“How?” Morell marveled. “How do your clothes do that?”

  “It’s really quite simple.” She pulled her cloak aside to reveal the patchwork of zig zagged belts covering her body. “The design is built upon a net of woven materials, each with loops in them. All the loops are held together by the master belt.” She pointed to one of the buckles that had small red stitching in it. “When it’s fed through the loops and cinched, the whole thing comes together. Leather can be heavy. In the event that a witch falls into deep water, they can simply unbuckle and remove the master belt and the garment falls apart. If I yanked it loose right now, I’d be wearing nothing but my hat.”

  Morell felt lightheaded and needed to sit down.

  Soon enough, the innkeeper knocked on the door and informed them that hot water was waiting in the washroom. After he left, Ignatius escorted the prince into the washroom and shut the door behind him. He soon returned fresh and clean. Siouxsie and Robert then snuck down the hallway in witch garb before vanishing. Prince Damron and Morell listened intently as two muffled thumps of cloaks hit the floor.

  “Why do those two always bathe together?” asked Morell.

  “I saw his face.” said the prince. “It was half burnt on one side with a large purple birthmark in the shape of a hand covering the other side.” Morell looked spooked.

  “Are you telling the truth?” he asked

  “It’s true. I saw it with my own eyes. It’s the mark of black magic for sure. No wonder he stays covered. His face is hideous. He probably bathes away from others so they don’t see him and vomit.”

  “That’s a terrible thing to say, your highness.” Morell said. “Different in the face or not, his life was on the line as much as anyone’s on that freezing mountain. The witches could have left us. It would be nothing for them to have jumped on their brooms and simply flown away but they didn’t. They put their own blood in the fight. If not for them, we’d all be dead or taken back to your uncle to be killed then.”

  “They stayed for Hoxley.”

  “And Hoxley stayed for you. You should not be so quick to forget that your uncle’s men stole you and we all rushed to steal you back, Robert included.”

  “You’re only defending him because you have eyes for his sister.”

  “I…I will admit that Siouxsie is a pretty girl. But I have no sour words for her twin. I wouldn’t hurt you to do the same.”

  “Robert doesn’t like anyone, Morell.” The prince reminded him. “That includes you.”

  “I will admit that he is…difficult…to get along with but I’m sure that with enough time we could find at least one thing we agree on.”

  “Then you are more patient than most.” The prince huffed.

  “I don’t think that’s a bad thing.” Morell pondered for a moment. “I don’t think being patient could be bad for anyone.” No sooner than the conversation ended, Ignatius opened the door, and ushered in the twins before quickly closing it again.

  “There,” said the tall witch. “Everyone is clean. That should make it harder for predators to track us I think.”

  “I’m stepping out.” Said Robert.

  “If you do,” Ignatius warned him. “Don’t be seen coming and going from the inn. We’re still in hostile territory.” Robert quickly planted one winklepicker on the edge of the window before leaping out into the dusk air with his broom.

  “I’m going for a ride with my bats.” Said Siouxsie, doing exactly the same.

  “What are you two doing?” Ignatius asked the two boys.

  “I believe I’ll enjoy sleeping on this nice soft bed.” Morell smiled. “Look, there’s a soft cushion to put one’s head on. It’s not quite dark yet so I think I’ll forage in the tree line behind the inn. Perhaps I’ll find more mushrooms for my collection or even my studies.”

  “Then don’t wander beyond shouting distance. If trouble should arise, we may need to leave in a hurry.” Morell nodded and exited the room, closing it solidly behind him before tromping his way down the stairs. “And you, your highness?”

  “I’m going to wait right here.” He said. “I’d like to see what’s outside but I’m not sure leaving would be a good idea.”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Meanwhile, down in an otherwise empty stable, Hoxley hungrily scarfed down the meal the innkeeper brought her before bathing herself in some fresh hot water. She used a spare bit of cloth with soap to clean her large ears and neck. Grime and dirt had caked between her fingers, and she felt refreshed once it had been worked free. A small twig cleaned away any muck from around her hooves. While cleaning them she stopped to admire the shoes that Bohga had so expertly nailed in place. Upon closer inspection she found that Bohga had personalized each of them by etching tiny scrawls in the metal.

  How nice of a thing. She thought to herself before finishing her grooming and putting on her shirt once more. She’d just thrown out the dirty water and situated herself for the night in a cozy place amongst the bales when her large ears caught the sound of a faint fluttering just outside. They perked to follow the whispers as they moved somewhere above her head, somewhere above the stable before coming to rest and growing silent once more. The spear leaned against her shoulder twisted in her hands a few times before she relaxed.

  “Hello Robert.” She said to the empty space. A pause filled the air before Robert’s head and pointed hat appeared upside down at the edge of the ceiling.

  “How did you hear me?” he asked. “No one can hear witches creeping.”

  “No one with small ears.” She remarked looking up at him where he hung like a bat. “I know your ways. You like to stalk others for sport.”

  “I think it’s fun.”

  “Well, there’s no use in stalking me any more now that you’ve been discovered. Would you like to join me?” She patted a bale of hay next to her. At first, he made no reply but then he spun right side up and dropped to his feet on the ground. His black cloak against the evening shadows made him almost invisible until he stepped into the light. Someone unaware of him never would have detected his presence at all. He crossed the small stable and plopped himself down next to her. The two shared a comfortable silence, her drinking some water from her canteen and him content to swing his feet freely over the edge of the bale.

  “You had quite a day.” she offered. “What made you think of treating the prince in such a manner?” Robert didn’t reply. “You can tell me and trust that I won’t tell a word of it to the others.”

  “I was just… angry.” he said without looking up from the ground.

  “And you thought to take it out on him? Even if you’re not close friends you should at least recognize that he just lost someone close to him on that mountain. For the short time that I knew him, Idris seemed an honest man. Even for that you shouldn’t think of teasing him in such a manner. What was your reasoning?”

  “I…I don’t know. I was just angry.”

  “You know, I can barely hear you when you’re bundled up and under that big hat of yours.” Again, Robert stalled before slowly reaching and removing his hat before putting it in his lap. He looked up at her for a moment before looking away. “You don’t have to hide yourself around me.”

  “That’s because you accept me as I am. Most people are afraid of me.”

  “I think they’d be less afraid if you’d be friendlier. It is my opinion that you’d be happier if you made more friends.”

  “That’s easy to say from your position. You don’t look like I do. I don’t need more friends. I have my brother and sister. They’re enough for me.”

  “Yes, but what things are today may not be tomorrow. They’re each going to get older and one day they’ll want to have families of their own.”

  “Do you think they’d abandon me?”

  “No, but I think they’d want to spend time with other people as well. If you had more friends to be with then I think it won’t bother you as much when it happens. None of this will happen anytime soon, but perhaps one day. It’s something you should think about. I have no doubt that Ignatius and Siouxsie will always love you with heart and soul. Who else could be Siouxsie’s other twin half?”

  “No one.” he said. “Do you really think Siouxsie will leave one day?”

  “Don’t you think she’d like to maybe get married and have a witch hut of her own?”

  “That’s not going to happen.” He grumbled.