Quest for the Queen

  Keeah held up the small, bow-shaped instrument and touched a row of colorful gems called story stones. They showed events in Queen Relna’s life. One of the stones took the form of a red tiger. The next two stones were missing.

  “My harp won’t help me here,” said Keeah. “No magic is allowed in Bangledorn Forest. Long ago, the forest was proclaimed a place of peace. It’s an ancient law of Droon.”

  Julie frowned. “Sounds like somebody isn’t playing by the rules.”

  “Yeah, the invisible dude,” said Neal, rubbing his sore arms. “Met him. Didn’t like him.”

  The princess entered a thick hedge of bushes, then stopped and smiled.

  “Even though the laws of Droon do not permit magic here,” she said, “amazing things can still happen. If you know where to look.”

  She pushed through a wall of bright flowering bushes. “Behold … Bangledorn City!”

  The kids looked around them.

  “Holy cow!” said Neal. “It’s like the ultimate tree house, except — it’s a tree city!”

  It was true.

  Spreading far up into the distance was a city built of tree houses of all sizes. The houses were made from branches and their roofs were thatched with fat green leaves.

  Giant towers were carved into massive tree trunks. They loomed like friendly old men watching over the city. Bridges made of woven vines dangled from one tall tree to the next.

  Some of the tallest houses even poked through the very top of the forest.

  “This is so amazing!” Eric exclaimed.

  “It is one of the great wonders of Droon,” said Keeah, her eyes beaming. “Let’s go in.”

  Boom-thum! Boom-thum! Drums pounded as soon as the children entered the city.

  At once, a troop of furry green monkeys scampered down from the trees and surrounded the visitors. “Keeah!” they cried. “Keeah is found!”

  Another group of monkeys appeared from nowhere. With them was a tall old man wearing a long blue robe and a tall wizard’s hat.

  “Galen!” said Keeah, rushing to him.

  The wizard hugged the princess as if she were his own daughter. “Ah, my dear Keeah. I searched for you, then lost you in the forest. Even I am not allowed to use my powers here.”

  He turned to Eric, Neal, and Julie. “Forgive me for not meeting you at the stairs. I was called to the city. I’m glad you found Keeah so quickly.”

  Julie laughed. “Well, Keeah sort of found us.”

  “Yeah, up a tree!” added Neal. “Some kind of invisible dude tossed us up there.”

  “Invisible?” said Galen with a quick look at Keeah. “So, there is magic here….”

  “Keeah! Children!” a happy voice chirped.

  It was Max, an eight-legged spider troll with big eyes and orange hair. He scampered down from a tree and hugged Keeah as Galen had.

  “You’re all here just in time,” Max said. “Eric, Julie, Neal, the Droon Quest is today. It happens only once every seven years. It’s a great contest of skill and endurance. And also of fun!”

  “Cool. Fun is my best sport!” said Neal.

  Galen turned to a flight of log stairs ascending to a palace in the trees. “The Quest will begin soon. And for that we must see Ortha, leader of the Bangledorn monkeys. But first, tell me what you have seen. Or, in the case of this invisible person, what you have not seen!”

  On their way to the palace, Eric, Julie, and Neal told Galen about Tarok and Slag, the invisible attacker, and the red tiger.

  “Queen Relna told us, ‘Beware the magic,’” Eric added. “We don’t know what that means.”

  Galen paused on the stairs to Ortha’s palace. “It means someone is defying the ancient laws of Droon. Upsetting the peace that graces this wonderful forest.”

  “Who would do that?” asked Julie.

  “Only a sorcerer or wizard could,” Galen replied. “Since Lord Sparr is in hiding, I can only guess who is behind this unlawful use of magic.”

  Keeah looked at her friends, then at Galen. “Who is behind it?”

  Galen’s eyes narrowed as he spoke the name. “Witch Demither.”

  Eric shuddered. They all did.

  Galen went on. “As you know, Demither’s powers for evil are second only to those of Lord Sparr himself. But what she wants is far from clear. Seven years ago Demither appeared at the last Quest, and she and the queen fought. Oh, a bitter sight it was.”

