sparse this high up, but there were still a few trees dotted here and there.  And there were bushes and tufts of grass.  And there were lots and lots of rocks.  Alfred and Carlyle picked up some of the smaller stones and threw them off into the distance to see whose stone could fly farther.  Catherine watched their game with a look of bemused disdain.

The view from the mountain was always spectacular.  Down below, they could see the great forest, with all its endless trees, and rivers, and lakes, all laid out beneath them.  Even though they had grown up with this view, and were accustomed to it, there was something about that vast expanse of forest that always intrigued them.  They couldn’t help but wonder what was down there beneath the trees.

After throwing his last rock, Carlyle sat down on the mountain slope with a sigh.  “I wish I could go down into the forest.  Just once. Just so I could see what it’s like.” He turned his head to look at Alfred.  “Have you ever been to the forest?” he asked.

“A couple of times,” said Alfred, sitting down next to Carlyle.  “I’ve been with my father to help get supplies.  But my father doesn’t like going down into the forest unless he has to.  And then when he does, he doesn’t like staying long.”

“But it’s not dangerous in the forest, is it?” asked Carlyle.

“I don’t know,” said Alfred.  “Maybe it’s not dangerous for everyone, but it seems to be dangerous for my father.  He always acts really nervous when he’s in the forest, and whenever anyone comes near, he covers up his face.”

“What do you think he’s afraid of?” asked Carlyle.

“I don’t know,” said Alfred.  “But I remember something Lucas told me once.  Lucas said that because it’s really dangerous up here in the mountains, nobody lives up here by choice.  He said only fugitives live here in the mountains.”

“Fugitives?” 

“Yeah, you know, murderers, thieves, traitors--anyone who did something terrible in the forest, and had to run away.  But because the mountains are so dangerous, the forest people never come up here.  So it’s the perfect place to hide away.  Lucas said his father killed a man in the forest, and that’s why they have to live here in the mountains.”

“Really?” said Carlyle, leaning closer.  Even Catherine, who had been standing behind the boys, trying to act like the conversation didn’t interest her, perked up her ears.

“Well, that’s what he said,” Alfred repled.  They were quiet for a few seconds, and then Alfred spoke again.  “I wonder if my father killed a man,” he said idly.  “I think he must have.  I don’t think he was a thief.  If he was a thief, he’d just join up with one of those robber gangs that live up here in the mountains.”

“There are a lot of robbers up here,” Carlyle said.

“Yeah, well they have to live up here,” Alfred explained.  “They go down to the forest to do their stealing, but then they come back up here so that the forest people won’t chase them.”

“I wonder what my father did,” said Carlyle.  “I can’t imagine him killing anyone.”

“Well,” said Alfred slowly, “your parents are very old, aren’t they?  They’re older than anyone else up here in the mountains.”

“So?”

“So maybe your father killed someone when he was very young, and he’s been hiding up here ever since.  People can change a lot in 50 years, you know.  Sure, he’s just a harmless old man now, but maybe he was a vicious killer when he was young.”

“He’s not so harmless, even now,” said Catherine.  “He knows how to fight.”

“I guess he must,” admitted Alfred.  “You would have to know how to fight to live up here, what with all the thieves and animals and monsters.  That’s why it’s important to practice every day.”  Alfred looked back at Catherine as if he suddenly remembered something.  “Hey, Catherine, where did you go yesterday?” he asked.

“I already asked her,” said Carlyle.

“None of your concern,” said Catherine sharply.  

“It’s dangerous to wander off by yourself like that,” said Alfred.

“I already told her,” said Carlyle.

“And you missed all the fighting matches.  You missed me beating Kevin.”

“The fighting bores me,” said Catherine.

“That’s just because girls don’t know how to fight,” said Alfred.

Catherine became indignant.  “That’s not true,” she said.  “I live in these mountains the same as you.  I’ve had to fight off the werewolves and the goblins the same as everyone else.”

“That’s different,” said Alfred. “It’s not the same as fighting another human.  When you fight humans, you have to learn how to punch and block and dodge and attack and--.”

Catherine rolled her eyes.  “Oh, please, Alfred!  I’ve seen you fight before.  You don’t have any technique.  You just come in swinging.  There’s no difference between fighting you and fighting a goblin.”

Alfred immediately went red in the face.  He opened his mouth to respond, but then thought better of whatever he was going to say and closed his mouth again.  “You don’t understand because you’re a girl,” said Alfred, and he turned his head away from Catherine and went back to looking at the forest below.

“I could beat you in a fight,” Catherine answered.

“You could not,” said Alfred, not even turning around to look at Catherine.

“If you’re scared then,” said Catherine.

There was a pause, and then Alfred began to stand up.  “Alright,” he said.  “Let’s do this.”

Alfred was one year younger and about a head smaller than Catherine.  But what he lacked in height, he made up in strength.  He was too young to cultivate bulging muscles, but his constant fighting and wrestling had given him strong sinewy arms.

Catherine regarded him coolly.  She pushed her brown hair casually behind her ears as she waited for Alfred to get to his feet.

“If I win,” Alfred said, “You have to admit that you don’t know anything about how to fight.”

