King's Quest

CHAPTER 2: CASTING THE FIRST SPELL

Gwydion knows that somewhere in this house there has to be a laboratory hidden away where the wizard can practice his magic in peace. The trouble lay with Mannanan's ability to teleport everywhere. Thus he doesn't need a door, so their might not be one to find, but there just has to be and he's determined to find it.

The study is where his search begins. It is the one and only room in the house that he's forbidden to remain in for any given time. There just has to be a reason beyond the books, which he probably isn't capable of understanding anyway.

He pushes and pulls and prods. Luckily, he is not long in his search when he discovers, on the lower shelf, a large volume that hides behind it a strange lever. Gwydion's heart leaps in his chest, could this be it? He pulls upon the lever, a loud creaking behind him alerts him to activity.

He turns about, a trapdoor stands open, revealing a passage leading down. Slowly, cautiously, he walks takes the hidden staircase into the unknown. It's fairly dark and he can see that he is actually beneath the house.

He discovers a large room stacked with shelves of numerous, odd things, several tables and a large book. With giddy anticipation, he traipses over to the aged tome and with trembling hands turns the pages.

There are many different spells contained within, most of which he can't read, but there's a handful he is able to discern and of these a few that would be useful.

He takes a scrap of parchment and a nearby quill, jotting down the list of ingredients that comes at the beginning of each spell.

The first, is for transforming another into a cat: one bowl, one spoon, half a cup of mandrake root powder, one small ball of cat hair, two spoons of fish oil, one magic wand.

There are a few other spells, but this one takes precedence. It's the only one at his disposal that can be used on his master and set him free.

Gwydion mentally checks the ingredients off in his head. He knows where to find two of the ingredients easily enough. There's a bowl and spoon in the kitchen. Cat hair is another cinch, so long as he can get hold of the mangy fur ball.

Fish oil would be difficult, but he knows where it can be acquired. A wand, Mannanan keeps one locked in his study. Mandrake root powder, that's going to be difficult.

Gwydion scratches his head. He doesn't know what a mandrake is let alone where he can get powder made from its roots. The answer, is directly behind him. As his eye wanders about the place in contemplation, he observes a label that is peeling off a jar. He hurries to the shelf, it's not what he's looking for, but he now knows where to look.

Amongst the various jars on the shelf he finds many ingredients, all clearly marked. He supposes that when dealing with dangerous magics the last thing you want to worry about is getting the wrong ingredient. Mental wanderings aside, he does find a jar labeled mandrake root powder.

Things are coming together nicely. Gwydion only hopes that casting the spell will be just as easy, but he fears it will not. Putting his misgivings away he hurries up the stairs, leaving the hidden laboratory.

Back in the study, he closes the secret trapdoor and replaces the hefty volume which conceals the lever. Next, he hurries to the kitchen and fetches a large mixing bowl and a mixing spoon. Next is the cat hair, not hard to find.

The scraggly animal is sauntering down the stairs. Upon sight of Gwydion it stands stock still, ready with its nasty weapons. But this time our poor unfortunate is ready. As fast as he's able, he snatches the mangy ball of fur by the scruff of its neck. He holds the beast at arms length, before yanking a handful of its hair. The cat screeches and he drops it to the floor avoiding the flailing claws, as he bolts for his room.