“My dear young prince,” Loxo started “Can you imagine the absolute mayhem that would be created by such an act? If I were to beckon my father and brothers at any time, it would call down a storm of swords to raze and ravage any place I pointed my tiny finger.” He said leaning sideways to show Prince Damron a pinky finger with a tiny gold band about it. “Can you imagine it at all? The skies would fill with flying ships and women and children would run screaming for their lives, the bravest of men would soil themselves with dread, pass out and be riddled with nightmares of our fearsome power and sharp blades. Livestock would scatter to every corner of the land or simply fall to the ground with shock from such an event. Doesn’t that sound terrifying? No, I think it’s best that we remain hidden and conceal our numbers within the fog of obscurity upon the edge of rumor and speculation. It’s far better for everyone if you ask me.”

  “Oh, and how would you call them? I see no whistle around your neck like the witches carry.”

  “Do you reaaallly want to know?” pried the pirate.

  “Yes, I really want to know.”

  “Well then, since you’re a close friend with Hoxley and the witches I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to reveal just a tiny bit.” Said Loxo as he unshouldered his small backpack and shoved one hand deep inside. “Let’s see,” he said, making a strange face as he dug deeper in the pack to the elbow. “It should…be…right..about…here. Aha!” he said. The missing hand emerged with a bright red cylindrical item about the size of the handle of a longsword sticking out the top and bottom of his grip. “Ah, there it is.” He said with pride.

  “What is it?” asked prince Damron.

  “This is what I use to call my brethren should I ever be in dire need of assistance. Once simply adds a small bit of fire to this wick,” he pointed to a small step of rigid paper sticking out of the bottom. “And let the special secret alchemy within do its work to launch a bright red spark high into the clouds where the others can see it. When that happens, one only need wait for the sky to turn dark with the unfurled sails of air ships.”

  “I believe you’re out of your head with madness.” said the prince, no longer interested. “Nothing in the world works in such a manner.”

  “Suit yourself, your highness.” The pirate quipped, replacing the item deep in his bag.

  “If it gets you out of trouble how come you didn’t use it to get away from those men who put you in stocks and were going to hang you?” he asked.

  “Ah. That was an uncommon situation, you see. Those men simply managed to catch me by surprise, which is very hard to do. They weren’t gentlemen at all and rudely jumped me instead of allowing me to make the proper preparations needed to activate it. Unsavory lot.”

  “Yes, that makes much more sense.” The prince said, no longer interested.

  “Here we are.” Said Ignatius, throwing open the double wide doors of the king’s chambers. Hoxley carried the bodies to the bed and the others relieved her of the burden of the bodies. Once tucked in and covered with multiple blankets to keep them warm, the party huddled together in the throne room.

  “What are we going to do now that the king and his whole kingdom have been robbed of their sanity?” asked Siouxsie. “I thought it was our goal to deliver the prince, but there’s no one to receive him.” Eyes glanced to the prince who looked more worried than anything. Who wouldn’t? He’d fought and almost froze to reach this point in his journey only to learn there was no end in sight.

  “We could leave him here to care for the others.” Offered Robert before he caught glares from the members of the group. “It’s a viable solution. He wanted to come here and now he has. I’m surprised as everyone about finding the kingdom in disarray but what can the eight of us do against a force that can reduce kingdoms to legions of the mindless? He’s safer here than in his own kingdom.”

  “We aren’t going to leave a boy, let alone a prince, to linger and play nursemaid to invalids.” Said Ignatius. “He’s not strong enough to care for them all. None of us are. Combined, we aren’t enough.”

  “So, we’re just going to let them die?” asked Siouxsie.

  “I’m not sure what else we can do but comfort these poor souls until they expire.” Added Loxo. “Had I the tears I would weep for these poor dears.”

  “Perhaps I can help.” Said the shadow girl’s whisper from inside the prince’s pockets. I’m strong enough to collect the fallen, but we’ll have to wait until night fall for me to use my full form.”

  “There’s a plan I hadn’t considered.” Hoxley said. “You don’t mind contributing to this effort?”

  “I believe I could be of great help.” Said the voice.