  “Who won?” asked Neal. “I’ll bet it was the queen.”

  “No one wins such a conflict,” Galen said sharply. “A battle of angry words ending in silence. Demither demanded something. The queen refused. I never learned what it was about. But it was clear to me that the witch held some secret power over Keeah’s mother.”

  “Demither is bad to the core,” said Max, snarling. “I do not trust her an inch!”

  They stood before the doors of Ortha’s palace. Then Galen turned to look out over the forest. The black sea churned angrily in the distance.

  “If indeed there is dark magic in the wood today,” the wizard said, “then clearly we must be watchful. We must be careful. All of us.”

  Bong! A deep gonging sound boomed over the trees.

  And the great wooden doors of the palace swung open.

  The giant doors parted and out strode Ortha, ruler of the Bangledorn monkeys.

  She was tall and slender and her green fur glistened in the sunlight. She wore a long blue cape and a crown made of sharp purple leaves.

  She smiled warmly at the kids.

  “Welcome, all of you, to our forest,” she said. “Keeah, children, I am glad you are safe. You have arrived just in time. The Quest begins this afternoon. Let me show you …”

  They entered a giant green room. The leafy ceiling was held aloft by massive wooden pillars.

  “This is so cool,” Neal said. “It’s like being outside … inside!”

  The sunlight and warm breezy air flowed through the open sides of the palace, fluttering the leaves.

  Wood chimes clattered gently from the ceiling.

  “It’s so magical here,” said Julie.

  “We Bangledorns live entirely without magic,” Ortha said as she swept through the hall. “That is why Queen Relna chose our forest as the site of the Droon Quest. Everyone, no matter who they are, has a chance to win.”

  Galen turned to Ortha. “Alas, Keeah and the children have seen magic in the woods today. Queen Relna is nearby, but she is not safe. An unknown creature is following her invisibly.”

  Ortha drew in her breath sharply. “Our forest was never meant to be the battleground of evil forces. But we cannot delay the Quest.”

  They passed from the room and out onto a balcony overlooking the vast forest.

  Below the palace, on the forest floor, was a large open arena. In the center was a field. A great throng of people and strange creatures from every corner of Droon were gathering there. Banners waved, and flags of all sizes and colors flapped over the tents and incoming wagons.

  Julie pointed to a long winding path through the forest below. “What’s that?” she asked.

  “That is the course for the Quest,” Ortha said. “Each team races in chariots. The course twists and turns like a snake and ends at the sea.”

  “It looks so cool,” said Neal. “Can we race?”

  The Bangledorn ruler nodded. “Yes, but as with all true quests, it will not be easy. You must race once around the arena, then enter the forest. There you will find obstacles.”

  “What kind of obstacles?” asked Eric.

  “First the walls of fire!” said Max, his eyes growing large. “Then an angry raging river!”

  “After that you must race on foot,” said Ortha. “Across the beach and across a bridge. ”

  “A bridge to where?” asked Julie.

  “Ah, this is the most wonderful part,” said Galen. “On this very day every seven years, an island appears offshore at sundown. When Relna founded the Quest, she chose the island as the
place where the Quest would end. It is on the island that the winner will find the prize.”

  “But you must be quick!” said Max. “The island appears for only a few moments before it vanishes again — for another seven years!”

  “Another secret of Droon,” Julie said. “Neat!”

  “But what is the prize?” asked Eric. “A gold medal? A trophy? Treasure?”

  Galen shook his head. “Many legends have grown up about the prize. But it is something worth far more than gold or jewels. For the one meant to win, the prize is what he or she wants most. For all others, it is worthless. The Quest prize is the only magic allowed here.”

  “Could the prize be a cure for my mother?” Keeah asked breathlessly.

  “It could indeed,” said Ortha. “Your mother hoped that someday you would win the prize. It is not only a great honor, but a test of a truly special person.”

  Keeah looked at the gathering crowd. Then she unslung her harp. “I will try my best.” She handed the harp to Galen. “I guess I won’t be needing this.”

  The gong sounded again, and Ortha smiled at the children. “It is time to enter the arena!”

