Castle Magic and the Sinister Encroaching Fir Wood

By Anne Poltera

A frail, fatherlessl boy, whose mother is ill , goes to stay unwillingly with cousins. There he finds his strength, makes unusual friends,and discovers magic talents, using them to save the world from falling into the hands of the pink witch

The author has created characters, both human and other, together with gripping adventure, which will enthrall and entertain The story weaves situations in childhood encompassing fears, tears, humour, achievements, dawning wisdom and sheer wonder. Delightful! Inspirational! Unforgettable!. Grown-ups can also enjoy reading 'Castle Magic'
Pamela Koutroulides

As a child, I had bad health and spent 3 years in hospital totally separated from my Mum and Dad. Visits were few. I retreated into my own world as there was no adult to share with. I learnt to read and read avidly. Sometimes I told stories to other children. I didnt mix with ordinary children until I came out of hospital at 8. I was rather clumsy at it

When I grew up I became a social worker, wife, mother and grandmother, chesty illnesses following me throughout.. I often spent holidays in a flat in an English castle. It was there that the seeds of this story grew.

In my fifties, I journeyed into my imagination and began painting, using pattern and bright colour. During this time Stephen, the hero of Castle Magic, was born in my imagination. In my sixties I began writing, slowly discovering my own true voice, and began the greatest adventure of my life.

Stephens talents, like mine were enhanced by his circumstances, sensitivity revealing the magic and wonder of the world around. There is magic also within and Stephen wants to encourage everyone to find it.
www.annepoltera.com

50% profits from this book go to 'Demelza', a charity providing hospice care for children. See inside

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Nov 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477239445

Anne Poltera

Anne Poltera has been a social worker, a wife, a mother, and more recently, an artist. As a child, she suffered from bad health and feels empathy with the hero of Castle Magic. She says, “The seeds of this story grew from holiday experiences in a small flat in a castle, and in my early sixties, I began to put these ideas together. I have found life to be a journey of discovery through shadow and sunshine, full of wonder and unexpected gifts, gradually revealing to me my own magic that lay hidden inside. I found a way to express this in a particular way through my art and now also through writing. I hope that Castle Magic, through its fantasy, will pass on to its readers this sense of wonder and joy of magic that I have found to be a real part of life (although more subtly revealed). It is also waiting to be discovered in the heart of every individual and especially every child.”

Book preview

© 2012 by Anne Poltera. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 11/15/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-3943-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-3944-5 (e)

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Castle Magic And The Sinister Encroaching Fir Wood

Prologue

Chapter 1

Arrival

Chapter 2

Suggestions Of Mystery

Chapter 3

Lost Animals

Chapter 4

Castle Secrets

Chapter 5

A Picnic On The Beach

Chapter 6

An Invitation To Tea

Chapter 7

A Strange Conversation

Chapter 8

Hospital

Chapter 9

Back At The Castle

Chapter 10

Midnight Visiting

Chapter 11

Mirrorland

Chapter 12

The Pushwuffkin And The Fnake

Chapter 13

Mirrorland Again

Chapter 14

Mondriana

Chapter 15

A Visit From Aunt Matilda

Chapter 16

Imprisoned

Chapter 17

Stephen’s Mother Has Visitors

Chapter 18

A Bad Mood

Chapter 19

Ups And Downs

Chapter 20

Where Is Everyone?

Chapter 21

Kate Meets Marmaduke

Chapter 22

The Search

Chapter 23

Battle

Chapter 24

A Dragon Ride

Chapter 25

New Beginnings

Epilogue

An Invitation From The Author

demelza.jpg

Registered charity number 1039651

www.demelza.org.uk

Adding life to days when days cannot be added to life

Demelza was a young married woman who worked for the Acorns children’s hospice in Birmingham. She died at the age of 24 from a brain tumour. Her parents, visiting the hospice at the time of her death, were impressed by the wonderful atmosphere, and going back to their home in Kent they decided to continue Demelza’s work by starting a charity to fund a children’s hospice in the South East of England. The charity was born at the end of 1993.

There now exists       Demelza House, Sittingbourne Kent

                                   Demelza House Eltham, SE London,

Demelza Community, Hailsham, East Sussex.

