the king of custard castle

8/13/2019 The King of Custard Castle

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The King of Custard Castle

Four stories about Custard Castle

Emma Laybourn

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 Emma Laybourn

You can read six more stories about Custard Castle in The Ghost o Custard Castle!

also a"ailable at Smashwords#

$nd there are lots o other stories at Emma Laybourn%s website!

www#megamouseboo&s#com#

'appy (eading)


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Table of Contents

The Thing in the *ungeon

The *ragon +nder the Stairs

The ,essy -rincess

The ,ar"ellous ,oat


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The Thing in the Dungeon

Custard Castle had three hundred dusty rooms! and se"en people#

There was the .ing! the /ueen! and -rincess i i# There was a maid! a wi ard!

and a coo There was a ghost! who didn%t really count#

$nd there was ac

ac& was the ser"ant3boy# 'e had lots o di erent 4obs to do#

5hen -rincess i i went riding! ac& was the Stable3boy# 'e li&ed that 4ob!

because he got to groom the horse#5hen the /ueen mended the bathroom pipes! ac& was the -lumber%s ,ate# 'e

li&ed that 4ob! because he got to hold the spanners#

5hen 5i ard 5atchit was coo&ing up a spell! ac& was the 5i ard%s 'elper#

'e li&ed that 4ob best o all! because he got to stir the cauldron#

6ut all too o ten! ac& was the Guard# 'e had to be the Guard whene"er the

.ing was in his treasure room! counting out his money#

ac& hated being the Guard# The Guard had to stand as straight and sti as a broom3handle# The treasure room was cold and dar&! and the .ing spent ar too long

in there# 'e stayed there or hours #


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78 wish ather would come riding with me!9 grumbled -rincess i i#

78 wish he would help me put up some shel"es!9 sighed the /ueen#

78 wish he would come and play tiddlywin&s with me!9 said the 5i ard# 7The

ghost%s no good at tiddlywin&s#9

6ut the .ing was too busy counting his treasure! while ac& stood on guard#

7 i ty3six! i ty3se"en!9 counted the .ing one day! piling up his golden guineas#

7 i ty3eight! i ty :what was that? 9

ac& and the .ing stared at each other# $ terrible sound echoed through the

castle#

7YEEOWULL!! 9

8t was a horrible howl; a sinister screech; a ghastly groan# $nd it came rom the

dungeon#

*own ran ac& and the .ing rom the treasure room#

*own ran 5i ard 5atchit rom his tower#

*own ran the /ueen! and i i! and 6ella the maid# They all stood at the

dungeon door! and listened#

7EYEOWLL!! 9 went the dungeon#

78s it a prisoner down there


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The .ing shoo& his head# 78 ha"en%t had a prisoner or years#9

7EEERGH!! 9 went the dungeon#

7(ats or a Guard!9 inished the .ing#

76other)9 muttered ac

7Guard) Go and search the dungeon!9 the .ing ordered#

75ait a minute!9 said ac 78 need to get something irst#9

ac& ran to the hall and opened the cupboard under the stairs# They &ept a small

dragon there or lighting ires# Tuc&ing the sleepy dragon under his arm! he returned

to the .ing#

78%m ready!9 he said# 7=pen the dungeon door)9

Slowly the door crea&ed open#

The inside o the dungeon was as blac& as a beetle# 8t smelt old and cold and

damp#

ac& tiptoed inside#

7 ire! please! dragon!9 he whispered#

The dragon yawned# $ small lame slipped rom its mouth! and lit up some o

the dungeon? but not the shadowy corners# ac& couldn%t see anything that might ha"emade the horrible noise#


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7,ore ire! please! dragon)9 he whispered#

