‘Stay down! Keep hidden or the sorceress will see us!’ cautioned Conrad, hiding the boat in some tall, waving reeds. They moved silently along the base of the castle walls, looking for an entrance or gap that they could squeeze through. The walls were at least three feet thick and towered high above them.
A jet-black crow circling overhead spotted them and began a raucous cawing. Conrad stopped and swiftly drew an arrow from his quiver. Stringing it across his bow, he took careful aim as the bird flew overhead. The arrow sliced through the air and the crow tumbled from the sky, straight into the whirling waters of the lake below. As they watched the crow’s body splash into the lake, they noticed that a section of the lake next to the walls was polluted by filthy, stagnant water.
‘I wonder where that water came from,’ said Conrad.
They both peered over the edge of the bank into it. Conrad stretched out his hand and plunged it into the water.
‘Look, Rory, there’s a small opening here. We could get through it, I think! It must be an overflow water outlet. Come on! We’ll fit.’
Not knowing what lay on the other side, they waded into the water, pushing their way through weeds and slime, their mouths shut tightly. The filthy ooze and stagnant water staining their clothes was disgusting and made them smell like a sewer. If Bella didn’t see them coming, she’d surely smell them!
They emerged into some kind of huge, stone trough that was in sore need of cleaning, then stepped out into a courtyard, part of which was fenced off.
‘Those are the dragon pens,’ warned Conrad.
Rory was petrified. What if a dragon saw them?
They noticed a group of dragons in the distance, busy preening themselves and licking their skin, which shone in myriad colours against the grey stone. Rory was rooted to the spot in fear and awe. Everything his sister had told him about these magnificent creatures had been true!
Hiding behind a low stone parapet, they waited and waited. Eventually, a stocky girl appeared and went from pen to pen, leaving food on the ground for the young dragons to eat. Squeals of delight filled the air.
‘Let’s follow her,’ urged Conrad.
The girl walked briskly through a narrow, arched doorway, down a stairwell and into a long corridor.
Silently they crept after her, then hid behind barrels and crates when she entered a room. It was the castle’s kitchen. The dwelf girl began to prepare dinner and soon a delicious smell filled the air and the boys’ empty stomachs groaned with hunger.
A clatter of footsteps moved along the stone floor. Rory gasped when he saw Mia approaching, accompanied by the bird woman! Mia wore a strange outfit, but no chains or ropes bound her. He watched in disbelief as she emptied a pot of green beans into a deep dish and carried it to the table. He wanted to rush out and grab her, tell her he was here and that she was safe now, but Conrad restrained him.
Bella sat at the top of the table. She wore a gown of peacock blue and her white hair was plaited and hung down her back. Mia sat close by her, passing her food and pouring water from a jug into the old woman’s goblet. The dwelf girl sat down too and passed the plates around.
‘We should jump out and snatch her! Do something!’ Rory pleaded.
At that, Bella rose from her chair, sniffing the air like a dog. Her eyes searched the room, then narrowed.
‘I do believe that we have visitors among us,’ she announced sarcastically, ‘or should I say intruders!’
The skin gleamed pale over the old woman’s bony features, her eyes were black as beetles and the dragon-wing marks on her forehead taut as she called to them: ‘Please, gentlemen! Come and join us! You are discovered!’ She laughed wickedly, beckoning them.
Reluctantly, the two boys stepped forward from their hiding place.
‘Mia!’ shouted Rory, running to the table and hugging his sister. She drew back, alarmed. ‘It’s me! It’s me Rory!’
A look of total bewilderment and confusion passed over his sister’s face as she struggled to release herself from his embrace.
‘Let go of me, stranger!’ she begged.
‘Mia!’ he shouted, shaking her. ‘Mia! You know who I am. It’s me, Rory.’
It was as if Mia didn’t know him at all, or couldn’t understand the language he spoke. She looked embarrassed. What had happened to her?
‘What have you done with the girl?’ demanded Conrad, standing in front of the sorceress.
The old woman smirked. ‘You may join us if you wish, for you both look half-starved. Eat and enjoy, for tomorrow who knows what pleasure I may have in store for you!’
In despair, they sat down at the table, all the fight and spirit gone out of them. Rory knew that their brave quest had been in vain. The old woman must have enchanted Mia with a spell. She didn’t even recognise or remember him! Conrad had started to eat, but Rory just stared at the food, miserable. Now both of them were prisoners of the sorceress too. It couldn’t end like this, he wouldn’t let it. Mia must remember! He’d make her remember! He began to talk, his words filling the silence, and Bella looked bemused. He talked of their mother and father, the fun times they had growing up together in Glenkilty: birthday parties, Christmas, her first Holy Communion, Granny Rose, Jackie. The old witch began to get irritated as he told stories of Glenkilty and the people in the village and their school. Mia smiled, but he could see she remained untouched, uninterested in what he was saying.
‘Sing!’ whispered Conrad suddenly.
Rory felt stupid, but he tried to think of a song that Mia liked – or used to like. He racked his brains trying to remember songs they had sung back home, sitting round the table.
‘Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Mia, happy birthday to you.’
Only Gwenda, the dwelf girl, smiled at the strange song.
‘Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!’ Rory sang frantically.
But his efforts were useless. It was all absolutely hopeless. Never again would he sit round a table with Mia and his Mum and Dad, arguing, his parents giving out to him about his manners … he looked up, Mia was eating some kind of mashed up vegetable, lost in a trance, as if she was in a world of her own. From deep within, he drew a rumbling sound, letting it fill his belly, push up through his chest and slide up his throat. It was one of the biggest belches he had ever done!
A look of deep disgust and dismay flitted across Bella’s face.
Mia’s eyes opened wide. ‘Rory!’
Almost knocking over the table, he rushed over to his sister, pulling her to her feet. ‘You remember!’
She nodded, too terrified to laugh or smile.
‘Run!’ Conrad’s words sent them racing out of the room and along the narrow corridor. The old witch screeched as she got to her feet. Rory had no idea where to go or in what direction, but he kept a tight hold of Mia’s hand, frightened to lose her again.
‘Keep on running and don’t stop!’ ordered Conrad.
They ran up and down passageways and corridors, as Bella, feet lifting off the ground, began to fly after them.
Mia led the boys, helter skelter, through the castle.
‘In here!’ she said, pushing them into the old banqueting hall.
‘How will we get out of here?’ panted Rory. ‘What are we going to do?’
They all tried to get their breath back and think of some kind of plan.
‘Rory, I’ll try to lead Bella to the other end of the castle so you two can escape.’
‘No, Conrad. You’ve done so much already. I’d never have found Mia without you.’
‘Listen, Rory, I’m well able to look after myself and that ancient old sorceress doesn’t bother me. Give me your red sweatshirt!’
Reluctantly, Rory pulled his hooded sweatshirt over his head and passed it to the other boy, who slipped it on.
‘Make for the boat,’ ordered Conrad, ‘You know where it is. Wait a while for me, but not more than thirty minutes.’
‘I’m not leaving without you!’ promised Rory.
‘Go!’ said Conrad firmly.
They could hear Bella moving along the corridor, screeching, doors banging open and shut as she searched for them.
‘She’ll find us!’ gasped Mia.
‘Ssshh!’ ordered Conrad. ‘Give me a minute, then move!’
Rory and Mia watched in dismay as Conrad opened the door and began to run. A minute later they took off in the opposite direction.