Children’s hospices support children and young people from 0-19 yrs and their families, where there is need because of serious illness. The support is given in the hospice itself, and also at home, and in the community

Acknowledgements

I want to give special thanks to all my friends without whose help this book may never have been completed. They have encouraged and supported me through my efforts and have also spent many long hours using their skills to proof read and helping me edit to make sure the language was clear and flowing and suitable for a young reader.

image%201%20grey%20copy%20of%20castle%203.jpg

Castle Magic and

the Sinister Encroaching Fir Wood

The one who wields the power will rule the earth, for good or bad, but from vulnerability the greatest strength will grow.

PROLOGUE

The year was 1702. Lady Matilda de Blackberry Blackthorn clapped her hands together with satisfaction as she stepped back from the well. Now she had the power that would eventually enable her to rule the world. Before her stood a poor Chinese dragon, very long and now minus some of his once beautiful iridescent blue-red scales, fixed firmly to the ground so that he was unable to move at all. He blinked a final woeful blink with his brilliant golden eyes. His last conscious thought as a dragon was of a young boy who would one day be the cause of him and the well, being restored to normal. His eyes then filmed over so that they looked like nothing more than knots in an ancient twisted tree which is what he was becoming and his beautiful colours faded.

Lady Matilda looked at him with gleeful satisfaction. So you thought you would get the better of me you stupid dragon. That will teach you, and you have been most useful in providing the magical scales to transform the well water so that just a few drops will enhance my magical powers beyond the imaginings of the most powerful mind. No powerful person or thing in this world will be able to stand against me. She sighed with satisfaction. Of course, her thoughts continued, it will take time to master it, maybe a hundred years or so, but what is a few hundred years to someone whose life is endless and can make other things and people live as long as they are useful.

She began to cover the well with a slab of stone, taking a last look into her ‘magic water’ as she did so. For a fleeting moment she thought she saw something reflected there; it could be an image of her, the great mistress of magic, as a child, or could it be the image of a young boy. No it could only be her, but nevertheless a shadow of momentary fear passed across her heart. She finished covering the well, casting the shadow firmly from her mind, and marched off towards her house, clapping her hands again to reinforce her satisfaction. As she went she murmured to herself, I shall start practising my new magic at once, and my witch’s attire will always be in my favourite colour, pink. The dazzling image of herself as the pink witch filled her mind and she beamed with pleasure. The whole world would come to know and fear—‘The Pink Witch.’

CHAPTER 1

Arrival

Stephen, who was nine, woke up. Was he there yet? Aunt Sophie was driving him to live at her home in a castle, with Uncle David and his cousins. He wasn’t looking forward to it, but his mother’s health necessitated long periods in hospital and his father had died one and a half years ago. As his Aunt Felicity was having to work in France for six months, there was nothing for it but to make the best of it he reflected before he fell asleep again.

The next time he came to it was dark and the car was slowing down. They turned a corner round a high hedge, and there, suddenly, stood the castle, lit by lights in two high windows. It was a grey flint building with turrets and battlements, with plants and flowers growing in front and up the walls. It wasn’t so dark and scary as Stephen felt most castles were, but even in its ‘prettiness’ it still felt grey and cold, as grey and cold as Stephen felt inside. He shivered. Aunt Sophie got out of the car to open the gate with apparent frustration at the task. Suddenly the drive was full of children, pounding feet and cries of Hello Mum. Stephen gasped, his thoughts rudely interrupted. All these children his cousins?

Here are Kate and Jamie come to meet us, said Aunt Sophie, and the hoard of children were only two after all.

The car made its final stop in front of a large and heavy wooden door within which was a smaller wooden door. Stephen got out of the car and looked around. Anxiety made his chest suddenly felt tight. He suffered with asthma and had recently recovered from a bout of pneumonia. The whole world seemed grey and the castle reflected this feeling back to him. He looked up and saw a few stars.

Come on Stephen, his aunt said briskly, let’s hurry and get in.

