The Castle in the Attic: Chapters 15–17

The old man seemed to relish the hours when he could trap William and tell him tales of the particularly evil spells he’d cast, of the bad children he’d turned into toads, and the young women he’d changed into crones.

“Silence!” Alastor screamed, rising from his chair. “How dare you speak, you churlish scoundrel.” He snatched the necklace from under his robes and pointed something at the man.

“Silence!” Alastor screamed, rising from his chair. “How dare you speak, you churlish scoundrel.” He snatched the necklace from under his robes and pointed something at the man.

When the wizard didn’t need him, William spent long hours pacing the corridors, trying to devise a plan.

He turned, and to his horror he saw that Calendar had slunk up behind him.

William listened to her raspy whisper without moving.

In the short time he’d lived in the grim bowels of the castle, he’d grown used to the whims of the wizard.

In the short time he’d lived in the grim bowels of the castle, he’d grown used to the whims of the wizard.

He had gauged the distance. He knew the routine he would use to cross the room.

Then a low, horrible cackle bubbled up from deep inside the wizard’s throat.

Both hands were thrust inside the pockets of his billowing robe, searching for something, as he advanced on William.

The wizard had grown even larger and more menacing with the loss of his necklace, and William continued to back away until he felt the solid form of the Silver Knight behind him.

“Nobody escapes the mirror. When you look inside it, you will see all the cowardice and hatred and greed inside yourself. Won’t he, Calendar?” he called out to the old woman without taking his eyes off William.

Brian, his guard, was the first to react. “My lord,” he said, with a formal bow. “We thank you for our freedom from the wizard’s tyranny. We are at your command.”

She would not look up but pulled William down beside her. “I cannot bear to have them see me like this, a wizened old lady with a black heart. You never knew me to be any different, but Simon was my beloved one before the days of the wizard.”

Sir Simon picked up the medal rather gingerly and peered at it. “That’s the sign of Saturn,” he said. “According to the old alchemists, lead was associated with Saturn, the god of death and decay. An evil sign.”

Sir Simon picked up the medal rather gingerly and peered at it. “That’s the sign of Saturn,” he said. “According to the old alchemists, lead was associated with Saturn, the god of death and decay. An evil sign.”

“The moment the wizard was defeated, the land sprang back to life as if there had never been a famine,” Dick explained.

The good food and the hot, sweet cider lulled him to sleep, and later on in the evening, he felt Sir Simon’s strong arms carrying him to bed.

“Sir Simon says I may stay in the castle and be apprenticed to one of the squires. I asked if it could be you, sir, but he told me you are leaving us. I wish you would stay.”

William ate a quick breakfast with Sir Simon, who was quiet after the revelry of the night before.

“And to you,” William replied as he turned away from the wistful face and was lost in the dark coolness of the forest.

William told her the whole story, dragging out the scary parts and glossing over the moments when he’d made a mistake or his courage had failed him.

“Now you know the answer to all your own questions, William. A truly courageous person is the one who must first conquer fear within himself.” She stood up. “Come with me to view your booty.”

“Oh, William, don’t tempt me,” she said. Her voice sounded gruff. “Are you ready to grow?”