“Agreed,” Catherine answered.  “And if I win, you and Carlyle are not allowed to talk about fighting for the rest of the time you’re staying with us.  Honestly, the nonsense you two talk bores me to tears.”

“It’s a deal,” said Alfred.  He raised his fists and slowly approached Catherine.

“Careful Alfred,” Carlyle said sternly.  “Don’t hurt my sister.”

“I’m not going to hurt her.  This is just going to be a friendly little fight.”

“No punching in the face,” Carlyle insisted.

“I wasn’t going to,” said Alfred.

Catherine smirked.  “Don’t worry about me, Carlyle.  You should be more worried about Alfred.”

There was something about the smirk on Catherine’s face that infuriated Alfred.  He lunged at her, but Catherine was too quick for him.  Catherine grabbed his arms before he could grab her, and then jerked him towards her, causing Alfred to lose his footing and stumble forward.  Then, once Catherine had him off balance, she pushed him to the ground.  Alfred landed with a thud on the rocky mountain slope.

Alfred got to his feet slowly, his knees and palms bloodied from the fall.  Catherine looked over at Carlyle smugly.

Carlyle sighed.  “Catherine, don’t hurt him anymore than you have to,” he said wearily.

“I won’t,” Catherine cooed.  “Come on, Alfred.  Ready to try again?”

“That wasn’t fair,” Alfred exclaimed. “You just waited until I made the first move, and then you pulled me off balance.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Catherine.  “I’m just a girl. I don’t understand the rules.  What rules do you boys usually play by?”

Alfred ignored the question so as not to give Catherine the satisfaction of hearing him admit that she had broken no rules.  “Let’s try again,” he said.

Alfred slowly circled Catherine.  He made several feints to try to take Catherine off of her guard, but she was never deceived.  Each time he tried to trick her by pretending he was going to swing or lunge forward, she just widened her green eyes with amusement and smiled at him.  But the more Catherine smiled, the angrier Alfred got.

“Come on!” Alfred called out in frustration.  “Don’t just stand there and wait for me.  Make a move!”

No sooner had Alfred spoke then Catherine’s hand shot out and she hit him in the chest with the heel of her palm.  Alfred fell onto his butt, partly from the force of the blow and partly from the surprise knocking him off balance.  He rubbed his chest where Catherine had hit him.  “That wasn’t fair,” he said again.  “I wasn’t ready.  I was busy talking to you.”

“Oh dear,” said Catherine, although her face didn’t look at all concerned.  “Oh, I’m so sorry.  I really don’t understand the rules at all.  How many seconds do I have to wait after you finish talking?”

Once again, Alfred ignored the question.  He got to his feet once more.  “You’ve tricked me twice, but now I’m ready for you,” he said.

Alfred eyed Catherine cautiously, trying to decide whether she was going to attack or not.  When Catherine didn’t make any move to attack, Alfred stepped forward and swung at her with his right hand.  The swing was wild, and not only was Catherine easily able to move back and avoid it, but Catherine noticed that Alfred had left his right side open.  She moved in quickly and hit him in the ribs.  Alfred grimaced, but he didn’t fall over this time.  Instead he grabbed hold of Catherine’s arms.  Catherine tried to pull back to free herself, but Alfred just tightened his grip. Catherine then turned her wrists against Aflred’s thumbs, causing him to lose his grip. But before she could back away, Alfred’s hands immediately shot out and grabbed her again. This time he latched on to her upper arms.  They grappled for a while as Alfred tried to throw Catherine to the ground.  Catherine grabbed onto his upper arms partly to balance herself and partly to try to push back.  Alfred was strong--stronger than Catherine was, and now that they were locked in each other’s grip, it seemed like he might succeed in pushing her over.  Catherine squeezed her hands and tried as hard as she could to push Alfred back.

And then, suddenly, Alfred was screaming.  It wasn’t a triumphant scream, it was a high-pitched scream of shock and fear.  Alfred was no longer trying to push Catherine, but now he was pulling backwards, desperately trying to free himself from her grip.  Catherine, confused about what was going on, froze up and simply stared at Alfred, not even thinking at first that she should release her grip.  But when Alfred’s legs gave way beneath him and he started to collapse onto the ground, Catherine came to her senses and let go.

Carlyle dashed over.  It was obvious to him that something had gone wrong, but at first he didn’t know who to help.  Catherine was standing up and Alfred was kneeling down on the ground, but they both looked equally shocked.  “What happened?” asked Carlyle.  And then he saw it.  Alfred’s sleeves had been destroyed right at the spot where Catherine had been gripping his arms, and it was possible to see his skin underneath.  And his skin was warped and raw and red.  

“Catherine, what did you do?” asked Carlyle.

“I--I don’t know,” Catherine stammered.  “I didn’t mean to.”

Carlyle turned to Alfred.  “Are you okay?” he asked.

“My arms hurt,” Alfred wailed.  

“Alfred, I’m so sorry,” Catherine blurted out.  “I didn’t mean to.”

“It hurts,” Alfred said again.  He had tears in his eyes from the pain, which he ordinarily would have tried to hide, but at the moment he was too distracted to care about.

