“Sandwiches gone!” said Smorg.
“Yes, all cleaned away.” said Tea, pleased with himself.
“Stupid boy.” said Smorg and sulked.
“Your Bluedog isn’t very nice.” said Tea and put the pot and rod back in his pockets.
“Well, you’re not really helping, your lordship.” said Elise.
“Oh I’m not Lord Porridge, I’m his son. Father went looking for more Gloop, especially gold as we need that badly and he hasn’t come back. That was weeks ago. I’m the only one here.” Tea sniffed and looked glum.
“Perhaps we could find them. Smorg has an excellent sense of smell and never gets lost.”
“Can’t smell nothing.” said Smorg, Elise ignored him.
“Do you know where they went?” asked Elise.
“I expect they went to the Map Tower first, after that I don’t know.”
“Well let’s go there.” said Elise, “If you have a map and a compass you can never get lost.” Daddy always says that, thought Elise, but she wasn’t so sure.
“Yes, let’s go.” said Tea, “I’m fed up of waiting. After all, how hard can it be to find the Map Tower.”
“You don’t know where it is?” asked Elise.
“Not exactly, it’s in the middle of the Amazing Maze.”
“We can’t go there.” said Cribbins. “It’s a hop tickle ill ooshun. We’ll all get lost.”
“Not if you know the secret.” said Tea smiling.
“What’s an ill ooshun?” asked Elise.
“A sick whale, I think.” said Cribbins.
Chapter Five
Elise, Smorg, Cribbins and Tea wandered through the Amazing Maze. The hedges were trimmed in straight lines with square corners. They looked like tall, green walls and smelt of pine.
The maze covered the circular terrace around the Map Tower. They could see the tall white tower, they just couldn’t get there. Elise was sure the hedges moved. If you went back the way you came, it was different.
“We’re lost.” said Tea and sighed.
“I thought you knew the secret.” said Elise.
“I do, it’s Lan fair pwith gwin geth gogerick wern drob off lanty silly og gog gof”
“What? Sorry pardon?” said Elise
“You go left for the ‘L’ and right for the ‘G’, but I think I spelt it wrongly.”
“Stupid boy.” said Smorg and started sniffing. “This way.” he said and set off.
“I think we best follow Smorg,” said Cribbins.
They ended up back where they started.
“Now a different scent.” said Smorg and started sniffing. They went into the maze again. Round and round they went, following Smorg, with Tea complaining they were going the wrong way. Soon the Map Tower was close and they left the Amazing Maze through a tall, wrought iron arch with ‘Well Done’ written at the top in gold letters.
Inside, the Map Tower had shelves and drawers all the way round from top to bottom and each shelf was full of maps. There were ladders and stairs and galleries everywhere. In the middle of the floor was a wide, square table. The carpet was a map of Porridge, faded and worn in many places.
“How do we find the right map?” asked Elise looking at all the shelves.
“You have to ask.” said Tea, “Concentrate really hard on the map you want and then say it out loud.”
He screwed up his eyes and shouted, “Give a map to where my father is.”
There was a little whooshing noise and a map floated down from above and landed on the table. It was small and ragged. Tea opened it out on the table. On it were some blurred names and few smudged lines. It looked like a treasure map made by a bored child in kindergarten.
“Oh,” said Tea, “Perhaps someone else should try.”
Elise concentrated hard. She thought about her house and garden and Mummy and Daddy. She thought about school and all her friends and then she said. “Please can I have a map to get me home?”
Somewhere far away a deep bell chimed and there was a ripple of sound, as all around the maps fluttered then something fell from above and landed with a thump on the table.
It looked like a small thin book. Elise picked it up. On the front was a map showing the Map Tower and the maze. There was a little golden line that wiggled through the maze, carried on past the tower and disappeared off the edge.
“It’s a Travelling Map.” said Tea looking over Elise’s shoulder. “It shows you where you need to go. Gosh, you must be really good at this, they’re really rare. Go on open it.”
