The Shadow Dragons - James A. Owen [39]
“You’re starting to get the hang of it,” said Quixote, clapping Charles on the back. “You’d make a fine knight yourself, you know.”
“I really don’t think we have time for all of us to take a nap,” John said diplomatically.
“Oh,” Quixote said, deflating. “I suppose we could try the door, if only we had access to a king or queen of the Archipelago. But that’s probably too much to ask.”
As one, the Caretakers looked down at Rose. “It’s worth a try,” she said. “After all, I was able to open the Cartographer’s door.”
Quixote looked from the girl to the companions and back again, gradually realizing what they were talking about. He wheeled around and strode to the remnants of the cooking pit, where he found a solid piece of charcoal, which he handed to Rose.
On the old knight’s instruction, the companions all entered the cave. Archie remained behind to be, as John put it, their “canary in the coal mine.”
“Isn’t the canary supposed to go first, to make certain the air is clear?” asked Jack.
“I didn’t say it was a perfect analogy,” John replied, “but it’s good enough in a pinch.”
“If anything happens here,” Archie huffed, “your canary will be sure to sing out loud and long.”
“Thank you, Archie,” said John.
“Humph,” said Archie.
Quixote showed Rose what she must do, and the companions watched as she used the charcoal to sketch a broad, high door on the back of the cave wall.
“Very good,” said Quixote. “Now, if you’ll just recite the poem that opens the door.”
Rose blinked. “I don’t know what that is.”
John stepped forward and opened his pack. “I think I do,” he said. He unwrapped the Geographica, flipped to a particular page, and held it out for Rose to read.
The girl took the book in her hands and began to recite the verses John had indicated:
By knowledge paid
For riddles wrought
I open thee
I open thee
By bones bound
By honor taken
I open thee
I open thee
For life eternal and liberty gain’d
To sleep and dream, as kings we reign’d
I open thee
I open thee
As she finished speaking, a cracking sound reverberated throughout the cave, and a seam of pure, radiant light appeared along the inside of the charcoal lines. Quixote leaned forward and pushed against the wall—which swung outward, away from his touch.
The light from the other side was blinding after the gloomy twilight of the cave. It took a few seconds for the companions’ eyes to adjust, then, cautiously, they all moved forward and through the doorway.
As Quixote had promised, the door opened to a vast meadow of nearly indescribable beauty. There were fields of wildflowers that ended in gently sloping hills of wild wheat and clover. The scents of the flowers and grasses were almost overwhelming, and a sharp, loamy tang permeated the air, as if a thunderstorm had just passed. But the sky was clear and deeply blue, and it appeared to be morning, although there was no sun in the sky.
In the distance, past the golden fields, rose the towers and crenellations of the crystal castle. The blue light, reflected up from the fields, caused the castle to appear bright green, as if it were constructed of emeralds.
Charles gave a low whistle in admiration, and Jack could only continue to stare, slack-jawed in amazement at the sights, as Rose knelt to gather a bundle of clover to press to her face.
As for John, he looked in wonderment at the beauty that surrounded them, then at Quixote, then back again. The old knight had been not only truthful, but extremely precise in his accounting as well.
“Lead on,” John said, gesturing for Quixote to take them to the castle. “Your word is good.”
Quixote bowed his head and took off at a brisk pace down a well-worn path through the meadow.
The companions followed after, with occasional digressions by Rose and Charles to examine some new patch of flowers that appeared along the way. At first it had appeared that the castle was very close, but as they continued to walk, it became evident that that was not the case. The castle grew taller and more broad the closer they came, but it took nearly an hour to reach the high