Quest For The Key

Chapter 8: Shocking News

The family arrived at the castle after much walking and was stopped at the door. When they said they had a set date with Centra, the man on guard was suspicious but let them in.  He opened the large, heavy, brace door and the room swallowed them up like an endless ocean. It was huge! Bigger then they would or could have ever imagined. The  marble walls rose high with a wide ceiling that dipped a little. The walls were decorated with painted pictures that twisted and swirled along the cold marble. Pictures of fat naked angel babies that were painted onto the walls sat in each corner surveying the area. The floor had designs all out lined in liquid gold.  It seemed very quiet to the four. They guessed it was because it was a lot louder in the village but, as they walked on and on the bewildered family started to hear voices. 

Soon enough there were people walking everywhere. Caring flowers, holding bulging platters of food, moving a centre piece and  talking to each other while studying papers. Jack had eyes as wide as saucers and Maple had a hard time keeping her mouth closed when they passed some princess dresses and maids in beautiful outfits. Mr. Woodmer kept looking around like a stray pet that’s gotten lost, and now looks for anything familiar, looking for home. Mrs. Woodmer just kept blinking really fast.  It all seemed to be just grand, except for the  people that passed them who would complain. Like gasping, holding their noses, letting their mouths fall open, walking away quickly, whispering to each other and having looks of confusion. The glares were very hurtful. 

They passed many things while strolling through the now fairly busy, halls of the palace. Like a pond, and varies of shiny armours.  

At that point Mrs. Woodmer happened to glance outside of a window that showed the court yard and see the time on the sun dial. “We’re late” she stammered getting her voice back.  Mrs. Woodmer went up to a passing person . She asked not shyly “ Excuse me! Would you be so kind as to show us to where Centra is?” Mrs. Woodmer nodded in our direction. The woman looked their way and wrinkled her nose with distaste. “ over there. Down that hall.” she spoke disgustedly. Mrs. Woodmer noticed and gave her the nicest  smile she could master then said “ Thank you” and they were on their way. 

The light started to fade to a darker more purpleish light when they came to a big wooden door and Mr. Woodmer knocked. The door was answered by Centra himself. Centra looked marvellous. He could have been 30 years old, not 60 with his dark black hair of ringlets. He modelled golden robes with matching sandals and had an angelic young face. Although Centra was beautiful to look at he was strict and had a habit of rushing into things too quickly, usually resulting in ....Disaster. 

He looked them over, once , very quickly then beckoned them to come inside. He showed them a seat and began right away. Jack was still wide eyed but Maple now was looking him over with envious eyes. What she would have done to have had his silk clothes! Even if they were for men. 

Centra passed out some pale coloured biscuits and sat down. Maple didn’t care for the biscuits . She thought they tasted like chalk. Getting  comfortable and listening  to what Centra had to say she couldn’t help but growl to herself “ This better be good”. 

Centra cleared his throat as he sat on the edge of his desk, another habit of his. He said “ I don’t know children” looking at Jack and Maple“ if you know of your ancestors. You once had an uncle named John Woodmer who forged a skeleton key with a curse on it.  He was a farmer and that is how you got your land but it is in danger. All of Obradome  is in danger, and do you know why?” Centra posed the question like they did at  school. The teachers didn’t really care about the answer they just wanted to know the children were listening.  Maple glanced at Jack who was not listening at all. He gazed outside the window, mesmerized by the heat waves that swam outside. When the children didn’t answer Centra just continued. “ For the key is still out there and is in the wrong hands. The key makes you do bad things in the first place but it has fallen into the hands of a fairy. An evil fairy, quit dark in deed and as I presume you have heard that she is using it to terrorize our villages”. All four were mute. 

Maple was the one to break the silence. “ So, you made us walk all the way up that treacherous hill to your castle, get stared and talked about in your castle halls then finally sit in this dark stuffy room to get a lesson on our history. Not to mention an update on the latest gossip? I mean it’s our history! We all know it! Mom? Dad? Jack?   Is that it?”  She looked at her family one by one. Jack rolled his eyes thinking “ Teenagers. Lord, tell me I won’t be this dramatic when I am one.” “ because if that is all you have to tell us” Maple rambled on even though she knew Centra probably wasn’t even listening to her anymore. “I’m leaving!” With that  Maple stood up only to be pulled back down on her chair again by Mrs. Woodmer. Her mother gave her a look and apologized to Centra. She said “ I’ am terribly sorry on my daughter’s behalf”. Another glare. “ She can be rude some times and quit a nuisance.” “ Sometimes?” said Jack. “ Silence” his mother shot back. “ Do continue” said Mr. Woodmer.

Centra wore an expressionless face as he said “ As I was saying before.” He cleared his throat then began once more. “ The village is in trouble and that Jealousy must be stopped. Not just by anyone though, but by a Woodmer. For your great,  great,  great,  many times greater then that grandfather cursed it that only you could help us. We are thinking of making a Quest of it” 

Maple thought she heard thuds of footsteps and tried to turn and see but was stopped by her mother. More talking and this time Maple swore she heard something. Then it hit her like a bullet to the chest. First it strikes you ,and robs you of your breath. You realize that you may die and that your life will be forever changed.

The words spilled out of Centra’s mouth like spoiled milk, rotten and foul.  “I am sorry to say Mr. And Mrs. Woodmer that we must send your children out on that Quest.” Mrs. Woodmer didn’t even have a chance to speak. 

Centra beckoned with his fingers and three maids came out of nowhere . “ Get them cleaned up, get them fed and show them to their room. We will talk later children”. Centra seemed relaxed about the whole thing yet  Mrs. Woodmer was not. Maple who felt that bullet hit her, and who was  slowly fading away let herself be taken from her chair where is was slipping off of. Jack felt it too. Maple and Jack  were nearly out the door when their mother ran after them and pulled them close to her with Jack in her arms and Maple at her side. “ You will never take my children away from me” shot Mrs. Woodmer protectively. Maple was relived that reinforcement had been called in. Centra could shoot them but could he take shots back? Was he a glass house or a rock cave? Did he shatter when a pebble was thrown or did it not even chip his surface? Mr. Woodmer sat where he was uselessly, too stunned to move.

There was no change in Centra’s face as he beckoned once more with his fingers. This time no young maids in frilly outfits stepped out of the shadows but guards. “ just in case” was all Centra said  as the two children were ripped from Mrs. Woodmer’s arms. She began to cry and scream and call out but the guards seized them, holding her fast and dragged them away. The last thing Maple saw was her mother screaming her name as she was  pulled from sight.