“Excuse me.”

  “Morell, you are full of surprises. Come, lets get the others.” He turned the boy around and the two exited the end, turning back up the road the way they’d come.

  “I have questions.” Said Morell.

  “I have questions about how you learned to drink like that.” said Ignatius. “But what do you want to know?”

  “Why does that man hate witches?”

  “It may be an irrational fear brought on by being ignorant or it may be that a witch almost burned down his inn.”

  “But why give him your money if he hates your kind?”

  “If we had other options then I wouldn’t give him a single copper. I’m afraid this is the only inn available. Sometimes we have to do things we don’t like doing so that we can do the things we need to do.”

  “But how are we going to get the others inside? You’ve disguised yourself fairly well. How will we get Robert and Siouxsie past the barkeep when it takes only having eyes to see that they’re witches?”

  “Remember the private room on the second floor I wanted with a window?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s not hard to reach a second story window when you can fly a broom.” Morell’s eyes widened as he realized Ignatius’ cunning.

  “OHhhhhhhhhh.” He said “This would all be so much easier if he weren’t prejudiced against witch-kind.”

  “Yes, I suppose not. It’s not always fair world. But when a certain witch boy if thirteen summers has too much mead to drink and passes out in the corner table, the use of fire indoors to fight off a pair of thieves attempting to relieve him of his coin pouch in the middle of the night may cause some unsuspected and disastrous results.”

  “How could you know tha- OHHhhh.” He realized. “That was you?”

  “It’s not something I’m proud of. Again, if not for the thieves, the inn would’ve stayed unburnt. I’m glad they got the scorch marks off the ceiling.” The pair walked on and Morell’s nose betrayed him again when it found the scent of beef in the air.

  “What kind of meals will they have at the inn?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. It will likely be hot and edible.”

  “I suppose that’s enough. It beats being atop a mountain in the cold, doesn’t it?”

  “Of that you can be sure.” The witch replied.

  “Ignatius? How is it you speak like an adult? You’re a little older than Hoxley aren’t you?”

  “I suppose it’s because I read so much. Reading helps the mind grow and expand you know.”

  “I like to read, Ignatius. I’m always searching for tomes and journals that can help me understand the world of mushrooms. I can’t be the only one who’s thought they were interesting.”

  “I’m told there once was a great amount of information about the world in the old witch capital library. I would imagine there had to be at least one or two in the archives that would support your claims.”

  “But weren’t they all lost in the great Dark Harvest?”

  “Yes, I’m afraid they were. Much of our history and identity as a people were lost in that bloody culling.”

  “I’m sad that it happened, Ignatius.” The boy’s eyes grew misty at the thought and he wiped away the singular tear with the cuff of his shirt “I’m so sorry that happened to your kind.”

  “Don’t grieve for them, Morell. They’re long gone. Thank you for the tear, though. You cry even for strangers. That’s the surest sign of a healthy soul. Yes, many were killed. What’s more, most disappeared and were never heard from again. Nothing was ever found of them, not even their bones. It’s as though they vanished from the world without a trace.”

  “That’s horrifying.”

  “It is, isn’t it?” said Ignatius as he looked around to see they were beyond the sight of the village. “I don’t see anyone watching us. This is a good place to leave the trail and find the others.” Morell followed him off the trail and past the tree line. Inside the green lushness all was as calm and quiet in the forest as when they’d left. They walked a little further but Morell saw none of the other companions.

  “Where are they?” he asked.

  “Staying hidden like they should. At least most of them are, aren’t they, twosome?”

  “Twosome? The twins?” Morell said, perking up to look in all directions. “I don’t see anyone.”

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  “Try looking up.” said a familiar girls’ voice. Morell looked straight up to find himself face to face with Siouxsie who levitated upside down.

  “Gah!” He yelped nearly jumping out of his skin. He tripped on his own feet and fell on his bottom. When he looked up, he discovered that both Siouxsie and Robert had been hovering directly overhead without making a sound. While Robert sat normally upon his broom, the girl hung upside down from her broom by the knees.

  “Look at me, I’m a scary bat!” She giggled as she rhymed. “I fly in the night like a winged rat!” Ignatius look unimpressed and promptly pulled her down. Once flipped right side up, he handed her the still hovering broom.

  “Where are Hoxley and the prince? I have news and have secured lodging for the night.”

  “Here we are.” Said Hoxley emerging from where she and Prince Damron were lying in the underbrush. “What did you find?” Ignatius gathered everyone close and told them of their jaunt into Woodford.

  “They don’t allow witches or fauns and centaurs?” asked the Prince. “That doesn’t seem right.”

  “I wouldn’t object to a warm stable and some hay bedding if there’s a lamp to help keep things warm.” Said Hoxley. “You’re sure it won’t cause too much trouble to get the others in, Ignatius?”

  “No, I think we’ll do well to slip the twosome in under the cover of darkness. We’ll get everyone bathed and I’ll have the barkeep give me the meals so he never discovers they’re there. If he asks, I’ll just tell him they had business elsewhere and that the rest of us will eat their portions.”

  “That’s lying.” Said the prince.

  “That’s keeping the peace.” Ignatius corrected him. “We must be careful. If spreading half-truths to strangers to keep ourselves away from the swords of those who pursue us then I’m confident I’ll sleep just fine.”

  “I don’t think its fair that Hoxley has to sleep outdoors while the others sleep inside.” Said Morell.

  “It’s really no trouble.” Said Hoxley. “I have my blanket, and it’s only for one night. Ignatius did negotiate for me to get a hot meal. I find this arrangement to be agreeable.”

  “Then it’s settled.” Said the tall witch. “Twosome, if you want to be in the town today you’re going to have to stay here while I find some unwitch clothes for you to wear.”

  “I don’t want unwitch clothes.” Said Robert. I’m fine to stay in the woods.”

  “As you wish. Siouxsie, I’ll return soon with the clothes and you, Hoxley, Morell and I can venture into the market for foodstuffs.”

  “I can’t wait to go to the market!” she gushed.

  “As for you, your highness. I’m afraid it’s too dangerous for you to be out and about even with the hood to obscure your face. You’ll be safer if you stay here with Robert until nightfall and we can send for you.” The prince looked to Robert who grumbled something under his breath before flying higher to take a lofty place in tall tree. “Here,” Ignatius offered him a small, red folded cloth hiding some small items within. “I have some bread and honey in my sack to tide you over until dinner.”

  “Thank you.” said the prince as he took it.

  “Then let’s be off.” Ignatius told Hoxley and Morell. The three traveled back into town and hadn’t ventured far when they came across a small home with a simple sign offering the sale of garments. Hoxley paid a few silvers for a shirt and pants small enough to fit her friend. She gathered her purchases and galloped back out of town while the boys waited. It didn’t take long before the faun came clopping back with a laughing girl upon her back.

  “Whoaaaa, Hoxley!” Siouxsie exclaimed as the hooves came skidding to a halt. Siouxsie flamboyantly dismounted her friend and took a long sweeping bow. “Tah dah! Behold, I have returned in grand disguise!” Save for the winklepickers on her feet, her simple garments of a brown shirt with black lacing and brown pants gave no clues that she was a magic user. Her long hair stood on end in a frizzed and tangled mess. But for all her lack of black, she still held onto her broom.

  “You’re still holding your broom.” Said Morell.

  “That I am!” she replied “Non witches still use them to sweep, don’t they?”

  “As long as you don’t fly it around town, no one should be the wiser.” Said Hoxley.