Elise opened the map. It unfolded from the back. She unfolded it again and again and again. It covered a lot of the table and Elise was sure she could unfold it more, but was worried about getting it folded up again. The little golden line faded as it went further away from the tower.
“My father had one of these for a while.” said Tea, “You need to complete part of the journey before it knows where to go next. That’s why the line disappears.”
“Then we should follow it.” said Cribbins.
“But it doesn’t help me find my father.” said Tea.
“I’m here to get the Princess to his Lordship so she can go home.” said Cribbins, “If this helps we should do this instead, and find your father later.”
“Yes.” said Smorg.
“Well I’m going to find my father.” said Tea.
“Off you go then.” said Smorg.
Tea looked at the tatty, smudged map in his hand. He turned around a few times and looked at the map again. He sighed.
“Perhaps we should follow Elise’s map. Then when she’s finished I can use it to find father.”
“If it lets you.” said Smorg.
“That’s enough Smorg.” said Elise. “We should look for food and water. It could be a long trip.”
There was a grinding noise and a large drawer opened all by itself. Cribbins looked in and pulled out a large bag. “Hey, it’s full of sandwiches and plates and everything for a picnic. There’s water too.”
“That’s a strange looking rucksack.” said Elise.
“Oh no, Princess, it’s a dogsack.”
“Just lovely.” said Smorg.
They walked for what seemed like hours, following the little golden line on the Travelling Map with Smorg moaning the dogsack was heavy. They stopped at the top of a tall tower. There was nowhere left to go and the trail on the map just stopped.
“What do we do now?” asked Elise.
“Eat.” said Smorg.
“There’s a sign here.” said Cribbins. It read:
Lonely Tower Balloon Service
Before lunch on a Monday, Friday and Tuesday during non-summer and non-winter months and December.
After lunch on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday during winter months, except Easter and then on Fridays.
Twenty minutes past the hour at all other times except during the day and night
Sundays and Saturdays limited service.
“It doesn’t make sense.” said Elise
“Of course it does.” said Tea, “The Balloon will come after lunch. So all we need to do is eat lunch.”
“Oh.” said Elise.
“Lunch.” said Smorg grinning.
“It’s late afternoon, surely it’s teatime.” said Cribbins.
“Yes, but the balloon doesn’t know that.” said Tea.
“Where’s the Lonely Tower?” asked Elise after she finished eating her sandwich.
“It’s on the Steppes.” said Tea
“How can you have a tower on steps?”
“The Steppes is the name of a great big field way up there among the tallest towers,” said Tea, “In the middle is the Lonely Tower, where all the ghosts live.”
“Ghosts!” said Elise and shivered. Smorg growled.
“Mad Auntie Callie looks after them.”
“She lives with ghosts. That’s awful.”
“Someone has to look after them. You
can’t have ghosts wandering around lost. They get stuck and fade away. Anyway Mad Auntie Callie likes them.”
“I hate them.” said Elise.
“Have you ever met any?” asked Tea.
“No, but I’m sure I would hate them. They’re all cold and make strange noises at night.”
“You’re thinking of Banshees. Ghosts aren’t like that at all.”
“I don’t care I hate them.”
“Frightened more like.” said Smorg.
“Be quite dog.” said Elise.
Smorg sniffed, and when she wasn’t looking stole another sandwich from Elise’s plate.
“There’s a balloon coming.” shouted Cribbins.
It was bright red with a large wicker basket hanging underneath. At the back a small propeller whirred, guiding the balloon towards them.
“I’ve never been in a balloon before. How exciting.” said Elise.
“Do you think it’s safe?” asked Cribbins.
“I-t can’t crash can it.” said Tea.
“The bottom of the basket could fall out.” said Cribbins.
The balloon gently landed on the tower and they climbed in. Smorg stood on his hind legs and peered over the edge. They waited. Nothing happened.
