Beyond the Cherry Tree (7 page)

Chapter 10

The Witches of Zir

S
erula stroked her long, crooked, wrinkled, spiny
fingers
along the cat’s black fur. It purred with
contentment
and lifted its eyelids halfway, revealing deep, fiery, red eyes that reflected the crystal ball sitting on its
pedestal
in the middle of the room.

‘Orzena will be pleased on her return, my precious one,’ screeched the evil witch of Mount Zir.

The cat paused in its purring. It growled in agreement, its fanged teeth stretching beyond its gaping mouth. The
blazing
fire in the corner danced and roared, then dipped and ceased momentarily before rising again. The cat lifted its head, then brushed away from Serula’s hand and leapt across the floor towards the cobweb that veiled the hole in the wall opposite the fire.

Orzena was back!

A chilling gust of wind cried around the corner and
disappeared
into the deep crevices of the walls as Orzena scurried into the room, raging and ranting and hissing curses over her left shoulder. She was older than her sister and much more haggard in appearance. She was hunched to the point of almost constantly looking at the floor as she moved around.

But Orzena was neither slow nor ailing, and of the two evil sisters, she was by far the more ominous.

‘I should afflict a thousand plagues back upon that scourge, for its misery far exceeds its usefulness,’ complained Orzena as she pointed her hands towards the fire, drawing heat and energy and rage from its flames. Immediately, her eyes
blackened
and sank into their sockets, and the warts on her face enlarged and oozed poisonous puss that rolled down her face, scorching red tracks in her green skin.

Serula stood up from her stool and cast a bolt of crackling dust from her right hand towards the fire.

It exploded and smothered the flames, leaving nothing but ghastly, smelly fumes that circled, then evaporated.

It wasn’t the first time that Serula had to break one of her sister’s spells.

Orzena’s face returned to its normal hideous appearance. The evil witch slowly released the fury from her body and once again slumped into her hunch. She turned to Serula and fixed her eyes upon her.

‘Come, sister,’ instructed Serula. ‘Save your evil for a more worthy cause.’

Then she pointed towards the crystal ball and its
cloudiness
cleared, to Orzena’s delight.

‘It can’t be!’ she hissed.

‘It is,’ smiled Serula, revealing disgusting, rotten, broken teeth covered in strings of vegetable matter. ‘It is the boy.’

‘Are you sure?’ asked Orzena. Excitement was rushing through her body.

‘I’m sure. I’ve seen him and the tree elf walk through the arc.’

Orzena clapped her hands. Bits of wart-covered skin flaked and fell upon her cloak.

‘We must kill him!’ she laughed, snorting and scrunching her nose up between her brows.

‘Yes! We must,’ agreed Serula. ‘And we must get word to Krudon.’

‘Yes! We must,’ agreed Orzena. ‘We must kill him. It is Krudon’s wish. He will be pleased, sister.’

Serula nodded her head. ‘At last we will avenge our third sister.’

Orzena’s face darkened again with fury and her eyes enlarged.

‘She will laugh from her grave, her shadow will rise up from the depths of darkness and dance in celebration when
he is dead.’

Then, once again, the fury left her. Serula scurried over to a dark corner of the room and reached out her hand.

There was a screech.

She pulled her hand back out of the darkness. She was holding a bat.

‘You will deliver the message to Krudon,’ she whispered in the bat’s ear, holding it fondly against her face.

Then she held the bat in front of the crystal ball and pointed towards the image of the boy and the elf travelling on the back of a glykos towards Feldorn Forest. She placed her right hand upon the ball and began to work her magic.

‘Image, I see. Image, I feel. Image, I take.’ Suddenly, the image inside the crystal ball passed up into her hand.

‘Through your eyes you will reveal.’ She pointed her
fingers
at the bat and the image bolted through the air and pierced the eyes of the bat, where it remained to be seen by Krudon. Once again Serula held the bat to her face.

‘Fly swiftly. Take this message to Krudon’s castle.’

She held out her hand and the bat swooped out of the room, darting around corners until it finally left the witches’ lair at the top of Mount Zir.

‘We will send the scourge and two more,’ insisted Orzena. ‘As useless as they are, they will do nasty work on the boy.’

Serula looked over to the black cat. It was hissing and
snarling and showing its fangs.

‘Yes, my precious one,’ smiled the witch. ‘Gather two more and wait for us at the eastern edge.’

The cat raced out of the room.

‘I will call for the scourge and two more,’ said Orzena and she too left the room.

Serula and Orzena stood on the eastern edge of their lair, near the top of Mount Zir.

