The Wings of Ruksh (18 page)

Even as Clara looked towards the Black Tower fascinated by its magnificent grandeur, she heard a distant shout and peering downwards, saw a group of riders looking up at her from the snow-covered hillside.

“Clara!” her father’s voice mirrored his relief as he saw her on the broomstick.

“
Serai!
” ordered Lord Rothlan. And the black horses of Ruksh grew their wings and soared into the air to meet them.

Clara laughed in delight as the great horses soared round her. Neil and Lady Ellan flew alongside her as the broomstick gradually lost height and, once they landed, her father caught her in his arms and swung her round and round in the air.

“Clara,” he said, “thank goodness you’re back. I was worried out of my mind the whole time you were away!”

“I’m glad to be back, too,” she said, her eyes full of tears as everyone made a fuss of her. “I was frightened at first but after a while I knew I would come to no harm. The Sultan’s spell and the magic cloak protected me.”

Rothlan looked at Clara with relief. “Thank goodness you’re safe, Clara,” he said. “Now that we’re all together again, I can, at last, hex us back into the twenty-first century.” And with that, he left the group and strode forward to stand on a great spur of rock that jutted out over the stream. As Neil, Jaikie and Hamish watched the cloaked figure in fascination, they heard him recite the words of a spell. As he stood with his arms spread out to the gathering gloom, there was a sudden, breathless hush as though the world stood still. The air seemed to ripple
alarmingly
round them and the mountains wavered unsteadily for a few seconds and then settled. They looked at him questioningly
as he returned and he smiled at their anxious faces.

“Relax,” he said, “I’ve just taken us back into the twenty-first century!”

Neil looked round, slightly stunned. “But … nothing’s changed,” he said. “Everything’s still the same.”

“Well, I don’t suppose mountains change that much over the centuries,” Jaikie said, “but if you look over there,” he pointed along the glen, “you can see the lights of cars on a road.”

Relief flooded through Neil in comforting waves. The
familiar
sight of headlights and telegraph poles made him realize just how much he appreciated being back in his own time.

“What about Ardray?” he asked Jaikie, looking over the glen to the silver glint of the sea. “Is
it
still there?”

“It’s still there, don’t worry,” grinned Jaikie. “You’ll be able to see it because you’re wearing a firestone but it will be invisible to the ordinary people who live round about.”

Rothlan strode over to them. “I think we should rest here,” he said, meeting the Ranger’s eyes for, despite Clara’s
assurances
, she looked tired and drawn.

Amgarad coughed and meeting Lord Rothlan’s eyes, nodded towards the crow, who sat somewhat apprehensively beside him.

Rothlan turned to the bird and held out his arm so that Kitor could perch on it. Kitor fluttered up and looked anxiously into brown eyes that were very different from the cold, blue eyes of Prince Kalman.

“Lord Rothlan,” Clara said anxiously. “Kitor saved my life, really he did! He didn’t want the prince to send a thunderbolt to kill me so he told him a lie.
And
he was trying to bring me a broomstick so that I could get out of that dreadful cave. He could have just flown away and left me, but he didn’t.”

“You have a good friend in Clara,” Rothlan said, smiling slightly and looking at Kitor appraisingly. “Well, crow, do you renounce your allegiance to Prince Kalman?”

Kitor nodded emphatically. “Yes, master,” he said.

“Will you serve me, Kitor? Faithfully, unto death?”

“I will, master,” the crow said proudly, “faithfully, unto death!”

Rothlan smiled. “Then I bid you welcome to my service,” he said, passing his hand over the crow in a protective gesture. “In fact, you have already served me, Kitor, and you have my thanks — indeed, you have everyone’s thanks — for rescuing Clara, who is dear to us all.” There was a murmur of agreement and even the Ranger, who had no great opinion of crows in general, spoke kindly to him and placed him on his shoulder.

There was a bustle of activity as they set up camp by the tumbling, mountain stream and although Clara had her first proper meal in days she ate very little and, as Neil watched her anxiously, fell into an exhausted sleep. Kitor, however, ate well; for Amgarad had gone hunting and invited him to share his kill.

“Tell us about Ardray, Kitor,” invited Lord Rothlan, once they had all finished eating. “We are near the edge of the forest now and over the years I’ve heard many strange tales about it — and the evil things that live in it.”

Kitor shivered. “Indeed, master, it is a frightening place to pass through and dangerous even to those who fly over it, for although you and your horses will be able to cross it freely, it can still destroy you.”

