Unlocking the Spell (12 page)

“Honestly, I don't think they're going to be any help at all,” Gwendolyn told her.

A loud snort made both girls turn their heads. One of the men who had been by himself was coming in their direction. Annie squinted, trying to see him better in the sun's glare. He was bigger than the rest, with bulging muscles and a head that… Annie gulped and stepped back from the fence, pulling her sister with her. This wasn't a person, it was a minotaur, with the body of a human and the head of a bull.

A roar broke the quiet of the afternoon as the minotaur came rushing at the fence, his head lowered. Annie and Gwendolyn fell back to the road while Liam ran to stand in front of them with his sword raised. Although their attacker slammed into the fence, bellowing, he made no further effort to reach them.

The group standing under the oak tree turned their heads. Annie shuddered. They were minotaurs as well, mostly adult females with a few children and two or three adolescents.

“These must be the cattle the ogre mentioned,” said Annie, her mouth so dry that her voice sounded odd.
“There should be a road near here where we can turn right.”

“As long as we don't have to go through that field,” said Gwendolyn. “I'm glad you didn't hop the fence to go talk to them, Annie.”

“So am I!” Annie told her, casting one more glance at the minotaurs.

Annie and Gwendolyn were careful to keep their distance from the fence and the now-watchful minotaurs, but Liam and Beldegard eyed the occupants of the pasture with interest. The beast with the head of a bull kept pace with them on his side of the fence, snorting and pawing at the ground if they stepped off the road. Eventually even he lost interest and left to rejoin his herd. Annie was relieved when he was gone, and began to enjoy the scenery, knowing that they were going the right way.

They were out in the open country now, with crops growing on one side and the fence on the other. Bees hovered around the wild roses covered with small white flowers that hugged the fence. Crickets chirped in the tall grass edging the fence, adding their song to that of the bees. Small birds flew dipping, curving patterns as they caught insects, while a hawk circled overhead, casting its shadow on the dusty road. The hot sun beat down, making Annie long for the shade they'd left behind. A trickle of perspiration ran down her
spine, and she wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.

When they finally reached the corner of the pasture where the fence turned, they found a narrow dirt path leading off to the right. They walked single file now with Liam in the front and Beldegard bringing up the rear. Eventually they reached the end of the pasture where the fence turned away from the path, and soon after that the stream looped toward them. Once again Beldegard sniffed the water. After taking a tentative taste, he turned to the sisters and said, “You can drink now.”

Gwendolyn ran to the water's edge and knelt down. Annie sighed and trudged after her. Liam followed, looking as hot as Annie felt. “I saw colored light reflecting off something up ahead,” he said, laying his sword on the grass so he could bend down to drink. “It might be the bridge.” He sipped from his cupped hands twice before adding, “When we reach the bridge, stay back while I look around. Trolls lurk under bridges, and they're nasty creatures at the best of times.”

“Have you ever fought a troll?” asked Annie.

Liam nodded. “Yes, and I've been lucky to get away with my life each time.”

“Don't worry,” said Beldegard. “I'll be there and trolls don't scare me.”

“Have you ever fought a troll?” Liam asked him.

“No, but I've seen plenty over the last two years. They run away when they see me coming.”

“You are fierce looking, my darling prince,” Gwendolyn said, stroking his furry back.

“Or they think a bear wouldn't have anything worth fighting for,” Liam murmured in Annie's ear.

Even before Annie spotted the bridge, she saw colors shimmering above the stream. Red, blue, purple, green, and yellow lights seemed to hang in the air, and when she got closer she saw why. The bridge that arced above the stream wasn't very long, but it was made of precious stone laid in stripes that sparkled and glimmered in the sunlight. Bands of ruby, sapphire, amethyst, emerald, and topaz ran from one side of the bridge to the other. Because the stones were transparent, it was easy to see that there weren't any trolls hiding under the bridge.

“This is beautiful!” Gwendolyn exclaimed. “But I don't understand why the ogres from the village haven't broken it up and carted it away.”

“Magic,” said Annie, who could hear the soft melody playing over and over again. “It probably keeps it intact and wards off blows that might break it. I suppose I'll have to sprint across it so I don't wreck the darn thing. Why can't fairies make regular bridges like ordinary people? Do you see how slippery this thing looks?”

“I don't have to run across, do I?” asked Gwendolyn.

Annie shook her head. “No, but you should go first in case I weaken it.”

“I'll walk with you, Gwendolyn,” declared Beldegard. “You can hold on to me.”

The bear prince's first steps were tentative, and Gwendolyn moved even more slowly, but after a moment it became obvious that the magic that held the bridge together also gave it enough traction that it was easy to cross, and they hurried to the other side. Liam went next, although he kept glancing back at Annie as if to make sure no trolls were going to attack her. The moment he reached the other side, Annie started across. She was nearly halfway when she felt the stones shift under her feet and heard the melody become ragged. Another step and her foot slipped so that she staggered and almost fell.

“Hurry, Annie!” Liam cried, and started to come back for her.

“No, stay there!” she shouted as she took another step. The stones were like slick ice now, so slippery that it was impossible to keep her footing. Her feet skittered under her and it was all she could do to remain upright.

