Worried about the tiny horse, Maggie opened her hand a little and peeked inside. The tiny horse pawed and shook its head.
“Don’t worry, little guy. We’ll get you some help soon,” Maggie assured it.
Climbing down using one hand took longer than climbing up. Fear had made her stronger. Relief made her want to sit down and rest. Once she was on the road again, she glanced back at the ruins. The statue of a troll crowned the top now. It looked like it was reaching for something that wasn’t there.
Maggie heard the sounds of the mill long before she saw it. She knew the miller and his son. For a second, she thought about stopping to ask for help. But if she did, they would ask why she was alone and where she was going. They would take her back to her stepmother. They wouldn’t understand about helping the tiny horse. Maggie walked quickly by the mill, hoping she wouldn’t be spotted. Luckily, she didn’t see either the miller or his son.
At the top of the next hill, Maggie saw the royal castle’s tall towers. She was almost there! Now all she had to do was find the stable . . . and hope that Bob was real after all.
Chapter 6
The road led straight to the castle’s drawbridge. Maggie didn’t want to go into the castle, so she turned onto a dirt path. Somewhere nearby there had to be a stable for magical animals. She was sure that her grandmother wouldn’t have made up a story like that if there wasn’t one.
Maggie passed a garden filled with blooming roses. Then, she passed a blacksmith shoeing a horse. She walked by a kennel where dogs barked at her. Neither the horse nor the dogs looked magical, though.
Finally, Maggie spotted an oddly shaped building. It looked like a cottage in the middle with two long buildings stuck on either end. Smoke came out of a chimney in the middle. Strange noises came from either end. Something growled. Something squawked. Something whinnied. Something bellowed. Something roared.
“Hold still so I can pick this stone out!” grumbled a man. “And stop leaning on me. I’m not your leaning post!”
Maggie crept to the door of the stable and peeked inside. An old man was holding a white unicorn’s hoof with one hand and using a tool to dig out a stone with the other. The unicorn snuffled the man’s head. When the stone popped out of the hoof, the man let go and stepped back.
The unicorn saw Maggie and nickered. The old man turned around.
“Who are you?” asked the man.
“I’m Maggie,” she told him. “Are you Bob the Stableman?”
“I am,” said the man. “Have you come to see me or my animals?” Taking the unicorn by its halter, he led it to a stall and shut the door.
“You,” said Maggie. “I need your help. This little horse is hurt. See!” She held out her cupped hands and opened her fingers.
The man came closer to see what she held. “You caught a horsefly! That’s very difficult. How did it get hurt?” he asked.
“I didn’t mean to hurt it,” said Maggie. “It was tickling my ear and I brushed it off too hard, I guess. I walked a long way to bring it here. Can you help it?”
“Yes, but you’ll have to leave the little horse with me,” said the man. “I’ll take good care of it for you.”
“I feel awful about it,” said Maggie.
“Don’t be upset,” replied Bob. “It’s not your fault. The wings on tiny horses are very delicate and can break easily. It was good of you to bring it to me.”
Maggie was relieved. After walking all that way, it would have been awful if Bob hadn’t been able to help. She didn’t feel quite so bad about the little horse now either, knowing that Bob would help it.
Chapter 7
Maggie’s eyes were wide and full of wonder as she looked around the stable. She’d never seen anything like it! So many magical animals in one place! If only her grandmother could have been there to see it. “Where will you keep the tiny horse?” asked Maggie.
“I have a special stall for little fellas just like him,” said Bob. “I’ll show you.”
Maggie followed Bob into the stable and down a long hallway. There were enclosed spaces for magical animals on either side. Some of the stalls were big. Some were very small. They all had doors that were closed at the bottom and could open at the top. They were all tall enough for Bob and Maggie to stand in. Maggie heard something grunt behind a closed door. She ran to take a look. She had to stand on tiptoe to see inside.
“What’s that?” she asked, pointing at a pig. It had wings growing from its back.
“A flying pig, of course,” said Bob.
She heard the mew of a kitten and ran to another stall. Opening the top door, she saw an animal in a box filled with straw, nursing its babies. They all had the long ears of rabbits and the long tails of cats. “What are they?” asked Maggie.
“Cabbits,” said Bob. “A witch combined a cat and a rabbit. She thought they’d be extra cuddly. She was right.”
When the mother cabbit started to get up, Bob quickly closed the door. “You can’t keep their door open for long. They have the hind legs of rabbits and are very good jumpers.”
Maggie followed Bob to a stall with moss on the floor and a puddle of water in the middle. A little tree grew beside the puddle. Tiny horses flew from the tree to the moss while others raced around the puddle.
“This is where your horsefly will live while he gets better,” said Bob.
He showed her a tiny piece of wood the size of a splinter. “There are some nasty witches and some nice witches living in the Enchanted Forest. I avoid the nasty ones, but most of the witches I’ve met are very nice. One of the nicest is a good friend of mine. She made this for me,” he said.
Maggie opened her hands. Bob straightened the horse’s wing and laid the tiny splint on top of it. The wood glowed. When it stopped glowing, it was stuck to the wing.
