The Castle in the Attic (16 page)

There was no time for further discussion, as the crowds were pressing forward once more.

Brian appeared by William's side with a big black cat in his arms.

“Where did that come from?” William asked.

“The spells are all broken,” Brian explained. “This is Calendar's cat. You knew him better as the dragon that guarded the castle gates.”

William looked into the animal's eyes, but he saw no horrible pictures of fire, only a calm, mysterious expression. Suddenly, the cat meowed.

“I think he's hungry, sir,” Brian said. “I shall see that he gets something to eat.”

William was eager to return home immediately, but the Silver Knight insisted that a celebration be held first, so a huge banquet was prepared. In the baronial hall upstairs, William sat at the high table between Sir Simon and Dick, the apple-tree man, who had come to the castle looking for his son. Each plate was heaped with good things, and each cup was full to the brim. While they waited for all to be seated, William asked
Sir Simon something he'd been wanting to know.

“How did you get out of the forest, Sir Simon? I stood and called your name, hoping my voice would lead you back to me.”

Sir Simon shook his head, staring down at his plateful of meats, breads, and savories. “To think that I should be fooled by the vision of Moonlight. But Lord Luck himself must have been walking beside me because eventually, after much wandering and at the edge of despair, I found myself next to a real stream. I followed it out of the forest, knowing that at least I was going in one direction and not in endless circles.” He turned to Dick, the apple-tree man. “Tolliver found me and told me that William had gone ahead. I made such haste to catch up with him that I must have passed him altogether.”

“I'm afraid he was up a tree for a very long time, thanks to me,” Dick replied, smiling at William.

“Well, we are all together now, and that's what counts,” said Sir Simon. Standing up, he knocked on the table with his fist until the great hall fell silent. Then he raised his tankard. “Here's to young William, who found his own way through the dark forest. He alone has defeated the curse of a man who held our kingdom prisoner for far too long. Let each of us remember the lesson William has taught us. The weapons
that you need to fight the battle are inside your own heart. To William,” he shouted. “To William,” answered a hundred happy voices.

William jumped to his feet and put up his hands for silence. When the tumult had subsided, he raised his own tankard and shouted, “To the Lady Elinore.”

“To the Lady Elinore,” they roared back. They drank deeply, one and all, and the eating began, to the sound of laughter, music, and the cheerful thunk of the wooden bowls against the trestle tables.

“What is all this food?” William asked as one serving plate after another was carried into the banquet hall.

“Boar's head with pudding, squirrel stew, boiled chickens, cakes with sliced apples,” Dick rattled off, pointing to the various piles on William's plate.

“But where did it all come from? The land I traveled through could not possibly have produced this much food.”

“The moment the wizard was defeated, the land sprang back to life as if there had never been a famine,” Dick explained.

After filling his stomach, William gave up all effort at conversation and sat back to enjoy the scene. The good food and the hot, sweet cider lulled him to sleep, and later on in the evening, he felt Sir Simon's strong arms carrying him to bed.

When William woke the next morning, Tolliver was waiting for him with a basin of water.

“What will you do now that the wizard has gone?” William asked, splashing his face.

“Sir Simon says I may stay in the castle and be apprenticed to one of the squires. I asked if it could be you, sir, but he told me you are leaving us. I wish you would stay.”

“There is someone waiting for me at home.” The thought of Mrs. Phillips made him more eager than ever to be on his way.

William ate a quick breakfast with Sir Simon, who was quiet after the revelry of the night before. “Will it be just as difficult to get through the forest going the other way, Sir Simon?” William asked.

“You've forgotten, William, that the spells are broken. The forest is harmless now. Tolliver wishes to go with you. I shall give you each a horse, and he can lead yours back when he has seen you safely to your castle gates. There will be enough food in the packs so that you can take some back to the Lady Elinore. I expect she has finished off all the mice in the attic by now.”

“Thank you.” William slid his chair back, but Sir Simon's voice stopped him. “Please send my kindest regards to her. I shall miss her . . .” His voice
drifted off. He shook himself and stood up. “I doubt we shall meet again, young William,” he said as they embraced. “But we shall live in each other's thoughts forever.”

William held on to his old friend for an extra moment. “I can't believe you won't be waiting for me in the attic after school,” he whispered. For the second time in as many days, William began to cry, but he didn't try to hold back his tears. It was right to feel sad. It was right to show it. “Goodbye, Sir Simon,” he said. “I'll never forget you.”

William and Tolliver rode out into the cool morning. When the steep hill leading away from the castle dipped down the first time, William turned to look back. The black pennant had been replaced with a silver flag, which curled lazily in the early morning breeze. Sir Simon stood on the wall walk next to one of his guards, his arm raised in farewell. William returned the wave and pressed his horse forward with a sharp kick.

The return journey took two days. Tolliver was an easy companion, respectful of William's silence but eager to serve him whenever possible.

