THE LORD OF DREAMS

Part VI

Mona, Charley, Lily and Fang have navigated the Knightmare Dungeon, and now only Aesandre stands between the adventurers and the mysterious Lord of Dreams. Will they make it home? Find out in this gripping final chapter.

The room was tall and long and had icicles hanging from the arches. As well as the two exits on the far wall there were several windows through which various snowy landscapes were visible.

  "I don't like this eerie silence" Lily whispered. "Where's Aesandre?"

  "Why, I'm right here, child" came Aesandre's frosty voice as she appeared in front of them. "I'm glad you were intelligent enough to expect me. I suppose you'd like me to let you go?"

  "It would be nice" muttered Charley.

  "Well, I won't!" she suddenly snapped. "I gave you fair warning but still you insisted on trying to reach the Lord of Dreams. Well, as none of my puzzles on this level have flawed you, I will have to deal with you myself."

Charley opened his mouth to spellcast in an attempt at heroism, but Aesandre snapped her fingers and a sheet of ice appeared over his lips.

  "We'll have none of that, thank you!" the ice queen sneered. "There's no need to fear, anyway; you'll enjoy your lives as ice-men, pandering to my every whim. Now, who first? How about that cat?"

It was at this point that Mona summoned up enough energy to throw a vampire bolt at her. Aesandre stumbled back in surprise, but soon regained her composure. With a look of hate and indignation, she threw an ice bolt straight at Mona, who blocked with another vampire bolt. She made a sign to Fang, who immediately leapt at Aesandre and started scratching her face. Mona took the time that she was wrenching him off to gather even more energy.

Aesandre threw Fang to one side, but he was caught by the now mute Charley. As she did so, Mona threw all her power and skill into creating a force-field around Aesandre, power streaming from he fingertips. The witch's screams filled the room.

  "I can't hold her for long!" Mona screamed. "The spell, Princess Giant, now!"

Lily had been gazing at the fray in awe and terror, but now she found her voice.

  "Spellcasting:" she yelled above the din. "F-I-R-E!"

Mona cut her power and fell, exhausted. Aesandre lurched forward at her. As she did so, a huge bolt of lightning jumped out from Lily and hit her full on. Aesandre screamed as she was engulfed in the fire. Within seconds there was no sign of her.

  "Well done!" breathed Lily as she helped Mona up. "I thought we were all goners then."

As his ice gag disappeared, Charley put Fang down. He ran to Mona.

  "So did I" Charley joined in, wiping his mouth. "It's a good thing you managed those vampire bolts, Mona."

  "I don't think there'll be any more for a while" Mona smiled through her exhaustion. "Let's go."

She started trudging towards the right-hand door, but the others veered her to the left.

  "Remember what Smirkenorff said" Lily explained.

  "Oh, yeah" breathed Mona. "I forgot."

They went through the door and into another stone room. It was completely empty.

  "Oh, great!" exclaimed Lily. "Now what?!"

But their spirits were lifted as Merlin crashed into the picture.

  "Well done indeed, you three!" he beamed. "You have proven yourselves equal to the Dungeon's challenge, and are now counted among the champions of chivalry! I say, Mona, you have exhausted yourself. Spellcasting: V-I-M."

  "Thank you" said Mona, as the burst of energy revived her spirits. "But we still haven't found the Lord of Dreams; where is he?"

  "Nearby" smiled Merlin. "In fact, he's with you even now."

Merlin chuckled to himself as he melted away. It was then that Lily noticed an archway to their right. It was completely bricked off, but had an engraving above it: Shiek Kahib.

  "Was that here before?" Lily wondered.

  "Who cares?" shrugged Mona. "That engraving says Lord of Dreams in Latin. Don't you remember Hordriss calling him that when we first arrived?"

  "Oh, yeah" Charley remembered. "But it's bricked off; how do we get through?"

  "By using the only clue we have left!" enthused Mona. "Spellcasting: D-O-O-R!"

Sure enough, the bricks cleared away to reveal a dark passage. The four companions walked along it until they came to their destination.

            They could see a figure sitting on a throne in the darkness in front of them. He appeared to have a powerful build and his piercing eyes studied them from the shadows. Mona took a step towards him.

  "I am Mona the Vampire" she boldly proclaimed. "Are you the Lord of Dreams?"

From the darkness, a rich, powerful yet kindly voice spoke to them.

  "Some call me that" it said. "You see, ruling a place like Knightmare, which is built on dreams, does earn one something of a reputation. My true name, however, is Treguard of Dunshelm."