The dragon yawned a little wider# The lame lit up most o the dungeon? but not

the urthest! dar&est corner#

7Loads o ire please! dragon)9

The dragon yawned still wider# This time! the lame lit up nearly all the

dungeon# 8t almost reached into the urthest corner####

7YE RRGGH!! 9 went the corner# The dragon yelped! 4umped out o ac&%s

arms! and ran or the door#

ac& was le t alone in the dar ust him and the Thing#

8t sounded li&e a Thing with sharp! sharp claws#

8t sounded li&e a Thing with lots o teeth#

8t sounded li&e a Thing that was about to pounce and chomp right through his

nec& with 4ust one bite>

ac& gulped# 'e too& a step orward#

7GEROWWLL!! 9

5ith a horrible howl! the Thing pounced#

8t pounced onto ac&%s shoe! and chomped right through his soc& with 4ust one

bite#

ac& reached down# 'e elt a lu y ball sitting on his oot! and pic&ed it up#

The Thing had sharp! sharp claws all right : as sharp as tiny pins# 8t had lots o

teeth : as thin as little needles# 6ut it was no bigger than his ist#

ac& carried the Thing to the door# 8t loo&ed li&e a ball o blue lu ! blin&ing

and screwing up its eyes at the light#'e held it out to the .ing#


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7'ere you are!9 he said#

7That? 9 said the .ing# 78s that it


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'e passed the treasure room# The door was open# 'e%d le t it open when he ran

down to the dungeon in a hurry#

7=ops!9 said ac 78 hope nobody%s stolen the treasure)9 'e peered into the

cold! dar& room#

7WEEEGH!! 9 cried the Thing# 8t scurried into the treasure room! ran to the

dar&est corner and sat down on a heap o coins#

7*o you li&e it here


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8t was also "ery good at &eeping the .ing away# $nd that made e"erybody

happy>#

Especially ac


10/27

The Dragon under the $tairs

$ cruel winter was attac&ing Custard Castle#

The cold wind whipped all the lea"es o the trees! and lung them at the

windows# 8t blew down the chimneys and under the doors# 8t howled in the corridors

and wailed around 5i ard 5atchit%s tower#

5i ard 5atchit had no ire# $ ter shi"ering in his tower or a while! he came

downstairs to complain to the .ing#

78%m ree ing)9 he moaned# 7Can%t 6ella come and light the ire in my tower


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The dragon was ast asleep# 5hen 6ella pic&ed it up! it elt limp and loppy#

She tic&led the dragon%s tummy to wa&e it up! but it 4ust snored#

She waggled its tail# @othing happened#

She shouted 76oo)9 in its ear# 8t didn%t e"en stir#

6ella carried the snoring dragon to the .ing and put it down on the loor#

78 can%t wa&e it up)9 she said#

78t%s been li&e that or days!9 said ac 78 can%t e"en wa&e it up to eed it#9

The .ing po&ed the dragon in the ribs# 8t 4ust snored louder#

75hat%s wrong with it


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The 5i ard shrugged# 78 you insist#9 'e muttered a spell! wa"ing his hands

o"er the dragon%s head#

Suddenly! the dragon%s eyes opened wide# 8t glared around# 8t did not loo&

happy#

78 told you it wouldn%t li&e it!9 said the 5i ard#

The dragon opened its mouth wide# 6ut it did not breathe out ire# 8nstead! it

showed all its long! sharp teeth! and snapped them at 5i ard 5atchit# 8t had ne"er

done that be ore# The 5i ard 4umped bac&wards#

7Er! 8%m 4ust o to see to some charms!9 he said! and he hurried away to his

tower#

75ell! what are you waiting or< -ic& up the dragon and light the ires)9 said the

.ing to 6ella#

6ella ga ed ner"ously at the dragon# 8t had always been a la y! do y dragon#

She had ne"er seen it so wide awa&e# She didn%t eel much li&e pic&ing it up#

She reached towards it! but it snapped its long! sharp teeth at her# $ngrily! it

snapped its teeth at ac&! and the /ueen! and -rincess i i#

Then it snapped them at the .ing#

7Stop that)9 said the .ing#

78 bet it%s hungry!9 said ac 78t hasn%t eaten anything or days#9

75ell! ta&e it away and eed it)9 said the .ing# 75hat does it eat


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8t hunted in the /ueen%s toolbox! and chewed her spanners# 8t hunted in

