Chapter Twelve
Stan immediately glanced back at the Mayor, whose face remained unchanged.
“Thank you, I’ll deal with him from here,” he answered, with a manner of authority. The guards slowly shuffled out, disappointed not to have been invited to remain and watch the sentence of punishment being passed out.
Once they had left, Marvin slumped into a heap on the floor, and Stan and Roxie rushed over to help him. The rain had begun to fall once more, and Marvin’s clothes were soaking wet. His lip was swollen and bruised, with blood slowly trickling down his chin. Stan quickly stripped him to his underwear, and Roxie wrapped a nearby towel around him, both casting all thoughts of the Mayor’s next words to one side.
“Please,” Stan cried desperately towards the doctor, “help him, else he’ll freeze to his death!”
The doctor hesitated slightly, glancing towards the Mayor for approval, but the Mayor was too preoccupied in his own thoughts to notice, and so he hurried over to assist.
Only once the doctor had started to rub an ointment into Marvin’s lip did Stan stand back up and turn away from his friend. He dried his hands on the back of his trousers, looking the Mayor in the eyes for a clue as what was to come, but the Mayor stared blankly ahead, ignoring Stan’s gaze. He wandered over to the remnants of a large, wooden windowsill to consider further, leaving Stan to grow restless. When at last he returned, his shoulders seemed slumped, heavy with the burden of responsibility.
“Your idea is bold Stan, and many would say it is foolish. It’s certainly very dangerous, and I strongly advise you reconsider. In fact I urge you to reconsider, for your efforts and life would most likely be lost in vain – there is no evidence that this emerald exists!” He exclaimed.
“Mayor please, just let me,” but the Mayor held up his palm to cut him off, and Stan knew that he had reached his decision and could not be swayed.
“Let me tell you something, you don’t get anywhere in life without taking a chance or two along the way. You can go, and seek out this emerald, and if by some stroke of fortune you are lucky enough to locate and secure it then you will be welcomed back with open arms!”
Stan grinned at this, and turned to Marvin to celebrate. Once again though, he was interrupted by the Mayor.
“However,” he started, peering over his glasses, “you will not be draining any of our already depleted resources to go and get it. The guards will all remain here in Oadford. I will ask around for volunteers but I should not get my hopes up.”
“But they’re just two boys, how are they supposed to do this alone? They’ll be going against an entire army!” Roxie blurted out.
The mayor glanced at her, surprised, and replied, “Which is why I strongly recommend that they do not attempt this challenge.” He turned back towards Stan, and continued, “If you are to go ahead with it, your best bet is Wizard Maximus. Visit him, seek his wisdom.”
Stan nodded gratefully, and thanked the Mayor, before adding, “We shall your honour, thank you for allowing us your time.”
“I urge you to reconsider Stan,” he sighed, wearily, before dismissing him abruptly with “Now get out of here before the sun comes up and I change my mind. No one must know you are here, or I fear for your safety.”
“Here, let me fetch some fresh clothes for the two of you,” Roxie called out, hurdling athletically over a fallen drinks cabinet and out of sight.
Stan turned to help Marvin up, but to his surprise he was already doing so, albeit rather groggily, and with the assistance of the doctor. Stan took his friend by the arm, and led him over towards the door, not daring to let him make his way independently for fear he might fall and persuade the Mayor to change his mind.
Before they reached the door, Roxie had returned with new clothes, and Stan moved away, to allow his friend some privacy to change. As he did so, Roxie flung her arms around his neck.
“Be safe, friend,” she whispered. As she did so, Stan felt her hand go into his pocket, and he pulled away confused. Roxie winked at him, before hugging the now ready Marvin, whose new found clothes were baggy and ill fitting, and ushering them out of the door.
As the boys emerged from the house, they saw the sun beginning to rise over Lake Walandik, and Stan couldn’t help but stare at its beauty. The rain was still falling, and in the distance, where the Great Sea stretched onto the horizon, a clear, beautiful rainbow had appeared, glistening in the first rays of the day’s sunshine. He quickly got his senses back together though, and started to jog towards the woods and Wizard Maximus’ hut. The two friends darted from tree to tree, desperately trying to avoid being seen. Eventually they came onto the winding path that led to Maximus’ home, and ascended it as quickly as possible. Stan remembered his last visit, and prayed he wouldn’t meet his assailant again.
As the hut came into view, the boys slowed to catch their breath, before edging towards it. This time, when Stan rasped on the door, it swung open, and to his relief it was the great wizard who was stood there. If he was surprised to see them, he hid it well, and quickly beckoned them inside.
Maximus was a tall, grey haired man, with a wrinkled forehead and glistening, blue eyes. He wore all purple, with a flowing purple cloak and a pointed, purple hat. Such was his height with his hat on, he had to stoop significantly to get back into his house, groaning as he did so.
