Caryn Elizabeth: The Ghosts of Blackthorn

By R. H. Politz

Caryn Elizabeth - Book Two - The Ghosts of Blackthorn
After surviving a horribly destructive war, Caryn, Amy and Julie managed to escape the aftermath of a lawless gang ridden world and eventually found a strange land where reality was a bit unfamiliar.
They had adapted to becoming the Royal Family and life was once again peaceful but that would soon change.

Author’s Note: To learn who they are, what happened and how they got there, read “Caryn Elizabeth – Book One – Survival”.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R. H. Politz
• Release date: Jun 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463734445

R. H. Politz

Business consultant in finance, accounting/tax, operations, planning and writing occasional articles, stories and books about whatever catches my interest.Creator and owner of the Trade Mark four letter word "IBAX"Excerpts from some Op-ED's I wrote about the future.May 2017: - Dictators always create crises and wars to gain more power and I suspect such crises and wars will be coming very soon..December 2023 - And that is exactly what they did.December 2022: - The obvious agenda of the Dictators' internal War against the USA is enticing me to rewrite the fantasy Story "Caryn Elizabeth - Survival" as a twenty first Century redux of "The Roaring 20's" followed by a redux of "The 30's Great Depression" crisis that caused World War II.May 2023: - I've placed re-writing "Survival" on the back burner for now.I HOPE YOU ALL WILL KEEP SMILING, ENJOY THE DAY AND STAY WELL. ♥

Book preview

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Caryn Elizabeth

~ THE GHOSTS OF ~

~ BLACKTHORN ~

R H Politz

Based on the story After 2012

Copyright © 2010 - 2020

Robert H Politz and Caryn E Christianson

All rights reserved

No part of this work may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express written permission of the copyright holders.

For information regarding permissions, write to

Robert H Politz or Caryn E Christianson at:

9849 Masked Duck Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89117-8412

~*~

This is a work of fiction based on the original story

After 2012

By

R. H. Politz

Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, entities, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

***

Author’s Note

This is published to honor the requests of a very special group of people.

We hope you enjoy this tale of struggle and chaos in a world of danger, paranormal beings and magical wishes.

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C O N T E N T S

The Secret Stairs

Spells and Curses

The Gift of a Name

The Counter-Spell

Bixby’s Treasure Hunt

The Silver Sheath

The Knight’s Dagger

The Ghosts of Blackthorn

A New Mission

Hestia’s Bracelet

Hestia's Warning

The Illusion

Reconstruction

The Secret Stairs

Every night was quiet and peaceful. Every morning began with dawn’s early light gently nudging them from sleep. Every day they looked forward to learning something new in Bixby’s class. –– But this day would begin in a very different way.

Toot-Toot-Teroooo… blared the thunderous sound of a long trumpet completely shattering the predawn silence.

Caryn bolted out of bed. Holy buckets she gasped. What was that noise? She rubbed her eyes, looked around, saw nothing unusual and yawned.

Whew she mused. Must have been a nightmare. Okay then. It’s still dark…, better go back to sleep.

She was just beginning to doze off when suddenly, another Toot-Toot-Toot –– –– Toot-Toot-Teroooo… roared through the air again. This was definitely not a dream.

Jiminy Christmas, what’s happening now? she grumbled as she stomped to a window and peered out into the darkness. Who is making that noise? Geeze...!

She grabbed a robe, slipped on her shoes and ran into the girls’ bedroom just as they were running out.

Ouch! Football crash. Sorry Mom giggled Julie.

Football crash? Watch where you’re going doofus. You pushed me right into Mom.

Girls, this is not the time for an argument.

Oh, okay. Sorry Mom. But what is that awful noise?

Yeah Mom, did you make some kind of alarm clock or something? chuckled Julie between yawns. Cause it’s really early and…, it’s still dark. That’s totally weird.

No girls. Me, set an alarm clock? That’s funny.

Once again the trumpet repeated its thunderous song.