Snow blew hard against their faces and instantly melted on contact with their skin. They looked past Mount Erzkrin to the East and far beyond to Mount Valdosyr.

‘They’re here,’ said Serula. The two sisters turned round. Standing before them were three cats.

Behind the cats were three goblins that Krudon had given to the witches as a gift. They were ‘the scourges’ – useless creatures, and a misery more than a gift. But Orzena knew better than to reject a gift from Krudon.

‘Come forward,’ instructed Serula.

The three black cats stood in line before her with their heads bowed and froth falling from their mouths.

She began her magic.

‘Black cats of Mount Zir, rise up and be strong.’ Serula’s eyes blackened and enlarged. She pointed her hands towards the cats and wriggled her fingers with great intent. ‘The gift of flight I give you, to quickly move along.’

As she spoke the three cats grew bigger and bigger until they stood large and beastly, high above their mistress. The fur on their sides stretched and fell to the floor. Wings burst out and flapped, then stretched above their bodies, ready to take flight.

Serula looked toward her sister for praise.

‘Excellent, sister,’ smiled Orzena.

Orzena approached the three goblins.

One goblin stepped forward to her.

‘There is a boy travelling with a tree elf. He is The One,’ the elder witch informed him. Her eyes again filled with fury, ‘KILL HIM!’ she screeched.

The goblin nodded, then grunted to the other two. The three goblins climbed up on the cats, whose wings began to flap violently. Serula and Orzena stepped aside. The beasts of Mount Zir raced towards the snow-capped edge and took flight, heading south in search for the boy and the elf.

The witches watched contentedly for a while before returning to the evil depths of their lair, pleased and eager for the fruits their witchery would bring.

Chapter 11

Feldorn Forest

‘L
ook, Bortwig!’ shouted Josh, pointing toward the evening sky. Mirlo slowed his thrashing pace as he approached the edge of the forest.

Daylight was quickly receding behind the distant
mountains
. Darkness had almost come completely when suddenly Josh saw a flash of orange soar over their heads and vanish as if the sky had swallowed it.

‘They see us,’ chuckled Bortwig. ‘There will be great festivities.’

Suddenly, the black sky was blitzed with burning arrows. The sounding of horns followed this from the high tips of the outer trees of the forest.

Mirlo slowed down until he stopped where the tall grasses thinned beneath the moonlit shadows of Feldorn Forest. Bortwig jumped off and knelt down beside Mirlo’s head, stroking it as the frightened creature wailed. He dug his face
back into the ground, barely allowing his eyes to peep up at Bortwig.

‘It’s all right, Mirlo. Calm down boy. There’s no danger for you.’

The instant Josh’s feet touched the ground, Mirlo’s
tentacles
retracted into his body. Then the petrified creature
vanished
within the depths of the soil, and was gone.

‘Will Mirlo be alright, Bortwig?’ Josh barely knew the creature, yet already Mirlo’s docile nature made Josh like him and feel compassion towards him.

‘Mirlo will be fine, Master Bloom. Worry not. We must go now, quickly. It’s dark and they’ll be waiting.’

The boy and the tree elf brushed their way through the dense, moist foliage that lined their path through the depths of the forest. Josh could barely see anything in front of him as the light from the moon above offered little chance or invitation to peer upon the floor of the tree elves’ forest.

The only lights that caught Josh’s eyes were tiny, green, flickering lights from the trees above.

They were random flickerings, coming from above and below and on both sides. They seemed to be moving at the same pace as Josh and Bortwig. They were always there. Never once since the boy and the elf entered the forest had the flickering ceased, not even for a short time.

‘Bortwig,’ said Josh. ‘Are we being followed?’ he pointed above.

Bortwig chuckled. ‘I thought you were a little distracted. Sorry, Master Bloom. My fault. I should have known to tell you. Archers. Nothing to fear.’

‘Archers?’ repeated Joshua. ‘The ones that lit up the sky and frightened Mirlo?’

‘Yes,’ answered Bortwig.

‘Are they tree elves, like you?’

Bortwig stopped, and turned around to Josh, his eyes
flickering
in the darkness just like the archers above.

‘Tree elves they are, Master Bloom. But not like me.
Archers
don’t ever go where we are about to go, and they never ever leave the rooftops of Feldorn Forest.’

‘Never?’ asked Josh. He shivered. It was getting cold, and he was soaked from brushing through wet ferns and other shade-loving plants that lived and thrived beneath the dense shadow of the forest.