“What would happen to us?” asked Neil interestedly.

Kitor shifted uneasily on his claws and lowered his voice as they leant forward to listen to his words. “The trees in its forest are magic trees,” he said. “The undersides of their leaves are crusted white with a drug that makes you lose your memory. The great red balls that hang from them are not flowers. They are tightly-curled balls of creepers that catch strangers in their coils. If you fly high, you can avoid the creepers but the leaves would release their poison into the air and you and the horses would forget everything — even why you were there at all.”

Lady Ellan shuddered. “How horrible,” she said, looking in
alarm at the crow. “What else is there?”

“Goblins,” answered Kitor, “evil creatures that live in the darkness under the roots of the trees. I’ve never seen them myself but I’ve heard tell of them. They keep watch from inside hollow trees and move the paths here and there so that strangers get lost and can never find their way out. It is said that no one can reach the Black Tower of Ardray while the goblins are on guard.”

“If what you say is true then perhaps it might be better to use broomsticks to get to the tower instead of the horses,” Rothlan said thoughtfully.

Kitor put his head to one side. “You’re right, master,” he said approvingly, “broomsticks would be much better. Why, with them you could fly straight into the room of mirrors. The prince wouldn’t keep the crown anywhere else.”

“That means that one of you would have to stay behind to look after the horses,” Rothlan said, glancing across at Jaikie and Hamish. “They’re far too valuable to leave unattended.”

“Won’t the prince be watching us in his crystal, though?” asked Neil, looking round apprehensively. “Now that we’re back in the twenty-first century, he could be looking at us at this very minute! After all, he must know that we’re close to Ardray. Surely he’ll be keeping an eye on us?”

“It’s getting dark, Neil. If he tried to see us just now, the light from the crystal would give him away.”

“But if we get too close to the crown, he could just walk into the tower through his mirror and take it back to Edinburgh! What’ll we do if he does that and it isn’t in the tower when we get inside?”

“We thought about that when we made our plans, Neil, and we’ve taken it into consideration. You see, the crown is only really safe when it is in the tower; there’s no way he would ever leave it unattended in the Edinburgh house. We’re going to strike at a time when he can’t look in his crystal or walk through his mirrors; a time when he’s out of his house and with
other people. As he will be when he has his meeting in
parliament
tomorrow afternoon.”

“Anyway,” added Kitor, “he must be feeling quite safe at the moment. He knows that Clara was chosen to steal the crown and he thinks she’s still trapped in the cave.”

“Clara! Chosen to steal the crown? Why would he think that?” queried the Ranger.

“Because,” said Kitor taking a trembling breath, “because I told him so. I heard Clara calling to her mother when she left Arthur’s Seat. She said she would bring back the crown. I’m … I’m truly sorry,” he stammered.

Amgarad clicked his beak fiercely but Rothlan’s face was calm as he looked at the bird thoughtfully. “That is in the past, Kitor and it is forgiven,” he said with a wry smile, “but you actually misled the prince, you know, for Neil also knows the magic words that will restore the crown to us.”

“John! John, can you hear me?”

They swung round as the voice spoke out of the air just beside them. Neil looked at his father in amazement and they both jumped to their feet.

“Mum?” Neil said anxiously, looking round.

“Where are you, Janet?” the Ranger said.

“I’m here, on this carpet,” the voice said. “Just a minute.” Mrs. MacLean wriggled to the side of her carpet, swung her legs over the edge and appeared before them.

“Mum? What on earth are you doing here?”

“It’s Clara,” she said. “I had to come. I was worried about Clara, so I called the carpet and came.” She looked round and her voice rose in alarm as she realized that Clara wasn’t there. “Where is she? Why isn’t she here?”

“Calm down, Janet,” her husband said, looking at Neil and Lord Rothlan in alarm. “Clara’s all right.”

Lady Ellan smiled and, moving over to Mrs MacLean, kissed her on both cheeks. “Janet,” she said softly, “how very nice to see you. Now, don’t worry. Clara’s asleep just now but if you
take your coat off and sit down, I’ll wake her up.”

“Never mind my coat, I must see her. I’ll come with you.”

Lady Ellan led her over to where Clara lay, sound asleep.

“She looks ill,” her mother said, leaning over and looking at her closely. “She’s been ill, hasn’t she?”

Lady Ellan looked helplessly at the Ranger. She didn’t want to panic Janet by telling her Clara had been caught by snow witches.

