Little Orphan Anvil: The Complete Trilogy by Joseph Beekman (best contemporary novels .TXT) 📕

the iron woodlands that borderthe Land of Darkness,” Aleeria had explained as theytrudged through the ice and snow. “It is here that we’llbe crossing through a spiritless, burdened place—agraveland of sorts that has been haunted for centurieswith the unwanted, undead. They were a shadowy andawful group of ancient villagers that had once huntedthe likes of common folk for sport—and then for food!They were finally hunted down, themselves, anddisposed of. However, they rose from this place withtheir souls still trapped in madness, inside their bodies.Now they wander aimlessly about within theseborders—and they still hunger for the flesh and bone ofthose yet living! Be wary…’

Now as they trekked through the sparsely-litwoodlands, Aleeria’s words of caution rang with fearupon their minds. They all feared, that at any moment,one of the undead would leap out from behind one ofthe leafless trees and devour them!

“Yes, Tabitha,” Aleeria was saying, “it is withgreat fangs and blood-thirsty hunger in their hollowedsouls, that these undead remain forever cursed!”

Tabitha cringed, tightening her cloak about her.“I think I’m now going to need this!” She paused,putting on the iron headgear that she had been carrying.Aleeria couldn’t help but grin, smitten as she was withthe young girl.

Jonathon and Haley, who were already frightenedenough with the spooky, iron woodlands, followedTabitha’s idea and put on their own breathing headgear.

Will was at the front of the party, using theremaining iron lantern, as well as Anvil’s eye-lights, toilluminate their surroundings. Tinspar remained somedistance behind everyone else; his long legs walkingthrough the ice with great care.

“What do we plan on doing once we reach thewitches?” Tabitha asked the sorceress. “Any ideas ofhow we’ll defeat them?”

“I have a pretty fair idea, but we’ll have to seeonce we get there. You know,” Aleeria said, gentlytugging at Tabitha’s cloak, “with some of your brilliantmagic, I do believe our chances are good!”

Tabitha shot her a look of surprise. “Really? Myown magic?”

“Why not? You have the age old magic in you,dear child!” Aleeria said graciously. Tabitha felt herheart soar.“Let’s just wait and see how everythinglooks when we get there.”

“What about that dark trail that connects to thewitch?” Tabitha asked. “Do you think it’s still up therein the sky?”

“Oh, I’m quite certain of it! However, after thatbig fall from the glacier, we’re now so far below the skyitself that our presence should be well hidden from anyof her lightning attacks.”

Tabitha nodded. “What about those ash cloudsher monster-self let loose into the Land of Iron andAnvil? Would they be all over the realm by now?”

Aleeria moved in front of Tabitha, peering intoher eyes. “Listen, dear…we need not worry ourselvesabout that right now. Remember—first things first.”

Tabitha focused back to the woodlands, hernerves now tingling with excitement as she thoughtabout using her own magic to defeat the witches.

---------

Hours later, they had finally drifted into an areaof the woodlands where only glints of starlight could beseen from time to time. The temperatures had droppedfar below freezing, and the ground was now frozensolid. Their steps were the only sounds heard in theotherwise silent darkness, crunching and cracking intothe ice.

Aleeria, who was now floating alongside Will,was explaining to him how the sky over the Land ofDarkness would be painted almost completely pitchblack. Only a few stars were left in that part of therealm: all the other stars had been erased after the greatshower of doom had brought ruin to the land onceknown as the Land of Stars.

Will listened with great interest as he walkedbeside her using an old tree branch as a cane of sorts.He was covered from head to toe with some of theburlap tarp that he had stripped down. He had handed abunch of it around to the others to help ward off thefrigid cold. Along with their hooded cloaks and a fewblankets, the burlap would hopefully help to keep themwarmer.

“So the land is now crippled in darkness and allof this deadly frost?” Will asked bitterly, his teethchattering uncontrollably.

“I’m afraid so, my dear blacksmith,” Aleeriawhispered sadly. “It used to be my former homeland,long ago, when I was but a little girl…”

Will noticed her eyes darkening over with pastreflection. “Sorry to hear that, Aleeria. Well, let’s justsee if we can get some more stars back into that land!”

Aleeria turned her gaze to the old man, andsmiled. “Thanks, but it’s quite fine…for I am alivenow!” She suddenly froze, her eyes alight with anorange glow.

“What is it?” Will asked nervously, seeing theterrified look on her face.

“Shush!” she rasped, looking beyond Will intothe dark of the woodlands. “I sense that we may havecompany…”

Just then, Tinspar spied a shadowy figure thatwas approaching from the east; it was moving fast.

“Be advised—we have danger moving off to ourleft!” He drew the iron-bladed pole from off his backand set himself into a fighting stance.

The three teens looked to where Tinspar’s eyeswere directed. They saw the figure moving quicklytowards him—it was one of the undead! It was hissingand growling as it staggered through the frosted woods.

“Tinspar!” Tabitha shouted in fear. “Be careful,you fool!”

Tinspar readied himself as the undead figurecharged straight for him. With one fast motion from theiron-bladed pole, he sliced its legs clean off, bringing itto its knees. It continued to hiss as it thrashed about onthe ground, reaching outwards to grasp Tinspar’s ownlegs.

“Sorry, you filth,” Tinspar growled, “but you’regoing back to the dark hell from whence you came!”

With another slash from the bladed pole, Tinsparsevered its head. Its blackened eyes gaped wide, and ahorrible, gurgling noise sounded forth from its rottedmouth.

“Run!” Tinspar yelled as he sprinted across theice towards Tabitha and the others.

Will and Anvil were on the move, but they weresoon stopped in their tracks when they saw a few of theundead fast approaching.

The undead crept quickly out from behind thetrees. Their hands were outstretched and they hadgnarled jaws that were clattering viciously.

Anvil was flashing his eye-lights as he extendedhis metallic limbs, spinning them furiously in theirdirection.

“Hold on!” Tinspar shouted, sliding to a suddenstop next to Will.

Just as the three teens arrived right behindTinspar, five of the undead launched