book again. The picture seemed to lift off the page.
It was as if the plant was actually growing out of the book and wafting gently
in the wind. It had beautiful purple flowers. But it seemed to be
smoking. It filled the carriage with a misty vapour. It stank.
“It’s
the Purple Bane,” said Eleanor. “The one they say really smells.”
“I
know what to do with that then,” said Grace. She leant over and pushed
Sophie off the book, before turning the page. All of a sudden, the misty
vapour was sucked back into the book and the smell vanished. Everything
just went back into the book.
“That’s
better,” said Master John. Eloise took her fingers off her nose and
sniffed the air.
“See,”
said Grace smugly.
“I
do have a magic book!” said Eleanor, suddenly happy and not feeling left out at
all. “It’s a scratch and sniff book!” She flicked over the pages,
found what she was looking for and frantically began scratching the page.
Up sprang a beautiful rose bush with the prettiest pink flowers. Then the
carriage filled with the most beautiful smell of summer roses, but no smoky
mist this time. They all felt a lot better.
Eleanor
scratched vigorously. “Ouch,” she suddenly said. “There’s a thorn in my
finger.” Everyone just laughed unfairly, as Eleanor put her finger in her
mouth to stop the prick of blood. The only one who seemed to give her any
attention was Eloise. Quickly she found something from under the folds of
her robe and leant forward. She gently pulled Eleanor’s finger from her
mouth and bandaged the wound. It was only a little prick, but Eleanor
smiled and thanked her. To Eleanor, this shy girl suddenly seemed to have
a personality beyond her timid presence in the carriage.
“Where
are we now?” asked Grace. “Is it far to go?”
“Not
far,” replied Master John. “We turned onto the Fosse Way at Ilchester and
soon we will soon be at Axmouth, the end of that great road. It is one of
the busiest ports on the south coast.”
“What’s
the Fosse Way?” asked Grace.
“The
Fosse Way, young Grace, is one of the greatest roads in the kingdom. It
runs in a straight line from Lincoln to Axmouth and was built by the
Romans. It’s not like our happy little winding English lanes and
ways. It’s a great road that has carried armies and commerce across the
kingdom for centuries. I doubt there will be a better road built in our
lifetime.”
At
that the children smiled to themselves, but heeding the advice of the Queen,
they kept quiet, even in front of Master John and the nervous Eloise.
Master
John carried on: “At Axmouth there’s a great estuary and port and the King’s
finest ship awaits your instructions. I hope you’re prepared now after
consulting your magical books.”
Master
John had been listening to their conversations, and he thought they had been
making progress. But within themselves, the children were full of doubt.
None of them was entirely sure they were any the wiser about the task they had
been set. Harry didn’t think that he had used his book wisely enough and
Grace suddenly had a guilty feeling that all the time she had been reading her
own book she should have been trying to remember where Hell’s Bay was.
She was sure she knew.
“When
we arrive, we must travel up the valley to find the blacksmith. He’s been
warned. Then I must return in the morning.”
“The
blacksmith?” asked Eleanor.
“Aye.
You remember. The Queen told you a message had been sent ahead to meet
the Englishman who will help forge the new sword.”
“Do
you have to leave us?” said Harry quietly, echoing the thoughts of the others,
including Eloise. His boisterous humour had kept them in good spirits
during the journey, even though his huge size meant that sometimes he dominated
their small space.
“I
do. My place is with the Royal Hunt and with His Majesty the King.
I must return as soon
It was as if the plant was actually growing out of the book and wafting gently
in the wind. It had beautiful purple flowers. But it seemed to be
smoking. It filled the carriage with a misty vapour. It stank.
“It’s
the Purple Bane,” said Eleanor. “The one they say really smells.”
“I
know what to do with that then,” said Grace. She leant over and pushed
Sophie off the book, before turning the page. All of a sudden, the misty
vapour was sucked back into the book and the smell vanished. Everything
just went back into the book.
“That’s
better,” said Master John. Eloise took her fingers off her nose and
sniffed the air.
“See,”
said Grace smugly.
“I
do have a magic book!” said Eleanor, suddenly happy and not feeling left out at
all. “It’s a scratch and sniff book!” She flicked over the pages,
found what she was looking for and frantically began scratching the page.
Up sprang a beautiful rose bush with the prettiest pink flowers. Then the
carriage filled with the most beautiful smell of summer roses, but no smoky
mist this time. They all felt a lot better.
Eleanor
scratched vigorously. “Ouch,” she suddenly said. “There’s a thorn in my
finger.” Everyone just laughed unfairly, as Eleanor put her finger in her
mouth to stop the prick of blood. The only one who seemed to give her any
attention was Eloise. Quickly she found something from under the folds of
her robe and leant forward. She gently pulled Eleanor’s finger from her
mouth and bandaged the wound. It was only a little prick, but Eleanor
smiled and thanked her. To Eleanor, this shy girl suddenly seemed to have
a personality beyond her timid presence in the carriage.
“Where
are we now?” asked Grace. “Is it far to go?”
“Not
far,” replied Master John. “We turned onto the Fosse Way at Ilchester and
soon we will soon be at Axmouth, the end of that great road. It is one of
the busiest ports on the south coast.”
“What’s
the Fosse Way?” asked Grace.
“The
Fosse Way, young Grace, is one of the greatest roads in the kingdom. It
runs in a straight line from Lincoln to Axmouth and was built by the
Romans. It’s not like our happy little winding English lanes and
ways. It’s a great road that has carried armies and commerce across the
kingdom for centuries. I doubt there will be a better road built in our
lifetime.”
At
that the children smiled to themselves, but heeding the advice of the Queen,
they kept quiet, even in front of Master John and the nervous Eloise.
Master
John carried on: “At Axmouth there’s a great estuary and port and the King’s
finest ship awaits your instructions. I hope you’re prepared now after
consulting your magical books.”
Master
John had been listening to their conversations, and he thought they had been
making progress. But within themselves, the children were full of doubt.
None of them was entirely sure they were any the wiser about the task they had
been set. Harry didn’t think that he had used his book wisely enough and
Grace suddenly had a guilty feeling that all the time she had been reading her
own book she should have been trying to remember where Hell’s Bay was.
She was sure she knew.
“When
we arrive, we must travel up the valley to find the blacksmith. He’s been
warned. Then I must return in the morning.”
“The
blacksmith?” asked Eleanor.
“Aye.
You remember. The Queen told you a message had been sent ahead to meet
the Englishman who will help forge the new sword.”
“Do
you have to leave us?” said Harry quietly, echoing the thoughts of the others,
including Eloise. His boisterous humour had kept them in good spirits
during the journey, even though his huge size meant that sometimes he dominated
their small space.
“I
do. My place is with the Royal Hunt and with His Majesty the King.
I must return as soon
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