“We got separated, Mum,” Neil said, pulling at his mother’s arm so that she listened to him. “Clara ended up stuck in a cave for a couple of days but her cloak kept her warm and Kitor, here,” he indicated the crow, “Kitor looked after her until Amgarad found her.”

Clara woke up at the sound of their voices and stared at her mother in disbelief. “Mum,” she said, sitting up. “Oh, Mum!” And as she burst into tears, Mrs MacLean gathered her in her arms and held her tight. A set expression crossed her face. It was an expression her husband recognized immediately and Lord Rothlan, too, knew stubbornness when he saw it.

“I’m taking Clara back home with me right now, John,” she said, “and I don’t care what you say.”

John MacLean looked at Lord Rothlan doubtfully.

“Actually, I think it’s a very good idea, Janet,” Lord Rothlan said, suddenly serious. “Clara came to no harm in the cave but the experience has shaken her a great deal. All she needs is rest and she’ll be as right as rain, I promise you.”

Clara got to her feet and wrapping her cloak around her, wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she muttered, feeling ashamed at her outburst. “It was just seeing Mum so unexpectedly …”

Rothlan smiled understandingly. “You’re just tired, Clara,” he said, “and it’s best that you go home with your mother.” Suddenly thoughtful, he eyed the crow perched on the Ranger’s shoulder. “I think you should take Kitor with you, too. It might be dangerous if the prince sees him with us.”

Lady Ellan nodded. “That’s a good idea,” she said. “Keep him hidden under your cloak and take him into the hill when you get back, Clara. He’ll be safe there.”

Half an hour later, when goodbyes had been said and the carpet carrying Mrs MacLean, Clara and Kitor had floated out of earshot, the Ranger looked at Lord Rothlan. “Was it wise to let Clara go?” he questioned. “She knows the magic words, after all.”

“We can rely on Neil for the magic words, John. They’ll come into his mind when he needs them. Clara and Kitor are both better off in the hill. As long as the prince believes that Kitor is dead and Clara is still in the cave, it’ll make him feel safe, and as long as he feels safe, he’s not a threat — but if he’d seen Kitor with us and Clara still alive …”

“You’re right,” the Ranger nodded, “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

“Well,” said Lord Rothlan, reining in his horse at the top of a steep slope, “there it is! The Black Tower of Ardray and its magic forest!”

Neil gaped at it in wonder. Like Clara, he hadn’t given much thought to what the Black Tower would look like and
nothing
that had been said had prepared him for the sight of the magnificent castle that dominated the landscape. Its smooth elegance left him speechless and he could only stare
open-mouthed
at the huge building whose towers and turrets swept majestically above the magic forest. The winged eagles perched on its balconies lent it a fairy-tale appeal that entranced him. Indeed the whole scene was totally mesmerizing for, despite the grim, snow-clad mountains that lay behind them, the hand of winter had not touched the forest. It too was beautiful; its trees swaying gently in a mild breeze, their undersides gleaming white and, dotted here and there, just as Kitor had described, were the round scarlet balls of creepers that hung among them like Christmas decorations.

“How are we for time, John?” Lord Rothlan asked, for the day was well advanced.

The Ranger looked at his watch. “It’s quarter to three,” he said. “If Sir James is right and the prince’s meeting is at three then he ought to be setting off about now.”

“Right, we can go ahead then. His meeting is important and he’s not likely to miss it!”

Rothlan urged his horse forward and, as the other horses fell into line and picked their way delicately down the grassy slope, Neil looked at his father and saw that he, too, was looking in awed wonder at the Black Tower.

“If Kalman has a protective shield round the forest,” Rothlan said, turning in the saddle when they reached level ground, “then we ought to encounter it about now. I think we should spread out and walk forward slowly.”

Step by step, the horses moved in a line towards the first trees of the forest and then suddenly, tossing their heads in fright, took only a few steps more and stopped, sensing the barrier that lay ahead. Jaikie dismounted and, with hands outstretched, felt for the invisible wall that barred them from the forest.

“It’s here, milord,” he said.

“Right! Take the broomsticks off the horses,” Rothlan instructed as he untied the rope that fastened his to the side of his saddle. “Can you manage yours, Ellan?”

Ellan laughed as she pulled her broomstick free of the horse’s harness and sitting on it sideways, soared skywards.