His cousins were already climbing through the little door. Mechanically Stephen moved. He stepped over a sort of wooden bar at the base of the door and he caught his breath in wonder as he came through a deep arch into a courtyard. Here the castle did not give the impression of being grey. The courtyard he was stepping into was flooded with starlight, and looking up the stars shone brilliantly out of a black velvet sky. Inside this courtyard the castle was beautiful, welcoming; its walls silvery, stretching like loving arms around him. A strange tingling comfort flooded through him. His heart lifted; everything would be alright.

His Uncle David appeared at a big double wooden door in an arched porch.

There you are Sunny Jim, he said turning to Stephen, did you have a good journey? Are you hungry? Jeanette has got supper on the table.

Yes thank you, replied Stephen, but I am not very hungry.

He’s tired, said his Aunt. It’s been a long journey from Lyndhurst.

A sound startled Stephen and he looked towards the door with sudden interest. A dazzling swirl of what looked like a midnight blue gown was disappearing rapidly through it.

Who’s that, he said.

Uncle David, looking surprised looked behind him. No one, nothing, there’s no one there.

I saw someone wearing, or dragging something bright blue, it was sort of shimmering.

Really, his Uncle said in amazement, and then jokingly, it must be our castle ghost.

Do you have one?

Not really, laughed Jamie. Only a rumour.

You’re seeing things because you are tired, said Kate. Come on, we’ll show you the part of the castle where we live.

Oh! exclaimed Stephen in surprise, don’t you live in all of it? He felt a familiar wheeze beginning in his chest. No, said Jamie, it’s too big and when we came to live here a lot of it hadn’t been looked after so only part of it was habitable.

Oh! said Stephen again. His vocabulary had dried up, and his throat felt dry. He felt awkward and very very tired. Kate and Jamie rushed through the door and Stephen followed slowly behind. He found himself in a hallway. To the right there was a padlocked gate in an archway with only darkness beyond. What was down there he wondered? The hallway then turned to the right where a broad staircase with wide polished banisters ascended. Kate and Jamie were already climbing up. At the top the corridor branched off to the left and right. As he reached half way Stephen saw a flash of blue turning to the right. Suddenly he charged up the stairs at full speed overtaking Kate and Jamie, his wheeze forgotten. This time he would catch up with it. Look, he pointed.

What? Jamie and then Kate called out.

I saw something, I really did.

You’re dreaming, said Jamie, and when Stephen reached the top he saw only an empty corridor. He slowed down, his wheeze coming back more prominently than before, and Kate and Jamie overtook him as he looked intently to the right where the corridor made its way between doors on either side to a blank wall at the end.

We live up here as it’s damp down stairs, said Kate. Stephen followed Kate to the left, gradually getting more and more behind as he panted for breath. The passage was long. How much further, Stephen thought, but it eventually finished at a large oak door. The door opened as he watched and a youngish woman stood there with a small child in her arms.

Excuse these two, she said, always in a hurry. I’m Jeannette and this is Olivia, and you must be Stephen. She smiled and taking Stephen’s hand she drew him inside. "Supper is on the table. Olivia has stayed up so she could welcome you.

Come on, came the joint voices of Kate and Jamie, we’re starving.

Then Uncle David and Aunt Sophie arrived with the cases.

I see you have met Jeanette, Uncle David said, she is our mainstay; I don’t know where we would be without her.

Come on we’re hungry, came Kate’s voice.

Aunt Sophie laughed, I heard you had juice and toast not so long ago.

Stephen propping himself against a chair, looked around the room. It was very large and almost round, with windows on all sides and a rounded balcony to the right. It overlooked Regis Bay. There was a dining area to the immediate right in an alcove where a large round table was laid with cold meat and salad and two large loaves of bread.

In spite of himself, Stephen enjoyed his supper. Jeanette’s presence had made him feel more comfortable. She had a simple natural warmth that enveloped everyone and he had felt himself included in it. He thought, that it was not that Uncle David and Aunt Sophie were not nice, it was just that they seemed to ooze cleverness and efficiency, and as for his cousins, Kate aged ten and Jamie aged twelve, they were just like all children that had not been ill, and from what he had seen of Olivia, who was just three, she promised to be the same. They seemed to be everywhere at once and to fill all the space with their energetic noise. He had never known what it was to be healthy. Normal healthy children seemed to belong to a different world whose ways and language he did not know. They seemed so sure of themselves, and he felt so uncertain about everything. He wasn’t good at expressing himself, or asking for things, and he NEVER felt bouncy and he certainly didn’t right now. He could feel himself shrivel in his cousin’s presence. But Jeanette; somehow he knew she understood what he felt like, and he looked up at her as she poured the tea, and they smiled at each other.

