Michael Belmont and the Tomb of Anubis (The Adventures of Michael Belmont) (25 page)

"With those tiny arrows?" Liam said, almost in a laugh.

"They dip them in poison, and death is almost instantaneous," he told them.

Liam shuttered.

On the outskirts of the clearing, Michael saw many more poles, all of which bore hanging skeletal remains.
 
Some looked more recent, and these were more grisly than the others, and he even took note of several werewolf carcasses.
 
Liam is right to be scared
, he thought.
 
These creatures don't hesitate to eliminate anyone who poses a threat; I just hope they don't see us that way
.

Heading out of the clearing and back into the trees, they passed brilliantly colored flowers the likes of which Michael had never seen.
 
He didn't know much about plants, but he was sure these must be unique to the faery kingdom. The trees seemed to be getting bigger and thicker, and moved in a way that made him feel like they were watching.

"I feel like I'm inside one of Abigail's cartoons," Michael whispered.
 
"Except for, you know, all the hanging bodies and death threats."

"I know what you mean," Liam answered.
 
"We need to be careful in how we deal with these creatures.
 
I don't want to end up being used as one of their Halloween themed no trespassing signs."

Puck slowed down and gazed back at them worriedly.
 
"I trust that you brought a gift for the queen?"

Liam gulped.
 
"Uh, no.
 
We never really thought about that."

Puck got a pained look on his face.
 
"Well, try not to worry, it might turn out okay."
 
He looked into the distance and began to nod his head.
 
"There
have
been a few that she hasn't had executed, even though they forgot to bring a gift."

Liam let out a short whine, which matched the greatly worried look on his face.

They soon came to a meadow that was lit by torches.
 
A multitude of curious looking forest creatures were gathered around.
 
There were more of the Ghillie Dhus, and hundreds of faeries, whose glow and variation of colors created an unearthly and haunting light show.
 
Most of the strange little sprites were unlike anything Michael had ever seen before.

Amidst the center of them all sat the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.
 
She was as tall as a normal human female, but more dainty.
 
Her golden hair and skin seemed to glow, not from the fire or faery light, but from something that emitted from within her.
 
She had a sharp chin and nose, and slightly pointed ears, and was seated on a large throne that looked as if it were woven from tree roots that had sprung right up from the ground for her.
 
She looked young, but at the same time Michael could see the wisdom of a great many years in her eyes, which were deep blue and tranquil, and stared back into his.

She smiled lovingly as they walked up before her and each bowed down to one knee.
 
She laughed, but not unkindly.
 
In fact, it made Michael feel warm from the inside out, and gave him goose bumps.

"Greetings, children."
 
Her voice made him feel like he was hearing music for the first time.
 
"I am Titania, Queen of the Faeries and Elves, and all woodland creatures.
 
Tell me, what is it that compelled you to enter my domain?"

"Please, Your Majesty," Liam stuttered, "we didn't mean to intrude.
 
We came because we were wondering if you could help us?"

"The problems of the mortal world have never been a concern of ours.
 
Why would you come to
me
in search of help?"

"Um, if it please Your Majesty, before we explain, we would like to present you with a gift," Liam stammered.

"Oh, wonderful," she laughed.
 
"I love gifts.
 
What do you have for me?"

Michael's eyes grew wide; he wondered what Liam might have to give her.

"A story, Your Majesty.
 
Michael here has a story he would like to tell you."

Michael glared at him in shock.
 
Had he gone mad?

Liam just gazed at him hopefully, nodding his head encouragingly.
 
"Come on," he whispered.
 
"You love to tell stories, and you're good at it.
 
You
have
to have
something
!"

"Well," the queen said expectantly, "Proceed."

Michael quickly searched his mind for an appropriate story; one for which Titania might spare their lives.
 
If she did, he was going to kill Liam for this.
 
Suddenly it came to him, and he began to speak.

Once upon a time, there was a young girl who spent her life in fear and isolation.
 
Her mother had died on the day of her birth, and her father was a very cruel man.
 
He spent most of his time in a drunken stupor, often yelling at the girl and beating her because of the anger he held in his heart.
 
He blamed her for the death of her mother, and not a day passed when he let her forget it.

The girl had an older brother, who was very good to her, and she loved him very much, but he was always away working, trying to make enough money to feed their family.

Because of her loneliness and fear, she found solace in the forest behind her house, and her only friends were the birds and woodland creatures who lived there.
 
She spent so much time in the forest that even the trees began to speak to her, and it was to them alone that she would tell her hopes and dreams, and the innermost secrets of her heart.
 
She longed to someday have a family of her own to love and care for, but she saw no way of escaping her desperate situation, and had on many occasions even thought of ending her own life.

One night, with a broken arm and a weeping spirit, she escaped to the forest and cried herself to sleep.
 

In the morning, as the singing of birds woke her, she lifted her eyes to watch them.
 
She prayed to become a bird herself so that she could fly away to safety and search the world for some form of happiness.

Lifting her face to the sky, she imagined what it would be like to glide over the tops of the trees, and travel across the sea, and go wherever else her heart desired to take her.
 
She wondered if she would ever be free from the prison to which life had sentenced her, and if there would ever be someone who would love her, and care for her in the way that she desired.

Opening her eyes, she was amazed to see that her beloved forest and the terrifying home of her childhood lay far beneath her.
 