The man who had introduced himself rose and stepped into the light. He looked to be in late middle-age, but his broad frame and fierce countenance showed that he was a powerful man. His black beard was streaked with grey and he wore a cloak of red satin and silver-studded black chainmail. He favoured them with a warming smile.

  "My Lord Treguard" bowed Mona. "I am honoured."

  "It is my honour to meet you, Mona, and all your companions" Treguard told them in an assuring tone. "Your activities here have impressed me greatly; my dungeons have not seen adventuring of that calibre for many years. Not only did you fathom all the tasks you were set, but you used your own wits and guile to come out on top every time; all of you."

The Lord of Dreams swept his arm to the side and a golden table appeared. On it were three trophies of silver, shaped like frightknights.

  "You will each take one of these as a memento of your time here" Treguard told them. "First, Lily. Or is it Princess Giant? You have overcome your naturally wary nature admirably and used your powers to prove a worthy foe. Accept this with the salutes of Knightmare Castle."

  "Thank you!" beamed Lily, accepting her trophy.

  "And Charley" Treguard continued. "Or should I say Zapman? Your heroic sense of duty to your companions has made you a worthy hero, and your skill with those weapons of yours is remarkable. Accept this with well-deserved pride."

  "Thank you, sir" stammered Charley, as he nervously took the trophy.

  "Fang" smiled Treguard, lowering himself onto one knee and addressing the cat. "What a loyal sidekick you are, and a threat to monsters everywhere. You must accept this with my congratulations."

He took a very large trout from the folds of his cloak and Fang licked his lips with glee; now it had definitely all been worth it!

  "And, finally, Mona" Treguard concluded. "Your quest could not have been successful without your knowledge and skill. Count this as one of your greatest achievements, and bear this trophy always, and Knightmare will indeed by honoured."

  "Many thanks" Mona returned sincerely. "It has been a great experience, but may we please now return home?"

  "Of course!" Treguard bellowed heartily. "I must tell you all what a pleasure it has been to have you as guests. There's just one last thing. Please hold up your palms, Mona."

She did so, and Treguard moved his own palms close to hers so that they were almost touching. Mona felt a surge of energy enter her body.

  "I know you were sent here by your enemies" Treguard continued. "This illusion should help to redress the balance." 

He took his hands away, and stepped back into the shadows.

  "And now" whispered the voice of the Lord of Dreams. "Farewell."

The room began to melt around them, and they found themselves taken back through time and space to the pavement outside Mona's house.

            Angela was crying on the pavement, George standing bewildered beside her.

  "What are we going to do?" Angela sobbed. "We're in big trouble!"

  "We?" George repeated. "It was your idea!"

  "You cast the spell!"

  "I didn't know it would work!"

  "Children, please!" came a voice from behind them. "You surely know that spells don't really work, don't you?"

Angela and George spun round to see Mona, Charley, Lily and Fang watching them in amusement.

  "Mona!" exclaimed Angela. "You're alive!"

  "Of course" Mona shrugged. "Those spells don't really work, you know. I'm afraid you've just been wasting all our time again!"

  "We're sorry!" blurted George in amazement. "We'll leave you alone now."

  "I don’t know, George" mused Mona. "You did interrupt our MGM, you know. Shall we let them off, guys?"

Charley and Lily solemnly shook their heads. Mona grinned an evil vampire grin at them and splayed her fingers in front of her. The vampire bolts leapt onto the pavement to form the figure of a very large catacombite.

  "Eek!" screamed Angela. "Save me, George, save me!"

But George was already halfway down the street. Screaming wildly, Angela turned tail and followed him, the catacombite rattling behind. The remaining four figures stood and watched them disappear into the night.

  "I hope it doesn't catch them" said Lily insincerely.

  "Don't worry" said Mona. "Treguard said it was only an illusion; doubtless it won't last forever."

  "I hope it lasts a long time" ventured Charley.

  "A very long time" added Lily.

  "Well," sighed Mona. "This will certainly make an interesting story the next time we do presentations in class."

  "I wonder if anyone will believe us" mused Lily.

  "Do they ever?" laughed Mona. "But it doesn't matter to me, guys, and do you know why? It's better that they don't know the extent of all the spooky goings-on in this town. And after all, I know that there's really only one thing that prevents them from being unable to sleep at night: the skilful and dedicated monster-bashing team led by Mona the Vampire!"