Elise looked around and found a small lever. Elise moved it from ‘Out’ to ‘Home’. Suddenly all the sandbags around the edge of the basket fell off and the balloon lurched into the air.
“Whaaaaaa!” yelled Cribbins and held onto the ropes.
“Wheeeeee!” shouted Elise and laughed. She leaned over the edge of the basket to watch the top of the tower drop away.
“Woof, woof, woof.” barked Smorg.
With a whir of propeller, the balloon started on its journey. They floated high among the towers like a butterfly in a forest of tall, stone trees. Elise looked down at the courtyards and walled gardens. She saw pools and little house, even a wood. There were little railway tracks everywhere and rickety bridges between towers. Trees grew out the side of some towers and others had fallen down. It needed a lot of repairs, a bit like her house.
Smorg was bored and lay curled up at the bottom of the basket. Tea sat next to him with his eyes closed, humming. Cribbins stood very still, staring into the distance with both hands gripping the ropes.
After a while they floated over a big wall and below them a wide field of grass spotted with wild flowers. It was still surrounded by other towers even though they had gone so high. In the distance Elise could see a fat tower.
“I think we are there.” said Elise and Smorg stood on his hind legs to sniff the air.
Chapter Six
The balloon settled down on the wide, flat roof of the tower. A tall lady in a brown tweed jacket and skirt, and brown brogues stood waiting. She wore a pith helmet jammed on top of a mess of ginger hair.
“Don’t get out of the balloon.” she shouted. Her voice was posh, it reminded Elise of the lady who read the news on the television.
The woman tied the balloon to rings bolted to the tower roof.
“There, all done, you can get out now.” said the lady.
“Hello Auntie Callie.” said Tea.
“And which one are you?” asked Auntie Callie.
“Tea.”
“Oh yes, I remember, Far Tea, dreadful name. Still calling me Mad Auntie Callie?”
“No.”
“Don’t lie young man you’re bad at it. And you’ve brought a Cribbins. How delightful. Pleased to meet you Cribbins.”
“Thank you ma’am.” said Cribbins.
“And you are?” said Auntie Callie looking straight at Elise.
This is Princess Elise and Smorg.” said Cribbins.
“A princess? Really? You look more like a lost little girl than a princess, despite the armour and Bluedog. Come on all of you. A decent meal, bath and a good night’s sleep will make things much better. ”
The next morning Elise woke in a soft bed, wearing a nightdress that was much too big for her. Smorg was snoring on the floor and sunlight flooded in through the window. It was a small room with a dressing table, wardrobe and photographs on the wall of famous places like London, Paris, Rome and one of Yorkshire that looked really familiar. Her armour was piled up in a heap beside the bed next to her leggings and tee shirt.
Elise dressed quickly and tried to put on the armour. It wouldn’t open. She tried forcing her foot into the leg, but it didn’t work. There was a loud knock on the door and Auntie Callie strode in.
“Ah, up and dressed. Jolly good. Don’t know how to put on the armour? Thought not. Come on I’ll show you.”
Auntie Callie picked up the breastplate.
“This bit first. See here?” Auntie pointed to a thin seam on the side. “You stroke that and it opens. Here you try.”
Elise rubbed her finger on the seam. Nothing happened.
“No child. Stroke gently, with affection, as if you were stroking that rude mutt of yours.” Auntie Callie prodded Smorg with her foot. “It has to know you like it and want it to open.”
Elise tried again. She closed her eyes and imagined stroking Smorg in front of the fire on a cold winter’s day. The armour opened like a clam.
“Put it on child, it won’t wait all day.”
Elise slipped the breastplate on and it closed around her chest. With a little help she managed to put on all the rest of the armour.
“Magnificent isn’t it?” said Auntie Callie tapping on the shiny black surface of the armour. “Strong, light, wipes clean, shame nobody knows how to make it any more. What amazes me is how it always fits who ever wears it. Anyway, it’s missing the helmet. I can help you with that. Come with me.”
