LITMIR.BIZ

       The Shadow Woods...

      Very few people ever enter the Shadow Woods. The crooked trees press closely together, their branches reaching out like skeletons’ arms. Strange whispers echo through the quiet air, and eyes seem to watch from the shadows. Anyone who does go in soon leaves, their skin prickling with fear. For these woods are like no others. Hidden deep within them is a gateway to the Shadow Realm – a dark and chaotic world where all the mischief-making creatures like goblins, boggles and trolls live.

      Many hundreds of years ago, the Shadow Realm creatures could pass freely between our world and theirs, but they caused so much trouble that it was decided the gateway between the two worlds must be shut for good. Yet no one knew how to do this, until a locksmith with magical powers made an iron key and then slotted a gem from the Shadow Realm into its handle. The secret had been found! The locksmith forced as many shadow creatures as he could back into their own world and locked the gateway firmly behind them.

      From that day on, the locksmith became the Guardian of the Gateway, watching over the precious key and stopping the few shadow creatures left in this world from causing too much trouble. As he grew old he passed his powers on to his grandson, who in turn passed the powers on to his. For hundreds of years, the Guardianship has passed down from grandparent to grandchild, and the gate has always remained safely shut.

      But now for the first time, disaster looms. The shadow creatures have stolen the iron key! Luckily, there was no gem in its handle when it was taken, but there are six gems from the Shadow Realm hidden somewhere in our world. If the shadow creatures find any of them, they’ll be able to slot them into the key and open the gateway, letting hordes of villainous creatures loose to cause mayhem and trouble.

      Only one girl stands in their way… and her name is Sophie Smith.

       Chapter 1 King Ug

      Ug, the King of the Ink Cap Goblins, sat on his tree-stump throne and held up a cracked looking glass. His reflection gazed back at him: small beetle-black eyes, a dome-shaped head that looked like a toadstool and a white crumbling body covered with black blotches.

      Ug smirked. “Oh, yes!” he crooned, tweaking a flake of skin off his chin. “I really am the most handsome creature in the whole of the Shadow Woods. And the bravest. When I open the gateway, all the other shadow creatures shall be proud to call me king. All I need is one little shadow gem.”

      He touched the iron key that hung around his neck on a rope and frowned. There had once been six hidden shadow gems but the new Guardian – a mere girl – had already found three of them. He had to find one of the others!

      Jumping off his throne, King Ug strode to the edge of the clearing. “Where are those useless servants of mine?” he muttered. “Have they done what I asked?” He opened his mouth to yell, but just then three other Ink Cap Goblins came running up. One had a knobbly nose like a potato, one had massive feet and one had particularly crumbly skin. Skidding to a stop in front of Ug, they all started to bow.

      “We’re back, oh Great King Ug,” panted Potato Nose, bobbing up and down.

      “We’re here!” exclaimed Flaky Face.

      “We’ve returned!” said Big Feet.

      Ug rolled his eyes. “I’m not blind. I can see that! So? Did you find the Fog Boggarts’s caves? Will they help us?”

      The goblins in front of him exchanged nervous looks.

      “We did find the caves…” Flaky Face began cautiously.

      “And we did speak to the Fog Boggarts,” put in Potato Nose.

      “But they… um… they…” Big Feet looked anxious.

      Ug frowned. “They what?”

      The words came out of Big Feet in a rush.

      “They said they wouldn’t speak to servants and that they wanted to talk to you themselves! They’re coming here right now.”

      Ug’s white face went even paler. “What? The most dangerous shadow creatures in the woods – creatures who can open their mouths so wide they can swallow a person in one gulp – are coming here? To talk to me? Right now?”

      Big Feet nodded.

      “Ah – right,” said King Ug finally. He chewed his finger nervously, his black, beady eyes darting to the trees around them. “Well, that’s fine. Yes, indeed, looking forward to seeing them. Though maybe I’ll just – take a little stroll first…” He edged towards the trees, but it was too late. Thick grey fog was already creeping in on all sides, blocking his way.

      “Erp,” squeaked Ug. The other goblins gulped as the fog surrounded them. Before their eyes, a shiver ran through the white mist. Suddenly ten tall, thin creatures were standing there. Their skin was grey and their eyes were like large, dark holes in their long faces. Their mouths stretched almost from one ear to the other. Ug stood up straight and managed a sickly smile of greeting.

      One of the creatures stepped forwards, wearing a raggedy dress. Her voice was a sinister whisper. “King Ug, I am Spindle Fingers, Queen of the Fog Boggarts.”

      Ug inclined his head. “Greetings, Your Most Majestical Majesty.”

      Spindle Fingers bowed back, and then her eyes narrowed. “Your servants came to find us, King Ug. They told us you wanted our help with the little matter of

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