Caryn covered her ears. Wow, that’s loud. Suddenly fear painted a horrified look on her face. Oh no! Maybe the owners came back and are going to kick us out. Or maybe it’s another army attacking us again, or––

C’mon Mom, interrupted Amy, "Bart told us we belong here. Remember? We’re supposed to be here."

Yeah added Julie. And he said we'd know if anyone else came here and you could banish them or something.

Oh, I totally forgot about that. You’re probably right Julie. Guess I’m just being a worrywart.

Moments later, the tune changed.

Toot-Toot-Teroooo… –– –– Toot-Toot-Toot-Toot –– –– Toot-Toot-Teroooo…

Wait a minute. That’s a pattern. It has to be some kind of signal. Two short and one long. Then four short, a pause and two more short with one long again. Someone is telling us something and I have no idea what it is.

"Maybe it’s saying Attention Mom. You know, like a code kind of thing."

Well, we certainly can’t sleep with that noise blasting our eardrums. Bart might know what it means. Come on kids. Put something on your feet. We are going to the library.

Lewis and Clark, however, had ideas of their own and ran off into the darkness. Lewis... Clark... yelled Amy trying to stop them. But they were already out of sight.

Come on girls, let’s go urged Caryn. They should be okay. They’re good at finding their way around.

But Mom, it’s still dark argued Amy. Bart won’t be there until class-time and I have to go find them.

Julie grabbed her sister’s arm and pulled her back into the bedroom. Mom’s right Amy. They’ll be okay. Come on, let’s get our shoes on and go. It’s spooky in this dark hall.

Wondering if they could even find Bixby at this early hour they ran down the stairs to the open library door.

Flickering light from the fireplace directly behind him allowed them to only see a silhouette of their stout teacher. However, it was apparent that he was hurrying to get dressed.

When their eyes adjusted to the dim light they saw his concerned expression. If he was alarmed, this situation had to be very serious.

"Bart, what is that noise? What’s happening?"

Oh…, you’re all here. Come, come… come quickly! Follow me. We must all hide until the danger has passed. Please hurry, hurry… this way. We must go through the secret passage until we learn what is coming.

He was still buttoning his shirt while hopping on one foot trying to put on his other shoe. It was actually a bit comical watching him bounce across the room toward his closet.

Julie whispered, Secret passage…? Hey Amy, this could be fun. We’re going to see another secret in this castle. I wonder what it’ll be like. Maybe it’s a dungeon.

Yeah Julie, a secret, replied Amy with a frown. "Exciting––not! I just want to go back to bed."

They rushed into the closet and Bixby closed the door enveloping them in complete darkness. Then, they heard the same loud clanking noises he made on that first day when they released him. Even Caryn, who could see fairly well in extremely dim light, was blind to what was happening.

Bart… Bart…, Lord Bixby, what was all that clanking? Did you lock the door?

Yes Your Majesty, I did. Um, a moment please.

Even in the pitch black darkness Bixby knew exactly what to do. With his right hand on one of the wall’s several stone ornaments, he pushed on another, turned it and the entire wall slid open revealing a well-lit hallway. It wasn’t a tiny closet after all, but instead, a portal to a hidden place secured from the world above.

If you please Ma’am, Princesses..., this way. He followed them in, stopped to pull down a lever and waited till the thick stone wall closed with a resounding thud.

We are almost there. Please follow me.

They hurried through the hallway, down a long flight of stairs and through a corridor to an underground room that was even larger than the great room above.

Wow! gulped Caryn. Secret passage all right. This is another whole castle under the one we live in. Holy buckets!

It was even more expansive and grandiose than their castle on the surface. She stared in awe until her gaze was interrupted by Amy pulling on her hand.

Come on Mom. We have to keep going.

Oh. Right. Thanks. Wow! Let’s catch up to Bart.

He led them to a beautiful ornate table with several comfortable chairs in a small alcove. It looked like a reading or study area, quite cozy in fact, but also rather strange to see such a place this far under the surface.

There. Now please –– Bixby put both hands on a chair and tried to catch his breath –– please, make yourselves comfortable. His concerned expression faded and he changed back to his usual self. Your Majesty, Princesses, would you like a cup of tea while we wait for the approaching creatures to be identified?

