The Golden Acorn Chapter 4.

Chapter Four.

 

Into the Dark Forest.

 

At the end of the week, they reached the place where the road divided. One track led toward Grimbridge; the other wound into the Dark Forest.

“This is where we must leave you,” said Inga. “We have to go into the forest to find the Witch.”

“I’m sorry to see you go,” said Fred. “Especially into that forest. From what I’ve heard, it’s not the nicest of places, and the Witch is not someone I’d choose to meet.”

“We have no choice,” replied Inga. “She’s the only one who can help us.”

Fred reached behind him and took out a tin box. Inside was a small bag of coins.

“This is your share of what we earned this week. I wish you could join us full‑time.”

Inga was taken aback. She hadn’t realised they’d made enough to pay for the inns and have a profit. She shook hands with Fred and Albert, hugged Camille, and waved as the troupe headed toward Grimbridge.

Babbin sat on their cart, pouring the empty chain from hand to hand. He didn’t even look up as the others left.

They had not travelled far along the forest road when a wagon approached from the opposite direction. The road was narrow, and they had to pull into the trees, but even then there wasn’t quite enough room.

“I’m so sorry,” said the driver. He climbed down and tied his horses to a tree. “The road is a bit narrow here.”

“Very true,” said Inga. “If we unhitch our horse and push our trap into the trees, you should be able to get past.”

Babbin stayed where he was, still pouring the chain from hand to hand.

Inga sighed.

“Babbin, get down and unhitch the horse.”

He obeyed.

The wagon driver watched with a puzzled expression.

“Your man doesn’t seem very happy.”

“He’s under a spell,” explained Inga. “We’re on our way to see Calizone to ask her to remove it.”

The man sucked in a sharp breath.

“You’re going to see Calizone?”

“We have to,” said Inga.

Another wagon arrived behind the first, piled high with what looked like the contents of an entire house. The driver climbed down.

“What’s happening, Sam?” he asked.

“Nothing,” replied the first man, apparently Sam. “We’re just working out how to get past this trap. This lady says they’re going to see Calizone.”

The second driver also gasped.

“That’s a bad idea. No one should go anywhere near her.”

Before Inga could answer, a third wagon arrived, this one full of people. The passengers climbed down and gathered around.

“I don’t understand why you think it’s a bad idea to call on Calizone,” said Inga.

Babbin stood holding their horse’s head, silent and pale.

One of the women shuddered.

“She is evil. Truly evil. We’ve just escaped from her clutches. Nothing on earth would make us go back.”

“But we have to go,” said Inga. “She put a spell on Babbin, and unless she removes it, he will die.”

“I’m sorry,” said the woman gently. “But that is the way she is.”

“Did she put a spell on all of you?” asked Inga.

“No,” said another woman. “I’ll try to explain. A couple of miles past Calizone’s cottage are four more cottages. We lived in them. Four families, one for each cottage. We are the Turnkeys. These are the Warders. Sam is a Custos, and Walter’s name is Keeper.”

“My name is Inga, and this is my husband, Babbin. But I still don’t understand.”

Mrs Turnkey continued,

“We have been kept in those cottages by a whole succession of witches of the Dark Forest for many, many years. No one has ever been able to leave. We lived there in terror, and we do not know why.”

“That sounds very unpleasant,” said Inga.

Sam nodded.

“Grandpa Custos always said he knew why the four families had to stay there, but he died before he could pass on the secret. Calizone is just as bad as the witches before her. But lately she’s been away from her cottage a lot.”

“And when she is there, she barely pays attention to anything in the forest,” added Walter.

“Very true,” agreed Mrs Warder. “So we decided it was the best chance we’d ever get to escape. I just hope this delay doesn’t give her time to come after us.” She looked nervously back down the road.

“Now, Elsie,” soothed Sam, “I doubt she’s even noticed we’ve gone. We’re going as far away as possible, as quickly as we can.”

Inga’s heart sank.

“Is she away at the moment?”

Walter nodded.

“Yes. She left two days ago. That’s why we’re moving now.”

“We really do have to see her,” said Inga. “Even if she is as evil as you say.”

“She is,” chorused the women.

“I have no choice,” said Inga. “Babbin will die unless the spell is removed.”

“She doesn’t usually stay away more than three days,” said Walter. “So she’ll likely be back by the time you reach her cottage. It’s about a day’s drive from here. There’s a small clearing a few miles ahead where you can stop for the night. There’s water and grass for your horse. We stayed there last night. But do not light a fire. There are things in the forest that are not friendly, and light draws them.”

“Thank you,” said Inga. “Even if Calizone isn’t home, we’ll wait for her.”

“You must do what you think is right,” said Walter. “But please, we beg you, do not mention that you saw us.”

“I won’t say a word,” promised Inga. “Now, how do we get your wagons past our trap?”

“I think there’s just enough room if we push your trap into the trees,” said Sam. “We can push the wagons past rather than let the horses pull them.”

The men cleared branches and undergrowth from the roadside, making a space just wide enough for Inga and Babbin’s trap. The wagons were heavy, but with everyone pushing, including Inga and Babbin, they managed to move them along the road.

The horses were hitched up again.

“Remember,” warned Walter, “not a word.”

“I promise,” called Inga, watching as the wagons disappeared down the road.

Babbin climbed back onto the trap and once again poured the chain from hand to hand.