Catherine’s face was white with horror.  She stood there just staring at Alfred, not believing what had just happened.  She then opened up her hands, and looked at her own palms in disbelief.

It was up to Carlyle, then, to try to take command of the situation.  “Mother will know what to do,” he said.  “Let’s get back to the house.  Alfred, can you stand up?”

“It hurts,” Alfred said again.

“I know,” said Carlyle soothingly.  “Can you walk?  We need to get you back to the house.  My mother can help you.”

Alfed was quiet for a few seconds, and then he nodded his head.  He stood up quietly without moving his arms.  

“It’s alright,” said Carlyle.  “My mother will know what to do.”

Alfred and Carlyle started walking towards the house.  Catherine stayed where she was, not moving, until Carlyle called out after her.  “Catherine, come on.  You can’t stay out here alone.”  Catherine then snapped out of her trance and started following them back home.

Chapter 59: Vivian Heals Robert

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The ogre had sunk his teeth deep into Robert’s arm, and he had lost a lot of blood.  He was very weak and was also starting to go into shock, but Grace still managed to get him to walk.  Robert leaned on her, and she managed to take him back to the castle.

By the time they were back in the castle, Robert was beginning to lose consciousness.  

Thomas was the first one to see Grace and Robert at the door, and he ran up and alerted everyone else.  They came down quickly, Vivian running as fast as she could.

When Vivian heard the news, she panicked and forgot to take Midor down with her.  But Midor got Benevois to carry him down the stairs so that he could also be present.

Robert was put on an empty table, and George was frantically trying to make a bandage to stop the bleeding when Vivian arrived.  Vivian wailed in anguish at seeing Robert’s arm so mangled.  “My son!” she cried.  “After all these years apart, just when I’m finally reunited with you!”

“It’s alright,” said a voice.  Catherine was there.  “I can teach you how to save him.”

“Are there spells for this?” Vivian asked.  (Of course, Vivian knew that there were spells for almost everything, but she was in a panic, and so she wanted to hear it confirmed.)

“There are,” said Catherine.  “I’m not going to say it myself, of course.  But I could teach you to say it.”

Midor (who was being held up by Benevois) chimed in.  “Whatever she wants, Vivian, just do it.  Say whatever spell she wants you to say.”  But Middor need not have spoken.  Vivian had already decided that the moment she had seen Robert on the table.

Strangely, of all of those present, it was only Talon who was nervous.  He approached Vivian, and said quietly, “This is a much more powerful spell than anything you have done before.  It involves taking the essence of the magic from the air and holding it in your hands.  You will feel the power when you do it.”

“I’m ready,” Vivian said.

“Quickly, there isn’t much time,” said Catherine.  “You must remember these words,” she wrote them out on a parchment.  “I don’t have time to get into the conjugation now.  We’ll talk about the grammar of the phrase later.  We’ll put in Robert’s name here, but you are going to have to change it to the Druid pronunciation, and the Druid’s have a special accusative case for names, so use this form.” 

On the paper, Catherine wrote out “Robertum”.  

“I’ll help you with the pronunciation in just one minute.  But here’s the important part.  You must say this part of the spell while waving your hands.  Wave them up in the air, like you’re trying to catch the energy.  Then, once you’ve caught the energy in your hands, lay the hands down upon Robert saying this part here.  Make sure your volume goes up at the end.  Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Vivian said.

“Good.  Don’t move your hands until you’ve mastered the pronunciation.  Now repeat after me.”  Catherine drilled the pronunciation, and  Vivian repeated after her.

After they had practiced several times, Catherine said, “You’re ready.  Do the spell.”

“It’s alright darling.  You can do it,” said Midor.  But Midor didn’t need to say that.  Vivian was already focused.  She started the spell.  When she waved her hands up in the air, she caught the energy out of the air.  Her hands glowed with light, and then when she put her hands down on Robert’s arm, the light flowed out of her hands and went into Robert’s arm.  It healed the arm.  The teeth marks disappeared, and the blood vanished, and Robert’s arm was like it had never been bitten.  

Robert opened his eyes and looked up from the table.  He was confused to see everyone standing around the table staring back at him.  “What happened?” asked Robert.

Vivian threw her arms around him.  “Oh, my boy!” she cried.  “I thought I almost lost you there for a second.”

Grace also began crying.  “You gave me quite a scare, Robert,” she said through her tears.

“The ogre…” Robert said slowly.  “That’s the last thing I remember.”

“What is an ogre doing in our forest?” George asked, but nobody answered him.  Everyone was too concerned about Robert.

After Vivian separated herself from her son, Catherine patted her on the arm.  “I’ll teach you the whole spell later, and teach you how to conjugate it for different people.  In fact, I’ll teach you all the healing spells.”

“There are more?”

“Oh, yes.  That one is just for healing a wound.  But what about sicknesses?  And what about food poisoning?  And what about broken bones, or being crushed by something.  There are many, many different healing spells.  You should really learn them all. You know as well as I do how dangerous this forest is.  Why it amazes me that so many mothers out here in this forest don’t know simple healing spells.  They never know when their children are going to get into trouble.”

“Yes,” said Vivian.  “Teach them all to me.

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.”