Travellers

Chapter 1: Welcome to Andorra

The next morning the Christmas celebrations were not off to the festivities that the family had planned upon. The search for Sam had begun frantically the moment they realised she wasn’t in her room. She was well known for sleeping in and it was unlike her to just disappear without any good reason.

Jon thought to himself as he searched the bedrooms along with the rest of the family. What was she doing outside in the early hours of the morning? He raced back downstairs, maybe she had overheard them talking about the well. Whatever the reason he had to go and see if she was alright.

Jon rushed over to the well. Katie and Sarah followed behind him. Chris came next, Jon’s girlfriend Amanda who had arrived first thing in the morning walked behind them at the back, still unsure of what all the fuss was about. “What happened to her, Jon, did she fall in?”

“I don’t know. Nobody has seen her since last night, and now she’s nowhere to be found.”

“What shall we do? Maybe we could get a rope and climb down the well.”

“Go and fetch dad. Tell him Sam might have fallen down the well.” He said looking at Chris. But Chris actually looked more than a little concerned for his twin sister, and didn’t quite hear his older brother.

Chris felt Sarah shake his arm. “Chris, go and fetch dad.”

“Oh right, sorry, I won’t be a minute.” He said as he darted back towards the house.

Amanda came and stood beside Jon. She held on tightly to his hand as they looked down into the well. Now even she looked concerned as they all stood around looking into the bottomless depths of the well. The snow still fell heavily around them, but not a single snow flake fell into the well.

“There is something very strange going on here. We’ve got to try and get inside. Sam might be down there hurt.”

“You can’t go down there Jon. You’ll freeze to death.” said a worried looking Amanda.

“Well I can’t just stand around and do nothing, she’s my sister. I’ll find a rope in the garage.”

Before they had a chance to react a bright light shot forth into the air from inside the well, dancing around them. It seemed to wrap itself around them. They looked at each other puzzled, and then turned to run. They felt themselves being dragged into the well, or at least what was once the well. It had changed its appearance now and had become a wide pit of multi coloured lights. Dancing spheres of golden energy appeared around the edges and formed themselves into a golden archway. It was engraved with runes of a strange language that none of them had ever seen before.

“What’s happening Jon, this is just getting scary now.” Katie shouted as she was slowly dragged through the archway and seemed to disappear inside the well falling endlessly at first. Then disappearing from sight completely. Sarah was dragged through next. Amanda panicked and all she could think to do was to hold onto Jon. They were both dragged through together, when Chris came running back his dad following behind him. The tendrils of light shot out and grabbed him, lifting him into the air then dragging him through the archway. Moments later he was falling like the others into a vast multi coloured pit that seemed to have no end.

When Josh and Rosie appeared at the back door with their mother, Jeremy frantically waved for them to go back inside. But it was already too late, just like Chris the tendrils of light shot out of the well once more. All screamed as they began grabbing both of the young children and dragging them through the archway.

Charlotte screamed and ran crying to the edge of the well as did Jeremy. The light seemed to back away from them. And once all the children were inside, the archway seemed to disperse and eventually disappeared. They were left staring and shouting for their children as the well reverted to it’s old stone form, as though nothing had happened.

Charlotte stood there weeping uncontrollably. Only baby Michael remained in the house, she ran back, worried he may have been taken too. When she reached his bedroom he was there in his cot sound asleep.

Jeremy could do nothing but stand there and look confused. He would have climbed into the well if he thought it would do any good. But what he had just witnessed left him feeling completely dumfounded and more than a little terrified for the safety of his children. How was it possible, and what had happened to all of his children, how would he explain this to the police? When Alfred and Annie walked over, Jeremy just held up his hands in despair, not knowing what to say.

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The children felt themselves falling endlessly, until suddenly there was sky and the ground approaching them quickly. When suddenly they took on the weight of a feather and slowly drifted to the ground below. Much as their sister had done earlier.

Immediately they saw the strange creatures running in all directions. and then they saw the large winged lizard flying overhead. And then a frantic voice, “Over here, Jon, I’m over here.” They looked across and saw Sam waving her arms like a demented living windmill to try and get their attention.

Jon grabbed Amanda’s hand and ran. The others followed; no one seemed to pay them any attention. They were too busy avoiding the beast above.

They reached the mound of rocks and ducked down behind them. “Well that’s a relief, I thought I was going to be stuck here all alone.” said the slightly happier but still worried looking Sam.

“I pleased your so happy Sam. Now were all stuck here. Wherever here might be. And who are they, and what is that thing?” said the completely confused Jon.

