Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve

bigger.
    â€œIt’s a secret door!” said Jack. He pushed harder.
Creak.
A tall, narrow door swung into the tree. Light streamed from inside.
    â€œWe found it,” whispered Annie, “the heart of the oak.”
    Jack nodded.
    â€œLet’s go in,” said Annie. They slipped through the narrow doorway into the bright hollow of the tree trunk.

    Jack couldn’t believe his eyes. The round room was lit with hundreds of candles. Shadows danced on the curved brown walls.
    This isn’t possible!
thought Jack. The heart of the oak seemed much bigger than the tree itself!
    â€œWelcome,” said a deep, whispery voice.
    They turned around and saw an old man sitting in a carved wooden chair. He had a long white beard and wore a red cloak.
    â€œHi, Merlin,” said Annie.
    â€œHello, Annie. Hello, Jack. It is good to see you again,” the magician said. “I am grateful for the help you gave us on Christmas Eve in Camelot. Now Morgan and I believe you might be able to help us again.”
    â€œWe’d love to!” said Annie.
    â€œThe whole future of our kingdom depends upon your success,” said Merlin.
    â€œAre you sure you want
us
?” Jack asked. “I mean, we’re just kids.”
    â€œYou have passed many tests for Morgan,” said Merlin. “Are you not Master Librarians and Magicians of Everyday Magic?”
    Jack nodded. “Yes, we are,” he said.
    â€œGood. You will need all your skills on this mission,” said Merlin. “You will also need a helper and guide from
our
world, the world of magic and legend.”
    â€œAre you coming with us?” asked Annie.
    â€œNo,” the magician said. “Your guide shall be one much younger than I. He is in my library now. Yesterday he brought me some books I had requested from Morgan’s library.”
    Merlin rose from his chair. “Come,” he said, leading them to a door in the curved wall. He opened it and stepped into another room. Jack and Annie followed him.
    The musty room was filled with scrolls and ancient-looking books. Sitting on the floor was a boy about eleven or twelve years old. He was reading by the light of a lantern.

    â€œYour helper and guide,” Merlin said to Jack and Annie.
    The boy looked up. He had a friendly, freckled face and dark, twinkly eyes. He broke into a big grin.
    â€œArf, arf!” he said.
    â€œTeddy!” cried Annie.
    Jack couldn’t believe it! Their helper was the young sorcerer who was training as Morgan’s apprentice!
    Merlin, for once, looked surprised. “You already know each other?” he asked.
    â€œYes, we met a while ago when I accidentally changed myself into a dog!” said Teddy.
    â€œMorgan wanted to teach Teddy a lesson,” explained Annie. “So she sent him with us on four tree-house journeys before she changed him back into a boy. He saved us on the
Titanic.
And he saved us from a buffalo stampede!”
    â€œAnd from a tiger in India,” said Jack, “and a forest fire in Australia.”
    â€œWondrous journeys, indeed,” said Merlin. “I am glad you are already friends. Your friendship may help you on this mission.”
    â€œWhat
is
our mission?” asked Annie.
    â€œWe are now in one of the outlying realms of Camelot,” said Merlin. “Beyond these woods lies the castle of a duke.”
    Merlin leaned forward, as if he were about to tell them something really scary. “It will be your mission,” he said, “to bring order to the duke’s castle.”
    Merlin sat back in his chair. His gaze was calm, but a fierce light shone in his eyes.
    Bring order to a castle?
thought Jack.
Is that all?
    â€œWho messed it up, sir?” asked Annie.
    â€œYou will find out soon enough,” said Merlin.
    â€œWe accept our assignment gladly,” said Teddy. “The mission will be done without fail!”
    Merlin fixed his gaze on Teddy. “Perhaps,” he said. “But a warning, my boy: you are hasty andcareless with your magic rhymes. On this mission, you must choose
all
your words wisely.”
    â€œIndeed I will,” said Teddy.
    Merlin turned to Jack and Annie. “And a warning to you, too,” he said. “You are about to enter a tunnel of fear. Proceed onward with courage, and you will come out into the light.”
    Tunnel of fear?
Jack thought.
    Merlin picked up the lantern and handed it to Teddy. “The