  The children, with Max and Keeah leading the way, descended into the Quest arena.

  There were all kinds of games and sporting events being held before the big Quest.

  One purple Lumpy in a yellow warm-up suit was tossing a large leather ball at a stone wall.

  “Okay,” said Neal. “The catapult contest.”

  Nearby a pair of slithery creatures with tiny heads raced into the trees as crowds cheered.

  Beyond that, a handful of green monkeys leaped onto vines and swung to see how far they could go before jumping off into a small pond.

  Julie grinned. “I love it! It’s like the Olympics in our world. I want to be in a race.”

  “Look!” Max shouted. “The chariots!”

  Eric whistled when he saw them. “Oh, cool!”

  Before them stood a giant parking lot full of chariots, ready for the Quest.

  Each chariot was like a fancy open cart hitched to a single pilka. Some had wings flying up from the back. Others had double sets of wheels. Some had seats, others you stood up in.

  But all of them looked very fast.

  Keeah hopped into a sleek purple one. “This is the one I’m choosing,” she said excitedly. “I love the wings in the back. Besides, it’s big enough for four. Would you like to race along with me?”

  Julie jumped up and down. “Yes, yes, yes! I’d love to!”

  “You bet,” said Neal. “Vrrrm-vrrrrrm!”

  Eric glanced around at the crowd. “But let’s not forget our homework. Galen said to be watchful. If there’s magic here, it means someone is disobeying the law.”

  “I’ll watch out for cheaters,” said Neal. “But I’m running if I see someone invisible!”

  “How can you see someone who’s invisible?” asked Julie.

  Keeah laughed, then stopped suddenly and looked around. “You sense them….”

  Eric turned to her. “Are you saying you sense something now?”

  Before Keeah could answer, a loud voice yelled behind them. “Out of the way, please!”

  A yellow wagon rumbled into the field.

  It was Tarok! He seemed to stare at Keeah as he drove his wagon into the arena.

  “Tarok the clown is here!” he bellowed. “My show begins in half an hour. You’ll laugh so hard … you’ll cry!”

  Julie pulled Keeah close. “That’s him!” she whispered as the wagon rolled by. “Tarok is the strange man we told you about.”

  Keeah watched the yellow wagon rumble away. “It’s odd. I feel something, but I’m not sure what —”

  “Keeah,” said Max, pulling her by the hand. “The vine trials! Everyone’s asking for you!”

  Keeah took one last look at Tarok’s wagon, then turned and smiled at the kids. “I’ve always wanted to compete in the high vines event. I’ll meet you back here right away….”

  “We’ll stay here and snoop around,” said Eric as Max led Keeah into the crowd.

  Julie glanced at Eric and Neal. “What was that all about? Do you think Keeah really sensed something? Maybe magic in the air?”

  “It’s kind of odd that Tarok should come along just when she felt something,” Neal said.

  “Maybe not so odd,” said Eric, gazing after Tarok. “There’s something strange about that clown. I don’t trust him, or Slag, either.”

  “Where is Slag, anyway?” Julie asked.

  Neal glanced around the crowd. “You can’t miss that guy. Even his muscles have muscles!”

  “Both of those dudes give me the major creeps,” Julie added.

  Eric gave a quick nod. “I’d like to see what else Tarok has in that wagon of his. What do you say we do some serious spying?”

  “That gets my vote,” said Neal. They all started after Tarok’s wagon.

  Suddenly, a cry rang out over the arena.

  “Help! Princess Keeah’s in trouble!”

  The kids rushed through the crowd. Everyone was staring up into the tall trees at the top of the forest.

  Keeah stood on a single slim vine that hung between two trees like a high wire.

  But something was wrong.

  The vine she was on was rippling and quivering under her as if someone were shaking it.

  Eric looked over at the far tree. “Someone’s pulling on Keeah’s vine. She’ll fall.”

  “But … there’s no one there!” said Julie.

  “It must be Mr. Invisible!” Neal added. “Tossing people around wasn’t bad enough. Now he’s messing with our princess!”

  In a flash, the kids jumped into action. They started climbing a rope ladder to the top of the first tree.