Stan had never been inside the hut before, and was alarmed by the bizarre objects that lay around it. A small tortoise crept its way along the hallway floor, and jars filled with a variety of strange items hung from the ceiling by a string of rope. One contained a little bottle of fluorescent liquid, while another contained what looked like a brain. Stan turned back to Marvin in the hope that he wouldn’t notice, but his friend’s ghost like skin colour suggested he had already done so. They made their way through to a small room, cluttered with books and boxes, and sat on two wobbly armchairs.
“Can I make you tea?” Maximus asked, with a smile.
“No, thanks,” they both replied, nervously.
“Ah, well then you’ll have to excuse me while I brew myself some,” he replied, pulling out a bright pink teapot as he did so, “it’s just really rather unsavoury to start a day without a cup of the good stuff, don’t you think?” Maximus’ eyes gleamed, and he set himself about finding a cup.
Marvin and Stan glanced a confused look at each other. After several, lengthy moments rummaging through cupboards, Maximus yelped in excitement, emerging with a bright pink cup and teapot
He brought over his teapot and sat between the boys. “That’s the problem when you tidy you see, you cannot find anything!”
Marvin’s eyes flickered around the room in a surprised manner, and he asked, “You cleaned?”
“Yesssss yesterday, for my sins!” The great wizard replied, chortling to himself, before cracking off a long, warm laugh, with which Stan and Marvin awkwardly chuckled along. “Now, what can I do for you boys?”
“Well, we sort of need your help, and have a story of sorts for you.” Stan started.
“Oh I love a good story, do go on!” Maximus declared, excitedly.
“Before I start,” Stan said, awkwardly, “do you want some water putting in that cup, only it seems like you’ve forgotten?”
Maximus clicked his fingers, and smiled at Stan. Stan glanced down and gasped, as the wizard had magically conjured his cup full.
Impressed, Stan retold the story for what felt like the hundredth time. Maximus nodded and hmmed throughout, and Stan was starting to lose hope in the idea that he could help.
Once Stan had finished, Maximus without warning left and disappeared upstairs, leaving the boys sat alone. They could hear him singing to himself, and Stan was growing more and more bemused.
“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea? He seems crackers!” Marvin whispered hastily.
“No, Marvin we need his help. Everyone says he’s brilliant!” Stan replied, trying to sound confident, although he too was beginning to questi
on the Mayor’s decision to send them here.
Before Stan had a chance to change his mind, Maximus returned, bearing a large scroll, which he unravelled on a table, beckoning the boys over with a finger.
“I have heard of such a stone, many years ago, only the once. I am certain that it exists.”
Stan and Marvin let out a huge sigh of relief, but Maximus gave them a stern look which implied he wasn’t yet finished.
“Regrettably, the emerald has a counter curse on it, one which the great Houdazald placed upon it. Without this counter curse, the emerald will destroy anyone who tries to use it.”
Stan felt his heart drop within his chest, with the realisation that he truly would never return to Oadford, and that his town was doomed to eternal deprivation.
Maximus smiled across the table at him, and removed a parchment from his pocket. “The counter curse was only passed down by word of mouth, and only his closest relatives will know it. Which is why I took particular interest when, one night in a backstreet bar after a wizarding council meeting, Gustavo came to me and asked for help decoding a spell which he had been left by a distant relative. I had long since been aware of Gustavo’s ties to Houdazald, before he even knew himself.”
Stan and Marvin gazed back at him with blank faces.
“I had a hunch as to what the spell might be, and so copied it down when Gustavo went to relieve himself in the bathroom. I of course told him I knew nothing, as I have long suspected that his intentions may not be entirely pure.” Maximus sighed, shaking his head as he continued, “That boy could have done anything, and yet he chose this path, such a pity. But I digress.”
“So… what you’re saying is, you have the counter curse?” Stan stumbled, desperately trying not to get his hopes up.
“That is exactly what I am saying young man!” Maximus replied, with a twinkle in his eye.
“That’s brilliant news!!!!” Stan replied, embracing Marvin, who appeared somewhat overwhelmed with the situation.
“Oh that’s more of that to come, come around and look at this map,” Maximus said, urging them round the table.
Stan and Marvin obliged, and searched the map for a clue as to what Maximus was hoping they would find, but were unable to spot what it was that they were being shown. Maximus grew frustrated, and after a while he jabbed his finger at a spot on the map, exclaiming, “The Emerald is atop Mount Smouldotion boys, we are within touching distance of it!”
Once again, the boys embraced, and Marvin chimed “That’s fantastic!”
Stan thought of his brother and father, and how he would be the one who saved Oadford, how he would be the hero. The Emerald was just a day away; all he had to do was climb a mountain that he had climbed dozens of times before!
