“Iggy!” the twins exclaimed in unison as they dropped their brooms and ran into be collected. The pair were wrapped up in the long limbs and lifted from their feet as the blot with silvery hair spun about time again to their joyous merriment. Everyone save for Hoxley looked bewildered as she was already familiar with their guest. Sensing the stranger wasn’t dangerous to act in such a manner, the prince lowered his shield. When the spinning and laughing concluded and the twins were put down, the slender pale face looked upon the rest of the group with the same unwavering smile.

  “Well, well. Who do we have here?” He asked. “Tell me whom you’ve been travelling with, Siouxsie. Beautiful Hoxley of the plains I already know.” He said. “Always good to see you Hoxley, you’re as radiant as ever.” Hoxley averted her eyes with a smile.

  “Ignatius.” She blushed

  “The boy with the pack is Morell.” Siouxsie told him. “He’s a scholar of mushrooms and is building a tome of all his knowledge as he knows every type in the world and says there’s tens of thousands of different kinds and families of them.”

  “Tens of thousands you say… fascinating. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Morell.” He nodded to the boy before looking to prince Damron and Idris.

  “And I already know these two.” He said.

  “You do?” asked the prince.

  “I do. There are pictures of your faces in every village and hamlet from her to the eastern kingdom.” He reached inside the dark recesses of his clothes and produced a slip of paper with their likenesses sketched upon it and handed it to the prince.

  “This reads there’s a reward of ten thousand gold for our capture or death!” said Idris

  “That’s a lot of money.” said Robert

  “Literally a king’s ransom for the capture or death of one.” said Ignatius “What are your plans?”

  “We’re trying to get the prince to the western Kingdom for an audience.” said Idris. “We hope to affirm our alliance is still intact to acquire forces large enough to retake the prince’s birthright which has been taken by his uncle through dark magic.” Hearing this, Ignatius’ face took on a reflective expression

  “Hmmm. I’ve already heard rumors of this dark magic and seen even stranger things; villages have gone empty of its people and graves are empty having been opened from the inside.”

  “That’s monstrous.” Hoxley gasped. “Things are going from bad to worse.”

  “Yes, an ominous storm roams all the lands. Its black clouds roiling with unnatural green lightning creating chaos wherever it goes. I last saw it approaching the desert from the eastern side.”

  “It’s following us.” Said Hoxley. “We can’t linger here any longer if we’re to stay ahead of it. We’ll have to approach the pass.”

  “The pass nearby that goes through the hills?” Ignatius asked.

  “Yes. The twins scouted the area and said that there are only two guards and a small tent that may have two more within it.”

  “No.” said Ignatius. “The area above that pass is infested with rangers and hunters. They’re lying in ambush under camouflaged tents and heavy bush. I counted at least sixty heads while I was flying overhead.” Everyone looked to the twins who in turn looked as surprised as everyone else. “You two didn’t scout the top of the hill, did you?” He asked.

  “No.” the two said in unison, the brows of their hats tipping down as they hung their heads in shame.

  “You two should know better.” He said in a deeper, quasi-parental tone. “’Scout complete or just retreat,’ yes?”

  “Yes, big brother.” The two said as one.

  “Death or enslavement are waiting at the mouth of that pass. We’ll have to head north through the mountains if we’re to get the prince around this guarded road.”

  “Can’t we just head south to the pass that goes around?” asked Morell

  “Unfortunately, it’s guarded as well.” Ignatius informed him. “There are thirty men waiting at the crest of that hill. They’re not hidden but anyone climbing that pass would stumble upon them. As armed as we all are, seven against thirty is suicide.”

  “Eight.” Said the shadow girl’s voice.

  “Who said that?” asked Ignatius.

  “We picked up an unexpected passenger in the desert.” Hoxley said. She went on to explain the events that had transpired and how the shadow entity had joined them.

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  “Truly fascinating.” Ignatius remarked. “I’ve never heard of such a creature or magic that could create such a thing. Magic of that nature has long been forbidden for us to use. You’re all very fortunate that it’s not aggressive.”

  “It seems to be more afraid of us as we are of it.” Offered Morell.

  “Let’s hope that arrangement doesn’t change. Now then, if the south and west and east are guarded well then that leaves only the passes of the north open to us. They eventually lead north west and should be our best path to get around the men his highness’ uncle has sent out to block us from continuing.”

  “Couldn’t there be men there as well?” asked the prince.

  “That’s very possible but the terrain is the opposite of what it is here. The pass here can be fired upon with bows and crossbows from each side once those on foot are in it. In the mountains there are single file paths with steep drop-offs of hundreds of feet on each side. If they have large numbers, they won’t be able to advance more than two or three at a time. The land would be to our advantage.”

  “What about the cold?” asked Morell. “Isn’t the mountain covered in snow?”

  “It is.” Said Hoxley. “But thanks to Bohga’s blankets they should continue to radiate warmth and keep us from freezing.”

  “Should?” asked the prince.

  “Yes, should.”

  “Couldn’t the witches fly the prince to the kingdom on their brooms?” asked Morell

  “I wish it were so.” Said Ignatius. “But brooms can only support witch kind.”

  “Why is that?” the red haired boy asked him

  “Because to fly aa broom, one has to undergo the Ceremony of Ash and Blood where a witch creates a magical bond with its broom and the broom becomes part of them. Having a non witch on the broom disrupts the bond and be dangerous for everyone involved. It was smart of you to suggest it. Always be thinking.”

  “What’ll we do for food?” asked Idris.

  “We have an expert mushroom hunter, don’t we?” asked Ignatius. “I have enough bread and honey to sustain myself but the lands between here and the ridges leading to the mountains should be flush with enough fungi for you and gumfruit for all of us. If Morell can spot the ones that you can eat and not get sick, then the rest of you can collect and clean them. You can do that can’t you, Morell?”

  “Of course, I can!” the boy professed as he puffed his chest with pride.

  “Then it’s settled. We’ll head toward the mountains.” Said Hoxley “But first we’ll have to sneak past that check point without being discovered.”

  “Leave that to us witches.” said Ignatius. “We’ll create a diversion so the rest of you can head north. Once the soldiers are preoccupied, you’ll have to move quickly.”

  “What do you have planned?” Asked Hoxley.

  “Invisibility.” The tall witch smiled devilishly. “Move as close as you can and remain concealed. When you hear the signal…” He pulled the on twine around his neck to make his witchle appear from beneath his shirt. “Ran as fast as you can to reach the tree line at the far end. Understand?” He asked the wide-eyed faces around the group to which they all nodded in agreement.

  “Good. Get going. Terrible Twosome, you’re with me.” The witches huddled together for a moment before blasting off into the air and fanning out in separate directions. Hoxley moved the others behind cover to as close to the mouth of the pass as she dared. The men standing guard in front of the tent looked confused, their heads whipping about to discover the source of the shrill notes. No sooner than the witchle’s tones could be heard, the twins rocketed across the sky at top speed hurling things at the men and the hillside above the pass. Small grey puffs appeared here and there. But the puffs didn’t remain small for long. The small grey clouds quickly expanded, growing larger and larger, doubling in size. More grey puffs began to appear all along the top of the hill like low flying rain clouds.

  “I can’t see anything of what’s going on in there.” Said the prince.

  “Then that means they can’t see us.” Said Idris. “Time to go, yes?” he asked Hoxley.

  The clouds continued to grow and enveloped so much of the landscape that the companions could no longer see the mouth of the pass or the area around it.

  “We wait for the signal.” Just as she said this, the sound of Ignatius’ witchle found their ears.