Ch6-Riddle of the Forest

CHAPTER SIX Riddle of the Forest

Cafelle turned to face the king. She began to speak in a clear voice: "Moon so bright. Munith Mor night. Curtain of white. Hides from sight. Magic for flight. Before dawn's light. Or lose the fight." Jack wrote down her words as fast as he could. When Cafelle finished, she and her dog both stood silent and still in the doorway again. "Thank you, Cafelle," said the king. The seer turned to him. "What did I say?" she whispered. She seemed to be in a daze. Jack read Cafelle's riddle aloud: "Moon so bright. Munith Mor night. Curtain of white. Hides from sight. Magic for flight. Before dawn's light. Or lose the fight."

"Oh…I see…," said Cafelle. She looked troubled. Jack was troubled, too. What did the last two lines mean? "Munith Mor is the highest mountain in the west," said Guinevere. "It seems we should go there first?" "Yes," said Cafelle. " 'Tis not far from the sea. You can see it from the cart path. Continue on your way and journey over the moorlands." "Good," said Guinevere. "Jack and Annie, you will decipher the rest of the riddle as we travel." The queen stood and helped the king rise. Jack and Annie and Oki stood up, too. "We must leave at once, Cafelle," said Guinevere. "Not only must we travel to Munith Mor to look for the gold dragon, but we must then take it back to the castle garden in order for its magic to work." "But, Your Majesty…," said Jack. "Yes, Jack?" said the queen. "The last two lines…," he said. The others looked at him as he read the last two lines again: "Before dawn's light. Or lose the fight."

"Ah," the queen said. "That seems to say we will lose the fight if we do not arrive in Avalon before dawn." Guinevere took a deep breath. "So we will do all we need to do by dawn tomorrow— travel to Munith Mor, find the gold dragon, and return it to the castle garden. Thank you for your help, Cafelle." She reached out and took the blind woman's hands. "My lady, you are trembling," Cafelle said. "I am fine," said Guinevere. Her voice wavered, but she stood tall. Is she worried we don't have enough time? Jack thought. "Thank you, and farewell," said Guinevere. Then she helped the king toward the door. "Come, Jack and Annie." "Thank you, Cafelle," said Annie. Jack put away his notebook and picked up his backpack. Then he, Annie, and Oki followed the king and queen outside into the cool, windy air. Arthur held on to Guinevere's arm as they walked away from the stone hut and through the gate. Oki

scampered ahead of them, yapping at windblown leaves. Jack glanced back at Cafelle and Kee standing in the doorway of the hut. The dog could not hear and the woman could not see, but together the pair seemed to hear and see more than others could, Jack thought. He raised his hand in farewell, and Kee whined good-bye. "Wait! Children!" called Cafelle. Jack and Annie hurried back to her. The seer reached into the pocket of her dress. "Take this," she said, and she handed them each a small red stone. "What is it?" asked Jack. "Rocks from the mountains of fire before time," said the blind woman. "Lava rocks? Like from volcanoes?" Jack wondered aloud. He rubbed his fingers over his stone. "What do we do with them?" "Use them to save the king," said the blind woman. "Use them how?" asked Jack. "With hope and courage," said Cafelle.

"And…?" said Jack. "With imagination," said the seer. "Got it! Thanks!" said Annie. Jack didn't understand. "But what do we do with —" "Annie? Jack?" Guinevere called from the forest. "Coming, Your Majesty!" Annie called back. "Please hurry!" the queen called. "Go now," said Cafelle.