“Here, catch this!” Liam shouted, tossing the end of a rope he'd pulled from his knapsack.

Annie looked up as the rope sailed toward her. She caught it with one hand, but doing so made her lose
her balance and she fell, landing on her knees and sliding toward the edge of the bridge.

“Hold on!” Liam called.

He began to drag her toward his side of the bridge, but Annie was too close to the edge. She scrabbled at the smooth surface, trying to get a grip, but slipped over the side and fell through the air into the stream. As the cold water closed over her head, she held on to the rope and used it to pull herself to the surface. Spluttering, she kicked out with her feet and stubbed her toes on the streambed. She stood and glanced down; the stream was only chest deep.

Annie waded to the side, shivering from the cold water, and let Liam take her hand and haul her onto the bank. He looked worried and didn't seem to notice that Annie got his clothes wet when he pulled her into his arms. Being so close to Liam felt good, warm, and right, and when Annie tilted her head back to gaze into his eyes, she thought for a moment that he was about to kiss her. Instead, he let go of her suddenly and stepped away, leaving Annie feeling colder than before.

Annie was confused. Liam had said such sweet things when they were in the Gasping Guppy, but they had been interrupted and he never had finished what he was about to say. Now he wouldn't even kiss her. In fact, she didn't think he had kissed her since they started their expedition. Was it something she had done? Maybe he had changed his mind about her.

Beldegard was already ranging ahead with Liam close behind when Annie began to walk. She scarcely noticed that the melody of the bridge was playing again.

“Are you all right?” Gwendolyn asked, eyeing her with concern.

“I'm fine,” said Annie. She glanced down at her wet clothes, then gave her sister a rueful grin. “That was one way to cool off, although I wouldn't recommend it.”

It was late afternoon when the path took them alongside a stream, wider than the first and deeper. They soon heard the muffled roar of a waterfall, which grew louder as they walked. After that it wasn't far to the spot where water cascaded from atop a rocky cliff, sending a cloud of mist and spray high into the air. Annie's clothes were nearly dry, but the mist settled on her hair and face, making her wet all over again.

“Are we supposed to go around this, or what?” asked Gwendolyn.

“We're supposed to go behind it, but the path ends here.”

“Then there's probably a way through,” said Beldegard. “If there's one there, I'll find it.”

“Be careful!” Gwendolyn called as the bear prince disappeared into the underbrush at the bottom of the cliff. “I worry about him so much,” she said, turning to Annie. “He's always willing to go headfirst into
danger. Don't you think he's the bravest prince you've ever met?”

“He's brave all right,” said Annie. “But I think a prince who isn't a bear and still puts himself in danger is even braver.” She was looking directly at Liam when she spoke and she smiled when he turned to wink at her.

Gwendolyn tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Each to her own opinion,” she said, and stalked away.

“It's right here!” Beldegard called, his head appearing among the foliage.

Liam held the branches back for the two princesses, and they all followed Beldegard through the underbrush. They had to go only a few yards before they reached the entrance to the cave.

“What now?” asked Gwendolyn. “Do we go out the other side?”

“There's a passage out the back, but there isn't any light,” Beldegard told them. “Hold on to me, everyone. I'll show you the way. Except for you, Annie. If you touch me, I'll be less bear and more human. Right now, I want to stay a bear.”

“I'll walk with Annie,” Liam said, taking her hand.

Annie wasn't sure what to think. First he wanted to touch her, then he didn't, now he did again. She was so confused!

After the first few steps, the passage curved and suddenly it was so dark that Annie couldn't see anything, including Liam, who was right beside her. Raising her
free hand, she felt for the wall of the cave and found it, cold and slightly damp, closer than she'd expected. They walked forward, sliding their feet until they hit something, then felt for another place to step. It wasn't long before she saw a glimmer of light ahead.

“There it is,” she told Liam. “We've almost reached the opening.”

They could walk faster now and in less than a minute they were outside under the hot sun. Liam let go of her hand the moment they left the passage. Annie tried not to sigh as he moved away.

“The ogre said we should turn left after this,” said Gwendolyn.

Where the land on the other side of the waterfall had been cleared for crops and pastures, the land on this side was heavily forested. “I guess we should just follow the path for now,” Annie said as they began to walk. “I don't see a… Wait. Are those moonflowers?”

What she had first taken for trees on the left side of the path were actually some of the most unusual plants Annie had ever seen. Long stalks higher than a tall man's head supported spheres the size of big pumpkins. Pale blue and iridescent white, the spheres seemed to float above them as if they were tethered to the ground rather than growing from it. A faint breeze made the spheres bump into each other, filling the glade with a gentle tapping sound.

“I think this might be the Moonflower Glade,” said
Annie, stepping off the path. “Now all we have to do is find Moonbeam.”

“That should be easy enough,” Liam said as he followed her. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he shouted, “Fairy Moonbeam!”

There was no response.

“I don't think anyone is here,” announced Gwendolyn. “Maybe this isn't the right place.”

“What's going on?” asked a voice. “You don't have to make such a ruckus!”