The Arcet by Charles Lankiwicz (the read aloud family TXT) 📖

the corridor, stopping to look in the cells. They were dark and empty, except for rubbish. John gave a start, and grabbed his spear tightly as he looked in one and saw two red eyes looking at him.

Myra, glancing back, grabbed his shoulder and said: “It is only a Zelt. They are harmless–except in large numbers.”

John proceeded to follow her, but glanced back at the cell. He saw a creature about the size of a cat, and looking something like a scaly rat, leave the cell and scoot up the corridor, with a low hiss.

A few minutes later, they heard heavy thumping ahead. Myra pointed to an empty cell and they entered it, waiting.

They saw a goblin guard stop near their cell and pull out a gourd, from which it drank with a loud slurping sound.

Myra stepped carefully outside the cell and stabbed the guard, who fell with a low groan.

“Help me drag this inside the cell–drinking swat and didn’t want the others to know!”

John did so, still feeling uncomfortable about killing things.

A few minutes later, they heard a group of loud voices ahead, and carefully crept up to their source.

Four goblins stood before a fire eating hunks of charred meat. A cell door behind them was closed and they could see a face peering out.

“My brother!” said Myra.

“How can we free him? There’s too many guards!” said John shaking his head.

“I have an idea,” said Myra. “I’ll go back down the hall and make a loud noise to distract them–hopefully they’ll all follow. You go to his cell, open the door–its locked from this side, then go back to the cell with the dead goblin. Do you think you can find it?”

“I guess....” said John. “But...”

“Good! As soon as they run towards me, go and open the door. If he looks uncertain–just say my name and he’ll understand.”

Then Myra was gone, disappearing in the dim hallways. Anxiety gnawed at John. What if they didn’t all leave... Then he heard a loud crash that made him start. The goblins began twittering in their strange speech and three out of the four ran off towards the sound. John felt himself tremble as he looked at the remaining goblin. But he realized that he had no choice and went forward. Maybe I can sneak up, he thought.

But the goblin’s sharp ears heard him and then it charged, with the wicked spear raised. Instinctively, John blocked it, but he fell heavily on his back after slipping on some loose gravel. He felt a moment of panic as he saw the goblin thrusting at him, its evil eyes glowing, then they opened wide and the goblin fell aside. John found himself looking at Myra’s brother face to face.

He was a male version of Myra, and looked just a year older. He was clutching a goblin spear, now tipped with greenish ichor.

“You are with Myra,” he said, making it a statement not a question.

“You are...?”

“Myra’s brother, Miral. Lead on.”

Feeling still a little shook up, John led the way back into the dim corridors to the cell with the dead goblin. Myra was there and she and her brother embraced.

“We must leave quickly now–they will alert the whole castle and this place will be crawling with goblins!” said Myra.

Then they where outside, heading back to the point at which they had entered the cell complex. Not far off, they heard a gaggle of goblin voices coming closer.

“Hurry!” said Myra, and they began to trot forward.

As they followed, they saw a crowd of goblins just ahead. With an excited roar, the goblins charged them. Panic filled John as he grabbed his spear and fought an urge to run back. Then he heard a click to his left and Myra was swinging the wall open. They ran inside and slammed the wall shut in the faces of the advancing goblins. The goblins threw their weight against the sliding door–but it held tight.

“Let’s go to the entrance before they find the secret catch,” said Myra.

Soon they were through the dimly lit cave and at the entrance. Myra manipulated the wall and they went out into the woods. John felt an enormous sense of freedom and relief, as they walked through the woods.

“Uncle will be surprised when we return,” said Myra with a tight smile. “Father will imprison him and the council will try him–he may lose his head.”

“Do not discount him–he is a clever man. Look at how he plotted our kidnaping,” said Miral with a worried frown.

“Don’t worry about him. Right now, we have to keep my promise to John here–to return him to his own world. He came through a gate in the river,” said Myra.

“Perhaps he will be willing to help us further,” said Miral.

“No! No, I can’t. I’d like to–but Mom and Dad will be scared silly. Even now, I’ve been gone for almost a full day. And anyhow, you promised!”

“Time does not go the same in both our worlds, you will return at the same instant you left your world. You will not consider helping us?” said Myra.

“I’d like to, but, it would be dangerous, the goblins; Mom and Dad would be worried...”

“Let me give you this, the Arcet,” said Myra, as she handed John a small medallion with intricate writing on it.

“If you wish to return, hold this in front of a mirror large enough for you to step through and a temporary gate will open to this world. But come through prepared. You should have some food, water and a weapon–for it will take you some time to find us,” said Myra

John felt a strange warmth in his hand as he held the medallion.

Some hours later, they stood on the bank of the river where John had came ashore.

“Walk straight forward, and let the water envelope you, then swim to the surface. You will be in your world at the same time you left it. Remember the medallion, and our offer–and thank you for your help,” said Myra, as she gave John a kiss.

Miral came forward and shook John’s hand saying: “I too thank you, John.”

“But its deep...I almost drowned.”

“You have nothing to fear. Go forward and do as we said. remember the amulet and our offer,” said Myra.

John walked forward till the water rose higher about his chest, then to his neck. Looking back he saw Myra and Miral standing on the shore. They waved. Hesitating, He ducked his head under the water and he felt the strange whirling sensation. Fighting to the surface, he gulped fresh air. Looking, he saw the castle on the hill again and swam towards the shore.

As soon as he reached it, he fell down on his knapsack, utterly exhausted, and fell into a deep dream filled sleep. In his dream, he was chased by goblins and trying to catch up to Myra and Miral. Something then grabbed him.

He woke with a start to find his Dad shaking him.

“Son, what happened here!” said his dad.

“Look! He’s soaking wet–he must have fallen into the river!” said his mother.

“Dad! Mom! I was with this girl and we were being chased by goblins and...”

“Son, you’ve had a trying experience. Just calm down and we’ll get you to a clinic,” said his Dad.

They bundled him into the car, and went to the village, as he lay in the back seat.

Later, he was in a bed surrounded by his parents and a nurse.

“You’ll be alright son. We sedated you–you were just a little shook up,” said Dad.

John just lay back on the bed, confused and uncertain. Maybe it was all just a dream after all.

“John,” his Mother said. “Where did you get this? I told you to go to me or your Father before you bought anything, in case someone charged you too much money.”

She had Myra’s amulet in her hand.

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Publication Date: 05-29-2016

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