Everyone they passed greeted them cheerfully, and often people pressed food on them or directed them to the nearest source of water for a cool drink. The news of the wizard's defeat had given the people renewed
hope, and they had returned to reclaim their land.

William and Tolliver spent the night at the edge of the forest, and in the morning, William handed his horse over to the page.

“I go alone from here, Tolliver. Take your master's horse back to him with all my best wishes for his continued good health and happiness.”

“But sir, I was to go all the way with you,” Tolliver said.

“I want to spend this last day alone,” William explained.

“Goodbye, then. We won't forget you,” Tolliver said. “Good luck to you.”

“And to you,” William replied as he turned away from the wistful face and was lost in the dark coolness of the forest.

This time there were no tempting visions, no noisy roar of angry animals. A cool path patterned by spots of sunlight led through the trees. Every now and then, an animal rustled away at the sound of William's footsteps. When he stopped, he could hear the high, clean notes of birds singing to one another in the thick branches.

It took an afternoon to walk from the far edge of the forest to the castle. William reached the gates just as the sun was setting. Before he had time to raise his hand or shout a greeting, he heard the familiar creak
of the windlass as the portcullis was raised and the wooden doors were opened. Then, ever so slowly, the drawbridge was lowered. He jumped the last foot of space before it hit the ground. Mrs. Phillips was waiting for him under the front archway.

“My warrior has returned,” Mrs. Phillips said, holding him at arm's length.

“Do I look any different?” asked William.

“Perhaps a little wiser,” she said, cocking her head to one side. “But otherwise no different.”

“But don't I look taller and stronger now that I have defeated the wizard?” He flexed the muscles in his right arm.

“Nonsense. You were always strong enough. You just didn't believe it.”

They ate dinner together in the courtyard the way they had during the week of training. The table seemed larger and less welcoming without the knight.

“Sir Simon sent you his best wishes,” William told her.

“He's a good man with a big heart, but he lacks
imagination. My dear husband, Alfred, was the same way. He would attack one problem over and over again like a baby butting its head against the side of its crib. But that's neither here nor there. I want you to tell me about your adventures.”

“Didn't the tapestry show you?” William asked.

“Yes. I know the bare outlines. Now I want to hear the details.”

William told her the whole story, dragging out the scary parts and glossing over the moments when he'd made a mistake or his courage had failed him. When he was done, she sat back in her chair as if she'd just finished an enormous meal.

“Now you know the answer to all your own questions, William. A truly courageous person is the one who must first conquer fear within himself.” She stood up. “Come with me to view your booty.”

“What do you mean, my booty?” he asked as he followed her up the tower stairs. When she pushed open her bedroom door, he could see nothing different about the room. He stepped forward to examine the tapestry that stood in front of the fireplace, but her voice stopped him.

“Not that, William. Over in the corner behind you.”

He turned around, vaguely aware of a dark shape over his right shoulder. He had taken two more steps
across the room before he realized what he was looking at. “It's the wizard,” he cried. “In lead. So this is where Calendar sent him.”

“A few days ago, he appeared in my room out of nowhere. I looked up from my stitching and there he was. I knew from the tapestry that you'd triumphed, but I didn't expect such an unwelcome visitor.”

William walked up and looked more closely at his old enemy's face. It was frozen in the look of horror that the mirror had produced, the creases around his lips and eyes curled into gray metal, the mouth open in an anguished cry.

“He saw a locust in the mirror. It must have been horrible,” William said in a voice filled with awe. “I'm glad I broke the mirror. Nobody should have the power to look at the secrets inside another person.” He reached up to touch the wizard's cheek.

“Don't, William!” Mrs. Phillips cried. “Remember what your touch will do.”

He drew his hand back just in time. “I forgot,” he said, his voice shaky.

Mrs. Phillips took his arm and led him gently away.

They decided to spend one more night in the castle. The two of them secured the drawbridge and took a last stroll around the wall walk.

“I'm not quite ready to go back,” William said.

“I know what you mean,” Mrs. Phillips said. “The world out there doesn't seem quite as important anymore, although I shall be glad to get a new jar of Marmite and take a brisk walk in the countryside instead of around and around the courtyard.”

“I had forgotten you've been cooped up in here a pretty long time.”

She stopped and looked at him. “Now, when I head down that path to the bus stop tomorrow afternoon, William, no funny business, right?”

“Right,” he said. “Although I do have this special token that makes people green from the roots of their hair right down to their toenails. Don't you think your brother would like you to come home a whole new color?” He dodged away from the punch that she aimed at his shoulder.

The next morning they ate the last of the granola for breakfast and changed into their old clothes. They met downstairs in the courtyard and raised the portcullis together.

“You get the wooden doors, William,” said Mrs. Phillips. She was carrying her suitcase, the old blue raincoat, and the fire screen. She saw William looking at it.

“I know it will be clumsy, but I want a record of our adventures,” she said a bit sheepishly. “Have you
got everything? Where's Bear?”

“In my backpack. I wouldn't leave him behind no matter what,” William said.