‘You shan’t take Cassie away! I don’t care if you are a sorcerer!’ screamed Raphael desperately and dashed at the stranger.
Cold fingers like steel hooks lifted him to one side, and a metallic voice rang in his ears, ‘Be quiet, young fool!’
Raphael felt himself falling slowly into space.
CHAPTER II
GÆA, THE EARTH MOTHER
When Raphael woke, he was lying alone in the moonlight. Cassandra and the stranger had disappeared. The woods were very still. His head ached. Slowly the boy got to his feet and stumbled along the path which led to a small clearing at the top of the hill. Here he sat down on a large stone. Cassie was stolen!
Raphael was about to turn and run home when he heard the whistle of wings, and looking up saw a huge bird sail over the black tree-tops and light on the ground before him. Raphael was so astonished he could not move. He sat and stared in numb amazement.
‘Well,’ said the bird sharply, as he peered at him out of one yellow eye.
‘Who are you?’ asked Raphael faintly.
‘I am Empyrean, Chief of All the Eagles in the Sky, General of All the Armies of the Air.’
‘Oh,’ gasped Raphael. Then, because he felt powerless and lonely, he sniffled, ‘Cassie has been stolen. A sorcerer came and took her away.’