Katie held onto Rosie, who was looking more than a little scared, while Josh grabbed Sarah’s arm and pulled her close.

“Hey sis, you are in so much trouble if we ever get out of here. It makes a change for it not to be me in trouble.” Said the grinning Chris, not looking at all worried. Which the rest of them found a little disturbing and slightly odd considering their predicament.

“I didn’t do anything Chris. It just grabbed me and the next minute I know, I was floating from the sky. That sounds so weird.”

“Well that’s exactly what happened to us, what is going on?”

“All will be revealed in time children. But for now, I need you to step through the door I’m sending to you. Don’t be afraid, but you need to leave that area immediately, the dragon isn’t too choosy who he has for lunch.” The wizened old voice said. It was apparently coming from inside one of the large rocks they were hiding behind. And then suddenly a shimmering door appeared in the rock, and opened to let them through.

“I am so not going in there.” said Katie, some of the others nodded in agreement with her.

“Look at that thing; it’s getting ready to feed. We’ll have to take our chances with whoever was on the end of that voice.” said the puzzled looking Jon.

“I’m starting to think this is just some bad dream. I’m going to wake up in a minute, I hope.” said Amanda, wishing she had driven the 300 miles to her aunties for Christmas instead of visiting her boyfriend and ending up wherever they now seemed to be.

“So are we going or not?” asked Sarah.

“Lets do it, can it get any stranger?” replied Jon.

“I don’t even want to think about it, let’s just go.”

Jon stepped through first, followed by Amanda, then Sam, and after her came Sarah and Rosie, and Katie and Josh. Chris was at the back, trying to decide whether he could get a closer look at the dragon that was about to swoop down on its prey. Sarah grabbed his arm and pulled him inside, much to his frustration.

Almost as soon as they entered the door closed behind them, leaving them in total darkness, “I knew this was a bad idea.” said Katie.

Then they felt themselves being lifted, “Oh no, here we go again.” said Amanda.

Then all of a sudden they were inside a large spherical shaped room, illuminated with hundreds of torches and candles. All around the room were items that gave the impression their surroundings was the likely abode of a single individual. And judging by the number of books and scrolls, as well as many other unlikely items, they could only guess they were inside some kind of wizard’s study. At least that was their guess for now, and after what they had just witnessed, they could be forgiven for their outlandish thoughts. Suddenly an old man appeared before them as if from nowhere.

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“So can anyone explain what just happened?” asked Kevin, looking around in the total darkness of the night sky. It was illuminated only by the seemingly endless number of shimmering stars glowing brightly above.

“I’m all out of answers Kevin, how could we possibly know what that was. One minute it’s broad daylight with snow falling all around us, and the next it’s night time and as warm as a summer’s day.” answered Tia, as she held onto Daniel’s hand looking around at the desolate landscape. Daniel didn’t feel quite his usual carefree self; it was hardly surprising considering what had just happened. Rachel cuddled up close to Tia as well. Holding onto her like her life depended on it. Tia did her best to put on her bravest face, though she didn’t know if she was strong enough to be brave for the three of them.

“Well what should we do now; I suppose we could start walking. But we don’t even know where we are going. Maybe we should just stay here until it gets light, and then we can try and find out what has happened to us.”

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“Ah look children, come quickly and see our new guests. You’ll be meeting them very shortly, come, have a look into the scrying pool. Your new companions have finally arrived.” said the old man, seemingly giddy at the prospect of more visitors.

Katie stared over at the old man almost doing a wee jig by this stage, hopping from side to side on the balls of his slippered feet. “Do we really have to trust this old guy, he seems a bit, well you know, not quite all there.”

“I heard that young lady. I’ll have you know I’m very much here, all of me, here, now.”

“I see what you mean sis; he is a bit of a loon.” Chris replied as he studied the strangely dressed old man.

“I heard that as well young man. I’ll have you know my intellectual …”

“We don’t mean to be rude. But can’t you just send us home. Our parents will be worried about us.”

“Sorry my dear, it’s impossible now, yes, completely and totally impossible, besides I’m sure you’ll settle in here just fine.” The old man replied. It seemed as though he was going over in his head whether it would be possible to send them back and finally decided there was no way for him to do it.

“Hey old man. We didn’t ask to be brought here, so send us back.”

“Now there’s no need to be so rude. The only way to send you back is, well, now let me see, we’ve never sent anyone back before.”

“You mean you just kidnap children and they have to stay here.” Katie asked with a hint of frustration in her tone.

“Kidnap, kidnap, never. All will be explained. But for now I’ll just say that we desperately need your help. And the help of our new guests.”