How it happened and by whose power she did not know, but somehow her prayers had been answered.
 
She had been released from her nightmarish existence, and with a hope she had never known before, flew away toward the rising sun, never to return.

"It is a good story," the queen proclaimed.
 
"Is it true?"

Michael shrugged.
 
The question confused him.
 
"I do not know, Your Majesty.
 
My mother gave the story to me, and now I have humbly passed it on to you."

"I say that it
is
a true story," she said.
 
"For even if it never happened exactly as you said, that does not mean that it is any less true."
 
She smiled at him warmly.
 
"Now tell me, did Puck threaten you with execution if you presented yourselves before me without a gift?"

Michael and Liam looked at each other nervously.
 
"Yes your Highness," Liam told her.

The queen huffed.
 
"Puck is a ridiculous creature, a joker in the court of my husband, but I am glad he fooled you in this way, for yours was a worthy gift.
 
But now it is time to tell me more about why you've come here."

The boys told her everything, about how their parents had gone missing, and about their search for the staff.
 
They also told her of the werewolves and how Finnegan had narrowly helped them escape with their lives.

At the mention of werewolves, the queen's face grew sour.
 
"Yes, "I am aware of your confrontation with those miserable creatures.
 
The small human child befriended one of my pixies, and she carried word to your butler that you required his assistance."

"So THAT'S how he found out." Liam smirked at his friend in amazement.
 
"That shoddy old codger."

"Please, Your Majesty," Michael said, "while we were being held captive in the werewolves' village, their leader mentioned that your people had placed some kind of protection on their groves to keep the beasts out, is that true?"

"Yes," she said as she rose from her throne.
 
Michael watched as she unfolded wings from her back very much like those of a butterfly.
 
They were purple and blue, and speckled with black dots.
 
"The werewolves are bloodthirsty brutes, eager to cause pain and chaos whenever they are able.
 
Before we constructed defenses, they used to enjoy plundering our groves and killing woodland creatures for sport.
 
But we have ways of keeping them out of our territory."

Michael felt encouraged.
 
Perhaps they were on to something.
 
"Isla spoke of a friendship with Shamus McGinty," he told her.
 
"Liam, here, is his great-nephew."

"I know," she said simply, nodding her head.

"Well, um…did your people ever pass on information to Mr. McGinty about how to keep the werewolves out?"

"Alright, you seem like nice boys, so I'll tell you.
 
Shamus McGinty was a good friend to the fair folk.
 
He always respected our borders, as we respected his, yet my people met with him from time to time to share news or lend a neighborly hand.
 
One day, many years ago, Shamus came to me and explained that he had an artifact, which he wanted to keep safe from the MacFarlane pack.
 
It was something they had used for many years to serve dark purposes, so we shared with him the secrets of moonwood."

"Moonwood?" Liam repeated dumbly.
 
"What's that?"

"Moonwood," she continued, "comes from trees which are planted under the light of a full moon.
 
It possesses special properties only when kissed by the light of a full moon.
 
Shamus seemed very interested in the possibilities of what he could build with it; so we showed him how to find and prepare the proper ground, cultivate it, and how to plant the tree.
 
It is a very delicate art, not easily mastered even by the elves.
 
Shamus was a very unusual man, however, and there wasn't much that he set his mind to that he could not accomplish.
 
He ended up becoming quite a skilled woodworker of moonwood."

"What kind of special properties does the wood possess?" asked Michael.
 
"I mean, what exactly does it do?"

"Well, that all depends on the type of tree planted, the way it is nurtured, and most importantly, what types of songs are sung to it."

Liam frowned.
 
"Songs?"

"Elvish songs lie at the heart of their skills with nature.
 
It is with these songs that they commune with and enchant the forest.
 
I cannot tell you what your uncle would have used the moonwood for; there are many possibilities.
 
As for our groves, the elves have fashioned the wood to protect us under the light of the full moon, when the werewolves are at their greatest strength.
 
Some of the trees attack any potential intruder, while others form a hardened barrier around our perimeter."

Michael listened intently, wondering if the information might help them find the staff.

"Your Highness, did my uncle tell you anything about the artifact he was trying to protect?" Liam asked.

"No," Titania replied.
 
"He did not mention much about it, and I did not ask him.
 
As I told you, we care little for the goings on of the human world."

Michael suddenly had a thought, and smiled from ear to ear.
 
"Thank you, Queen Titania, this information has given me an idea on where the artifact might be hidden."

"You are welcome, young one.
 
I wish you both the best of luck on your quest."

"Um, just one more question if you don't mind?" Michael asked.

"Proceed," she told him patiently.

"The boy, Raymond…well, I was wondering if he might be able to come and live here with you and your people?
 
He isn't like the MacFarlanes, and he needs a home.
 
Do you think he might fit in here?"

"No," she responded without hesitating.
 
"My people would not accept him, and he would never feel comfortable among us."
 
She could see the disappointment on Michael's face, and empathized with his concern for the boy.
 
"Do not worry though, if I am correct, and I usually am, the answer will become clear very soon as to where the boy should be.
 
He has the potential to live a good life.
 
He is a pure soul, but he will need guidance and love.
 
That will be essential."

Michael smiled.

Liam bowed once again.
 
"Thank you, Your Majesty.
 
I hope that we can someday repay the kindness you have shown us here tonight."