CHAPTER 2

Suggestions of Mystery

Finishing tea, Kate had left the table. Mum, the gate’s open again.

Oh no! chorused Aunt Sophie and Uncle David together.

Gregory must have gone out and not closed it. Kate, can you run down, close it and check the field gate is closed and that the animals have not escaped. Yesterday I found them wandering round the garden eating the flowers.

A few minutes later there was a knock at the door, and as it opened a man’s voice said, Mrs Davenport, you’ve left the gate open. I’ve just gone up to shut it. And one of the children must have left the field gate open too, as I just stopped Cowslip and Parsley and the sheep going out. Fluff and Puff, they’re ok. They’re over on the far side.

How odd, said Aunt Sophie, I shut the gate very firmly and none of us has been out since, and I am sure the field gate was shut too.

I’ll check the catches, Mam.

Thank you Gregory.

The young lad arrived then has he? Gregory queried.

Stephen was then introduced to Gregory. He apparently lived in a corner flat on the other side of the courtyard.

I look after the animals and the garden and any maintenance. I’ll see you about, and you just make sure you shut the gates after you.

You’re looking very tired, said Aunt Sophie to Stephen. Jeanette will show you your room while I do the dishes." She gave him a hug and they all said goodnight.

Stephen followed Jeanette back into the passage and through another door. He found himself in a small square room with an alcove for the bed, a window above it and another wide window overlooking the bay. In a corner there was a glass paned door leading onto a small balcony. He pointed to another door opposite that also led off the balcony.

That is my little flat, said Jeanette, and Olivia has a little room off mine. If you need me you know where I am. There is another door leading from the passage, just round the corner. Uncle David has brought your things. I hope you like your room. Aunt Sophie gave you this room with a balcony as she thought the sea air would do you good. I’ll be back to say goodnight. You can have a bath in the morning. She came over to him and gave him a hug. You’ll be alright. This castle is a special place.

Yes it is isn’t it? said Stephen. Do you know if this castle has a ghost? I was sure I heard a rustling sound and saw a bit of a blue gown as I was coming up the stairs. I’m sure I did, he said for emphasis.

Yes this castle has a bit of a mystery about it. Sometimes I hear singing. They tell me its my imagination. But it is nothing to be afraid of, it makes me feel safe. Perhaps you will find out more about it. You seem a very sensitive chap. Up till now I have been the only one who has sensed anything, and yet, you, . . . and you’ve only just arrived.

Later when he was in bed, Stephen thought about it all. He loved the little room. It gave him the same feeling that the courtyard had given him as of encircling arms. He loved the view over the bay, though he did not like the wood that grew beneath the castle and began across the road opposite the bay. It was a dark wood, full of dark fir trees, and it looked threatening. He definitely liked Jeanette; his Aunt and Uncle were ok; he didn’t feel so sure about his cousins. He had to face it, he just didn’t get on well with other children; he had spent so much time alone in an isolated bit of the New Forest where his home was, and then been in hospital a lot because of his bad health. The doctor had said he would probably grow out of the asthma, but since his Dad died and his mother got ill it had got worse. He thought about his mother; would she get well again? He missed her, and now he missed Aunt Felicity too. Yes the castle was ok, but it wasn’t home and he suddenly wanted home so badly. He felt his chest tighten again, as if there was a tight band around it and tears filled his eyes. Then came the sound of someone singing one of the songs his mother used to sing, but this was a man’s voice, rich and deep, but little more than a whisper. It was as if someone was reassuring him that all would be well and he felt comforted. His chest eased and he gradually drifted off into a deep sleep.