“So who are they? More kidnap victims.” Chris questioned accusingly with a smirk.

“Now, please young man, you are neither kidnapped, nor a victim. So please don’t exaggerate.”

“Exaggerate, why you old …”

With that the old man turned around and wiggled his index finger while reciting from memory in some almost lyrical and mystical language. It was a short incantation that sent Chris floating into the air.

“Now that’s enough of that young Chris.” The old man said as though he was talking to Chris as if he actually knew him.

“Hey put him down.” Katie demanded and walked towards the old man.

“It’s great, send me higher.” Chris shouted with glee as he continued to float upwards.

“As you wish.” The old man wiggled his hand and recited another verse, sending Chris soaring to the roof of the domed chamber.

“I want to fly as well.” Said young Rosie, awe struck with the sight of her older brother floating around the room.

“Oh no you don’t Rosie, get him down now.” Sarah cut in, finally having enough of the sight of Chris floating around the room.

“It’s quite safe I assure you, would you all like to try?” The old man asked quite excitedly, seemingly overjoyed he had someone to talk to.

“No, Yes.” Came a multitude of voices, they looked at each other, trying to decide on a unanimous verdict.

“It really is quite safe. I wouldn’t put you in any danger, and you’re much too valuable.”

“Valuable, what are talking about?”

“Later, later, when the others have arrived. There’s many more to come yet.”

“So why do you need us, what’s wrong with the people here?”

“They no longer believe. Only if the belief in magic is strong can we hope to defeat …, I’ve said enough for now.”

“Defeat, defeat what? Why have you brought us here?” Jon questioned, suddenly suspicious just what the old man had planned for him and his younger brothers and sisters.

“All will be explained, now don’t be impatient child.”

“I think he’s just an old crackpot. I bet Chris is being pulled around on ropes.” Katie said with a sceptical tone that spoke of her distrust.

“No ropes sis, look.” Chris demonstrated as he did somersaults in the air.”

“Now be careful young Chris. You haven’t mastered the basics yet.”

“It’s wonderful, could I do it outside.”

“Oh no, not yet. All in good time, all in good time, but first we must prepare you all, train you in your chosen specialities.”

“We aren’t training, or preparing or anything else. We need to get home, our parents will have called the police by now, and they don’t take kindly to people who kidnap kids.” Katie answered in her usual suspicious tone.

“Police, kidnap, kids, what are you talking about. I’ve told you, we need your help, soon I will take you to the grand council, and they will explain it all.”

“Grand council, all I see is one whacky old fellow who doesn’t have all his marbles, I think we should probably go now, put Chris down.”

“Whacky am I, we’ll see, but for now, lets get young Chris back down here, and help our visitors out of their predicament.”

“The one that you put them in.”

“Yes, yes, the one I put them in, but they are in no danger yet.”

“What do you mean yet?”

“All in good time young lady.”

“If you say that one more time you old fool, I’ll …”

“You’ll what, hit a defenceless old man.”

“I never said that, lets just get out of here and leave this old fake to his fun and games.”

“Fake, how dare you, I’m a master of the third circle, how dare you.”

“Third circle, what are you talking about now, I’d lay off the pixie dust if I was you.”

“Pixie dust, there aren’t any pixie’s around here I assure you young man. You’d have to go to the …”

“Now he thinks pixie’s are real, come on lets get out of this mad house.”

“Why you insolent little fiend. I’m perfectly sane thank you, pixie’s are very real, as are dragons and goblins. Like those you saw earlier, surely you must believe in what you saw.”

“It’s probably another one of your parlour tricks, an illusion or something.”

Chris came floating back down to the ground, “That was great. I want to go outside and do it next time.”

“All in good time.” He turned and said to Chris, before turning back to Jon. “I’m not a master of illusion young man, my expertise lies in the field of transformation and summoning.”

“I think you’re the one who’s been lying in the field old man. Probably full of magic mushrooms.”

“Mushrooms, mushrooms, what do mushrooms have to do with anything, now be quiet and pay attention, mushrooms indeed.”

“He’s completely barking Jon, why don’t we just slip out, he’ll never notice.”

“Of course I’ll notice, I’m not senile. And I’m not barking, what am I, a dog? Anyway where were we? Ah yes, the new arrivals, it’s time I brought them here. We can’t have them wandering around on their own.”

The old man began a rhythmic chant, a language that seemed almost to be incomprehensible, “What’s he doing Jon, he looks really funny.” asked Rosie of her elder brother.

“I have no idea, and I’m not sure I want to find out.” he answered looking down at his curious kid sister.

