“Must stay in the darkness?” she asked the smokey wisp.

  “The shade still has light in it.” It replied, moving closer to vanish inside the saddlebags. “Light causes me discomfort.”

  “You can fit in very small places.”

  “If the spaces were larger, I would become larger.”

  “And if you were set free on a moonless night?”

  “Then perhaps I would be as big as the night itself.”

  “Fascinating.” Remarked Hoxley. “And you say you have no name?”

  “None that I can remember.” It replied.

  “You said before that you feel you were like Siouxsie once. You were a girl?”

  “Yes. That feels right.”

  “How do you feel right now?” Hoxley asked. “Are you in pain? Do you hunger?”

  “There is no hunger or pain. I feel adrift like a boat without an oar or sail. I cannot go where I please, and if I could go in any direction, I know not the path I would take.”

  “If you bear us no ill will,” Hoxley thought aloud. “You’re welcome to join us. I can’t offer to take you in any direction you desire but you may travel with us. Although once you’re free of Everlight desert, you can go anywhere you want.”

  “Anywhere I want during the night.” Said the voice. “But not during the day when shadows are few. Which way are you headed?”

  “We travel west to be granted an audience with King Sarthany. Prince Damron,” She nodded to the dark-skinned boy sleeping next to his manservant. “Has been dethroned by his wicked uncle and now hopes to rekindle his alliance with King Sarthany to gather forces to retake what is rightfully his.”

  “That sounds terrible.” Said the shadow.

  “Truly. I only met by accident. It was that chance meeting that threw us all together for such a journey. The guards from his own court are pursuing us to capture or kill him to reclaim the crown he carries.”

  “Then we must hurry for the sake of his kingdom.”

  For the longest time the party traveled blind, guided only by the occasional voice of the shadow girl. She guided the prince from horizon to horizon, “A little to the left…a little to the right.” She said in whispers. Hoxley began to feel faint from the oppressive heat and was on the verge of collapse when the good news arrived.

  “Open your eyes.” Said the shadow. “We’re free of the labyrinth.” Everyone opened their eyes to find the steep rock face Hoxley had described.

  “She did it!” exclaimed Siouxsie. “The shadowy voice freed us!”

  “Indeed.” Said Idris. “Providence has delivered us in a manner most strange.” Hoxley turned around to see where they’d been only to find the edge of the desert to be as plain and unassuming as it was when they were on the eastern side of it. With luck, no others would stray from the main path and be doomed to a wasting death.

  “This rock face is far too steep for any of us to scale.” Said Morell. “How will we get past it?”

  “There’s a chance the pass is still unguarded.” Said Idris. It’s a small chance but one nonetheless.”

  “Witches?” Hoxley asked. “Can you scout north and see if the pass is guarded?”

  “We can do it!” Siouxsie exclaimed as she punched her brother in the arm to get his attention. “We’ll be back before you can say ‘jack o lantern jamboree’!” The twins mounted their brooms and shot up to the air before heading north while the others hunkered down near some boulders to become less visible.

  “What will we do if there are lookouts?” asked the prince. All eyes looked to Hoxley.

  “If the pass is guarded, we may have to head south. That rock face is impassable for at least a day’s travels. There is a singular steep path that can take us up to the plateau we can take but it’s not close to us. Until now I’ve never had a reason not to take the pass.” Soon the witches returned and dropped from the sky to rejoin them.

  “Two men standing guard at the opening of the pass wearing commoner clothes, each armed with a short sword.” Siouxsie reported. “We stopped to watch them and they were inspecting carts as they passed. There’s a tent next to their post.

  “Only two?” Hoxley asked

  “Only two that we could see. The pass is too long to tell if there is anyone on the far end.” The witch confirmed.

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  “If a trap was being set for us, there would be more men on this side of the pass to keep us from going through.” Idris thought aloud. “But if the witches say there only two, that is favorable. But if there is a tent, there may be two more men inside.” The man pondered.

  “Why do you say that?” asked Morell.

  “If those two were the only guards, then one should be resting while the other stands at the post. If two are out then two might be in reserve to relive them when its time.”

  “That makes sense. What can we do about the four guards then, Idris?”

  “If we move quickly and have the element of surprise, I believe we can overwhelm them and subdue them without bloodshed. I do not want to take a single life if it can be avoided.” The man said before looking to Prince Damron. “Remember that, my lord. Always show mercy before wrath.”

  “I will.” the Prince said

  “Agreed.” said Hoxley “Using our blades should be a last resort.”

  “Witches?” asked the prince “Do you have any magic that can incapacitate them? A sleeping spell perhaps?”

  “What’s a sleeping spell?” asked Siouxsie “Robert can throw fire from his hands but I‘m still learning how to call lightning.” She blushed “And my aim isn’t very good. I can only target things that have metal in them.”

  “Swords are metal.” Morell said.

  “Yes, but it would likely kill them…” Hoxley interjected. “If she’s not confident in her abilities and starts slinging lightning bolts then we might all be in danger.”

  “We have smoke powder.” Siouxsie said, both she and her brother pulling back their cloaks to reveal clusters of small pouches tied to their waists. “Strong stuff. It’s not magic but it makes a huge cloud. One of these is powerful enough to obscure half of a pumpkin patch.”

  “pumpkoo.” Peeped her gel.

  “Not you.” She said, flicking the brim of her hat

  “We’ll attempt to approach them,” said Hoxley. “If they become alarmed or aggressive, we may have to retreat and take the long way.”

  “Would it not be easier to go the long way?” asked Morell

  “Perhaps.” Nodded Hoxley “But after our misadventure of getting lost in the desert I want to stay as close to a direct path west as we can manage. Everyone, get ready. If we have to fight the four then everyone needs to be prepared to….” Hoxley was interrupted by the sound of a witchle tones on the air.

  Toot toot, TWEET TWEET, toot toot, Tweet tweet!

  “Our tones!” the twins excitedly said in unison as their heads whipped about to scan the sky in every direction. Siouxsie quickly pulled the string on the witchle around her neck and put it to her lips and blew two sharp puffs.

  “But who would know to sound them here?” asked Hoxley. Her question was answered as a swiftly moving black blot appeared in the sky to the south and circled overhead before dropping like a stone upon them. Idris, Morell and the prince held up their arms to defend themselves before the blot stopped Just above their heads and a strong gust of wind kicked up a bluster that almost knocked everyone off their feet. Everyone took a few steps back as they shielded their faces from the blast as a witch in full black garb and cloak dropped to the ground. A shadowy form landed in a crouched position with broom in hand before rising to its full height which was easily over six feet tall. The towering darkness’ head swiveled to eye the party, its face obscured by the shadows cast by the wide brim of its pointy hat,

  “Who goes there?” asked the prince, raising his shield defensively. “What do you want?”

  “I come…” said a silvery male voice as it raised a long spidery pale hand to point between the twins. “For the twins of fire and lightning.”

  “Who summons the terrible twosome?” asked Siouxsie, she and her brother holding their brooms at the ready. The towering blot yanked its hat to reveal long flowing locks of silver hair framing a youthful pale face of eighteen summers with high cheekbones, a long strong jaw line and full lips already wrapped in a smile. His blackened leather cloak was emblazoned with a bright silver pin that looked like a buck’s head with large antlers like the limbs of a tree.

  “Their older brother who wishes to hold and love them.” He took a knee and held his long arm span wide to hold them.