Spellbound Chapter 2.

Chapter Two.

 

A Royal Summons.

They had not gone very far before they were met by a party of Foresters. These men were responsible for keeping the road through the Dark Forest in good condition and free from would‑be thieves and highwaymen.

“Good morning, ladies,” said the leader as they reined in their horses. “Well met, Calizone. We were on our way to visit you.”

“Good morning to you, Captain Smike. I would say that it was nice to see you again, but that would not be true. You only visit when the king wants something,” snorted Calizone.

“I only follow orders,” said Captain Smike. “So don’t blame me.”

“Well,” said Calizone, “what does he want this time?”

“I was not told,” said Captain Smike. “I was just ordered to ask if you would like to visit the Palace or, failing that, if he might call in at your cottage. At your convenience, of course,” he added hastily. Calizone may have been old, but she was still a very powerful witch, and Smike did not want to be on the receiving end of a spell.

“He really must want something big, to be that polite,” sneered Calizone. “Luckily for him, we were going past the Palace today, so you may escort us there.”

Captain Smike looked at Grace and frowned. “The invitation was just for you,” he said. “Not your friend.”

“Both of us or neither,” said Calizone coldly, pointing her finger at him.

He went pale and quickly apologised. “Both of you it is then. Please follow us.”

He led his fellow Foresters away, and Grace followed.

Calizone turned and grinned at her. “Does them good to be put down every now and then. Stops them getting too big for their boots.”

Grace giggled.

It was only a short drive to the Palace. Grace helped Calizone down, and a footman led them inside. King Syldan was waiting for them in the throne room.

“Welcome,” he said. “I had not expected you so soon, but it is a pleasure to see you.”

“Never mind the chit‑chat,” said Calizone. “We are about to go on a long journey, and at my age it pays not to take too long getting started.”

King Syldan had the grace to look shamefaced. “A long journey?” he asked.

“I need to find someone to take over as the witch of the Dark Forest after me,” said Calizone.

King Syldan gasped. “You’re not… er…”

“I plan to be around a long time yet,” snapped Calizone. “So don’t get your hopes up.”

“I am so pleased,” said King Syldan. “And I know you don’t believe me when I say that. But it is true.”

Calizone snorted. “Better the witch you know than a new one who might not be so friendly.”

“May I ask why you are going to find a new witch? If my memory of history is correct, then a new witch automatically turns up once the old one… er… goes,” said King Syldan.

Calizone nodded. “That is indeed what has happened in the past, but I may have been a little too keen on stopping anyone from becoming a witch, so there does not appear to be anyone available. And,” she added, “I think you would prefer a reasonable witch rather than one like some of the wicked ones that there have been in the past.”

King Syldan nodded. “The stories about some of the ones who came before you are very unpleasant.”

“So,” said Calizone, “why have you had your men drag me here?”

“I hope they were very polite,” said the King. “Captain Smike is a good man, and I would not like anything nasty to have happened to him.”

“He should thank his lucky stars then,” said Calizone.

“Actually, you going on a journey could be very lucky for me,” said King Syldan. “I have a problem.” He sighed. “As you know, I have only one son, Beldan. I don’t know if you have heard or not, but he is not the best‑behaved young man.”

‘Wild’ is what I heard him called,” said Calizone.

King Syldan nodded. “Sadly, yes. Now, if you are wandering all over the kingdom, it might be better if you had an escort. There are still a few outlaws around, and wild animals. Beldan may be a bit wild, but he is a good swordsman. If he went with you, you may be able to teach him some self‑control.”

“Do you really think there is anyone in the world who would dare attack me?” said Calizone.

King Syldan hurriedly shook his head. “No, no, that is not what I meant. I spend a lot of money keeping Inns and Coaching Houses ready for me if and when I go around the kingdom. If Beldan was with you, you would be most welcome to stop at those places, paid for by me, of course.”

“And if he does not behave himself?” Calizone asked.

“Do whatever you feel is necessary,” said the King. “Just don’t kill him. He is my only son, after all.”

Calizone looked at Grace. She nodded.

“It would be better for me to stop at an Inn rather than sleeping under the stars, so we will accept your offer of an escort.”

“Two young men would be better than one,” said King Syldan.

Calizone frowned.

The King sighed. “My nephew, Mardan, is the other young man I want to send with you.”

“What is wrong with him?” snapped Calizone. “Even wilder, is he?”

