Read Online In Deep Dark Wood by Marita Conlon-Mckenna - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Marita Conlon-Mckenna
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hound, astounded by his own bravery, till he was almost touching its shaggy side. Looking into the deep brown pools of its eyes, Rory seemed tounderstand what it wanted. He knew that this huge hound did not intend to hurt or harm them. It had been sent to help him find Mia.
Aware that this was the craziest thing he’d done in his whole life. Rory took hold of the hound’s long coat and clambered awkwardly onto its strong, broad back. Wrapping his arms tightly around the shadow’s neck, twining his fingers through the thick grey-brown hair, he let the giant wolfhound take him away to search for his missing sister.
They began to move, the hound taking a massive leap and soaring over the garden fence. Rory clung on, his heart pounding beneath his ribs as the animal gathered speed and began to race through the narrow, overgrown paths of Glenkilty Wood. He ducked his head as branches and twigs scraped against him. Suddenly, he became aware that the ground seemed to be falling away beneath them and that the tall trees now danced under them. He felt dizzy for the first few minutes, and closed his eyes as the ground shifted giddily below. He hung on for dear life – and slowly got used to the strange sensation of flying.
Rory held on as tight as he could, trying to keep his balance and move with the sweeping glides of the hound as it swung over the village of Glenkilty. He could just about distinguish the spire of the church and the roof of the school. Higher and higher they went, leaving the village behind and flying into the swirling wind. He began to feel less and less afraid. He felt he could go to the ends of the earth now if he had to, to get Mia back. He could journey with this flying hound far, faraway.
All night long they flew, Rory was barely awake when the early morning sunlight began to fill the sky. Exhausted, he leant against the dog, listening to the rhythm of its breathing, his head nodding as they flew lower and lower over a changing landscape.
Chapter 12
Bella’s Castle
M ia looked around her at the old stone castle. The walls were covered in mould and the wooden beams were rotten and patterned with woodworm. The whole place smelt of dampness and of not having been used for a long, long time.
‘This dampness is bad for the dragons. It gives them dragon cough. So we must get the place cleaned and opened up properly,’ said Bella, fussing about. ‘We don’t want a lot of sick dragons on our hands!’ She showed Mia around what seemed like miles and miles of drab, grey corridors and dusty rooms.
‘Blackwell Castle was once the finest castle in Arbor, child. All the rest have crumbled and fallen away, lost and forgotten now. You’ll see, the dragons will bring life back to this place. The sky will resound once again with the sound of dragons’ wings, and magic will fill the air. Now, with the return of these dragons, the castle will regain its glory!’
Looking at the crumbling, moth-eaten velvet curtains and tapestries and the woodworm-infested furniture, Mia found ithard to believe in the castle’s former glory.
‘Those were the days! Good days!’ sighed Bella. ‘Heavens willing, they will return.’
They walked through a huge, neglected banqueting hall, the long timber table covered with mouse droppings.
‘I can’t remember the last time a feast was served in this room,’ said Bella wistfully. She muttered something under her breath and, as they stood there, the room seemed to shift. Suddenly, a fire burst into flame, burning brightly in the grate. The table’s polished surface gleamed in the light. Goblets of gold and silver sparkled on the table that was now heavily with laden with food of every description. A whole pig, a juicy apple stuck in its mouth, lay in the centre of the table. Music played softly in the background, the sound of unseen musicians. Then, just as quickly, the image disappeared and the room resumed its unwelcoming, neglected look.
‘Come,’ said Bella briskly,
Aware that this was the craziest thing he’d done in his whole life. Rory took hold of the hound’s long coat and clambered awkwardly onto its strong, broad back. Wrapping his arms tightly around the shadow’s neck, twining his fingers through the thick grey-brown hair, he let the giant wolfhound take him away to search for his missing sister.
They began to move, the hound taking a massive leap and soaring over the garden fence. Rory clung on, his heart pounding beneath his ribs as the animal gathered speed and began to race through the narrow, overgrown paths of Glenkilty Wood. He ducked his head as branches and twigs scraped against him. Suddenly, he became aware that the ground seemed to be falling away beneath them and that the tall trees now danced under them. He felt dizzy for the first few minutes, and closed his eyes as the ground shifted giddily below. He hung on for dear life – and slowly got used to the strange sensation of flying.
Rory held on as tight as he could, trying to keep his balance and move with the sweeping glides of the hound as it swung over the village of Glenkilty. He could just about distinguish the spire of the church and the roof of the school. Higher and higher they went, leaving the village behind and flying into the swirling wind. He began to feel less and less afraid. He felt he could go to the ends of the earth now if he had to, to get Mia back. He could journey with this flying hound far, faraway.
All night long they flew, Rory was barely awake when the early morning sunlight began to fill the sky. Exhausted, he leant against the dog, listening to the rhythm of its breathing, his head nodding as they flew lower and lower over a changing landscape.
Chapter 12
Bella’s Castle
M ia looked around her at the old stone castle. The walls were covered in mould and the wooden beams were rotten and patterned with woodworm. The whole place smelt of dampness and of not having been used for a long, long time.
‘This dampness is bad for the dragons. It gives them dragon cough. So we must get the place cleaned and opened up properly,’ said Bella, fussing about. ‘We don’t want a lot of sick dragons on our hands!’ She showed Mia around what seemed like miles and miles of drab, grey corridors and dusty rooms.
‘Blackwell Castle was once the finest castle in Arbor, child. All the rest have crumbled and fallen away, lost and forgotten now. You’ll see, the dragons will bring life back to this place. The sky will resound once again with the sound of dragons’ wings, and magic will fill the air. Now, with the return of these dragons, the castle will regain its glory!’
Looking at the crumbling, moth-eaten velvet curtains and tapestries and the woodworm-infested furniture, Mia found ithard to believe in the castle’s former glory.
‘Those were the days! Good days!’ sighed Bella. ‘Heavens willing, they will return.’
They walked through a huge, neglected banqueting hall, the long timber table covered with mouse droppings.
‘I can’t remember the last time a feast was served in this room,’ said Bella wistfully. She muttered something under her breath and, as they stood there, the room seemed to shift. Suddenly, a fire burst into flame, burning brightly in the grate. The table’s polished surface gleamed in the light. Goblets of gold and silver sparkled on the table that was now heavily with laden with food of every description. A whole pig, a juicy apple stuck in its mouth, lay in the centre of the table. Music played softly in the background, the sound of unseen musicians. Then, just as quickly, the image disappeared and the room resumed its unwelcoming, neglected look.
‘Come,’ said Bella briskly,
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