Caryn’s face reddened slightly. Creatures…, Bart, did you just say creatures?

Yes Ma’am, I did, but please do not worry. We are quite safe here. Nothing to be concerned about any longer. Now then, about that tea, do you prefer yours with lemon or cream and sugar?

"Nothing to be concerned about, huh? You mean we’re really safe down here?

Yes Ma’am. We are. Perfectly.

Well then… she began as she looked around. Safe you say. All right. May I have it with lemon?

Certainly Ma’am. As you wish. And for you Princesses?

Can we have apple juice please?

Um, Bart, Amy likes apple juice but I like orange juice.

Even after all the chaos, it was still one item for Amy and a different item for Julie. One could only wonder if they would ever agree on anything.

Very well. I’ll return shortly with your drinks. Your Majesty… Your Highnesses… He bowed and disappeared around the corner.

While waiting for their drinks the girls looked around scanning the shelves on the room’s walls.

Mom, look at all those books. They go way up to the ceiling. There are walkways and ladders up there too.

Yeah Mom. Amy’s right. I’ll bet some of those shelves open to the shelves in our library. Good catch Amy!

Good catch indeed Amy. You two may have just solved one of the mysteries we’ve wondered about for so long. Oh good. Bart is back. Ask him about the magical books girls.

Okay Mom. Bart, is this is where all those other books in the library came from and it wasn’t magic, it was someone changing them from the other side of the wall?

Yes Princess Amy, it is. Enjoy your drinks and relax. Then, I will show you more of our underground city. After all, you are the Royal Family down here as well.

City…, you mean there’s a whole city down here?

Yes Ma’am. And it is quite large.

It was obvious that one person could not possibly keep such a large room so tidy. Every nook and corner was sparkling clean. Even the highest shelves showed no signs of dust or cobwebs.

Bart, Are there other people living here?

Yes Ma’am, many. Shall I introduce them?

Of course. Yes. Absolutely. Wow! I never even thought of anything like this underground. It’s amazing!

Bixby turned toward the empty hall, clapped his hands and announced, My people, we have guests. The Royal Family visits us this morning. Please, send word and make yourselves presentable for an audience. Quickly now. Let us not waste their time.

Then he turned to face Caryn. Your Majesty, while we are waiting for them to assemble, I will explain. Artemus is always looking out over a very great distance from the donjon. If anyone or anything approaches, he warns us by sounding his trumpet. Those were the sounds that so abruptly ended our sleep this morning.

Artemus huh…? Well, that makes sense. He’s the only other one here. Or at least I thought he was. You said there are others. Do they know about us?

Yes Ma’am, they do. We have all waited a very long time for your arrival.

"Our arrival…? Wait a minute. We didn’t even know we were coming here. How could you possibly know about us? Was it that big book…, is that what told you?"

In a way Ma’am, yes, it did. We have been waiting for a new monarch to begin his––um, or should I say, her, reign but we knew not who it might be. By your own actions, you have accepted this great responsibility and the time has come to meet your subjects.

Caryn contemplated what he meant. Great responsibility…? Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into this time?

Julie laughed. Okay Bart, got it, Mom’s the boss. She always has been anyway. So what’s the deal on this alarm thing from Artemus that woke us all up?

Amy was also curious. Yeah, he was playing some kind of pattern but the song wasn’t very good. What’s the alarm mean and, what’s a donjon anyway?

Julie may not have known about the alarm but she had been reading her book about the castle. I know Amy. The donjon is that big tall tower. And it has a kind of turret on top where you were trapped. You know, Mom put a bird house up there, remember?

Amy put her hands on her hips. Okay smarty, so what’s the alarm mean?

I don’t know. Then, Julie looked at Bixby. Bart, what’s the alarm mean?

Bixby smiled and continued. You did, of course, notice the pattern? Since there were four short toots, Artemus is telling us that someone is approaching from the west. One toot of course would indicate north, two, the east and three would be south. A bit archaic perhaps but very effective and efficient. If they approach quickly we will hear another alarm very soon. If they proceed slowly, we will have to wait for days or possibly, even weeks.