-rincess i i%s wardrobe! and chewed her dresses# 8t hunted under the .ing%s throne!

and chewed his slippers#

8t got more and more hungry! and more and more angry# $lthough ac& and

6ella &ept ollowing it! they couldn%t stop it#

75hat i it decides to eat maid instead o pie


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The dragon too& a long! deep breath#

7Whoooh! 9 it said# $ yellow lame spurted rom its mouth! and nearly set ire to

the 5i ard%s blan&et#

78t%s trying to melt the pie)9 cried ac

/uic&ly! 6ella put the pie in the ireplace#

7Whoooh! 9 went the dragon! again and again# lames sna&ed around the pie#

The wood in the ireplace began to crac&le and smo&e# The pie began to steam

and si le# The dragon grabbed the pie in its teeth! and gobbled it all up#

=nce the dragon had eaten the pie! it loo&ed much happier# 8t yawned a huge!

slow yawn# 8ts eyelids drooped# 8t staggered! lay down and ell ast asleep#

6ella pic&ed it up! and carried it downstairs# She put it care ully bac& inside its

cupboard#

7Stay sleepy)9 she told the snoring dragon# 78 li&e you better that way)9

,eanwhile! ac& lit a torch at the wi ard%s ire# 'e carried it around Custard

Castle! lighting all the other ires# Soon the castle was as warm as toast#

75e mustn%t let the ires go out)9 ac& told the .ing# 7=r the dragon might start

to hibernate again# 5e%ll ha"e to &eep the castle warm)9

The .ing grumbled! but he dared not argue#

So all the ires stayed lit! the dragon stayed happy : and Custard Castle stayed

snug and warm all through the cruel winter#


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The %ess& "rin'ess

The sun rose o"er Custard Castle#

The .ing and /ueen snored in their beds#

-rincess i i snored in her bed#

+p in his high tower! 5i ard 5atchit snored o"er his spell boo

=nly 6ella was awa&e#

6ella was the maid# E"ery day she got up at sunrise# She had to sweep all the

three hundred dusty rooms in Custard Castle# Then she had to light all the ires#

6ella opened the cupboard under the stairs# irst she too& out a long! bristly

broom! and tuc&ed it under one arm# That was or sweeping the loors#

Then she too& out a small! sleepy dragon! and tuc&ed it under the other arm#

That was or lighting the ires#

6ella tiptoed through the castle# SWISH went the broom! sweeping e"ery dusty

corner# AAAH went the dragon! yawning ire at e"ery ireplace#

Last o all! 6ella came to -rincess i i%s room#

78 hate this room)9 she grumbled# 7 i i ne"er puts anything away# ust loo& at it)

'ow can 8 sweep in here< There are clothes all o"er the loor)9

5hile -rincess i i snored! 6ella pic&ed up all the clothes and put them in the

wardrobe#

Then she swept the loor# The dragon lit the ire# $t last the room was warm and

tidy#

i i stretched and wo&e#

7Good morning)9 she trilled#

She too& a little golden bell rom her bedside table! rang it! and dropped it on the

loor#

75here%s my strawberry 4uice


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7@ow! which one shall 8 wear today The yellow sil&< @o> The green satin< @o! no!

no# $h) This one)9

i i pulled on a gold lace dressing3gown! and dropped all the others in a messy

heap#

She washed her ace and threw the towel under the bed# Then she stood at the

window to brush her hair#

7Lo"ely day or roller s&ating)9 she said# She dropped the hair3brush out o the

window and too& her roller boots down rom the shel # 76ut irst! 8 need brea& ast)9

