The Stone of Cuore (The Third Age of Timare) by Stephen I. Carmer & Gregory L. Otvos

Author:Stephen I. Carmer & Gregory L. Otvos [Carmer, Stephen I.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2010-11-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9: Important Visitors

Spiral Stairs

The next week, Platov and Tate lifted up the massive painting and loaded it onto a handcart. Following Alexander they left through the gate. Taking to a road worn in the dirt, they made their way into the forest. Tancred’s Castle was not far, but it was in the middle of the creepy forest. Stumbling along, pushing the wagon, they followed the road while Alexander in a usually happy mood was whistling. Birds screeched from the trees while little creatures scattered from the roadside. Pushing the handcart along was hard and stopping to rest for a moment, Alexander glared most impatiently. Then they started pushing and pulling the handcart while preventing the painting from falling off. Finally they stumbled on a clearing in the forest. Ahead was the modest gatehouse tower of Tancred Castle. Weathered gray and covered with tenacious ivy vines, the tower rose up over the battlements of the curtain walls. Small and narrow arrow slots were cut into the tower near the top while battlements lined the roof. Giant bullfrogs called the moat home. Birds scattered off into the surrounding forest.

In recent years, no marauding army had laid siege to the ancient castle, but scars on the battlements and thick stone walls testified to more than one attempt to breach the fortress. Beyond the curtain walls was a modest gray castle with a single square tower that rose above a formidable keep. The drawbridge with rusty chains was lowered over a muddy moat while the iron gate was already lifted. Alexander growing impatient with his exhausted helpers hurried them along.

Inside, the courtyard was covered in thick grass and unkempt shrubbery. A goat was grazing on the grass while ahead up a few steps was a formidable oak door. The door like the castle had seen better days. Weathered and stained the door was the only visible entry into gray castle. High up in the tower was the only window that opened onto the courtyard. Setting the painting down on the walkway, Alexander straightened the canvas cover and then went to the door. Using an iron knocker, he alerted the castle of their arrival.

The painting was destined to a prominent place over the fireplace in Tancred’s hall. Prepared to receive important visitors, the old hall had been cleaned while the finest goblets and dinnerware had been set out on a long table. Workmen were waiting and taking the heavy painting from the boys, they set about the business of mounting it to the stone wall above the hearth.

An old butler named Quintus hovered over the details as Tancred was being fitted with a new robe in another chamber. Then Quintus paid Alexander as promised. With a smirk over the fortune acquired, Alexander departed the old hall with hardly a word of good-bye. Left to stand and wonder what they should do, Platov and Tate waited nervously.

Quintus showed them into a kitchen through a heavy door to the rear of the old hall. The kitchen was not attached to the castle, but the walkway was covered by a wooden roof.

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