“The splint will fall off when the wing is healed,” said Bob. “Why don’t you let him meet his new friends?”
Maggie stepped into the stall. She set the tiny horse on the moss. The horse bucked and galloped off. Other tiny horses followed him as he ran around the stall. Delighted, Maggie laughed. “I think he likes it here!”
“He’ll be fine now,” said Bob. “Once his wing is all better, you can help me let him go and return to his family.”
“You mean I can come back?” Maggie asked, her eyes shining.
“You have to come check on him, don’t you?” said Bob, smiling at her.
Maggie was thrilled! Here was someone she could talk to about magical animals who liked them as much as she did. And he’d actually invited her back!
Maggie and Bob left the stall. They closed the door behind them. Maggie was relieved that she’d found the magic stable. Her grandmother’s stories had been true all along.
Standing side by side, they watched the tiny horses stop to smell each other, then race around the stall again.
“Why are his wings different from the others?” Maggie asked.
“Horseflies like these were made with magic,” said Bob. He took a small book out of his shirt pocket. “Take a look at my record book. It’s where I write down what I learn about all the magical animals I encounter.”
“Your journal says that the horseflies live in tall grass,” said Maggie. “That’s where I hid from the goblins.”
“You saw goblins!” exclaimed Bob. “That’s not good! I’m glad you’re all right.”
“The goblins didn’t see me in the grass,” said Maggie. “But that’s where the horseflies found me.
A horsefly
Appearance:
Different kinds of wings they might have:
Favorite foods: moss
Habitats: tall grass in meadows, mossy banks of streams, in fields of clover, in the mist of waterfalls, raspberry bushes
Sounds: faint whinny, faint nicker, faint neigh
Sleeping habits: usually standing up. Other times, some stand guard while others sleep lying down
Cleaning habits: gentle rain, mist of waterfalls
Other important details: the marks they leave when they bite (red mark with a purple center) or kick (tiny half-circle hoof mark) a human
Maybe they thought I was taking their food. They did get mad when I ate some raspberries.”
“Maybe,” said Bob. “Or maybe they were trying to warn you about the goblins. Horseflies are very brave creatures.”
Maggie thought about that for a moment. She liked the idea of magical animals looking out for people.
“Hey, guess what! I also saw a griffin today,” Maggie said. “Do you have anything in here about griffins?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” Bob said.
He opened the book to another page and handed it back to Maggie.
“The griffin I saw looked just like this picture!” said Maggie. “Did you draw it yourself?”
“I did,” Bob told her. “Do you like to draw?”
Maggie nodded. “But I’m not as good as you are.”
A griffin
Appearance:
Flight:
Nests:
Wings:
Where griffins most commonly found: forest, mountains
Sounds: screech when angry, clack of beak when curious, tut-tut sound when with young
Other important details: how to recognize a griffin when you are hiding in the dark–talons scraping, harsh squawk, shriek, clack of beak, stinky breath, brush of feathers
“I bet you could be if you practice,” said Bob.
Maggie turned the page to read about another creature.
“You’re right about trolls and sunlight,” said Maggie. “The one that was chasing me today followed me up some rocks until a little patch of sunlight turned it to stone.”
“A troll chased you and you got away! I’m so impressed with you, Maggie!” said Bob. “Very few people can escape from a troll.”
Maggie smiled and blushed as she handed him the journal and he tucked it back in his pocket. “I add to the journal every time I find a new magical creature. Most people don’t notice things like a horsefly. They think it’s any old bug. They don’t really look at it. You, however, see things that other people don’t. Keep your eyes open. Let me know if you come across any more magical creatures.”
Trolls
Trolls are very persistent. If one is chasing you, do not stop until you get behind castle walls or run into a dragon. Trolls and dragons hate each other. If a troll sees a dragon, it will stop chasing you to pick a fight with the dragon.
Favorite food: anything except fruits and vegetables. They think humans are especially tasty.
Habitat: They sleep in caves and will not leave them on sunny days. If even a tiny bit of sunlight touches a troll, it will turn into stone.
Eyesight: extremely poor
Hearing: lousy, but not as bad as their eyesight
Sense of smell: good, but because they are so stinky, they can smell only themselves
To hide from a troll: Camouflage yourself with leaves or mud, stay far away, or hide behind a broad tree trunk. This works only if the troll has not already seen you. If a troll sees you—run!
“Really?!” Maggie exclaimed. “I’d like that. How long before my horsefly can fly again?”
“Probably two or three months,” said Bob. “He’ll need some time to properly heal. We should give him a name, don’t you think? I’ve named all the other horseflies.”
“I think I’ll call him . . . Tickles,” said Maggie. “I swatted him away because he tickled my ear.”
Bob laughed. “That sounds like a good name. When he’s all better, we’ll take him back to the meadow. I’m sure he misses his family and friends. While he’s here, you should visit him. Bring some grass seeds or raspberries. He’ll be eating out of your hand in no time.”
“I will!” said Maggie.
She peeked into the stall again. Maggie was glad she’d found someone to help the horsefly, and she couldn’t wait to see even more magical creatures!