‘Never,’ repeated Bortwig. ‘Not ever to wander, travel or explore.’

‘Why?’

‘That is the way it is. Archers are the protectors of Feldorn Forest and nothing else.’

Then Bortwig glanced above just once and ushered the boy onward.

‘Almost here, Master Bloom. Now where is it? Always so hard to see in the dark.’

Suddenly, Josh could see flickering eyes peer around a tree.

‘Bortwig!’ he whispered. ‘Bortwig, stop!’

Bortwig was busy looking for whatever he was looking for, but eventually he did stop and he did listen.

‘I think there’s an archer following us,’ gasped Josh.

‘Of course,’ said Bortwig. ‘There are lots of archers
following
us. That’s what they do. Don’t worry, Master Bloom. The archers are watching us from high above for our own good, not for harm or mischief. It is our leader’s command.’

Momentarily, Josh wondered who the tree elves’ leader was. But that wasn’t so important right now.

‘Not from above; from behind. I saw one watching us from behind a tree back there.’

‘Really?’ smiled Bortwig.

‘What’s so amusing?’ frowned Josh.

‘He’ll never let me get away with this one,’ chuckled Bortwig. ‘Come on, then, out from your hiding and your mischief!’

Just as Bortwig spoke, bright green eyes peered around the tree and slowly moved towards Josh and Bortwig. Finally, standing in front of them was another elf just like Bortwig.

‘Forgot your way back, Bortwig, tree elf? Has it been too long?’

‘Never!’ tutted Bortwig. ‘Tigfry, tree elf, always the funny one.’

The two elves hugged, did the funny twitching thing with their heads, clapped hands merrily and laughed and hugged again.

‘Norlif awaits, Bortwig, tree elf,’ informed Tigfry. He looked Josh up and down with great curiosity and made strange shapes with his face.

This made Josh very uncomfortable.

‘Who is Norlif?’ asked Josh, trying to break away from Tigfry’s stare.

‘He’s the High Elf,’ answered Tigfry. ‘He is anxious to meet The One.’

‘“The One”?’ repeated Josh. ‘What does he mean, Bortwig?’

Bortwig scowled at Tigfry. ‘Tigfry, tree elf, hold your tongue.’

Tigfry lowered his head. Before Josh had time to ask the question again, Bortwig was ushering him and Tigfry toward the tree that Tigfry was hiding behind.

‘We’d better not leave Norlif waiting,’ said Bortwig.

‘Where is Norlif?’ asked Josh. ‘Is he hiding too?’

Tigfry managed a slight chuckle. Before Bortwig could scold him, he playfully suggested that Josh repeat a riddle after him, so that the way to Norlif would be revealed.

‘Always playing games, Tigfry, tree elf,’ smiled Bortwig.

Josh was a little confused.

Tigfry began to riddle.

This must be common with tree elves,
thought Josh. 

Tigfry tapped the tree once and suddenly a burst of golden, sparkling dust danced around the tree and climbed higher into the distant roof of the forest. Josh watched in awe as a sparkling stairway was revealed; it wound around the tree, rising and rising, following the magical dust.

‘The way to Norlif,’ pointed Bortwig. ‘Come along, then!’

Josh began to climb, step after step, winding around the tree, following the two elves higher and higher as the
magical
sparkling dust led the way. There were more than just steps. Bridges and small dwellings formed in front of Josh’s gaping eyes.

Josh noticed carvings in the wooden bridges, just like the ones in the cherry tree. They were of elves in battles with fearsome creatures – unrecognisable creatures to Josh – and there were various riddles scrolled into tall wooden posts.

Josh stopped momentarily to read one of the riddles –

‘Come along then,’ said Tigfry.

More tree elves appeared, too, from around corners, out of windows and on branches. From clusters of thick green foliage, eyes peered in one direction: toward the boy who followed the two elves.

As they crossed bridge after bridge, passing deeper and deeper into the forest, an invisible village appeared. The dust drifted from tree to tree until finally it settled in one place. Up ahead, Josh could see a big dwelling. This dwelling sat alone, unlike the smaller ones. The small dwellings were clustered together in groups of six and were joined by little walkways from door to door. They had tall cone-shaped roofs, made of
straw and reed, which almost reached up to the ceiling of the forest as if to borrow light from the sky above.

The big dwelling was very like them, but much larger than any of the others he had passed. It was magnificent and it sat at the end of a long winding bridge. This bridge was also decorated with carvings of battles and tall posts with riddles, but it also had many arches with faces and names of elves on top of each one.