King Syldan shook his head. “Actually, he is the complete opposite. He is a scholar. He spends almost all of his time in the Palace Library. He never seems to have his head out of a book, even at mealtimes. I think — I hope — it would do him good to get out into the real world instead of just reading about it in some dusty book. He can ride, and he has been known to use a sword quite well. He might even be a calming influence on Beldan.”

“And if he turns out to be incurable?” asked Calizone.

“Same thing,” said King Syldan. “Again, I would prefer him to be alive and still human. If anything happens to Beldan, he is next in line to the throne.”

“If I may, I will send for them,” he said. He pulled a bell cord, and a footman came in. “Please inform Princes Beldan and Mardan that they are ordered to the throne room immediately.”

The footman bowed and left the room.

King Syldan turned to Grace. “You are one of the Travellers, I see, from your dress. I have not met any of your people for a long time.”

He rubbed his left arm. “Many years ago, I broke my arm, and it was a Traveller bone‑setter who dealt with it for me.”

“Some of my sisters, indeed, can do that, Sire,” agreed Grace.

“Is that your talent?” asked the King.

Grace shook her head. “No, Sire. My talent is reading people. I only need to touch someone to know everything about them. I can also do that for things. As long as someone has recently touched something, I can tell who owns it. It is useful for finding the owner of a lost article.”

The King nodded. “Then your ability to read people will be of great help to Calizone if, as she says, she does not want her successor to be as evil as some of the old witches.”

“Yes, Sire,” said Grace.

There was no time for more conversation as the throne room door was flung open and a rather angry‑looking young man stormed in.

Before he could speak, Syldan held up a hand. “This is my son, Beldan. Beldan, this is Calizone, the witch of the Dark Forest, and her friend, Grace Lee, a Traveller lady.”

Prince Beldan turned and glared at the two ladies.

“Remember your manners, my boy,” ordered King Syldan.

Prince Beldan flushed and bowed.

The door opened again, and another young man entered. He bowed to the King. “You sent for me, Sire?”

“This is my nephew, Mardan,” said the King. “As you can see, he is rarely without a book.”

Mardan was carrying an open book.

He bowed to the two ladies.

“Yes,” said King Syldan. “These two ladies are going on a long journey throughout the kingdom. They need an escort, and you two have volunteered to go with them.”

Prince Beldan exploded with rage. “I am not a common soldier to be ordered around like that,” he spluttered.

King Syldan drew a deep breath, but before he could speak, Calizone held up a hand. “Allow me,” she said.

She pointed a long, bony finger at the raging prince. Instantly, he fell to his knees. Calizone twisted her hand as if unscrewing a bottle top.

Prince Beldan’s face screwed up in agony. He gasped and clutched his head.

“Did I hear you correctly?” asked Calizone.

The kneeling prince managed to gasp out, “No. I’m sorry. Please.”

Prince Mardan walked across to his cousin and looked down at him. “Interesting,” he said. Then he turned to King Syldan. “I suppose I would be treated in the same way if I refused to go?”

Calizone answered. “Exactly.”

Prince Mardan looked across at his cousin, “A journey suddenly seems very appealing.”

“Please,” said King Syldan, “I think my son has had enough of this lesson for the moment, don’t you?”

Calizone clicked her fingers and lowered her hand. “Are you sure you want him back alive?” she asked sternly.

“Probably,” said King Syldan. “The next heir is a cousin, Wilgan. I don’t think anyone would be happy if he became king.”

Prince Beldan stood up. He turned to face Calizone. “It would give me great pleasure to escort you and your friend wherever you wish to go.”

“Good boy,” said Calizone. “Just remember.” She pointed her finger at him. Prince Beldan flinched and gave a weak grin.

King Syldan pulled on the bell rope. A footman came in. Syldan gave him a whole set of instructions.

When the footman left the room, King Syldan turned to Calizone and Grace. “It will take a while for the princes’ things to be got ready. It would give me great pleasure if you would join me for an early lunch.”

He turned to Beldan and Mardan. “You two had better go and get yourselves ready for a long trip.”

The two young men bowed themselves out of the throne room.

After lunch, the King led the party to Grace’s wagon. “Your horse and buggy will be looked after here,” he told Calizone. “And I will give the Foresters strict instructions to watch over your cottage.”

He watched as the four set off. “I hope I have done the right thing,” he said to a footman who stood next to him. The footman did not reply.