Caryn held her hands around the teacup, absorbing its warmth. "Okay. Someone is approaching. But, you said creatures. What did you mean when you called them creatures? Are they dangerous?"

In times past Ma’am, creatures, other than humans, have indeed attempted to enter this valley. Whoever is approaching has not yet been identified. Until we know who, or what, they are, we refer to them as creatures.

Caryn’s brows furrowed, the girls looked at each other and then back to Bixby. Questions and answers. It was just like being in class.

Artemus can see about two hundred kilometers, or, as you would say, about one hundred twenty five miles, and they are coming from the west.

How can he see that far, does he have a telescope or something? Wow!

No Princess Amy. His vision is just one of his many gifts. They, whoever they are, are still very far away. In time we will know more. But, for now, please greet my friends.

Although his words were reassuring, Caryn was still apprehensive. But her anxiety quickly abated when she saw hundreds and hundreds of people emerging from every corner and doorway assembling before them.

She spotted a beautiful young woman, slightly taller than Bart, guiding several boys and girls into a small group. As more groups formed, Caryn surmised they were families very similar to her own. Parents and children closed together for a formal introduction to their new Queen and her Heirs.

Oh-my-goodness Bart! Oops. I mean Lord Bixby –– Caryn suddenly realized the formality of the setting –– Are all these people your friends? There are so many of them. If they all live down here… Wow. This really is a real city. And it has to be huge!

Yes Ma’am, it is quite large. After we dispose of a few official procedures, I will tell you of its and this society’s beginnings. May I proceed?

Caryn stared with mouth agape at the sea of heads that filled every inch of the huge hall and nodded.

Bixby stepped up to a podium situated at the left of the alcove, turned to face the people, held an open hand toward the Royal Family and announced:

My people…! This is the day we have long awaited. Please welcome Her Majesty, Caryn Elizabeth the First, Her Highness, Princess Amy and Her Highness, Princess Julie.

His mighty voice traveled throughout the great room to every corner and the Royal Family remembered that first day in the library. He needed no public address system.

They released the locks on the Library door, returned my teaching suit and allowed me to once again do that which I love. They treat me with respect and a friendship I have never before known from any royal and have given me a formal name and title. They have also proven themselves to be kind and giving and deserve a long and happy sovereignty in our homeland. Please prepare a feast of feasts to celebrate this family’s arrival and note this day as the beginning of a new era. A new reign has begun!

Everyone bowed and then applauded. It looked like a tidal wave in a sea of heads, flowing back across the room and out through entrances overflowing with people.

Bixby held up his hands, everyone became quiet and he returned to his seat. This hidden society had been anxiously awaiting a new ruler and had obviously practiced their greeting in anticipation of the arrival.

Caryn found it quite coincidental that this celebration should happen a week after Christmas on January first. The first day of her new year turned out to be the start of their new era. Their calendars were now synchronized.

When people began discussing preparations for their celebratory feast, Bixby revealed another surprise.

"Your Majesty, Your Highnesses, please accept our apologies for having awakened you so early this morning. Very unpleasant I must say. Would you enjoy a morning bath and some new clothing? We have to wait a while so it could be a very pleasant diversion. And, we are perfectly safe."

A bath…, new clothes…? Boy, could we use some new clothes. That sounds awesome girls. What do you think?

I don’t have my toothbrush Mom.

Bixby pulled three new toothbrushes from his pocket and held them up. Who wants the red one he asked with his now familiar grin?

Well Caryn chuckled. That takes care of that problem Amy. Okay then. Please, show us the way.

The maids will escort you Ma’am…, Highnesses.

As they followed the young ladies from the alcove to another hallway, the crowd applauded again. Caryn was feeling a bit embarrassed about her tattered night-robe and hurried to disappear from their view.

They were taken to an impeccably clean room where warm water from four large spouts filled a huge marble tub. It was large enough for