These must be important elves, like Norlif,
thought Josh as he drew closer to the large dwelling at the end of the winding bridge.

There were elves rushing in and out of this dwelling. At least three of them armed with small swords guarded the doorway at all times. As Bortwig approached the door, the guards stepped aside and the door opened. Tigfry turned to Josh.

‘You’re going in to see Norlif now.’ He smiled.

‘Follow me, Master Bloom,’ instructed Bortwig as he stepped inside.

Josh followed Bortwig along a short, wide hallway. Either side of the hall was lined with elves. They were not staring as the ones outside had, but had their heads bowed.

For the first time since meeting Bortwig, Josh realised how important Bortwig really was. The tree elf, servant of the Great Tree, had returned to his home after such a long
time, and there was respect and gratitude and humility
awaiting
him. Two more doors opened for the elf and the boy. They were met by a very old and haggard elf.

‘Bortwig,’ smiled the old elf fondly. ‘You have returned to us. Feldorn Forest welcomes you.’ Then he looked toward Josh. ‘Is this the boy?’

Josh wondered about Norlif’s question, and then he thought back to Tigfry asking Bortwig about him being
The One
.

Bortwig bowed his head and knelt in front of the old elf. Josh, not knowing what to do, did as Bortwig did. But before his knee touched the floor, the old elf stretched out his frail hand and stopped him; he shook his head and smiled.

Bortwig looked towards Josh.

‘It is, my lord.’

Norlif invited them into the centre of the large room, where they sat on thick fleecy rugs that smelled of fresh pine. For a moment or two no one said anything. It seemed that Bortwig would not speak voluntarily, but only if spoken to by Norlif. Josh, like Bortwig, sat quietly awaiting words.

Finally, Norlif spoke.

‘You will be going to see the great wizard?’ asked Norlif.

Bortwig nodded toward Josh.

‘Em, yes,’ stuttered Josh. ‘I think so.’

‘Wilzorf will be pleased and anxiously awaiting you,’
nodded Norlif. ‘He will have wisdom and great news for you. Important things will be said to you and you must be brave, and honourable.’

Josh looked toward Bortwig, but Bortwig’s head was bowed.

‘What do you mean?’ asked Josh.

There was no immediate answer. Norlif just stared. It was a stare of admiration rather than one of judgment.

‘Rest your mind now,’ said Norlif. ‘This is a time for rest and food and peace.’ He smiled. ‘And festivities! You will travel at dawn to the Wizard. Then no question will be left unanswered. This is the way it is meant to be.’

Norlif leaned over and touched Bortwig on the shoulder.

‘Raise your head, loyal servant of the Great Tree. Tonight we are equal. Tonight we will celebrate the arrival of the boy. You have done well, Bortwig, tree elf.’

Norlif pointed towards the far walls of the room and clapped his hands.

Blazing fire midgets rose up and lit the four walls of the room.

Doors swung open from all directions and elves flocked into Norlif’s room, filling up the floor and parading high above on balconies.

A huge spit was wheeled into the room and placed beside Norlif.

Josh was starving and his belly ached as the delicious smell hovered toward his nose.

‘Now you will eat,’ said Norlif. ‘Fill your belly so you will be strong tomorrow.’

Large servings were handed to Bortwig and Josh.

‘This is really good,’ said Josh, devouring huge slices of juicy meat. ‘Is it pork?’

Norlif laughed. ‘Swine would not enter my realm, let alone pass my lips,’ he smiled.

‘What is it, then, Bortwig?’ whispered Josh as Norlif issued instructions to a line of elves in front of him.

‘Wait until you’re finished, then I will tell you.’

Josh finished his plate, leaving it sparkling clean. Bortwig sucked upon his fingers.

‘Now, don’t be startled,’ said Bortwig.

Josh didn’t like the sound of that.

‘It was a glykos,’ said Bortwig.

‘Like Mirlo?’ gasped Josh.

‘Yes,’ answered Bortwig. ‘But not Mirlo. No harm would ever come to Mirlo.’

Josh heaved, but held back, since he didn’t want to offend Norlif.

‘Don’t worry, Master Bloom,’ said Bortwig. ‘Glykoses are very nutritious creatures. It’s all meat at the end of the day.’

Josh was just about to respond to that when music filled
the room. The crowd of tree elves that packed the floor stepped aside.

‘Let the festivities begin!’ announced Norlif. He clapped his hands and, in the weird way now familiar to Josh, twitched his head with great excitement.

Suddenly, a loud, piercing, screeching noise could be heard outside the room.