Free Tara Duncan and the Spellbinders by Princess Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian Page B

forward. “Count Besois-Giron announced your arrival, and I had just enough time to come greet you. Really, it’s amazing how many things I have to do!”
    A bell rang, and the Cyclops became even more agitated.
    â€œBy Demiderus! More arrivals already! Quickly, quickly! Move on so I can clear the way.”
    The Cyclops seemed so frazzled that Tara almost laughed. He hadn’t let Chem get a word in edgewise and was already pushing them out of the room with the frantic energy of a hen who had lost her chicks.
    â€œThat’s our steward,” said Chem with a sigh. “He panics every time a visitor comes to the Castle, and since people are constantly coming, he’s in a permanent tizzy. Come along; I’m going to introduce you to our administrator, Lady Kalibris, so she can register you.”
    â€œRegister me for what?”
    â€œNo one is allowed to be in the Castle without accreditation. Since you are my temporary guest, you will be accredited to Level 6. You’ll be allowed to visit some areas of the Castle, but not others. Lady Kalibris will explain the Castle’s rules and etiquette, tell you where you sleep, inform you how to be presented to their Royal Highnesses, and so on.”
    â€œPresented to their Royal Highnesses?” yelped Tara. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œDon’t worry, Tara,” he said kindly. “The Living Castle is a gigantic entity, a kind of beating heart that regulates the kingdom’s circulation. But etiquette here isn’t too strict. If you say or do something silly, you can explain that you just arrived from Earth.”
    The old wizard waved Tara’s other questions aside for the time being, having decided to first show her around the Castle.
    Wide-eyed, Tara saw people busy everywhere. Floating in midair, young spellbinders were beating the rugs, but in an unusual way: they had them fly outside through high windows and shake themselves. Suits of armor (some of them with really unusual shapes) shook off dust by rattling themselves with a loud clanking. The interior of the Living Castle was magnificent, but it was hard to tell how it was constructed because everything was in constant motion. Landscapes on the walls and ceiling appeared, disappeared, and changed, according to the Castle’s whim. At the moment it seemed to be in a good mood, because the landscapes were full of sunshine, meadows, and twittering birds. They looked so real that Tara almost bonked her head against a wall a few times when she leaned close to take a better look. Farther on, she drew an amused glance from Chem when she tried to jump over a stream that didn’t exist. And she stopped at the end of one corridor, mesmerized by the sight of horses, unicorns, and little animals joyfully gamboling around her in the company of beautiful damsels blowing kisses to the spellbinders. It looked so real that Tara caught herself waving back.
    Then she suddenly screamed, released Chem’s arm, and leaped backward.
    A dizzying abyss had just opened beneath their feet. At its bottom a giant insect with multiple legs, claws, and mandibles was looking up at her with a hungry eye—quite a few eyes, actually. Before she could retreat, the animal started racing up the crevasse wall at terrifying speed. But just as Tara opened her mouth to scream, Chem took her hand, unconcerned by the poison-laden claws threatening her.
    â€œThe Living Castle is certainly in fine fettle this morning!” he groused. “Don’t worry, it does that to all the new arrivals. You’re in no danger; those are just illusions. Come along.”
    A Castle that played practical jokes—great! Tara felt she didn’t share the Living Castle’s sense of humor, but she obediently followed the wizard. To be on the safe side, she decided to keep her eyes tightly closed until she figured they were past the abyss.
    When she cautiously opened one eye, Tara was