Tossing the roller boots on to the rug! she s&ipped happily through the door#

6ella ran around the room# She tidied up the bell! the glass! and all the dressing3

gowns#

$s she bent to pic& up the towel! she tripped o"er a roller boot# T'+* went

6ella as she sat down on the loor#

78 hate this room)9 she growled#

B B B

-rincess i i had a busy day# She had to;

eat brea& ast

choose her dress

go roller s&ating

read her 6umper 6oo& o -rinces

eat chocolates

change her dress

play some tennis

and try on all her 4ewellery#


17/27

6ella had a busy day# She had to ollow -rincess i i around the castle! pic&ing

up;

toast

dresses

roller boots

the 6umper 6oo& o -rinces

chocolate wrappers

more dresses

tennis balls

and all the -rincess%s 4ewellery#

6y lunch time! 6ella was ed up#

78%"e had enough)9 she said! stamping into the &itchen#

The Coo&! 5i ard 5atchit! and ac& the ser"ant boy were there! eating their

lunch# -rincess i i was eating her lunch upstairs with the .ing and /ueen! and

dropping bread rolls on the loor#

78 spend all day tidying up a ter i i)9 wailed 6ella# 7She ne"er puts anything

away) 5hat can 8 do


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ac& thought about it#

7-ile all her things in a big heap!9 he suggested! 7and get the dragon to set ire to

them#9

78%d lo"e to)9 said 6ella# 76ut 8%d get into terrible trouble#9

The Coo& thought about it#

7$s& i i politely to put her things away!9 she said#

78%"e tried that)9 sighed 6ella# 78t doesn%t wor

5i ard 5atchit thought about it#

7'mm!9 he said# 78 ha"e an idea#9

7*o you &now a spell that 8 can use to ma&e her tidy


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7=h dear)9 she said# 78 ell o"er your roller boot yesterday! and banged my

head# 8 must ha"e lost my memory# *oesn%t the toothbrush belong in the wardrobe


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-rincess i i had a very busy day# She had to hunt down e"erything that 6ella

had tidied up#

'er ribbons were nearly as soggy as her toast# 'er 4igsaw was burnt to a cinder#

'er tennis balls were stuc& in the chimney# The 6umper 6oo& o -rinces was co"ered

in tooth3mar&s and doggy dribble#

$nd in the cupboard under the stairs! she ound an empty chocolate box and a

"ery happy dragon#

78%"e had enough)9 she wailed! tipping cocoa out o her roller boots# 78%m

exhausted) 8%"e spent all day tidying up) 5here%s my nightie


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The %ar(ellous %oat

-rincess i i was reading to the .ing rom her 6umper 6oo& o -rinces#

7-rince -eregrine has the inest castle in the land!9 she read#

7'ah)9 said the .ing# 78 bet it%s not as ine as Custard Castle#9

7'is castle has the tallest tower in the land!9 read i i#

7'ah)9 said the .ing# 78 bet it%s not as tall as 5i ard 5atchit%s tower#9

7-rince -eregrine is "ery proud o his new moat!9 read -rincess i i# 78t is the

most mar"ellous moat or miles around#9

7'ah)9 said the .ing# 78 bet it%s:9 'e stopped# 7'ang on# 5e don%t ha"e a

moat# 5hy don%t we ha"e a moat


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7-lug


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Its like fallin off a lo "

#ustard #astles $oat of water

Start %ehavin like you ou ht ter #9

75oo woo woo!9 said the ghost doubt ully#

75hat do you mean! that%s aw ul< 8t%s good enough or that stupid .ing#9

$nd 5i ard 5atchit went to the window and shouted his new spell at the moat#

The moat began to bubble and roth# Clouds o steam rose rom it#

7See


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25/27

5ith a loud SL+(-! i i came out o the custard# 5ith a loud 6+(-! ac&

ollowed#

7@ow what


26/27


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a long3lost s&eleton li"ing in a cupboard and a "ery creepy cousin called Count

Scapula)

You can read more about The Ghost of Custard Castle on Emma Laybourn%s

website! www#megamouseboo&s#com#

There are lots o other ree children%s stories! eboo&s and pu le pages there too#

-lease ta&e a loo&)

the king of custard castle

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