Chapter 8
Maggie watched the tiny horses play while Bob swept the floor where he’d cleaned the unicorn’s hoof. She had been watching them for a while when Bob said, “I suppose you should be heading home. Your parents must be worried about you. I’ll help you get there.”
“You don’t need to,” said Maggie proudly. “I came here by myself. I know the way back.”
Bob shook his head. “But that wasn’t safe. You ran into a troll on your way here. Who knows what you might meet if you walk back this late in the day.”
“No one would have brought me,” said Maggie. “My father is away at the other end of the forest chopping wood. He’s been gone for days, and we don’t know when he’ll be back. My stepmother is busy with her children. They are all younger than me, except Peter, who’s my age. He doesn’t like me. Today he left me in the meadow by myself. That was right before the goblins came.”
“You should never have been left alone. I want to meet your family,” said Bob. “They need to know that Peter left you.”
Maggie waited while he led an ordinary-looking horse out of a stall. “Why is he here?” she asked. “He doesn’t look magical at all.”
“You shouldn’t judge someone by the way he looks,” said the horse.
“You can talk!” said Maggie.
“So can you,” the horse replied. “But I’m not making a big deal out of it.”
“Maggie, this is Leonard,” Bob said. “He’s lived in the magic stable since he was a colt.”
“Are we going to stand around talking or actually go somewhere?” asked Leonard.
“We’re taking Maggie home,” Bob said. He helped Maggie climb onto Leonard’s back.
“Please don’t tell my family about the horsefly,” said Maggie. “They won’t believe you if you do.”
“I won’t mention any magical creatures if you don’t want me to,” said Bob.
“I don’t like the sound of these people already,” Leonard muttered.
Chapter 9
On the way to the cottage, Maggie did most of the talking. She told Bob about the griffin, the unicorn, and the goblins. She pointed out the troll statue. Bob was interested in all her stories. It was nice to talk to someone who really listened to her and cared about what she had to say.
Suddenly, Leonard stopped walking and curled his lips. “What is it?” asked Bob.
“Goblins in the trees up ahead,” said Leonard. “Can’t you smell them? Should I outrun them? Or shall we show Maggie how you handle them?”
“Good idea, Leonard,” Bob told him. “Maggie, you stay here. You’ll be safe on Leonard’s back.”
Bob slid off the horse and walked a short way. Three goblins jumped out from behind the trees. They were the same three Maggie had seen that morning.
“Look what we find! Tasty treats!” cried the biggest goblin.
Bob pulled on the chain around his neck. When he held up his hand, something on the end of the chain flashed a bright white light. The goblins ran away, screeching.
Bob chuckled as he climbed onto Leonard’s back again.
“What did you show them?” asked Maggie.
Bob handed the chain to Maggie. A glittery triangle dangled from the chain. “It’s the tip of a unicorn’s horn,” he said. “They break off now and then. I find them in the unicorns’ stalls sometimes.”
Maggie looked worried.
“Don’t worry, the tips always grow back,” Bob reassured her. “Goblins will see that piece of horn and run for the hills.”
Maggie handed the chain back to him and pulled her own glittery triangle from her pocket. “I found one this morning just like that. See? But I didn’t know what it was. Why are goblins so afraid of unicorns?”
“Unicorns can get rid of poison with the touch of their horns,” said Bob. “Goblin blood is half poison. If a unicorn touches a goblin with its horn, the goblin will disappear—poof! Like that! Those little pieces of unicorn horn are good protection,” said Bob. “Don’t ever leave home without one!”
&
nbsp; Maggie nodded and clutched the tip of her unicorn horn just a little tighter.
Chapter 10
Maggie loved riding on Leonard’s back. She had never ridden a horse before and was surprised by how quickly they reached the path that led to her family’s cottage. It was late afternoon when they spotted the little building with the thatched roof. The yard was full of children playing. Zelia stormed out the door as Bob helped Maggie get down from the horse.
“Where have you been?” Zelia shouted at Maggie. “Peter said he had to watch the sheep all by himself today.”
“Actually, your son left Maggie in the meadow,” said Bob. “He should never have done that! Something terrible could have happened!”
“And who are you?” Maggie’s stepmother demanded.
“The Royal Stable Master and Keeper of Strange Creatures,” said Bob. “You can call me Master Bob. Maggie is a friend of mine and may visit me whenever she wants. She’s going to help me with important work.”
“What if I need her here? She’s got important work to do at home, too,” said her stepmother.
“Of course. Maggie can help you for part of the day, and then help me after,” said Bob. He turned to face Maggie. “I hope to see you soon.”
“You will! I promise,” said Maggie.
“If she doesn’t show up, I’ll come get her myself,” said Leonard. “These people are worse than I thought!”
Maggie saw the surprised look on her stepmother’s face. The other children seemed just as surprised. They’d actually seen—and heard—a talking horse. Maybe now they’d start believing her! But a moment later they acted as if nothing had happened. Maggie couldn’t believe they were going to ignore something they’d seen for themselves!