The Ranger held his broomstick in his hand as he walked up to the invisible barrier and tried to touch it. He had thought that it would feel like glass but there was nothing there — it was completely invisible yet try as he might, he couldn’t step through it. He turned to watch Neil who was circling on his broomstick. “Don’t fool around, Neil,” he admonished as Rothlan flew towards them. “Pay attention, for goodness sake!”

Rothlan hovered, feet from the ground, and looked round. Inside the magic barrier, the forest seemed to heave uneasily as though the trees sensed their danger.

“Now, Neil,” Rothlan smiled reassuringly, “it’s time for you to put your hands against the barrier and say the Sultan’s magic words! Don’t worry,” he said, seeing Neil’s suddenly anxious face, “they will be there and you will remember them!”

What happened next took them completely by surprise. Perhaps the quiet peacefulness of the scene lulled them into a sense of false security but, Neil thought afterwards, the real reason was that they had given no thought at all to what would happen when the barrier round the forest was removed. That said, Neil got off his broomstick as the others watched and, as
soon as his hands touched the barrier, the magic words came smoothly and clearly into his mind, just as Rothlan had said they would.

“
Kutaya Soloi!
”

Even as he said them, the world around him erupted in an almighty shriek of sound that echoed horribly round the forest. The trees thrashed into life as the barrier suddenly disappeared and such was his surprise at the sudden violence confronting him that he lost his balance and stumbled forward.

His father grabbed him quickly as, with lightning speed, a red creeper shot from among the trees and wound itself round Neil’s neck. Another and another followed, dragging the magic cloaks from their backs and winding themselves, like snapping elastic bands, round their arms and legs. Drawing his knife, the Ranger slashed at the creepers and, pulling Neil clear of the writhing tentacles, they ran towards their broomsticks. They had escaped, but at a price, for they left their cloaks in the forest and now had no protection against the puffs of white powder that were bursting from the trees.

Rothlan swooped towards them, covering his mouth and nose with his cloak as the air over the forest turned white in an explosion of sweet, poisonous spores. “Hurry! Hurry!” he shouted urgently. “Get into the air! Quickly!”

At the first scream of sound, Hamish had immediately wheeled the horses round and taken them back up the hill at a gallop while Amgarad, a mere dot in the sky, watched keenly as, helped by Lord Rothlan, Neil and his father spiralled slowly upwards. Both were slumped dizzily over their broomsticks in the grip of a terrible sickness.

“Ellan! Jaikie! Look to the Ranger,” Rothlan shouted as, flying alongside Neil, he put an arm round him to steady him. “Take deep breaths!” he said desperately. “Come on, as deep as you can,” he urged, as Neil started to retch. “The air up here is fresh and clean. You must get rid of the poison before it affects your mind!”

The forest beneath them was now clouded in a mist of white
powder through which they could see the snapping tendrils of creepers snaking upwards in the hope of catching them.

Rothlan, still clutching Neil in case he toppled off the broomstick, was grim-faced as he called the words of a spell. The hex hit the forest in a blast of wind and, as the trees bent against it, an eerie wail of sound shivered through the air. Looking down through a haze of nausea, Neil and the Ranger watched as the beautiful, evil trees started to wilt, shrivel and turn black. Amgarad, too, watched from on high and his sharp eyes saw, not only the death of the trees, but the myriad of strange, foul creatures that were revealed to the light.

Still clutching Neil, Lord Rothlan edged his broomstick round and guided them towards the smooth shining surface of the Black Tower. “Don’t worry about the forest,” he said grimly, “the trees will cause us no more harm. Come now — to the tower!”

As they flew closer to the looming bulk of the massive
building
Rothlan headed for the swirl of curved balconies guarded by the great, stone eagles. This, he knew, was their destination for, behind, the angled sweep of their outspread wings, lay the room of magic mirrors.

“Hold on tight and follow me in, Neil!” Rothlan instructed as he hexed a window open and flew inside, swinging round swiftly to help Neil as he landed. Jaikie and Ellan flew in on either side of the Ranger who, by now, was so ill that he could hardly stand. So concerned were they that they barely noticed the mirrors that curved round the stone walls of the turret-room. It was only when they lifted their heads to look around that realization dawned and they gasped in sheer amazement, unable to believe their eyes.

The crown was there! Reflected hundreds of times over in the circle of mirrors, it stood before them on an ornate stand of carved, black wood, radiating power and magnificence. A black, iron crown studded about with magnificent rubies that glowed a fiery red. The Sultan’s Crown! They looked at one another in relief. At last they had found it!