Chapter Ten

The wind blew his hair and the brown coat around as the Doctor stood on the top of the ridge and looked at the map. He looked around when he placed the map and the black rimmed glasses away then he turned around, walking to Thunderstone and patted the hide. He got back onto the saddle when he patted the hide then took the reins in his hands.

"Up," the Doctor said when Thunderstone rose into the air and he looked straight ahead. The landscape moved under him when he Doctor saw the dark stone castle rising before him and his eyes became tight slits.

Rose lifted her head up when she thought she had heard something as Nol moaned and she gently rocked him. He had been asleep for a long time when he moved and his eyes fluttered open.

"Who's there?" he asked in a weak voice and she tried not to cry.

"It's me. Rose," she said and he frowned.

"R-rose?"

"Yeah."

"Nice to meet you," Nol said as she stroked his hair and he looked up at her. "I'm hungry."

Rose looked around when she saw a tray near the door and placed him on the stone floor. She got up when she walked to the tray and brought the tray over to him. She sat down next to him when she scooped him up into her arms and held him close to her.

"Try to eat something," Rose said when she picked up what looked like bread and Nol opened his mouth. She fed him as he ate and he looked worried at her.

"Aren't you hungry?"

"No," Rose said as she fed him and he snuggled closer.

"Wh-where is Zeeni?" Nol whispered as she rocked him and he placed his head against her chest.

"I don't know."

"Mirror hurt me."

"Why?"

"Because it's fun."

"Fun? It isn't fun to hurt people."

"I know."

"Nol, do you still have your magic stick?" Rose asked and he opened his left hand, showing her the chalk.

"Mirror didn't see it."

"Can you still use it?" Rose asked then looked down. "Nol? "

Nol had fallen back to sleep and Rose sighed, rocking him.

"Doctor," Rose whispered and stroked Nol's hair.

The black leathery wings thundered around him as the Doctor watched the dark stone castle coming closer when Thunderstone circled around then headed for the cliffs. The Doctor watched as Thunderstone headed for a large opening then landed and the Doctor got off Thunderstone. He patted the hide when he looked at the opening then looked at the saddlebag. He opened the saddlebag while looking inside then found a torch and matches and took them out. He closed the saddlebag when he walked inside the large passageway and lit the match. He lit the torch when he walked along and looked around.

"Alright, which way do I go now?" the Doctor asked when he took the sonic screwdriver out and scanned the passageway. "Right, that way!"

The Doctor placed the sonic screwdriver in the pocket when he started walking and his hearts thundered in his chest.

Rose watched the shadows when Nol moved and she lifted his face up. His eyes fluttered open as Rose smiled and he looked at her with a lost look.

"Wh-who are you?" Nol asked.

"Rose," Rose said.

"Oh. I'm… My name is... Um..."

"Nol."

"Nol?" Nol asked and she nodded. He looked at his hand when he saw the chalk and titled his head. "What is this?"

"That's your magic stick."

"It is? Oh. Right. It is. Wait, I know what do to with it," Nol said when he moved away from her then got up and staggered to the center of the room. He knelt down when Rose got up and walked to him. She knelt down when he drew a circle around him then moved out of the circle and smiled at her. "Watch!"

Rose watched as he tapped on the stone and the stone slowly sank down. He tapped his foot a few more times when the stone softly landed on the stone floor below them and he hung over the edge of the hole. He slid into the hole when he jumped down and looked up at her.

"Come on, Rose. Jump!" Nol said when she shrugged then jumped down the hole and he caught her. Nol laughed then placed her down and took her hand. "This way!"

Nol gently pulled as they walked down the hallway and he looked around. They went around the corner when they came to a staircase and Nol frowned.

"Not that way," Nol said when they went down the hallway and Rose wondered where they were going.

The Doctor walked along as the torch made shadows on the walls and he looked around. He had been walking for a long time when he saw the stone stairs and took out the sonic screwdriver. He scanned the stairs when he placed the sonic screwdriver away and walked up the stairs. He came to the top when he heard the water dripping and looked around. He saw the doors on either side of the passageway as he walked down the passageway and looked into the rooms. The rooms were empty or had skeletons inside them as he walked along then heard something. He heard crying as he moved down the passageway and the crying grew louder down the passageway to his right. He walked along when he came to an opening and looked down.

"That looks nasty," the Doctor said and the river of molten lava bubbled thirty feet below him. He looked up when he saw the cage hanging from the chain and someone was inside. He saw Zeeni looking back at him when he blinked and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes!" Zeeni said.

"Are you Zeeni?"

"Yes!"

"How did you get up there?"

"Get me down!"

"That was rude. Well, she is scared," the Doctor thought and looked around.

"Hang on!" the Doctor shouted when he saw that the chain was bolted to the wall and smiled, rubbing his hands together. "That'll do!"