  “Hang in there, Keeah!” Neal yelled up.

  “Faster!” said Eric, keeping his eye on the princess as he climbed. “She won’t be able to stay on much longer.”

  They reached a small wooden platform at the top of the tree. It looked as if the vine Keeah was standing on was being wobbled sharply from the platform on the far tree. She was desperately trying to keep her balance.

  “What do we do now?” Julie asked.

  Eric looked around. Hanging vines dangled all around them. “We do what they do in circuses all the time.”

  “Juggle?” asked Neal.

  “No, like on the trapeze,” said Eric. He grabbed one of the vines and tugged on it. “This should hold me,” he said.

  “Are you nuts?” said Neal. “You fell off the ropes in gym today!”

  Eric gave Neal a look. “I fell off because you fell on me! Besides, do you have another idea? Keeah can’t use magic. She’s like us now. She needs help.” He paused. “From people who know what they’re doing.”

  “Okay, okay, don’t rub it in,” said Neal. “Julie and I will hold the vine tight to make sure it doesn’t break. You go and try to reach her. When you do —”

  “We’ll haul you both in,” said Julie. “Simple teamwork. But please be careful.”

  Eric tied the end of the vine tightly around his waist. He took a deep breath. “Wish me luck.”

  “Luck,” said Neal. “And hurry!”

  Eric hoped he could do it. He wasn’t very good with ropes. Not as bad as Neal, but still not very good. Still, he had to try.

  As soon as he stepped out, the vine strung between the trees shook some more.

  “Ohhh!” the crowd gasped.

  Eric’s heart was racing a mile a minute. He could hardly breathe. He felt hot and cold at the same time. “If this doesn’t work …” he whispered to himself.

  “Never mind! It will work! It has to!”

  Neal and Julie tried to hold the vine steady, but it shook even more violently.

  Keeah glanced at Eric, her eyes filled with fear. “Please be careful …” she began.

  Eric edged farther out, then — snap! — the vine broke under them.

  Keeah fell.

  Eric leaped
for her, his arms outstretched. “Grab on to me!” he cried.

  On his way down, their hands met. Eric clutched Keeah’s wrists, his vine pulled tight, and they swung back to the tree. Keeah grabbed the rope ladder and held it tight.

  “Eric — thank you!” she gasped.

  Eric’s heart was still racing. “Never mind that. We need to catch whoever did this!”

  Together they jumped to the ground. Julie and Neal scrambled down after them. They ran to the far tree. But they saw no one. Whoever had been shaking the vine was nowhere in sight.

  Suddenly — thumpa! thumpa! The ground thudded and leaves fluttered in the forest.

  “It’s Mr. Invisible!” said Neal. “After him!”

  The kids tore through the bushes. The leaves crashed this way and that. They nearly caught up to the invisible creature, but lost the trail when it hooked out of the forest into the arena.

  “There must be a thousand people here,” said Julie as they pushed into the bustling crowd.

  “Keep looking for clues,” said Eric.

  “I’m looking,” whispered Neal. “But so far, I haven’t spotted anything —”

  “Wait!” said Keeah. “Look there, footprints!”

  As they watched, large footprints appeared one after another on the ground nearby. The prints wove carefully through the crowd and led to a wagon.

  A yellow wagon.

  Tarok’s wagon.

  “Aha!” Julie said with a gasp. “I knew Tarok was a part of this.”

  “But what is Tarok up to?” Keeah asked. “And why is he doing what he’s doing?”

  All of a sudden — honka-honka! — a noise rose up out over the crowd.

  “Come one! Come all!” a familiar voice bellowed. “See Droon’s funny man! I am Tarok the clown! My act is so funny, you’ll just die laughing!”

  Honka! Honka!

  The crowd cheered as Tarok ran around honking his horn on a small stage near the wagon.

  “Welcome, one and all!” the little man called out. Then he pointed directly at Keeah. “I see we have Queen Relna’s daughter here! And what rhymes with daughter? How about … water!”

  Tarok then picked up a bucket with the word water written on the side, rushed at the audience, and emptied it over them.