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Everyone heard a swishing sound as the door opened wider.
Feverfew turned. “Lady, what should I do?” she shouted.
“What do you see?”
Feverfew stared at the broad stone steps that disappeared upwards. “Steps!” she shouted. “Just steps.”
“Ferol, try and go to her again,” commanded the Lady. “But approach the door very slowly.”
Ferol frowned, but did as he was told. Slowly he walked towards Feverfew. Just when he thought he would be all right, the excruciating pain in his head began. Whimpering and holding his throbbing head, he began to quickly back away. The pain eased almost at once when he reached Salter and the Lady.
“Are you all right?” asked the Lady.
Ferol nodded.
The Lady turned back to Feverfew. “Feverfew!” she shouted. “Try and go up the steps!”
The girl stared at her. “Go... up... ” She turned to look up into the darkness. Then, doing as the Lady told her, she moved onto the first step. Nothing happened, so she moved slowly upwards. As she did she looked up. The steps grew wider, so wide that Feverfew couldn't take in that the width of the steps seemed to be wider than the actual round tower itself.
****
Outside the Lady and the others studied the door.
“Lady... Feverfew... ” began Salter. He was frightened for her.
“Don't worry about, Feverfew, Salter,” assured the Lady. “Her powerful magic will protect her.” It better, she thought.
****
Meanwhile, Feverfew had stopped at a wide area on the top of the first row of steps. Another row of steps led higher, but she could see a door to her right. The door was made of black steel. A small square, with thick glass in it, covered by thin iron bars, was fixed to the top of the door. She moved forward. Pulling herself up by the bars, on tip-toes, she peered into the room.
****
At the same time, a thing of unbelievable size, covered in spikes that glistened with a green mucus, slipped from between two buildings into the park. Breathing softly it studied the Lady, Ferol and Salter, then slipped silently towards the Lady.
****
Feverfew squinted. She could just about make out a small figure sitting at a desk with their back to the door. He or she appeared to be writing.
“Hello!”
At first Feverfew thought the person hadn't heard her. She was about to call again when a soft voice said, “The door is open, girl. Come in.”
Taking a deep breath, and full of apprehension, Feverfew pushed open the heavy door.
****
Swinging around, when her magic warned her, the Lady gasped with shock, at the same time blasting magic at the thing towering above them.
Shocked, the thing stopped. Screeching like a demented banshee it backed away on long-nailed wide feet.
Horrified, Salter gaped as Ferol and the Lady bombarded the thing with powerful magic, forcing it back to the edge of the park
A movement to the Prince's left drew his attention. His eyes widened with fear, when he saw a tendril, as thick as a man's arm, slip from between a window at the bottom of a house. The tendril thrashed silently towards Ferol.
Salter screamed a warning.
When Ferol saw the tendril, magic immediately burst from his eyes, splitting it in two. But now another tendril began to slip from the building towards him.
The Lady meanwhile, stepped closer to the thing she was battling. Magic burst from her straight at its chest, splitting the thick hairy flesh apart.
****
“Who... who are you?” asked Feverfew, studying the tiny, bearded man who had slowly stood up. He was dressed in the simple garb of a druid, long hooded cloak and sandals.
“My name is of no importance, young lady,” said the man smiling. His deep dark eyes studied her. “You are, Feverfew... am I right?”
“Y... yes.”
“You are seeking the Tarsis Amulet... am I right?”
“Y... yes. How did you... ”
“You are looking for the Wizard’s Keep... am I right?”
“Yes.”
“You believe the amulet is in the Keep... am I right?”
Feverfew shook her head. She was growing angry with the little man. But when he said, “You are in the Wizard’s Keep,” she couldn't speak.
****
More magic hit the second tendril. It trembled for several seconds then slipped back through the window into the building.
At the same time, the Lady watched the dying thing as it trembled with pain, moaning loudly, its black eyes bulging. She turned. She could see Ferol and Salter were safe. Then making up her mind she said, “We have to get to somewhere safe. I suspect more monsters are on their way. Come on!”
“But what about Feverfew?” shouted Salter as they ran along a street, away from the park.
“We'll have to hope she's safe. She will be,” assured the Lady, glancing at Ferol.
****
“The Wizard’s Keep” exclaimed Feverfew. “But this building is only a round tower, tall yes, but I imagined the Keep to be a much bigger building.”
“Magic cloaks its true size,” explained the little man. “But you should know right away... I don't believe the amulet is here.”
“What?” Feverfew gasped. “Then where is it?”
The druid scratched his head. “You know I haven't a clue. Maybe you should ask, Mangus.”
“Who? Who's Mangus?”
“Girl, do you know nothing. Mangus, is the most magical being in the Silver City.”
“He is? Where is he? I'll ask him. Look, we have to find the Tarsis Amulet. We need it to kill Batach...”
“Ahhh, Batach,” exclaimed the little man. “Is he rearing his ugly head again?” He sighed. “There's always something or someone to upset the way of the land.”
Feverfew walked towards the man's desk. She could see parchments, inks of many colors and quills with which to write, lying on the desk. “Where will I find this Mangus?” she asked.
“Oh, he's about... somewhere,” said the man, dipping a quill into one of the ink wells. “Try the top of the Keep. He sometimes walks the battlements there for exercise.”
“Exercise?” exclaimed Feverfew. She watched as the little man carefully wrote on one of the parchments. It was obvious he wasn't going to help her any further.
“Thank you,” said Feverfew coldly, then backed out of the room. She stared up the second row of steps. Taking a deep breath she began to climb.
****
Around that time the Lady, Ferol and Salter had found their way to a wide building. The door at the foot of it was ajar. “There!” said the Lady. “We'll hide in there until we can form a plan of what we should do next.”
As they rushed towards the door, the Lady worried. They were split up now. Feverfew was in the tower. The Lady realized now why there were no people in the Silver City. Monsters roamed it. Monsters of unbelievable power. The people had either all fled, or been killed. As they ran into the dark building, the heavy door slammed behind them.