Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve

duke’s castle lies to the east. Go quickly,” he said. “Order must be restored as soon as possible.”
    Teddy nodded at Merlin. Then he turned to Jack and Annie. “To the duke’s castle!” he said, and he led them out of the heart of the oak.

I t was cooler outside now. Daylight was fading quickly. The wind had picked up.
    â€œA grand adventure for us, eh?” said Teddy.
    â€œYes!” said Annie.
    Jack was excited, too, but he had lots of questions. As Teddy started off through the oak forest, Jack hurried to keep up.
    â€œWhat do you think our mission
is
exactly?” he asked.
    â€œMerlin said we should bring order to the castle,” said Annie.
    â€œPerhaps he wants us to mop the floors and wash the dishes,” Teddy joked.
    â€œAnd make the beds!” said Annie. She and Teddy laughed.
    â€œOur mission has to be harder than just doing chores,” said Jack. “What about the tunnel of fear?”
    â€œOh, you need not be afraid of fear,” said Teddy. “I know magic, remember?”
    â€œTeddy, did you know any magic before you met Morgan and Merlin?” asked Annie.
    â€œAh, indeed. My father was a sorcerer,” Teddy said. “And my mother was a wood sprite from the Otherworld.”
    â€œThat is so cool,” said Annie.
    They crunched through piles of dead leaves. A gust of wind shook the tree branches. Golden oak leaves spun to the ground.
    Jack’s thoughts were spinning, too. Merlin in the heart of the oak, sorcerers, wood sprites— none of these things would ever make sense back in Frog Creek.
    At last Teddy led them out of the forest and into a clearing. “Halt!” he said.
    They all stopped walking. Beyond the clearing was a small village of thatched-roof cottages. The cottage windows twinkled with candlelight. Chimney smoke rose into the dusky sky.
    Teddy held up his lantern. “Onward!” he said.
    They went down a dirt path that passed through the village. Several children in ragged clothes peeked out their front doors.
    â€œGreetings!” called Teddy. “Can you tell us how to get to the castle of the duke?”
    â€œThe castle?” a boy said in a frightened voice. “’Tis just beyond the wood!” He pointed at a forest on the other side of the village. “Follow the path and you’ll come to it!”
    â€œOh, but you mustn’t go there!” a girl cried.
    â€œWhy not?” asked Annie.
    â€œSomething’s been very wrong at the castle,” said the girl. “Ever since the ravens came!”
    â€œHas anyone been there to see what’s going on?” asked Jack.
    â€œOnly old Maggie, who used to work there,” said the girl. “Two weeks ago, she went to the castle as usual. But she came running back, scared out of her wits.”
    â€œMaggie says the castle is all haunted with ghosts,” said a boy. “She keeps repeating the same rhyme over and over.”
    â€œGhosts?”
said Jack. His mouth felt dry.
    But Teddy just laughed. “Ghosts don’t scare me!” he said.
    â€œHave you ever seen one, Teddy?” asked Annie.
    â€œNo! But I should like to!” Teddy said with a grin.
    â€œLook!” One of the girls pointed at the sky. “The ravens are back!”
    A flock of large black birds was flying low in the dark gray sky. The village kids screamed. Several grown-ups rushed out of their cottages.
    â€œGo away!” a woman yelled at the ravens. She picked up a handful of stones and began throwing them at the birds. “Leave us alone!”
    â€œStop! Stop!” cried Annie. “You’ll hurt them!”
    A stone struck one of the ravens. It fell to the ground.
    â€œOh, no!” cried Annie.
    The grown-ups pulled their children inside. Doors slammed and shutters closed.
    Annie dashed to the fallen bird and knelt beside it.
    Jack and Teddy hurried over to Annie and the fallen bird. The bird was crouching, slightlyspreading its wings. Its head was bowed as it made low, squeaking sounds. One of its tail feathers was bent.
    â€œCOO-COO!” Teddy said loudly. He looked at Jack. “I once journeyed to the Isle of Birds to study their language,” he said. “I learned a bit of Dove, but no Raven.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” said Jack. “Annie talks to birds and animals in her own language.”

    â€œI’m sorry for what they did to you,” Annie said