While Stephen slept so peacefully, in the nearby Regis Palace, Lady Matilda de Blackbury Blackthorne reviewed her wicked plans. They were progressing nicely. Finally she had perfected her magic using her magic well water. After much practice it now increased her strength, enabling her to greatly reduce the layers she needed to weave to perform her strong magic. She had worked very hard to achieve this. Thus her bewitched fir trees (with which she intended to replace most other growing things) in most cases if left alone, would take a year to grow, could now reach maturity much quicker by repeated applications of a spell, if nothing interfered with it in the intervals between. She was pleased to see how well her fir trees were growing and spreading. There was just one thing at the moment that spoilt her happiness and that was the horrible castle and its inhabitants. She hated the castle. It wasn’t just that she was envious and wanted to live there herself, but there was some horrid goodness that seemed to be embedded in the place which made it difficult for her to cast her spells and just take it over. She was going to drive out those people who lived there who were actually distant relatives of hers. She ignorantly thought that with no one to maintain it, the castle would fall into disrepair and fall apart, and the horrid goodness, whatever it was, would have to go away, go back to wherever it came from. To this end, she sent her servant Miriam, sometimes more than once a day, to open all the castle gates and let the animals out. (The spells she had cast upon the gates having been eradicated spontaneously after just half a day) She was working on plans to fill the grounds with her beautiful trees but that was turning out to be a slow process. She was experimenting with soaking a bucket of fir cones in magic well water for the space of a full moon.

Back at the castle hidden in the north wing, there was a secret book lined room. In it, at a desk, sat a little white haired old man. There was an almost imperceptible knock at the door and then it opened and a stream of sparkling blue light poured in. The little man looked up. Hello Formless One, he said with a smile of welcome. The sparkling blue contracted to the form of a tall man in a shimmering blue hooded cloak. What do I call you today? asked the little man.

How about Edward? the hooded figure replied in a deep musical voice. The little man laughed. That’s as good as anything. I find you confusing, always appearing as something or someone different. Don’t you get confused? Anyway I guess you have some news for me.

Yes. He’s come Marmaduke. He’s only a little lad, very frail at present but you can see the strong magic within him. Do you know he actually saw me as soon as he entered the courtyard. Everyone has been telling him it was his imagination, but he doesn’t believe them. If he had been able he would have come straight to the north wing. He will be knocking on your door as soon as he can escape the others. The hooded man sighed and shook his head, But he’s not going to find things easy. At the moment he is feeling rather crushed by his experience of life. There is a lot of healing needed.

And what of Matilda? Marmaduke asked. Have you visited lately?"

Her magic has grown formidable Marmaduke. It’s going to be touch and go whether Stephen can stop her before she succeeds in casting a spell upon him, or worse, puts an end to him. They looked at each other with worried frowns. Marmaduke shook himself to dispel the idea. We have to trust in Stephen’s instinctive dislike of bad things, he said. I think it is Stephen’s very need, his vulnerability that will steer him towards finding the resources he will need." ‘Edward’ nodded and dissipated like a mist.

CHAPTER 3

Lost Animals

He was awakened in the morning by his cousins’ loud voices, Aren’t you up yet Stephen. We want to show you the castle, accompanied by loud pounding on the door.

Then he heard a gentle but firm voice, Leave Stephen to sleep, he had a long journey yesterday and he has to get his strength.

And the response, Ohhhh! Alright, but it’s getting late.

It’s only half past eight.

Then he heard Olivia’s voice demanding breakfast.

So much noise, thought Stephen. Then he saw the light streaming through a crack in the curtain, and heard gulls crying as they wheeled overhead. He suddenly felt a curiosity to see his new home. He peered out onto the balcony and saw the lovely view of the bay with the white cliffs gleaming in the sunlight. To add to his delight he saw a single seagull parading up and down just outside the balcony door, just like a soldier on guard duty he thought. He hurried to get dressed and have breakfast. Afterwards they all cleared the table in haste and were away to the door, with a quick, We’re going to show Stephen the castle.

Kate and Jamie showed him around pointing out all the various rooms, and in particular their Mum’s art studio and their Dad’s office where he did his writing. Eventually they came to the main stairs. You remember those, said Jamie?

Where we came up last night, added Kate.

Let’s go and see Fluff and Puff, suggested Jamie

Our alpacas, said Kate.

We’ll leave the rest up here till another time, it’s mostly old and damp, Just a load of empty rooms.

"Mum and