  “Then your help is graciously accepted. In the meantime, it’s important that we find as many people as we can and help them. Some may be injured or lying in the sun and are unable to move. We must prioritize those casualties and aid as many as we can. For all we know there may be babies and infants left to starve and we must give our very best. Now then, since some of us are smaller than the others, we’ll work in teams. Robert? Pair with Loxo and search the lower levels of the castle. There may be a dungeon. If those cells have people in them, they’ll likely be starving as well if no jailer has had their wits about them to give them bread and water. And Loxo? Keep your hands to yourself, I don’t want you returning with fat pockets.”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “Why Hoxley,” the pirate bowed deeply. “You wound me to the core that I would stoop to thievery.”

  “It’s merely advice more than a mandate. We’re trying to solve problems, not create more. Robert, keep your eyes sharp.”

  “Fine…” huffed the witch, “I’ll escort the pirate.”

  “If those two are going where its dark, I should like to escape the confines of these pockets and help them.” Said the shadowy voice coming from the prince’s pockets.

  “Very well then,” said Hoxley. “If you want to help then we will gladly accept your effort.” Prince Damron walked over and put his hand upon Robert’s shoulder. The second his hand came into contact with the dark cloak, the shadow raced along the underside of his sleeve and slipped beneath the witches’ clothing. And while most people might be anxious or suspicious about a magic shadow person slithering into their clothes, Robert seemed no more unnerved than someone enduring a gust of wind.

  “I’m ready to begin.” Said the shadow. “I’ll do my best to help as much as I can.”

  “That’s all I can ask. Get going, we cannot tarry. We’ll return to this room when the sun goes down and we’ll tell one another what we’ve found.” Said Hoxley. The two wasted no time exiting the room in search of survivors. “Siouxsie,” she continued. “Take Morell and your broom and begin canvassing for people who still may be outside. We can use your eyes from up high to find them quickly. If you find any, get them under cover or indoors so they’re less exposed to the elements in the heat of day or chill of night. Keep track of how many you can find and see if you can find the local well along the way. We’ll need more water than what’s in our canteens.”

  “Come on!” Siouxsie said, taking Morell by the hand and rushing from the room.

  “What about us?” asked the prince as he gestured to himself and Ignatius

  “Not everyone will have survived this.” Hoxley said solemnly. “The three of us will canvass as much as we can and move the dead to a place where they can be buried or burned.” The prince grimaced in disgust at the idea of finding the deceased. “It’s the decent thing to do.” She reminded him. “Wouldn’t you hope the same courtesy would be extended to you?” she asked.

  “I see your point.” He agreed. “I would. Let’s get started.”

  And so, it came to be that the companions fanned out in every direction high and lo to save the subjects of the western kingdom. The entire day was spent combing from structure to structure in search of both the living and the dead. Morell and Siouxsie found many in the fields lying where they fell while working. Where able, they pulled them into shade under trees and carts and covered them with whatever they could find to keep them warm. Time and again the pair pulled and tugged at adults to get them moved. Sometimes rolling the heftier adults was easier than picking them up or dragging them. Not far away, Hoxley and her band followed the smells of spoil and rot to find the unfortunate ones who’d expired. It was all as Hoxley feared as those who suffered the most were the very old and very young who could not feed themselves. With their care taken away, they were certainly doomed. But in the shadows of despair that had taken hold there were glimpses of hope as they discovered tiny children here and there who’d not yet succumbed to hunger. Frantic, Hoxley emptied a two wheeled, wooden vegetable cart, lining it with blankets and pillows before placing dozens of innocent lives within. By the time the sun was low, the three had managed to fill the cart with infants and infirmed. The day went on and it got heavier and heavier. With no beasts of burden at hand, Hoxley took it upon herself to hook the cart up to her own body and pull the weight herself as they returned to the castle. It wasn’t easy. None of it was easy. The companions reconvened at sundown and by luck or chance Siouxsie had managed to find enough milk from animals to keep the children alive through the night. One by one, the members of the party returned and shared what they’d found or done. Each person looked exhausted as they’ likely moved the bodies of countless throughout the day and dead weight is always the hardest to move. As the group sat and fed the very young and very old, they each chewed upon what rations Morell had managed to find within the kitchen of the king’s cook. They munched and passed children and bottles as best they could. Loxo, chatty as usual went on to explain that he was acquainted with a fair number of those locked away in the dungeons.