The old man’s eyes closed and his arms were raised, they seemed to be following a pattern of movement that coincided with his chanting, suddenly a shimmering door appeared before him, much like the one they had entered earlier.

Rosie and Josh were trying hard to stifle their giggling, and soon burst into fits of laughter as the old man continued.

“Please children, be quiet until I have completed the incantation, or who knows where the children could find themselves.”

“Sorry.” came the reply from both children.

“Well anywhere has to be better than here.”

“Oh no, I assure you, there are far worse places than here. Oh dear I think I’ve made a mistake.”

The children looked on as the other group were sent to a large hall full of men and women dressed in expensive finery.

“Where have they gone?” Jon asked concerned for the strangers.

“Not to worry, I’ve sent them to the wizard’s halls by mistake. They’ll be expecting them, just not quite so soon. Not to worry, they’ll be fine for now. Now for something a little different.” The old man replied and began another of his incantations.

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They watched in complete fascination as the crotchety old fellow who had stood there in front of them only moments earlier was replaced by one of the most beautiful women they had ever seen.

Grand mage Nelicia regarded their reactions with a pleasant and warming smile. Her thick mane of long blonde hair that reached almost to her waist seemed to take on a life of its own. Almost like a wondrous opposite of a snake headed medusa.

The ragged old robe was transformed into a flowing white and forest green full length gown. The old boots into dainty slippers of pure emerald, and the knotty old oaken staff became an item of pure magic. A glowing sceptre of light and energy. Some of them stood with the mouth’s gaping wide, others shook their heads in disbelief.

“Wow, that’s a big improvement.” said the pleasantly surprised Jon.

Amanda elbowed him in the ribs, giving him a wicked look. “You’re with me remember.”

“I know, I was just saying.”

“Well don’t.”

“And the green eyed monster rears its ugly head once again.” Said the sniggering Chris stood just behind them.

Amanda turned abruptly, “Don’t push your luck with me Chris. I’m not in the mood, and I’m certainly not jealous.”

“Ooh, touchy aren’t we.” He said as Katie gave him a slight slap around the ear.

“Hey, that hurt.” was the reply.

“Then stop being a nuisance.” Kate answered.

“Now you can see me as I truly am children. It was necessary that you did not know who I was from the beginning, you could have been agents sent by them. I had to be sure. I am Nelicia, grand mage of the wizards’ council.”

“But how do we know that this is your true form?” asked Jon.

“Do you see the mirror over there on the wall, it’s enchanted. A gift from my dear friend the faerie queen, it shows only my true form, no matter how I may appear. So that my friends know always who I really am, regardless of how I appear.”

“Can you show us?” Katie cut in.

“Of course, if it will mean you don’t doubt everything I tell you.”

“Well excuse us Nelicia, or whoever you are. But it’s not every day that this kind of thing happens, so please be patient with us. This is all very strange to us.” Amanda said.

“I apologise Amanda, I realise it must be difficult for you to take all this in at once. But I will do all I can to make your stay here as easy as possible.” She said, trying to reassure them.

“It’s really unnerving how you know all of our names. But then I suppose the whole thing is just plain weird.”

Nelicia walked over to the mirror and changed back into her previous form, the mirror showed her only as the beautiful woman they had just seen. Again she changed her form to a variety of different people, each time she appeared only as Princess Nelicia, and then finally she returned to her true form once again.

“You see now, the mirror cannot lie for me, it shows me only as I truly am.”

Again they stood mouths wide at the impressive display. “Can you show me how to do that.” asked a very curious and impressed Rosie.

“It takes many years of hard work to master the art of transformation Rosie. But I may endeavour to teach you should you show promise.”

“Good, I want to be a rabbit.” She said, smiling.

Nelicia smiled but was quickly stopped before she had the chance to respond.

“You’re not turning her into a rabbit or anything else, Nelicia.” Sarah demanded.

“We do not have time. We should go to the wizards’ council immediately. They will be eager to begin your training. And perhaps once you have helped us, we can discover how to send you back home.”

Before anyone had chance to reply they simply appeared alongside the other group of teenagers who themselves appeared somewhat mystified as to what was happening. A gathering crowd now stood around them all. A large and sinewy old man stepped forward, his long beard dragging along the floor. His robe of sapphires and emeralds must have been worth a fortune they all decided. Perhaps it wasn’t going to be so bad after all.

Nelicia stepped forward to greet him. “These are the first of our guests’ grand master Utherion. The others will arrive over the next week. Finally the prophecy is coming to pass my lord.”

“Indeed, we shall see. Now let’s have a look at our young guests. Welcome to Andorra, children.” Utherion replied.

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