Once the knight was gone, the candles and torches in thegreat hail grew dimmer. A bitter chill crept over the room.
"What do these three rhymes mean?" said Jack, looking at hisnotebook. "Who are the Keepers of the Cauldron? What secretdoor?""I don't know," said Annie. "I just know we have to saveMorgan."She gathered the red cloak up in her arms. "We've got our firstgift," she said. "Let's go.""Wait--we should figure this out first," said Jack.
"No. We should just go," said Annie. She turned and headedfor the archway.
Jack pushed his glasses into place and looked back at theRound Table, at the frozen king and queen, at the frozen knights,and at Morgan le Fay.
He loved Morgan. She was their great friend and teacher. If heand Annie did not go on their quest, Morgan's story and thestories of Camelot and all the stories about the magic tree housewould end forever.
Jack took a deep breath. He put his notebook into hisbackpack. Then he turned toward the archway.
"Annie?" he said. She was gone.
"Annie, wait!" he shouted. "Wait!" Jack ran out of the greathall.
"Annie!""I'm here," she said quietly. "I'm waiting." She was standing atthe end of the entrance hall peering outside.
"How do we get to the Otherworld?" she asked.
"Maybe the tree house can take us there," said Jack. "Comeon."Together, Jack and Annie hurried through the inner courtyardof the castle and over the drawbridge. They ran over the frozenground to the moonlit grove of trees.
Clutching the red cloak, Annie started up the rope ladder. Jackfollowed. They climbed inside the tree house and sat on thefloor.
Annie picked up the Royal Invitation. "Close your eyes. I'llmake the wish," she said.
Jack closed his eyes. He was shivering from the cold.
"I wish we could go to the Otherworld," said Annie.
The bare branches of the trees rattled in the wind.
"I think it's working!" whispered Annie.
The wind stopped blowing.
Jack opened his eyes. He and Annie looked out the window.
The dark castle loomed against the sky. They were still inCamelot.
"It d-didn't work," said Jack, his teeth chattering.
"Yes, it did!" whispered Annie. "Look down."Standing below the tree house was the biggest deer Jack hadever seen. The deer was staring up at them with amber eyes. Hishuge antlers seemed to glow in the cold moonlight.
Most amazing of all, the deer was completely white, as whiteas new-fallen snow.
"A white stag!" said Jack.
Puffs of frosty air blew from the stag's nostrils. He steppedtoward the tree house and shook his giant head.
"He's come to take us on our journey," said Annie.
"People don't ride deer' said Jack.
But Annie had already started down the rope ladder. Jackwatched from the window as she walked to the stag and spokesoftly. The stag knelt. Annie climbed on his back.
"Come on!" she called to Jack. "Bring the cloak!""Okay, okay," said Jack. He gathered up the heavy velvetcloak. Clutching it against his chest, he climbed down the ropeladder. He hurried over to Annie and the white stag.
"Put on the cloak and climb on behind met" said Annie.
Jack put the cloak on over his backpack. He pulled it aroundhis shoulders and buttoned it at the neck. As the cloak fell downaround his body, the soft, smooth cloth made him feel warm andsafe.
"Ready?" said Annie.
"Yeah," said Jack. He climbed on the stag's back behind Annie.
The white stag slowly stood up. Annie leaned forward,putting her arms around its neck. Jack leaned forward, too, andheld on to Annie. The red velvet cloak draped over both of them,falling past their feet.
The white stag stepped gracefully over the frozen grass. Hewalked through the outer gate of the castle. He blew out a puffof air, then broke into a leaping run.
Jack held on tightly to Annie as the stag dashed across a frost-covered field. He jumped over hedgerows and stone walls. Hebounded across icy streams.
Annie's braids floated on the wind. The red cloak billowedbehind them. Jack was amazed at how easy it was to ride on thestag's back. He felt calm and safe as the stag sped like a whitecomet through the wintry countryside.
The stag ran past flocks of sheep and herds of goats asleep inthe meadows. He ran past thatched huts and quiet stables.
The stag ran on and on through the starry night. Jack saw acloud-covered mountain range in the distance. When they cameclose to the craggy mountains, Jack was sure the stag wouldstop. But he galloped on--not even breaking his stride as hestarted up a rocky slope.
The stag finally came to a halt on the ledge of a steep cliff. Ina windy swirl of fog and cloud, he knelt to the ground, and Jackand Annie slid off his back.
The stag stood up. He stared down at them with his glowingamber eyes.
"Thank you!" said Annie. "Do you have to leave now?"The stag lowered his head and raised it again. He blew out afrosty puff of air, then leaped away, vanishing into the mist.
"Bye," Annie said wistfully. She stared into the mist for amoment, then turned to Jack. "What do we do now?""I don't know," said Jack. "Let's read the three rhymes again."He reached under the red cloak and pulled off his pack. Hetook out his notebook and started to read the first rhyme:
"Beyond the iron gate--""Jack!" interrupted Annie. "Look!"Jack looked up. The wind had blown away some of the fog.
Beyond the cliff rose another mountain. A huge gate was builtinto its side. A pale light shone between the gate's thick ironbars. Two knights in gold armor stood guard under flamingtorches.
"Oh, man," whispered Jack.
"That's it--the iron gate!" said Annie. "If we pass through thatgate, we'll be in the Otherworld!"
|