Elise followed Auntie Callie down a long spiral staircase and along a gloomy corridor. They stopped outside a large wooden door. It was banded with metal and had studs all over it. Auntie Callie took a big, rusty key from her pocket and opened the door.
Inside the walls were covered with axes and shields. There were racks and racks of swords. At the end was a clothes dummy, like you see in tailor’s shops. It was bare except for a plain, black helmet with a single silver star right in the middle. There was a label.
Princess Callie
Bellatrix of the Dawn Star
Auntie Callie stared at Elise.
“So what do you think?”
“What does bellatrix mean?” asked Elise.
“It’s an old word for female warrior.”
“Was she an ancestor?”
Auntie Callie laughed, “In a way she was a different person. But that’s me. I am Princess Callie and you are wearing my armour. How did you get it?”
Auntie Callie looked stern. Elise took a step back.
“I was at home in the chimney and suddenly I was here, wearing this armour and Smorg could talk. I didn’t do anything.”
Auntie Callie was quiet for a moment. “It’s the castle, it must be. I don’t know why it brought you here and gave you my armour, but it must have its reasons. Things are going wrong and I suppose we will have to sort it out. Won’t we?”
Auntie Callie stared at Elise.
“Yes Auntie.”
“Why, bless you child.” said Auntie Callie, “I’m not your auntie, but you can call me that. Let me have a look at that sword.”
Elise drew the sword out of its scabbard and handed it to Auntie Callie.
“I thought as much. It gave you a special sword too. The castle must want you to do something dangerous.”
“What’s special about it?” asked Elise.
“It’s a stun sword. When you hit someone it doesn’t cut them, it knocks them out. Very effective, works on anything. Just remember you have hit hard before it works. You should try it on that dog of yours.”
“He’s a good dog.” said Elise.
“He’s a rude dog; prefer cats myself.” said Auntie Callie, “Let’s get on. Are you willing to help?”
“Sorry, I mean pardon.” said Elise.
“Do you want to help Porridge Castle?”
“Yes, as long as I can go home soon.” said Elise.
“This is serious. It could be dangerous. Are you sure you want to help us?”
“Yes.” said Elise. She was sure this was the right thing to do.
“Kneel down.”
Elise knelt in front of Auntie Callie.
“Will you see justice done?” asked Auntie Callie in a loud, serious voice.
“Yes.” replied Elise.
“Will you trust in yourself at all times?”
“Yes.”
“The strong are sometimes wrong, but the weak are never free.” said Auntie Callie and tapped Elise on each shoulder with the sword.
“Stand up Elise, Bellatrix of the Dawn Star and never kneel again.”
Auntie Callie sniffed and a tear slid down her cheek.
“Are you alright?” asked Elise.
“I’m fine, it’s just I always cry at Knightings.”
“So I’m a knight now?”
“Bellatrix dear, you’re a girl remember.”
Auntie Callie picked up the helmet and placed it on Elise’s head. It fitted perfectly.
“Does this mean I have to go round killing dragons?” asked Elise.
“Yes, but not the animal sort, they’re rather affectionate; delightful, as long as you dress properly, flame proof hat, that sort of thing. No, humans who act like dragons are your prey.”
“Oh.” said Elise who wasn’t sure it was something young girls were allowed to do.
“Just do what you think is right, never mind other people. Trust yourself.”
“What about vampires?” asked Elise.
Oh don’t worry about them, just wear a bar of soap around your neck and they run a mile. Time for breakfast I think. You don’t mind ghost do you? Jolly good.”
Chapter Seven
Elise was frightened of ghosts, but a Bellatrix of the Dawn Star must be brave. She sat at the breakfast table in the small, warm kitchen and tried to swallow her toast. She kept looking around.
“Ants in your armour?” asked Auntie Callie. Smorg sniggered under the table.
“You said there were ghosts.” said Elise.
“There are. Just there.” Auntie Callie pointed at an empty chair.
Elise jumped up and stared. “There’s nothing there.”