Read Online The Mapkeeper and the Rise of the Wardens by Katie Cash - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Katie Cash
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against the sun, tilting her head up to take in the view. She gasped: the castle was massive! She could just make out the arched window slits hewn in the stone near the top of the spires. It was just as the map pictured it!
She stuffed a hand into her jeans pocket and felt the comforting crinkle of parchment.
More red pennants flapped in the wind, affixed to the tops of spires. A thick wooden drawbridge rested in the raised position across the moat. Two armored sentries wielding crossbows and sheathed swords rode to meet them, their helmets concealing everything but their eyes. A neatly shaved stripe of red plumage adorned the tops of their helmets. Cadmus reined in his steed and turned sideways in a show of submission.
“Good day to you both!” he called as they approached.
“Good day, Cadmus,” one of the guards replied. “I see you’ve brought our guests.” He peered beyond the front line of the escort party and eyed the Barnes siblings. Turning toward the castle, the guard signaled a cohort on the other side of the moat, who in turn began to lower the drawbridge. It groaned in protest, straining against its rope constraints as it lowered. Wham ! Lucy winced as the dense bridge slammed into the grass and the guards motioned for the group to dismount.
Lucy and her brothers followed suit when their escorts hopped down from their mounts. Four young stable hands scurried across the drawbridge and snatched up the reins, trotting light-footed alongside the horses to the stable across the lawn.
Cadmus held out his arm. “Lucy, may I escort you across the bridge?” Heat flushed her face. She snuck a glance at Mack, who feigned disgust. Luke stifled a laugh, but Lucy noticed with a sinking feeling that it quickly transformed into a look of concern. Snapping her head away from Luke, she accepted his arm—the others were already crossing.
“Of course.” She slipped her arm into the crook of his elbow. It felt good to walk again, as her muscles were stiff from the ride. The stares of both guards made the hairs on the back of her neck stand at attention as Cadmus led her between them and across the bridge. Mack and Luke followed.
As soon as they were across, a guard shouted “Up bridge!” and with a groan, the pulley system reeled in the rope and lifted the drawbridge back to its raised position. They crossed the threshold of the castle and found themselves in a large stone atrium, where a bright red carpet led from the entrance across the atrium to a set of tall, intricate, carved golden doors. Lucy gasped. The height of the ceiling was dizzying. She released Cadmus’ arm and turned in a circle, taking in the enormity of the atrium. Towering, color-drizzled tapestries adorned the circular walls, stretching from the floor to a hundred feet high. At the apex of the domed ceiling, a massive golden chandelier glittered far above, lit by the soft, gentle flickerings of a thousand candles. Lucy wondered how they lit the distant candle wicks.
“Greetings, Ms. Lucy Barnes! Welcome to Tropos Castle, home of his Highness Muttongale and the royal family,” a well-dressed butler announced, taking Lucy by surprise. He had short cropped white hair and a matching, perfectly clipped bristled mustache. “Sir Cadmus, it’s a pleasure as always.” The butler bowed low, one arm swept behind his back and the other tucked in the fold of his waist.
“Milo, good to see you.” Cadmus stepped forward and grasped the butler’s hand in a firm handshake, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Well, thank you, sir. If I may, I have been instructed to show the Mapkeeper and her brothers to the Great Hall to be introduced to the royal family. If you will be so kind as to follow me…” He pivoted and floated across the room toward the golden double doors.
“I’ve never seen a place so magnificent,” Lucy muttered to no one in particular.
Milo turned and smiled graciously, spreading his hands. “The palace is beautiful indeed, Ms.
She stuffed a hand into her jeans pocket and felt the comforting crinkle of parchment.
More red pennants flapped in the wind, affixed to the tops of spires. A thick wooden drawbridge rested in the raised position across the moat. Two armored sentries wielding crossbows and sheathed swords rode to meet them, their helmets concealing everything but their eyes. A neatly shaved stripe of red plumage adorned the tops of their helmets. Cadmus reined in his steed and turned sideways in a show of submission.
“Good day to you both!” he called as they approached.
“Good day, Cadmus,” one of the guards replied. “I see you’ve brought our guests.” He peered beyond the front line of the escort party and eyed the Barnes siblings. Turning toward the castle, the guard signaled a cohort on the other side of the moat, who in turn began to lower the drawbridge. It groaned in protest, straining against its rope constraints as it lowered. Wham ! Lucy winced as the dense bridge slammed into the grass and the guards motioned for the group to dismount.
Lucy and her brothers followed suit when their escorts hopped down from their mounts. Four young stable hands scurried across the drawbridge and snatched up the reins, trotting light-footed alongside the horses to the stable across the lawn.
Cadmus held out his arm. “Lucy, may I escort you across the bridge?” Heat flushed her face. She snuck a glance at Mack, who feigned disgust. Luke stifled a laugh, but Lucy noticed with a sinking feeling that it quickly transformed into a look of concern. Snapping her head away from Luke, she accepted his arm—the others were already crossing.
“Of course.” She slipped her arm into the crook of his elbow. It felt good to walk again, as her muscles were stiff from the ride. The stares of both guards made the hairs on the back of her neck stand at attention as Cadmus led her between them and across the bridge. Mack and Luke followed.
As soon as they were across, a guard shouted “Up bridge!” and with a groan, the pulley system reeled in the rope and lifted the drawbridge back to its raised position. They crossed the threshold of the castle and found themselves in a large stone atrium, where a bright red carpet led from the entrance across the atrium to a set of tall, intricate, carved golden doors. Lucy gasped. The height of the ceiling was dizzying. She released Cadmus’ arm and turned in a circle, taking in the enormity of the atrium. Towering, color-drizzled tapestries adorned the circular walls, stretching from the floor to a hundred feet high. At the apex of the domed ceiling, a massive golden chandelier glittered far above, lit by the soft, gentle flickerings of a thousand candles. Lucy wondered how they lit the distant candle wicks.
“Greetings, Ms. Lucy Barnes! Welcome to Tropos Castle, home of his Highness Muttongale and the royal family,” a well-dressed butler announced, taking Lucy by surprise. He had short cropped white hair and a matching, perfectly clipped bristled mustache. “Sir Cadmus, it’s a pleasure as always.” The butler bowed low, one arm swept behind his back and the other tucked in the fold of his waist.
“Milo, good to see you.” Cadmus stepped forward and grasped the butler’s hand in a firm handshake, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Well, thank you, sir. If I may, I have been instructed to show the Mapkeeper and her brothers to the Great Hall to be introduced to the royal family. If you will be so kind as to follow me…” He pivoted and floated across the room toward the golden double doors.
“I’ve never seen a place so magnificent,” Lucy muttered to no one in particular.
Milo turned and smiled graciously, spreading his hands. “The palace is beautiful indeed, Ms.
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