“Erm… Maximus… That’s great news, but, there is something of an elephant in the room?” Stan asked, nervously.
Instantly, the smile was wiped off of Marvin’s face. Maximus stroked his beard, carefully pondering his map.
“Yes, you have stumbled upon the dilemma we face here, although I would believe it more fitting to describe it as a dragon in the room,” he began, speaking in a mysterious, slow tone, “Once upon a time this would not have mattered. After all, Gordon was in a deep slumber until but a few days ago!”
Stan noticed Marvin turning a deep shade of violet next to him, and felt his own ears burning. The two boys both suddenly seemed to develop a sudden fascination in their shoes.
“The dragon is an inconvenience, yet his presence makes me even more certain that I am right, for the great Houdazald was just that, he was in fact wonderful, undoubtedly the most brilliant wizard to have ever lived.” Maximus paused, and spoke in a more excited, hurried tone when he recommenced. “Now, we must consider this. Would such a brilliant wizard have left his most prized possession within the clutches of a crazed, fire breathing dragon? I think not, Gordon the Gruesome would have unintentionally destroyed it years ago for not being gold. Houdazald will have known this.”
Stan sensed he was onto something, but had no idea what. He moved round closer, to see what it was that Maximus was seeing.
“We must think like he did. A dragon is not a fitting beholder of such a precious item, but he makes a marvellous protector of one, even without meaning to, would you not say?”
The boys mumbled in response.
“I believe that this great stone we seek will be somewhere atop the mountain. Somewhere that it cannot be easily found, unless you are looking for it that is. Somewhere the dragon cannot get to, somewhere harsh and unforgiving.”
Stan looked closely at the map of Mount Smouldotion, seeking somewhere suitable. He could sense Maximus watching him closely. After a while, Stan suddenly saw it, and yelled and pointed in excitement. Maximus simply smiled and nodded, retreating back to his chair.
“That’s correct boy,” he added once he had got there, “The Guardian’s Hut is a rather apt name, wouldn’t you say?”
Before Stan could reply, there was a tapping on the door. The boys both looked to Maximus, but he simple shrugged, telling them, “That won’t be for me.”
Stan and Marvin worked back through the cluttered hallway, back past the brain and cautiously opened the door, just wide enough to see through the gap.
“Oh open it properly Stan, if I’d wanted harm doing to you I’d have left you to those goblins!” answered a familiar voice.
Bewildered, Stan fully opened the door to reveal Roxie, who had changed into a new set of rugged, old overalls. She also wore her crossbow, and had a sword in her hand, with a pretty, chequered dress under her arm.
“I take it from your face you didn’t read my note,” she sighed, “typical boy! I save your life and you forget like all I did was hold a door open for you!” She barged her way past Marvin and Stan and into the hut. As she did so, Stan retrieved the forgotten note from his pocket, unwrapping it to reveal a heavily creased parchment, which read:
I’ll meet you at Maximus’ after sun rise, be ready, Rox. X
“Be ready for what?” Stan wondered out loud.
“For sword practice, silly! We’re racing an army to this Emerald, you need to learn how to fight! Because trust me, from what I saw the other night, I’m not sure you could beat Marvin, let alone an army of blood thirsty goblins!!”
“That does sound like a useful idea, Stan,” Maximus added. He had crept up on the three without anyone realising, and his comment made all three jump.
“You should go now, the three of you, go and practise in the woods.” His tone suddenly became serious, “Be sure you are not seen by anyone. There will be uproar if people find out that you are nearby, and your safety will not be guaranteed.”
Stan nodded in acknowledgment, and turned to follow Marvin and Roxie out of the door. Before he could leave, Maximus grabbed his arm, and Stan turned back.
“Before you go, I must apologise for my Brother, Ernest. He was the one who punched you a few days back. He isn’t quite with it bless him, and it falls on me to care for him.” Cheerily, Maximus continued, “He’s not got the brains of myself, but he is jolly good with his fists, as you well know. He and I shall make quite the companions for your venture!”
“That’s very kind, but,” Stan started to protest, before he was cut off by Maximus.
“Enough!” He shouted, towering over Stan. “For too long I have sat back and allowed Gustavo to slowly gain control of the dark aspects of this kingdom, but he will not endanger our lands. We will get to that emerald before him and our wonderful land will be rebuilt! Now away with you, practise, we shall leave at first light tomorrow!”
Stan spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon practising with Roxie, who had found a sword for Marvin from somewhere too. They jived and prodded at each other all day, and by the end of it they were more than competent, albeit covered in cuts and bruises. At one point Stan sat under an oak tree for a rest, and watched his best friend and newly found friend clinking steel and prancing around in t
he clearing. He smiled, and thought to himself that for the first time in his life, he felt truly alive.